Dragonfly Down

 

While the wife and I were relaxing outside on the patio, this male green darner came crashing to the ground in front of us.  The first thing that was obvious about it was its missing tail or what is really known as the abdomen.  (Note that a portion of the abdomen left behind is violet in color- this indicates a juvenile male.)  I'm pretty sure I know what happened.  As I have stated before I have a purple martin colony and these birds love dragonflies (as do many other birds) and there was a few martins flying above us.   I'm thinking that possibly one of my martins had this dragonfly in its beak and it wriggled trying to free itself, which then severed its abdomen and sent it to the ground.

Asp

Known around these parts of Southeast Texas as an “asp”, the caterpillar of the Southern flannel moth (Megalopyge opercularis) hides poisonous spines within the pelt of hairs that cover it.  Labeled as the most venomous caterpillar in the US, this harmless looking caterpillar has a sting from that packs a wallop, which I have experienced personally. If I were to try and describe its severity- it's akin to placing the business end of a lit cigarette against your skin.  I’ve read that a good way to ease the pain is to remove any spines that were left behind in your skin with a piece of cellophane tape.