After the sun sets a whole another crew comes out. So I got out my trusty UV torch in search of the glowing creatures!
Of course, you probably know about the glowing scorpions.
Many grasshoppers do as well!
Millepedes! Legs are paired in two’s on each segment on millipedes. In contrast, centipedes only have one leg on each side per segment.
A stop at the Arkansas Yucca reveals the glowing tips of stamen!
One of reasons I went out was to see how many cats I could find. A Monarch was not on the milkweed. Instead it was on nearby grass like I had seen it doing in the daylight.
Woolly Gray (Lycia ypsilon) was easily located on the Hackberry tree.
It is now part the Curry Foster Home program. 🙂
This cutie was hanging from a silk on a Post Oak. Also now a member at the Curry Foster Home. What can I say, I am a larvae hoarder. LOL
White-dotted Prominent (Nadata gibbosa)! I love to watch the pulsing fluid.
This cat was a surprise. I believe it was a hairstreak larva. Possibly even a Gray Hairstreak. The surprise wasn’t that it was a hairstreak but that I found it on a thistle (Cirsium).
Shining a flashlight on it. I tried to bring it home, but it fell into the deep grass. I could not re-locate it. ;-(
So by now you are wondering about the title “A Close Encounter”. Spoiler alert…no photo. ;-( While I was out with just the UV light on and bent down, I saw out of the corner of my eye a movement. First thought was a kitty cat. Hold on! Ambling within four feet from me was a skunk! Indeed, it took me a moment to process this. The skunk moved quickly away before I could get the camera focused. And it disappeared into the darkness. Oh well, at least I didn’t need a tomato juice bath. LOL
Keep looking!
The more you know, the more you see and the more you see, the more you know.
12 Comments
Oh my that was close!
Your big headed fellow is neat with how translucent it is.
The uv light sure is fun eh? Sure glad you didn’t need a tomato juice bath because in my experience it doesn’t work very well on dogs so you might have had to sleep outside.😄
We had a skunk encounter a couple of times at certain set of campsites in the Davis Mountains this Spring Break and a Thanksgiving in 2021. Walked right under the picnic table while I was sitting there! Very worrisome!
I’ll have to drag my UV light out sometime and wander around my yard.
Oh my that was close!
Your big headed fellow is neat with how translucent it is.
I have noticed that a lot of the light green cats you can see the inners.
The uv light sure is fun eh? Sure glad you didn’t need a tomato juice bath because in my experience it doesn’t work very well on dogs so you might have had to sleep outside.😄
Yeah Rosie got into the skunks so often i found just regular Dawn worked best. And yes it crossed my mind that jim might want me stay out outside 😂
Night exploring – so much fun and such cool finds. Glad the skunk slunk away!
Good one😂😂
Ha ha Jeanne. A skunk slunk ten times real fast😄
Judy, that is tongue twister😂😂😂
We had a skunk encounter a couple of times at certain set of campsites in the Davis Mountains this Spring Break and a Thanksgiving in 2021. Walked right under the picnic table while I was sitting there! Very worrisome!
I’ll have to drag my UV light out sometime and wander around my yard.
UV lights are so enlightening 😂 Actually brought mine for lichens. Glad your skunk encounter was not stinky too.
I think they only spray when frightened.
Hahaha!!