I came across this Weevil in my back yard. I can’t remember ever seeing one of these before. It’s so beautiful… I can see my reflection on it’s body in some of the photos I took. I was having a hard time identifying it; I was thinking it was some kind of beetle. But then I realized it’s a weevil. Then it was quite easy to identify. And thanks to University of Florida for these webpages, they’ve helped me with the spiders, and now they’ve helped me with this weevil. http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/beetles/Eurhinus_magnificus.htm
common name: a weevil
scientific name: Eurhinus magnificus Gyllenhal
One of it’s main host plants is the Possum Grape Vine, which is what you see in the picture… I didn’t even know what this vine was till now. It’s Growing along my back fence. Some people think of this as an invasive vine, and they try and get rid of it; I like it, because it’s hosts this amazing bug. You can eat the small fruit of this vine, some say it’s sour, but some people really like it, some make jelly out of it. I saw some fruit beginning to set, so I’ll be giving it a try shortly.
I finished with the weevil, and I was walking along the fence line and came within a foot of this lizard before we saw each other. He was hanging out on a thick vine about level with my head. I was slightly startled, which made him run… But I caught up with him… I actually followed him up the avocado tree and took some more photos.
And my last discovery of the day was this spider – dead – or acting. I’m not in the mood to search for the name of this spider. But I will say I’m glad these things are smaller than us – look at those fangs – and all those eyes.
I came across some spiders on Sunday. The first one I found in the early hours of mid-afternoon. It is a Green Lynx Spider; named so due to its cat like pounce when it goes in for the kill. It doesn’t spin a web, it just blends in with the leaves and waits for the opportunity. It will use it’s silk for a dragline when jumping from place to place, sorta like Spiderman.
Green Lynx Spider
This spider is good to have around in the garden; it likes to eat the insects that eat your plants, but not that good because it will also eat the bugs you do want around your plants – like bees… It’s a really cool spider. I really love those long spiny legs.
Later in the night I found another Spider. An Orb Spider. I think it’s a Tropical Orb Spider. Orb spiders get their name due to the shape of their web. They set up a new web each night in the same general area as the previous web. During the day you can find them hiding out under leaves.
Google Voice Transription:A man beating the morning. Just I get there. Thank you. Bye. God has been extended not going to post a sleep and Hey Shaun, Wright, it’s Matty mate, I am out of banana happened. Mining think about it for this Saturday and I sent them up on it and I’m coming up in tanks.
I picked some fresh Ghost Peppers (Bhut Jolokia) from the greenhouse at TREC today. I had a taste of some salsa that was made with these peppers… The salsa was diluted a bit, but when I tried it I had a small flashback of the time I ate 3 Scotch Bonnetts for $15.
Scoville scale is a measurement of the spicy heat…
I’m just sitting here at my computer (yes, I can afford to have my own personal computer, but that doesn’t mean I’m rich), when all of a sudden I hear a really loud POP! What was it? It sounded like a mix between a gunshot and a firecracker. It sounded like it came from right in front of me. It was a spent AA Duracell battery, next to my keyboard. The bottom popped open, but no acid came out. What the hell, Duracell? If I were in poorer health, I could’ve had a heart attack. Shortly after, and not too long ago, I had some traditional M&M’s Chocolate Candy in order to ease my increased heart rate. This is all very true; I kid you not.
Grant and I went to the Smoky Mountains last week. Some photos will help tell the tale. Some photos are mine, some are Grants.
On the way, we camped at a park on the St. John’s River in Jacksonville, Fl.
Photo: Grant
We went to Waffle House. This is Grant’s breakfast. Mine was the same minus the orange juice and the lump of butter.
Photo: Grant
Our next destination was Asheville, NC. But we had to stop in Savannah, GA because there is a really good candy shop called River Street Sweets (It’s on River Street, FYI). I needed some chocolate.
Photo: Me
Photo: Me
Photo: Me
We made it to Asheville, and stayed with my x-roommate, Tamara, in the place I once lived for a short period of time.
Photo: Grant
Photo: Grant
Photo: Grant
Before all the wilderness and hiking, we had to get some pizza. Maybe my most favorite thing about Asheville is the Mellow Mushroom. They serve up some of the best pizza I have ever had. There are a few other Mellow Mushrooms in a few different cities, but none are as good as Asheville’s; trust me, I’ve tried them.
We had a pizza called: Magical Mystery Tour with feta cheese, spinach, button & portabello mushroom, jalapeno, and we added jerk chicken.
Photo: Grant
The next morning we went to Pisgah Forest in North Carolina. We hiked a 4.4 mile trail up a mountain, in and out of the rain. After that we made our way to Tennessee into the Great Smoky Mountains. We explored some creeks and some mountain streams. We hiked a few trails. The main hike we did was a 2.8 mile hike up to the Alum Cave Bluff… I’ll leave you with a few slide shows…
Fortress of Solitude in the workplace. Constructed of recycled corrogated cardboard boxes. It’s purpose is to be a dark Quiet place to clear your mind when the mind needs clearing. However, Within these castle walls are two standard electrical outlets as well as 4 Ethernet hookups for Internet, if you need them. It can be your fortress of solitude for $10/hour for the first month. Please inquire about reservations.
