Another Death and a Big Green Critter

Ok this makes the 5th death in two weeks...can we get a break?? Three of the deaths were relatives of my co-workers...then of course Davis' Papaw that I already blogged about...then on my way home from Awana tonight I learned that Duffer lost his papaw today.

It was his mother's father who lived in Rogersville and he was 84. We don't have many details since he just died today. Duffer is doing okay but this was the only living grandparent he had left! How sad is that??? I will post more when I know more.

About the green critter...this is how we stumbled upon him. I was picking the kids up from daycare and they kept yelling for Susan and I to look at this caterpillar. We didn't make a big deal of it since we have seen hundreds before. But when we finally looked it was the biggest ugliest creature I had ever seen!!! Since I had my camera in the car, I had to take some photos so we could figure out what it was. Here are my pictures...(which BTW are 10 times better than the one from the Net!!!)




Then Duffer found this on the Internet...maybe he is sick since he is so faded...or just spent too much time out in the sun...hahaha.

Cecropia moth

Full-grown cecropia moth caterpillars are 3 to 4 inches long. The most distinguishing feature of this caterpillar is the prominent "knobs" arising from the pea-green body. On two of the thoracic segments is a pair of orange-red knobs arising dorsally. Each knob is covered with several small black spines or tubercles. On each abdominal segment the dorsal pair of knobs is smaller and yellow in color. Small black bristles are also found on these knobs. On both lateral sides of the body, the knobs are light blue; the thoracic knobs are larger than the abdominal knobs. Both have small black bristles. Between these lateral pairs of blue knobs on each abdominal segment is a light blue, oval-shaped spiracle. The thoracic legs and abdominal prolegs are yellow-green. Common host plants in Missouri include apple, maple, walnut, willow, elm, poplar, ash, plum, box elder, cherry and lilac.

Royal moths and silkworm moths of the Saturniidae family include many of the largest and most colorful moths in North America and the world. These large caterpillar species are usually not considered pests. Although a single individual can consume relatively large amounts of foliage, their numbers rarely reach levels that would warrant control. But there are a few species that can do significant damage to many forest tree species. Upon completing their larval development, most saturniid caterpillars will pupate in large, tough silken cocoons usually attached to twigs or leaves or found on the ground. Many species have only one generation per year.

I know that may be boring to most, but I found it quite interesting considering I am 33 years old and never seen one before!!

Tonight Awana began and Rylee was super cute in Cubbies for the first time. (Duffer stayed home because his stomach has been upset all day.) Jett thought he was big time in Sparks for the first time and Davis mosied on up to Pioneers. Ahhhh, my kids are growing up way too fast for me!!

Time for bed...4:20am comes all too early!!!