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Bug Blog Archives for Anecdotes

Every year I write at least one anecdote to offer some levity to the otherwise dry subject of biocontrol and integrated pest management. These anecdotes are meant to make you smile, as well as deliver a subtle educational message. I really enjoy writing these; to imagine and produce — it’s fun. Normally the annual story goes in our catalog, but this year we left it out. It is right here so it wasn’t forgotten — just trying to save paper and printing costs. Enjoy:

Continue reading “Why Spend Millions?” »

6:42 AM (2806-A) —

We got a call from a distraught mother moth at 312 County Road. Apparently she had laid some eggs on an orchard tree then moved on to do the same on another tree when she heard a strange buzzing sound behind her. She turned quickly but she was too late. The eggs she had just laid were being injected with the eggs of the perpetrator. The perp was described as a very small 1.5mm, tan and yellow female that appeared to be some sort of wasp-looking creature. We responded and dusted for prints but there were none to be found. We did find evidence in the form of tiny holes in the eggs and we could see a dark spherical shapes inside. With the permission of the mother two eggs were brought back to the forensics lab. Complete lab analysis will be completed in about two weeks according to the pathologist on duty. There is an APB out for the perp.

Continue reading “Crimes in the Country” »

“Alright maggots,” the Drill Sergeant shouted.

“Let’s get a move on… hut-two-three-four. March dammit! Stop bouncing, dress it up ladies!”

Cruel? No. This is everyday life at Aphid Basic Training. It’s still on a volunteer basis, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy. The scene described is from Sgt. O’Hara’s barracks. His platoon is being marched to the mess hall. Today they run the obstacle course to see if the troops put to use everything they’ve learned so far and are ready to graduate out of this hell.

Continue reading “Aphid Boot Camp” »

I awoke with a start. I’m not a light sleeper, but the loud “pop” I heard was enough to rouse me. I had to see what it was so I swung my legs off the bed and made my way to the open window. Below my bedroom window I have a nice garden, neat rows, great plants, all organic. I strained my eyes in the darkness but couldn’t really make out anything out of the ordinary. Well, there was one thing: There seemed to be a congregation of lightning bugs. They were over by the squash plants. Bugs do weird things so I didn’t make much of it. The bed was calling me so I surrendered myself to sleepiness. By morning all was forgotten.

Continue reading “Bug World” »

I was expelled in a river of foam when I was just an egg. It was mom’s deal, I was just along for the ride. I wasn’t alone. I was riding along with at least a couple hundred other eggs. There wasn’t a lot of chatter; we were a sedate bunch. It was good to flex for a bit, that much I remember. Then the foam began to harden and none of us could flex any more. Oh, well, it was fun while it lasted, even though it didn’t exactly push the fun envelope very far. I remember this time so well because the period that followed was pretty damn boring. Like it wasn’t bad enough that we couldn’t move, it started getting cold. Real cold. Freezing. Our minds began to numb, and they seemed to mostly stay that way for an eternity — what seemed like it, anyway. Maybe it was just a few months.

Continue reading “An Autobiography by the Rev. Jim Mantid” »

The design is brilliant. Nearly impossible to replicate. And tampering with it, well that’s just plain dangerous. The names have been made up, but the activity goes on and on. In the garden, the greenhouse, the field, everywhere. She’s workin’ hard.

Creeping along silently, the spotted plant bug nymph crept closer to the garden rows. Sensing the air, tasting his way to the goodness of the garden, the plant bug moved in for the kill.

Continue reading “The Garden Wilds” »