• Tuesday-What'sUP June 1 - 04:00 pm

If you've been checking out the trees and brush along the sides of the roads here in the Keweenaw lately, you've probably seen more than a couple of these insect tents overtaking a number of the branches. Thanks to Barb Bouwkamp, were getting a closer look at these insects and the strange tents they produce. Barb called these army worms, but I've also heard them called tent worms, but whatever you call them, you don't want them on your trees or brush, because they can cause a lot of damage.

Let's switch over to a prettier side of the road and check out the dainty little blue and white forget-me-nots from Barb also. I just didn't want to end the day with nasty little bugs, thus the reason for these little beauties. They certainly aren't the biggest, but they sure are one of the best when it comes to brightening up the roadside.

Love Barb's forget-me-not flower pictures, but the bugs: not so much. Thank you, Barb and Mary!

EEEEEWWWWW I hate worm-type critters. Saw several places on my way up north last weekend with much infestation of those things. Had a grand time at grandaughter Monica's h.s. graduation. But the drive of 200 miles wears me out. Stopped in Monroe and bought a beautiful hanging pot of flowers for my patio. The blue lobilia in it is like these forget-me-nots, just beautiful. Thanks for nice start to my day (despite those tent worms!). You know we'll all think of today as Monday don't you? I am.

Greetings:

Mary is right as the tent and/or bag worms will strip and weaken a forest, leaving the forest to fall prey to a forest fire. If there are lots of these bags along the roads then they are further in the forest and destroying the forest.

JT

Love the forget-me-nots! The worms? UH-HUH :P

Those tent worms are pretty common in my neck of the woods, too (yech). I do like the blue + white flowers.

Those tent worms are all over, even in my uncles apple tree.

The cutest little flowers and I hate bugs. Yuk, Yuk.;O[

Today is my youngest brothers' birthday, he would have been 53 yrs. old

The tent caterpillars are the larvae of a small reddish-brown moth. Their population peaked this year, but because competition for food is so intense the numbers should crash next year or the following. Tearing apart their tents to expose them to predators doesn't work as I was told they taste bad and birds leave them alone. Lighting the nests with kerosene is a good way to burn down the whole forest, but every year someone tries that. An especially bad idea here in the Northern Lower as we haven't had much rain all spring. I am praying for a good storm tonight and lots of rain tomorrow.

Is there a safe way of spraying them? (The worms, that is.) Would hair spray harden their tents so they couldn't emerge?

I really like the idea of hair spray , on a homeowner's level anyway. would be a great way to use up some stuff sitting in my cabinet that is way too old. will try it this spring. thanks for the idea.

My uncle used to call those flowers "Forget Me Don'ts". :o) I like the flowers in the hardwoods, impatient, Spring Beauties, Trout Lilies, etc. Then later the Wild Chicory are just the prettiest things. I love the blue color.