Invertebrate Highlights for the Year
Greetings!
One of the things that makes working in a nursery and a large garden so exciting are the incredible numbers of exciting invertebrates that are extremely important elements of our ecology. In short, these critters help make it possible for us to enjoy plants. I've included pictures of the most photogenic ones encountered in the garden over the last twelve months and have written brief captions including the date. They are common to the Houston area but may not seem highly visible unless one spends a fair amount of time outside. Should you encounter any of these, please don't panic or grab a can of insect killer. They all go about their daily lives without any interest whatsoever in people, though a few might defend themselves if disturbed. Especially fearsome looking is the wolf spider which in the photo is shown with hundreds of its tiny babies clinging to it. A short time after this photo the babies abandoned their mother to brave the wilds under the mist bench (used for propagating cuttings) and were most likely eaten by resident lizards. The wolf spider makes no web. It runs down its prey which are typically small insects. Not overly fearsome looking but definitely one to stay away from is the southern flannel moth larva. Even brief contact with skin can cause severe flu-like symptoms and allergic reactions. It is usually found in trees such as oaks, elms and willows.
Happy gardening,
