First Guy: What is it?
Second Guy: I don't know! What do you think it is?
First Guy: I don't know but don't touch it!
So I was out watering the plants and I looked up into the tree that sits on my neighbor's property but hangs over my yard. My pal Harry the Squirrel is usually up there at sunset and I make sure to throw him extra food.
Well No Harry - but look what I did find.
The glowy white orb (I'm so dramatic) in the midst of the greenest part of the tree.
first close-up
I left the sunset lighting alone but I softened the sky directly behind the web to get rid of added glare.
This was as close as I could get and still keep clarity, look at all the stuff in there - leaves and those little dry things we called 'itchy balls' as kids.
I wonder of that is the start of THIS
I dunno Dianne, but from my perspective, it seems to resemble more so a gypsy moth infestation. We've had them around here for several years now, although this year, it doesn't seem to be as wide-spread as it has been in the past. They're nasty little buggers -eat the trees down to bare bones.
ReplyDeleteOh crap Jeni! It just looks so web like! I can't find a photo of gypsy moth egg larve - I did find something that said they cover the eggs in hair like 'something' - and then I got a headache!
ReplyDeleteI was happier when I thought Spidey was coming for me ;)
Go here -
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gardengrapevine.com/WebWorms.html
See if that is what it is. j
Yuck..they look like the webworm thing that Jay posted...YUCKY
ReplyDeleteEwwwwww
ReplyDeleteAnd that link you posted? That looks like something straight out of a science fiction movie.
It does look like gypsy moth material, I'm afraid...
ReplyDeleteBut Dianne, how I appreciate your imagination! And wow - that article is amazing!
yuk, gives me the creeps.
ReplyDeleteEeeeeewwwwwwww..... Probably tent caterpillars. That's the biggest creepiest web I've seen, though. Cool photos. And I repeat. Eeeeeewwwwwww.
ReplyDeleteLooks the Gypsy Moth nests that plagued us for years, call the county environmental agency, or cut the nest down and burn it. They are destructive to habitat for native species.
ReplyDeleteUhh good post though.
I don't know what it is, but it looks tasty. Cheers Di!!
ReplyDeletemr. simser - that looks EXACTLY like it! thanks for the link
ReplyDeleterambling woods - yes they do!! and yucky just about describes it.
jay - that giant spider web is what got me started. I didn't think this thing in my tree really was a web but there are so many spiders this year and it has rained a lot - and well ya know how my mind goes.
pagan - you're back!! Yay! lol
glad you enjoyed the post and article, now if only I could imagine this thing away.
queen size funny bone - I was fascinated last night, now yes - my skin is crawling.
raven - yes maybe those too although I haven't seen any caterpillars this year and usually I do. Maybe they're ALL in there and will drop down on me one fine evening. Lord I am creeping myself out.
mark - if I burn the nest could I set fire to a few neighbors at the same time!? in the interest of the enviorns of course! actually we have a tree guy. I'm going to call him first, the county is useless and the township makes the county seem responsive.
matt-man - always comic relief! in that last photo I was thinking it looks like the 'package' - the 'junk' of some prehistoric creature. I felt silly saying that but you always bring out that side of me - thanks!!
I'm with Jay and Raven - Ewwwwwwww
ReplyDeleteCreepy all right, but tent catepillars don't really hurt people (unless you count second--hand crop damage). But that link to Texas...massive web (oh, I don't want to be around for my dreams tonight!) created by several species acting together (aiiiieee). Please, don't let this be the start of a new spider trend. You might as well just shoot me now...
ReplyDeletebobbie - I heard a big 'ewwwww' sound coming up the parkway. was that you!? ;)
ReplyDeletedeborah - that web in Texas was over a year ago and as best as I can find nothing much happened after that - although the spiders did kill a lot of mosquitos which was a good thing since there was an explosion of the mosquito population that summer. So rest better! The spiders did a good thing and then they went away :)
I think Jay Simser got it right. Those are really creepy. I remember being creeped out by the tent caterpillars as a kid. I saw a couple of tents around my yard this year but very small ones.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I hope you can make them go away so you don't have to worry about them or feel like you have to walk outside in armor with an umbrella. (As you can tell, I don't do well with bugs...)
Oh no. I have a spider fobia. I checked out the link you provided and almost fainted. Oh no, please don't let them come in my yard :o)
ReplyDeleteOoooer Dianne, that looks a bit creepy to me. :0
ReplyDeleteraven - would you believe my county has a 'tree commission' - they agreed via phone that it sounds like web worms and the 'resident tree expert' is going to looking at the photos I e-mailed and call me back.
ReplyDeleteI'm really only freaked out because of concern for the trees. I love bugs lol
ivanhoe - don't worry! not spiders - web worms! somehow that doesn't sound better does it?
akelamalu - I KNOW!! lol
ReplyDeleteJust don't get caught inside it, okay? That link was disturbing but very cool.
ReplyDeleteEEEK. I followed that link, it was scary. Whatever it is I don't like it!
ReplyDeleteHopefully it is not gypsy moths because they are so incredibly destructive...
ReplyDeleteLet us know
eeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww ... now I fear that Harry is in that ... yuck ... feh ...
ReplyDeleteI am so not a spider liker ..
:-Daryl
I was gonna say ewwwww..but there were already so many ewwwws, so I'll say yucka-bucka! Looks like tent caterpillars to me, had that problem here at the farm for a while, had to fight like heck to get rid of them - they really did a nasty number on some of my trees. I grrrrrr just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteknight - but what if it's a portal to another realm where I might be goddess!?
ReplyDeletecg - actually it's pretty disgusting looking in the glare of noon sun, last night at sunset it had as much more benign glow.
bond - the 'tree commision' said it is definitely not gyspy moths just from my description but I have e-mailed my photos to the 'resident expert' and he will call me back.
daryl - Harry is fine! thanks for worrying about him ;)
he was out there first thing in the AM running back and forth the entire length of the fence while Siren sits in the window and goes nuts.
shelly - some things can never have too many ewwws ;)
it appears to be web worms as jay simser suggested - the photo on the link he sent me and my photos are identical but the tree guy is going to confirm it today.
Cooperative spiders... ! Mmmm.
ReplyDeleteHave you read 'Web' by John Wyndham ?
Be afraid... as they say. :)
Harry the Squirrel better watch out or he'll end up in that thing!
ReplyDeleteHa! No one else has given it to you yet! Stop by my blog!
ReplyDeleteGiant webs & itchy balls? Please light it on fire, hose it down, stomp on it, and bury it in a hole. It could be a cocoon for Mothra or a Tom Cruise clone.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being my guardian angel, Sweetpea, I love ya :)
An orb of arthropods...More power to them as they trap and eliminate much flying vermin...I do not like 'skeeters, yellow jackets and flies and if this fluffy thing catches these pests, I'm all for it!
ReplyDeleteYa know...
ReplyDeleteIt freaking AMAZES me how spider webs are like a complete contradiction...
Their so delicate and transparent, yet at the same time, their STRONGER than HELL!
(look at all that shit in there!?!?)
Great photo's Dianne!
P.S. Hey...and I really love your Blog Mascot photo!!! Good going Kimmie!
ReplyDeleteThat is really fascinating...! And I love what you dd to help us see it better....I have never seen anything quite like it! It ia very much like a Cacoon, isn't it? And there looks to be a whole lot going on inside there, too!
ReplyDeleteFABULOUS! I hope you will keep documenting it...This is quite something!
I don't know what going on but the photos are awesome!
ReplyDeletethose are web worms..yuck!
ReplyDeleteWE had a bad infestation here a few years back. They spread and kill off the trees. You really need to get someone up in that tree and cut that whole branch off. Seriously!
Great pictures of it though. Wow!
Dear Dianne,
ReplyDeleteIf that glowing orb turns into THAT, you are welcome to come live with me. Because I know that I would CERTAINLY have to abandon my house and all my stuff to get away from it. :)
Ewwww.
Love,
ETK (actually you can come live with me anytime, I just got an even BIGGER purse)
aileni - I haven't read 'Web' but I'm going to now! ;)
ReplyDeleteleighann - I have warned Harry and he always listens to me.
pagan - I'll be over as soon as the coffee brews :)
jo - I love it when you call me sweetpea! Funny - itchy balls always makes me think of Tom Cruise - or was that sweaty balls?
ralph - finally someone else who admires the contributions of spiders as much as I do!
ron - there's all kinds of stuff in there, I looked for my car keys!
and thanks - I love my Fork Goddess - yay kimmie :)
oldold lady of the hills - I'm glad you found this interesting :) - I'm fascinated by everything Mother Nature is up to.
roger - thanks!! that made me so happy
tt - I know sweetie - the tree guy just left, I'm going to post about it with my Ruby Tuesday. thanks kid.
etk - thanks sweet girl. I must say that at one point that orb was calling to me but it wouldn't tell me what it wanted.
Yeah these are pretty gross. We had a ton of them this year and my husband was nice enough to get them off the trees that hung over our vehicles. Nasty little creepy crawlers.
ReplyDeleteOh that would totally freak me out! I am glad you found out what it is. And the link....absolutely one of the most frightening "real" photos I have ever seen. I do not like spiders at all! Ick!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Kimmie
Oh, I was going to say gypsy moth as well. I remember my dad would get those cases and burn them in gasoline when we lived in Connecticut. (scary)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got some answers to your questions though!
onangelwings - the tree expert said it's early for them to be out but it has been a very wet summer.
ReplyDeletekimmie - I do understand the fear of creepy crawlers but I love spiders - just think of Charlotte, she was a good girl :)
mrs c - a lot of people around here thought it was gypsy moths. the thing that amazes me is no one said or did anything. apparently it had been hanging there for days and days!! I don't get people - all waiting for someone else to do something.
That first photo - I love it! Creepy and cool. :D
ReplyDeleteaskew - I like that first shot too! when I looked at it later I couldn't believe the damn thing glowed!!
ReplyDelete