Blame the Mosquitoes

Blame the Mosquitoes

I’ve been considering putting up a tented gazebo for a few years. The reason being that we couldn’t sit out on our back patio due to the mosquitoes. It’s almost as if they are waiting for us to come out and settle in our chairs. Then it’s a free-for-all. They buzz around our ears, land on our arms, and have a snack. We used to be able to go out mid-day without worrying because mosquitoes would only be around early morning or at sundown; not any more. They are now out all day long.

We tried citronella plants and candles but the mosquitoes seem to laugh at that. I’ve worn wristbands that claim to ward off mosquitoes that didn’t work either. I’ve sprayed and rubbed – without luck.

So this year we bought a gazebo kit and put it together. It sits quietly in our backyard, hardly noticeable, and provides a peaceful place to be outdoors without being bitten. It actually surprises me that the mosquitoes haven’t pushed their way inside, as the netting is not bug tight. Occasionally a fly ventures inside and we do see spiders now and then. Perhaps mosquitoes need a more intimate connection with our bodies; they react to the carbon dioxide we exhale and to our body odors and temperature, but whatever the reason, so far we have been enjoying our primitive outdoor haven.

What do we do there? We read or chat, sometimes nap, but mostly we observe. There is a sense of calm within the netting, almost as if we are invisible to the outside world. Birds chirp around us. They walk right near the gazebo, closer to us than they would if we were more visible on the patio, pecking at the ground for seeds. Squirrels frolic in their mating dances; it’s like having a ballet company for our own pleasure. But even if nothing is happening, there is serenity there among the hedges and trees as if we are in a tree house without the height.

Will it last through the winter? I don’t know. Whatever happens, it is a delight right now. I blame the mosquitoes for making it necessary but I am grateful for the experience. In a way it’s a reminder of the fun we had in our camping days, communing with nature and removing ourselves from the bustle of everyday life. We feel ourselves let go as we sit there, enjoying the mosquito-free respite in our backyard.

Mosquito info:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/mosquito/ 

Want to try some natural mosquito repellents?:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/know-how_Outdoor-Living_home-remedies-to-get-rid-of-mosquitos

Try these suggestions to keep the newly introduced tiger mosquitoes at bay:

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pctigermosquito.htm

Spiders Have Their Place

Spiders Have Their Place

Spiders are not my favorite creatures. Perhaps this is because I was bitten by one long ago and never forgot the experience. Having admitted that, I have to go on to say that every creature has its place on earth and spiders are no exception.

One of the great things about spiders is that they eat mosquitoes. Considering how the mosquito population has exploded in recent years, this is a reason to celebrate the hairy/speckled/crawly species. Spiders actually eat thousands of insects that can plague your garden and/or home. They are much greener than chemical sprays as an insect repellent.

Even though spotting a spider makes me nervous, spiders, themselves, tend to be shy. If you don’t bother them, chances are they will leave you alone. They usually won’t bite unless they feel threatened. They keep a low profile and keep away from confrontation if possible. So it’s a good thing I tend to keep out of their way. But sometimes a spider will be visible, as this one was. It was spinning a web between the buddleia and hydrangea bushes right outside my dining room window. It was fascinating to watch. The silk thread was so fine that the spider seemed suspended in mid-air. Back and forth the arachnid went, creating a geometric grid so delicate it was hardly noticeable.

I think the spider I saw was an orb spider but I can’t be sure (anyone know?) because there are so many variations. Perhaps the diversity is one reason that spiders have been mythologized. Creation stories and folktales abound; Charlotte and her web are classic. I believe that variety is something to be appreciated. Perhaps I need to broaden my belief to include spiders.

So much to know about spiders:

http://www.wildernesscollege.com/identify-spiders.html

Just as much to disregard about spiders:

http://www.burkemuseum.org/spidermyth/ 

How to tell an arachnid from an insect:

http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=248247

Wasp Nest!

Wasp Nest!

I was walking past the bushes in front of our house when I noticed an insect flying into the bush on the end. What was it? A small, black insect with yellow stripes across its lower body. A wasp!

I started paying more attention to the bush. Other wasps flew inside. Some flew out. There was quite a lot of activity. When I looked closer I saw something gray inside. It was a huge nest!  I passed that bush every day; how could I have missed it?

We’ve had wasps starting to build nests before, usually in the corner by our garage where they were visible and easy to eliminate while still small. But this nest, hidden as it was, went undetected and housed lots of wasps.

The nest that wasps build is papery, made from fiber the insects collect; snippets from man-made paper products such as paper bags or cardboard boxes, scrapings from the bark of trees. The insect then chews the fiber and mixes it with saliva. This makes the fiber extremely soft and moist. After a period of chewing, the wasp adds the paste to the nest structure and spreads it out with its mandibles and legs. After it thoroughly dries; a type of tough, durable paper is formed. Voila! An incredible nest.

While I was obsessing over what to do about it, my husband went out and sprayed it. A few wasps flew in and out but the activity pretty much stopped. Two days later, when I looked into the bush, I saw that the nest had split apart and the wasps were gone. I can’t say that I was sorry to see the end of the nest and its inhabitants - I remember being stung by one of those little guys and it wasn’t fun. But every creature has its value and these seem to be good pest controllers. I was torn between fear of being stung by wasps and the nuisance of being bitten by mosquitoes. The mosquitoes won – and I have the welts to prove it.

A close look at a wasp and some info about its nest building:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/wasp/