Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Spider Bite!

One of the hazards we gardeners face is being bitten by insects, specifically in my case, a spider!

Ironically, I was not gardening but tending to our pool when the incident occurred. I never saw it coming and by the time I realized I had been bitten the offender was long gone. I was left with two sets of fang marks on my toe which burned and itched.

My husband hunted around the pool and finally discovered a possible suspect: a green lynx spider. It looks scary enough, but is supposedly harmless (see here for further info).

A little blister developed at the site of the fang marks and itched for about 3 days. The blisters resolved and a week later look like tiny scabs. I have some numbness and tingling limited to the area around the bite (which is not an official reported symptom, but I'm reporting it now!). I think I can safely now say I will not need to have my toe amputated! Whew!

Monday, August 9, 2010

June Bugs!

Here is a picture of my little one with a June Bug. There was a small swarm of them flying low to the ground, which he chased. They kept him entertained for almost an hour!

The June Bug beetle, Cotinis nitida, is a member of the scarab family. The adult beetle is harmless and causes minimal damage to foliage. It's the grub, though, which causes damage to lawns. Look here and here for more info on June Bugs.
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