#tree insect control

[treedoctorusasworld]

Comprehensive Guide to Boring Beetles Treatment

Boring beetles, also known as wood-boring insects, are some of the most destructive pests to trees and wooden structures. These beetles infest trees, weakening their structural integrity and sometimes leading to tree death. Their presence poses a significant challenge to homeowners and landscapers alike. This guide will provide essential information about boring beetles, their effects on trees, and effective treatment strategies to protect your trees from this menace.

Understanding Boring Beetles

Boring beetles are a diverse group of insects that include species such as bark beetles, longhorn beetles, and powderpost beetles. These insects bore into the wood to feed or lay eggs, disrupting the tree’s vascular system and creating tunnels within the wood. Their activity can weaken trees, making them vulnerable to other pests, diseases, and environmental stressors.

Boring beetles target both healthy and stressed trees. However, trees that are weakened by drought, poor soil conditions, or previous infestations are more susceptible. Once they infest a tree, their activity is often accompanied by telltale signs such as exit holes, sawdust-like frass, or sap bleeding from the trunk or branches.

Signs of Boring Beetle Infestation

Detecting an infestation early is crucial for effective management. Key signs of boring beetles include:

Small, round exit holes on the tree trunk or branches.

Sawdust-like material (frass) accumulating around the base of the tree or on surfaces beneath it.

Sap oozing from entry points or cracks in the bark.

Yellowing, wilting, or dying foliage on affected branches.

Weakened limbs that are more prone to breaking during storms.

In advanced infestations, you may notice sections of the tree dying off or the entire tree succumbing to structural damage caused by the beetles' tunneling activity.

The Lifecycle of Boring Beetles

Boring beetles typically have a multi-stage lifecycle that includes eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. Female beetles lay their eggs in cracks or crevices in the bark. Once hatched, the larvae tunnel into the wood, feeding on it as they grow. This stage causes the most damage to trees, as larvae create extensive networks of galleries inside the wood.

After pupation, adult beetles emerge, leaving behind the characteristic exit holes. Adults may continue to feed on the tree's surface or nearby vegetation before mating and starting the cycle anew. Understanding this lifecycle is critical to timing treatments effectively.

Why Boring Beetles are Harmful

The damage caused by boring beetles extends beyond the physical destruction of wood. Their tunneling disrupts the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, leading to weakened growth and eventual death if untreated. Infested trees become safety hazards due to weakened branches or trunks that may fall unexpectedly. Additionally, boring beetles often introduce fungal pathogens that further compromise the tree’s health.

In ornamental landscapes, the aesthetic value of trees can be severely diminished. Infestations can also spread to nearby healthy trees, creating a widespread problem that is costly and challenging to manage.

Effective Treatment Options

Managing boring beetle infestations requires a multi-faceted approach that includes preventive measures, targeted treatments, and long-term care strategies. Below are the key methods used to combat boring beetles:

1. Pruning and Removal

Pruning infested branches is often the first step in managing boring beetles. Removing affected limbs can help contain the infestation and prevent beetles from spreading to other parts of the tree or nearby trees. Severely infested trees that cannot be saved may need to be removed entirely to protect the surrounding landscape.

2. Insecticides

Systemic insecticides are highly effective in controlling boring beetles, especially during the early stages of infestation. These chemicals are absorbed by the tree and distributed through its vascular system, targeting beetles as they feed. Timing is critical; applications should be timed to coincide with the active feeding stages of larvae or adult beetles.

Contact insecticides can also be used to treat the bark and entry points. These are particularly effective during the emergence of adult beetles when they are most exposed. Always follow label instructions and consider professional application to ensure safety and effectiveness.

3. Horticultural Oils

Horticultural oils can suffocate beetle larvae and disrupt their lifecycle. These oils are typically applied to the bark and branches, creating a barrier that prevents eggs from hatching and larvae from feeding. This method is most effective as a preventive measure or in the early stages of infestation.

4. Biological Control

Encouraging the presence of natural predators, such as birds, parasitic wasps, and beneficial nematodes, can help reduce beetle populations. These biological agents target boring beetles without harming the tree or the surrounding ecosystem.

Preventing Boring Beetle Infestations

Preventive care is essential for minimizing the risk of boring beetle infestations. Healthy trees are better equipped to resist pests, so focus on maintaining optimal tree health. Regular watering, mulching, and proper fertilization can help trees withstand environmental stressors and reduce their susceptibility to beetles.

Inspect trees regularly for early signs of infestation. Catching the problem early allows for targeted treatments before the infestation spreads. Avoid wounding trees during landscaping activities, as damaged bark can attract boring beetles.

Properly spacing trees during planting promotes good air circulation and reduces competition for resources, further improving tree health. In areas prone to boring beetles, preventive insecticide treatments may be warranted during peak beetle activity periods.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Failing to address infestations promptly can result in significant damage. Ignoring signs of boring beetles or delaying treatment allows the infestation to worsen and spread to other trees. Overusing chemical treatments can harm beneficial insects and lead to environmental contamination. Ensure treatments are applied correctly and only when necessary.

Another common mistake is neglecting follow-up care. Even after treating an infestation, continued monitoring and maintenance are essential to ensure the tree recovers fully and to prevent reinfestation. Improper pruning techniques can further stress trees, so always use sterilized tools and make clean cuts.

Professional Tree Care Services

While DIY methods can manage minor infestations, professional tree care services offer the expertise and resources needed to handle severe cases effectively. Arborists can accurately diagnose the extent of the infestation and recommend tailored solutions. They also have access to specialized equipment and treatments that are not available to homeowners.

Why Choose Tree Doctor USA?

At Tree Doctor USA, we are committed to protecting your trees from boring beetles and other pests. Our certified arborists use eco-friendly and effective treatments to ensure the health and longevity of your trees. We provide comprehensive care, from preventive measures to advanced treatment strategies, tailored to your specific needs. Contact Tree Doctor USA today for expert assistance with boring beetle treatment. Visit our website at Tree Doctor USA to learn more and schedule a consultation. Safeguard your trees and preserve the beauty of your landscape with our trusted services.

[mrgcalgary]

Tree Insect Control Calgary: Simple Ways to Protect Your Trees from Pests

Trees are an important part of any yard or park. They provide shade, improve the environment, and make your property look beautiful. However, trees can be harmed by pests that weaken them or even cause them to die. To keep your trees healthy, it’s important to use tree insect control Calgary services. By taking the right steps to protect your trees from pests, you can help them grow strong and live longer. 

Why Tree Insect Control is Important 

Tree pests, such as aphids, beetles, caterpillars, and borers, can cause a lot of damage to trees. These pests eat leaves, bark, and even the wood of the tree, which can lead to serious problems. If left untreated, insect infestations can weaken the tree and make it easier for diseases to set in. 

Here are some of the main reasons why tree insect control Calgary is important: 

- Insects can stop trees from making food through photosynthesis. 

- Pests can cause leaves to turn yellow, wilt, or fall off early. 

- Bugs can create small openings in the tree bark, which makes trees more vulnerable to diseases. 

- Severe infestations can kill tree branches or even entire trees. 

By managing insect pests early, you can protect your trees and keep them healthy for many years. 

Ways to Control Tree Insects 

There are different ways to prevent and control insect infestations on your trees. The method you choose depends on the type of pest and the severity of the problem. Here are some of the common approaches used for tree insect control Calgary: 

1. Regular Tree Inspections: The best way to control pests is to check your trees regularly for signs of damage. If you spot a problem early, it’s much easier to treat. Look for things like yellowing leaves, chewed areas, or small holes in the bark. 

2. Insecticide Treatments: Sometimes, using insecticides can help get rid of pests. Systemic insecticides work by being absorbed into the tree and attacking the insects feeding on it. It’s important to apply these treatments at the right time to get the best results. 

3. Biological Control: Another way to control pests is by introducing natural predators like ladybugs, birds, or parasitic wasps. These creatures eat the harmful insects and help keep their numbers down without the use of chemicals. 

4. Pruning and Cleaning Up: If you notice parts of your tree that are infested, pruning those areas can help stop the pests from spreading. Be sure to properly dispose of any infested branches or leaves to prevent further issues. 

5. Maintaining Tree Health: Healthy trees are less likely to be attacked by pests. Make sure your trees get enough water, nutrients, and regular pruning. Strong, healthy trees are better able to fight off insect infestations. 

Best Tree Care Service Calgary: Why You Need Professional Help 

Although you can handle some pest control methods on your own, hiring professionals is often the best way to deal with insect problems. The best tree care service Calgary will have experts who can properly assess your trees, identify the pests, and provide the right treatments. Professionals use safe and effective methods to get rid of pests and keep your trees healthy. 

When you hire the best tree care service Calgary, you can expect: 

- A full inspection of your trees to find any pest problems. 

- Custom insect control solutions designed for your specific tree species. 

- Expert advice on how to maintain your trees and prevent future pest issues. 

- Safe, eco-friendly methods to manage pests and keep your trees healthy. 

Get Help Today with Mr. Green Thumb 

Don’t let tree pest’s damage your beautiful trees. Whether you need urgent pest control or want to prevent future infestations, Mr. Green Thumb offers expert tree insect control Calgary services. We provide the best tree care service Calgary to ensure your trees stay healthy, strong, and free from pests. 

Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment. Let our team of professional’s help you protect your trees and keep your yard looking great year-round! 

[rederiswrites]

Certainly there were times, and maybe there still are places, where simple neglect will allow a disrupted landscape to return to anything resembling a natural state. But here? On the east coast of the US, where we've been destroying habitat and employing high-control, extractive land management, and expanding urban and suburban areas, for four hundred years now, there is very little left of what was.

The chestnuts are gone. The canebrakes are gone. The wetlands remain only where they were least profitable to remove. The elm suffers, the grasslands are obliterated, the old growth is all logged long since.

I've got front row seats for some of what happens if you leave this land alone. The woods are choked by invasive multiflora rose and Japanese honeysuckle. I don't think I've ever seen a native honeysuckle in person. The fields, left to grow, grow nothing but non-native grasses, poison ivy that sets no berries and feeds no birds, invasive Tree of Heaven saplings that poison the soil with their root exudate, and the occasional hardy locust sapling. There are no flowers there, save a few ironweed and asters late in the year.

If I just leave it alone, those things will keep going, native plants long gone from this place will only appear by some miracle, and this landscape will continue to not support many of the plants, animals, and insects once native to this place. It needs my help. (It needs a lot more than just my help, but we'll see). I can't "return it to its natural state", because ecosystems do not have enduring natural states. But I can see that this land supports a far greater density and variety of native species, and I will do that.

[timmydraker]

CW: use of R word

Tim who, as much as he doesn’t want it to be true, is a poster boy for typical Neurodivergence. He’s more logically thinking that emotionally and needs obvious signs of someone’s emotional state that he can put together to understand how he should respond to help them.

But that’s not what bothers him because that doesn’t bother his parents.

Instead it’s his passion, though not in technology and detective work as they quickly found use for that in their business, but for bugs.

Ever since he was a kid Tim has been enamoured by insects and arachnids and even fungi. He would only read books that talked about bugs or had one on the cover, but since it helped him learn to read at a steady pace his parents didn’t mind.

At least, not at first.

When Tim got into coding just so he could make his own little web-journal for all his bug finds, they were happy he was learning how to organise and structure at just six years old, but when he only did those things regarding bugs…

Tim had his first panic attack when he watched his father pick up his terrarium filled with Diapheromera Femorata (Stick bugs) and chucked it into the bin. The glass shattered as the corner his something hard and he was forced to watch his bugs struggle to navigate the glass and rubbish, most of them injured.

His mother had gagged when she saw them and demanded the whole bin be burnt with the bugs still inside.

Tim had been so heart broken, but mostly confused. His parents traveled the world to dig up dirt and old items that were mostly the same yet they didn’t like bugs?

When he asked one his Nanny’s she gave him an answer that he would never forget, “Well, you see… only those people like bugs, y’know? The… special ones, like re-“

Tim never even let himself think of the last word she spoke and from then only forced himself to only focus on his computer work. He still loved photography but now he took photos of skylines and trees, not the beautiful beehive a few yards behind his house or the spider webs that sat between branches like art works. He took photos of Batman and Robin and for a long time that was enough to make his longing bearable.

If he still followed several pages and articles about bugs either a secret email account, that didn’t matter.

His parents were happy with him even if they still made remarks about his ‘stupid little fixation’.

It’s when they are going over the paper work for Bruce to be Tim’s legal guardian while they weren’t home with Tim’s older brothers hanging around as moral support (bodyguards) that his parents mock him.

Janet is signing some paper with a stupidly expensive pen and chatting to no one in particular when she says, “You’re all lucky we killed this nasty little bugs of his so you don’t have to deal with them.”

Everyone else in the room freezes, beside Jack who huffs a laugh and adds, “Good thing we did, he’d probably be more of a retard otherwise- talking about ‘habitats’ and bloody spiders.”

All of the members of the Wayne family are dead quiet as Tim sits there with a clear look of disassociation coming into his eyes. Alfred has a calm look on his face that tells all who know him that he’s furious and Bruce is strikingly similar.

Jason looks ready to attack and Dick isn’t even moving to stop his brother or calm anyone down.

Damian is holding onto Titus’s collar like a lifeline but seems to give the hound some kind of silent order as the usually calm dog begins to growl low and dangerous.

Jack and Janet tense and stare at both dog and master, Jack ordering him to control his dog.

Bruce stands, letting Titus growl and taking the half signed papers and throwing them in the bin, “I changed my mind, I will be taking you to court for full custody of my son. Leave my house now so I may obtain a restraining order.”

Janet genuinely flounders for a moment and begins to shout about outrage and audacity but when Dick sees that Tim is starting to cry he stands up and reminds them that he is a cop before moving to pick up his second youngest brother and leaving the room.

Tim doesn’t hear much else, only muffled shouting and the sound of a door slamming.

He distantly realises he’s in the family room, not the one they use to have guest but the real one with beanbags and a snack draw, and is being cradled by his brothers. Even Damian is beside him, holding onto his hand tightly as they wait for Bruce and Alfred.

Tim sobs into Dicks chest for Alamos a whole hour before settling more, Bruce coming into the room and Jason and Dick reluctantly hand him over to he can be held by their father.

“Tim, chum, it’s alright. We’ve got you.”

The boy in question shakes his head, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I won’t talk about the bugs I promise-“

Bruce squeezes him tighter and kisses his head, “I don’t want that. What I want is to hear about your bugs.”

Stunned, Tim looks up at him with confusion and barely gets his mouth to move enough to ask what he means.

Dick coos from beside him on the next couch and runs a hand through his hair lovingly, “My sweet baby brother we love you, and you love bugs! So of course we want to hear about it. I’m so sorry we didn’t know how they had been treating you but it was wrong. There’s nothing wrong with you, I swear it.”

Tim sniffled, nodding absentmindedly. They gave him a moment for their words to sink in before Damian spoke up, “Timothy, I demand you tell me about your bugs.”

Jason makes a noise and elbows Damian as if to tell him to shut up, probably thinking the other was being rude, but Tim knows his brother well and just smiles. “I can do that, Dami. I… I don’t think you’ll be very interested though.”

Damian scoffs, “I will ignore that statement as it implies I would waste my time with something I don’t care for.”

Bruce smiles at his youngest and holds Tim’s hand, “I agree. Could you maybe tell us about why you like them? Or your favourites?”

It takes him a moment to respond, but when he looks at all their open expressions and gets an encouraging nod from Alfred, he stutters out a response before gradually gaining confidence as they ask genuine questions to his facts and descriptions.

They each make an effort to ask him about bugs, Jason asking a few times if he wants to check out some books that he knows use bugs as symbolism’s and Dick asking if he can tell him the difference between insects and arachnids several times. Damian and Bruce are both a bit more subtle with their support at first, but after a month Tim enters his room to find a giant terrarium with several different sections so he can have multiple bugs that might not get along with each other.

Bruce and Alfred don’t even make any comments or give disapproving looks when Dick and Jason reveal they each got a tattoo of the bug that Tim said he associates with them.

[glamourscat]

୨ৎ Beautiful as...? BLLK edition

BACHIRA, CHIGIRI, BAROU, KAISER, RIN, ISAGI, REO, NAGI, SHIDOU

Bachira: beautiful as a fair carnival

His light and contagious smile can brighten a whole room. His presence, in a way, makes you feel like a child again. Running around and seeing the world through “naive” eyes. Staring off in space taken aback by the bright, colourful lights. High on way too much sugar. Seeing the beauty in life, aware that there are dangers and challenges out there, but for now, not knowing them is better than anything.

Chigiri: beautiful as spring

When the leaves come back, filled with life and green. Bright, vibrant flowers dot the grass. He is a splash of color that persists even on the darkest days, a lingering reminder that “everything will be okay.” The sun will shine again tomorrow.

Reo: beautiful as the ocean

The calm waves, the sea breeze and that distinctive seaside smell. The sand between your toes, the warm embrace of the sun and the cool water wrapping you in a blanket of shivers and warmth at the same time.

Shidou: beautiful as a museum

Different artists, different paintings, different forms of art. A carefully threaded puzzle filled with emotions, explosions of thoughts, liberty, and need. The need to scream, to ensure someone hears it. The need for a revolution. The hope that someone will remember you.

Kaiser: beautiful as a thunderstorm at night

Not everyone likes it, but many still enjoy it. The clouds fill the dark sky, illuminated by occasional flashes of lightning. It can give you chills just as it can give you comfort.

Isagi: beautiful as the moment after it stops raining

The smell lingers in the air, following you wherever you go. The sky starts to open up, grey clouds mixing with white and the sky is turning a lighter shade of blue. The faint sun rays start to poke through, a welcome touch against your cold skin. The few drops of water still present on the leaves of the trees might, or might not, fall on your head as you walk under them.

Nagi: beautiful as heavy snow

That serene feeling of no school, no work, no worries. The streets filled with mountains of snow, cold yet inviting to jump into. At first glance, soft yet hard and firm. Playful and forgiving when it wants to.

Rin: beautiful as a summer night

Nothing is forever. Summer, just as it came, will end too. It’s the feeling of looking out of your window, smelling the scent that’s unique to summer. Hearing the night insects’ serenade in the distance as you look at the stars with nothing particular on your mind. There’s a nostalgia hitting you, you’re not sure why. Your chest feels a bit heavier and emptier at the same time. You find yourself closing your eyes to soak in this feeling.

Barou: beautiful as fire

Destructive in some cases, yet warm and comforting in others. Wild and untamable. You think you have the upper hand but one piece of wood too much and everything is ablaze. Only the most skilled know how to control it. Not tame it, but understand it. Being able to turn the wild, bursting flame into something softer, something that feels like home.

© GLAMOURSCAT (all rights reserved. do not share, modify, translate and re-upload my work outside of tumblr)

[howi99]

A knight second chance 4

Pyrrha: *looking around* ... Where did Jaune go?

Nora: *sucking tree sap like a vampire* 'unno, he 'as he'e a se'on's a'o.

Ren: I think i heard him say something about Ursa.

Pyrrha: *panicking* He could be in danger! Trying to kill them by himself.

Both Ren and Nora looked at her, deadpan

Pyrrha: W-what!?

Nora: Pyrrha, Jaune out-stamina ME during my morning routine WHILE doing twice as much. He might not be as flashy as us, But the guy just doesn't stop!

Ren: *nod* His aura control is immaculate, which is really impressive for someone who didn't have his aura unlocked until initiation.

Pyrrha: H-how... When!?

Nora: Oh he told us in the first two weeks... Wait, we didn't tell you?

Pyrrha: NO! I THOUGHT HE WAS HIDING IT!!

Nora: Eheh... Oups?

___________________________________________

Cardin: *looking at the friendly Jaune ripping the head of the ursa with his bare hands* ... Holy shit, is that why you only go for ring out!?

Jaune: *looking back at Cardin with a smile* Oh it's quite easy actually. You just have to twist the head!

Cardin: ... *Looking at the sap on the ground* And i almost threw that at your teammates as a prank. Thanks GODS i didn't, it could have been dangerous!

Jaune: Especially with rapier wasps.

Cardin: *confused* Rapier wasps? What are you talking about?

Jaune: Wait... You weren't planning on sending rapier wasps on my team?

Cardin: What!? NO! And where would we find those anyway!?

Russel: ... My girlfriend does have a wasp farm.

Cardin: *looking at his friend* WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND!?

Russel: *shrug* Her semblance gives her control over some insects and they are natural predators for most pests. She likes her garden clean.

Dove: Flower or food?

Russel: *turn to Dove* Both. Oh, by the way, she made us blue and blackberry jam!

___________________________________________

Pyrrha: *blushing* ... He barely moved when the ursa rammed into him. He stood his ground like a knight...

Ruby: *slight blush* And the way he just casually decapitated the ursa while continuing to smile, as if to say nothing wrong could happen...

Weiss: *blushing hard, staying silent* ...

[merakiui]

perverse phantasmagoria: a tentacular theatre for the timid.

yandere!azul ashengrotto x (gender neutral) reader cw: yandere, nsfw, unhealthy behaviors/relationship, somnophilia, mentions of death/murder, obsession note - something short to satisfy the craving for shadow monster azul.

The monster under your bed is a marvelous magician.

Most marvelous indeed—for he can ensorcell with all manner of fantastical tricks! In flickering candlelight, shapes shift in shadow—a rabbit hopping to and fro or a bird taking flight in a flurry of feathers. A ship sinking in a sinister sea or a worm wriggling through soil. Illusions waltz upon your wall in a graceful ballet, a comforting distraction meant to soothe you to sleep when you grow somnolent.

You are the only one to witness the magnificence of this tentacular theatre. It is confined within the cubic space that is your bedroom, a nightly display projected onto the walls and ceiling, just beyond the curtains of your creaky four-poster bed. He entertains until you’re properly heavy-eyed, slipping through the slivers of reality into fruitful slumber.

While cradled in a sea of sheets, buoyed by curious, curling limbs, you dream of devilish pleasures—of treacherous temptations so visceral they would certainly scandalize the sisters at the church.

The monster under your bed never utters a word, but you know he is there.

He is cold and calm like Death, yet merciful and mystical like an angel. He carries with him odors of the ocean, enveloping you in his briny embrace every night. Tentacles loop gently around your body, sliding beneath silken nightwear, and he plays in the same skillful way he manipulates shadow. You’re strung along the highs and lows of bodily bliss, rocked gently by a creature who dwells in the darkness.

The monster under your bed does not possess a true form, but he holds bright shallows in his eyes.

Shapeless and transient, wavering through dozens of features, he mesmerizes with his stunning hues. They blink at you in the darkness, twin beacons set into a towering lighthouse. You reach for him, pushing past pitch-black phantasmagoria, and beg to see his face. He swallows all light sources, so you will never truly know if there is anything more to those beautiful blues.

The monster under your bed does not have a name, so you call him Azul. Much like his eyes when they pin you to the bed, the name sticks.

A terrible tempest rages outside, rattling the windows in their frames, battering the glass like bullets, and howling through the trees in a most fearsome gale. You lie in your bed, wide-awake and disturbed, and gaze at the canopy. Lightning cracks across the sky in a violent arc, brightening your room for a single second. The thunder follows, rumbling in deep, foreboding notes. With a shiver, you pull your duvet up to your chin. Fear is encroaching. You steel yourself, steady your pounding heart, and inhale sharply.

The monster under your bed is gentle.

He has never hurt you and you suspect he never will. But he is vindictive, a dangerous force who lurks in forgotten corridors and corners during the day. Though he remains out of light’s reach, avoiding the sun’s fingers as they spill in from windows with parted curtains, nothing escapes his glance. He is always watching. You can feel it.

The monster under your bed is brilliant pest control.

He rids the manor of rats and insects alike, swabs the ceilings of cobwebs. He feasts on venomous spiders and snakes, blood drained from carcasses small and large. Trespassers wander far enough to find themselves tangled in the tendrils of a beast. Skeletons snap and shatter in his grasp, so startlingly fast and brutal. There isn’t a scream. No tears. He does not grant them the permission to confess last words.

Flesh rots away, stripped clean from the bone. There is no distinction to be made here. Suitors are trespassers. Thieves are trespassers. Trespassers are trespassers, and they will die as such.

The monster under your bed has a sweet tooth, a discovery you’ve only recently determined. You plate pastries and slide them under your bed, and the porcelain china is returned by morning, licked clean of crumbs.

For all of his mysterious qualities, the monster under your bed is your paramour.

“Azul,” you whisper, your voice much louder in disconcerting quiet. “Are you there, Azul?”

Shadows slither up the expanse of your mattress, crawling over wrinkled linens, to meet you in the gloom. The tip of a tentacle nudges your cheek. The monster—your monster—is here.

“A detective came by today…” Blue meets you in the dark, snapped open at once. “To inquire about a select few.”

He blinks, offering silence as his stubborn reply.

“Missing lords and ladies. They say my manor is cursed and that it is these very disappearances that keep the grounds so lush. An immature accusation.” You search the shadows for a response. “You mustn’t send them to their graves, Azul.”

Another tentacle peels the duvet back to find your hand. It fits into your palm, wrapped tight like a bow on a present. Slowly and slyly, more appendages rise from the space beneath your bed to coil around your person. They massage soothing circles into your skin, exploring eagerly and peppering your flesh in frigid kisses. The effect is soporific. You slacken against the sheets, eyes fluttering shut.

“Mmh… Azul, I’m quite serious…” You close your hand around the tentacle. “You mustn’t—oh!” Your legs are yanked apart then, and a thick tentacle presses up between your thighs. You peer into his narrowed eyes. If you could see his mouth, you’re certain it’d be turned down in a petulant pout. “Won’t you listen to me?”

The tentacles curled around your thighs constrict. He teases your special spot, fine-tuning your body to sing the sweetest of songs. Two more attach to your chest like lecherous leeches, tweaking your nipples under soft suckers. You sigh, pent-up emotions unfurling from their ravel. Lightning flashes again, the rain insistent, and so he drapes a tentacle over your eyes.

“There’s no need to do that.” You run your fingers over it, but you don’t pull it off. “I want to see you. I want to hear your voice. Tell me—” you whine in relief when he pushes in, your anatomy accustomed to his size after months of midnight whimsy— “Let me… Oh, won’t you speak to me, Azul? Tell me—promise me you won’t act so callous the next time I welcome visitors.”

“Intruders,” he finally answers. Despite the malice shot through those three syllables, it is a musical intonation. His voice is deep and dulcet, tickling your ears in the best way.

“You’re being rather unfair in your narrow-minded assessment.”

“And you are not narrow-minded enough,” comes his rumbling reply, synced flawlessly with the thunder just outside. “I shall protect you and this property for as long as I continue to exist. That is my priority.”

Your lips part in a retort, but all that comes out is a shuddering sigh.

“Visitors are not villains,” you manage after you’ve found your voice. “P-Please—aah—be kind… You mustn’t hurt them. They’re—haa—only visitors. I promise you I’m safe.”

“Visitors are the same as intruders. They’re unwanted. Unnecessary. Nuisances. Pests.”

Azul rocks the tentacle deeper inside you. Your nails dig into the one in your hand, and you heave a wobbly sort of groan.

“I won’t arg—ooh—won’t argue with you. I only ask that you understand. They are not dangers.”

“They are,” he snaps, pistoning roughly. You cry out when he pierces a specific spot nestled within. “They will take you away from me. Poison your head with foolish ideas. Destroy our home…”

“T-That will never happen. Not if I can help it.”

Another beat of lightning. Thunder follows suit. Gingerly, he lifts the tentacle veiling your visage. Blue blinks back at you.

“Promise.”

His whisper is broken and sad. Strangely, your heart aches.

“Only if you promise to cease your slaughter. It’s not—” A tentacle presses against your mouth, silencing you. When it draws away to give you another chance, you sigh, knowing just what to say. “Thank you…for protecting me, Azul.”

Satisfied with your submission, he smooths his pace out into slow, sensual lovemaking. You ride the waves of mutual merriment alongside him, no longer fearing the raging storm beyond your room. The world shrinks down to fit inside your bedroom, where paradise is found in the sheets, and nothing else matters here. Swathed safely in shadow, wrapped around the monster under your bed, you drift off into sleepy delirium.

He remains, ever-present like a parasite, the sole actor standing on the stage in this thrilling, tentacular theatre.

[corvussnakee]

Decided to throw this quick sketch together of Rotten's Shattered Dream.

I decided to make the tree, guardian, emotion- ough twins- like- insect based n'such. So, what better way to represent an inky goopy tentacle beast?

A fuckin spider that's what.

The outfit was inspired by Crona from Soul eater. I liked the long ass dress like outfit they wore and said 'Ight Bet'

I've also already started calling this version of Shattered, 'Dreamcatcher' for the sole reason that I think this silly lad would make dreamcatchers in his spare time.

There's also been some religious imagery sneaking in with like- His main room where he's set up his 'Office/Study' area is like the Sanctuary of a church. Dude built his like- castle/mansion type home usin a church as a base lol.

He may look like a sad lil dude but he would not hesitate to have one of his 'children' (Spiders) crawl all up in your business and take control of you.

Okay so, small blurb. Dreamcatcher!Shattered has the ability to produce spiders out of his body. These spiders he refers to as 'his children'. If these spiders manage to get into your body they will quickly overflood your system with toxic positivity. Making you extremely dazed and euphoric. Your soul will then float in front of your chest and there will be a spider symbol on the front. This shows others you're under the influence of Dreamcatcher!Shattered. He can command you to do sorta... Anything.

The only way to get free is to have one of Nighty's butterflies get into your system and chase out the toxic positivity, via flooding your system with negativity.

Both are painful processes but like... Ehh, you get to be free?...

Oh, and Dreamcatcher!Dream's sludge covers his mouth. He's got a Glamrock Chica/Red Guy situation goin on underneath it.

Some extra stand alones.

So ya, silly sketch.

I think og Shattered!Dream belongs to @zu-is-here ? (please let me know if I'm wrong!!)

EDIT:

Shattered!Dream actually belongs to @.galacii / @.galacii-gallery [@.shattereddreamsau]

[Thank uuu Zu for telling me!!! (❁´◡`❁)]

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

African Social Spiders: these spiders live in colonies that can contain up to 2,000 spiders, most of which are female; they hunt, forage, maintain their web, and raise their offspring as a group, without any dominance hierarchy or caste system

This communal behavior is extremely rare among spiders, which are normally solitary creatures. The African social spider (Stegodyphus dumicola) is one of the few species that has been identified as a true "social spider," forming colonies and living in communal nests where the spiders work together to hunt, forage, build webs, and care for their offspring.

Above: an African social spider feeding the young spiderlings of her colony by regurgitating food for them, exhibiting a level of maternal/allomaternal care that is relatively uncommon in both spiders and insects

African social spiders can be found in various parts of southwestern Africa, where they will often build a dense silk nest in the branches of a thorn tree and/or shrub. Most of the spiders in the colony are female (more than 85%, according to some studies) and the species itself also has a female-biased primary sex ratio, as researchers have found that female embryos develop in more than 80% of the eggs that the spiders produce.

Above: a group of African social spiders working together to subdue their prey, which will be taken back to the nest so that it can be shared with the rest of the colony

There is no evidence that any dominance hierarchy or caste system exists within S. dumicola colonies. The spiders all cooperate to complete a variety of tasks, such as hunting, repairing the web, foraging, defending the colony, caring for the colony's offspring, etc. While none of them are exclusively assigned to a single task, many have a primary role that they fill, often based on their physical size and condition.

Above: close-up photo of S. dumicola

This species also engages in extreme allomaternal care, meaning that many different spiders (including both mothers and "allomothers") all share the responsibility of caring for the colony's offspring; even the unmated females help out with brood care. The mothers/allomothers tend to the eggsacs, regurgitate food for the baby spiderlings, and even engage in matriphagy, which means that they will eventually be cannibalized by the babies.

From The Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior:

... some proportion of females do not reproduce – sometimes as much as 60% – but remain as helpers, contributing to foraging and brood care (allo-mothering). Both breeding females and virgin allo-mothers regurgitate food for colony offspring and eventually let the young consume their bodies. ...

Young that are raised with both mothers and allo-mothers show higher survival and growth than young raised by their mothers alone, suggesting a clear fitness benefit of cooperative breeding.

Spiders of this species generally measure about 2.5 - 3.5mm long; they can be found in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini.

Sources & More Info:

Science Direct: Social Spiders

Current Biology: Quick Guide to Social Spiders (PDF)

Phys.org: Untangling the Social Lives of Spiders

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: The Age & Evolution of Sociality in Stegodyphus Spiders

Entomology Today: Social Spiders Divide Labor According to Body Size & Condition

Animal Behaviour: Extreme Allomaternal Care by Unmated Females in a Cooperatively Breeding Spider

National Geographic: Baby Spiders Eat their Mothers

University of Portsmouth: Social Spiders Have Different Ways of Hunting in Groups

Behavioral Ecology: Spider Societies Mitigate Risk by Prioritizing Caution

Behavioral Processes: Warring Arthropod Societies

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology: Does the African Social Spider Stegodyphus dumicola Control the Sex of Individual Offspring?

[mehiwilldoitlater]

You made a mistake giving me free range in this house,good luck getting rid of me!

Also may I request more of the destined one from black myth wukong please? Pretty please,wonderful and merciful author god?

The beginning

"We're not in Kansas anymore."

At first, your first idea was that you weren't actually being hit by that car. Maybe you were able to jump away, ending in some brushes near the street. That seemed the most reasonable reason! And hitting a tree would have been the reason why your head hurt so much! Everything seemed pretty normal! 

Except you weren't near the road that you were usually crossing to get to work. To be fair, you seemed to be far away from every form of human civilization from the look of it.

Your surroundings seemed to be a lavish forest, with trees and plants that covered every spot of the area. From down, notable under the canopy of the trees, the peaks of mountains were so high that just the view gave you a small dizziness.

Everything could have been almost normal: a forest, some mountains, the singing of the birds, and the insects in the distance. A completely normal green environment! 

Except for two Very important details: First, you were sure that your work was in the city, not in the mountains; two, those plants weren't nothing that you ever saw in your life.

You tried to control yourself; the last thing that you needed was a pabick attack in the middle of nowhere. There's had to be a reasonable answer to everything!

Your headache didn't help at all; you felt like something was clearly wrong and your body was screaming, and despite that, it seemed like you had no injuries, which was strange since a car had crashed into you.

You tried to find any answer to your question when you felt... something.

Suddenly, it seemed like a breeze of wind had gently moved to you, a silent and calm gale that entered your lungs, helping you to recover some stability.

 It was like a stream, the water touching you and pulling you.

You didn't hear anything calling you; you felt it. In your head, in your soul.

That strange moment suddenly ended, leaving you puzzled and lightheaded. It was just then that you noticed a path, a small track between the trees and the plants, made by the continued footsteps of who was living there.

You looked around. The light of the day was silently making space in the darkness of the night, and by the look of the place, hungry wolves were the last of the troubles.

With an inch of courage and with the encouragement of that feeling in your chest, you began tracking the path in front of you, leaving the security of the clearing at your back. 

Despite being in an unknown place with no idea of how you even got there, you had to admit that, wherever you were, it was beautiful.

Around you, plants had grown to the point to reach the branches of the trees, with cascades of flowers that gave colors to the monochrome forest. When the wind blew across the trees, birds fell to the ground, creating a colorful snowflake kind of effect. In the highest branches, fruits as big as a head are grown, relishing amazing perfumes, fresh, and sweets. Not far from there, you were sure to hear the sound of a waterfall and a river.

If it was really a dream, then it was very beautiful. You wondered where you had seen such a place to dream it like this...

You sensed some movements up above your head, and after realizing what it was, you thought that being confused was normal, but remembering that everything was just an illusion put you at ease.

"Monkeys. Of course, why not? Monkeys are fine!"

So you ignored the full fact of the presence of those animals, alongside their curious looks at you. 

While the dizziness seemed to be finally at bay, the strange sensation that had catched you at the beginning seemed to get stronger instead. It was strange; despite being unsure of where you were, you felt like something was dragging you in a certain direction. Maybe it was your head, maybe the fact that the only thing more similar to a road was that small trail, covered in perals and leaves, with rocks around here and there, but it was there and you wanted just to avoid it.But it's hard to avoid something that's it getting stronger.

You don't know how long you took, but you ended up in a mother clearing; the only difference was a small structure.

Made of simple rock, they were shaped into rectangular structures to create a small, strange house. The pot in front of it with some incense sticks gave out the origins and use of the small structure: It was a shrine, but they were usually found in Asia. Why was it there?

Everything was just confusing and strange. Now, come to think of it, the plants that surrounded you... Did you have the idea you had seen them before because those were in some art book or in a few about China?That was oddly specific as a dream.

Suddenly, the sensation came again, this time followed by sounds—real sounds. Someone was moving between the bushes; their footsteps were making sound between the dirt and the rocks.

Even though it was a dream, you still wanted to ask for some direction. And if it was, there was supposed to be nothing to fear, right?

Something was coming towards you, still unclear to your eyes, but your heart was racing. That feeling was almost reacting to whomever was approaching you, giving you goosebumps, your stomach twisting, and your breath stuck in your throat.

It was coming near, approaching the light. You found some voice in you.

"I'm Sorry! Please, I need help. I think I had an accident! Please, I Need AH!"

You lost your voice again, the figure finally emerging from the shadows of the trees, and... No, no, maybe it was your eyes; maybe it was some kind of hillness, and your face and reaction were one pretty rude way to see something like that. He was covered in furr... No hair!

Yes! You saw on TV something like that!

The strange was silent, observing you. He was less curious about your looks, much more about your attire.

Yes, it was that... but his... feet? He was moving bearfoot, strange but not that strange, but...those look like hands! What kind of deformity was that?!

He came closer; he seemed nervous. One hand on his chest, like to monitor his own heartbeat, just like his own was acting strange like yours.

Ok, he was... he was a poor, deformed man! Yes, you were such a terrible person, acting all strong about acceptance and then getting a heart attack for... was that a tail?!

He started to circle you; you couldn't take away your eyes from him, like vice versa. 

He was... a monkey. A monkey dressed in some human clothes, holding a staff—less a normal thing that a monkey would do, and he was... studying you? 

You tried to follow him, moving at his own pace to avoid giving him your back. He was... Just curious, interested in this mortal.And little did you know that he had that feeling too.

"I...i-i...i'm Sorry, I Just-"

You fail to notice the movements of others, and you fail to hear the small noises too. When you felt something tugging at your jacket—a small monkey, tall as a three-year-old—you realized that you both were surrounded.

"You talk strange, miss! Hehe, you look funny!"

Surely, collapsing for the stress is not normal in the dreams.

///

Waking up was harder than you thought. Not only had your headache for the worst, but now you were again in some new place.

By adjusting your eyes, you found out that you were in what seemed the insider of and followed the tree. The bed, what you assumed was a bed, was a mass of grass and leaves put together and then sealed in some fabric—something maybe found somewhere, cleaned, and adjusted to the best that it could.

Around you, several small eyes were curiously witnessing your wake from your fainting of before, whispering things and chucklings.

"Look! She waking up!"

 "She's not dead at all!"

"Older Brother! Older Brother! The funny miss is alive!"

Around you, several monkeys were jumping and moving around, avoiding the bed and staying a good distance from your still-recovering frame. Talking monkeys, of course, talking monkeys are pretty normal after a good concussion.

By sitting up, you tried to understand the meaning of everything that was happening, avoiding the possibility that this wasn't a dream after all.The small creatures, some weren't that small at all but as tall as some young men, were now taking advantage of your wakening to question you about... everything. You were quite new here...

A pair of feet marched, moving vigorously towards you. Everyone made some space for the monkey that, you realized, was the one that you met before. He kneeled, looking at you in your eyes, which was easy; you were in such a shock that you couldn't even avoid him.

"Forgive my younger siblings; they can be handfull... Are you all right?"

You didn't say anything. Just moved your head in some assent, despite being sure that you weren't okay.

"You have everyone scared! I was forced to bring you here on my back."

He kept on talking. He seemed quite a kind... simile. And even so, you kept on looking at him, like when you were looking at some videos of people eating so much food that you wondered if it's fake or not. You simply couldn't avoid it, and you wondered when you would finally wake up in front of that strange dream.

He stopped only when, from the doorframe, a hole covered in some more sheets, a Curves figure, wearing white, entered the scene.

His fur, once maybe in snow white, was now of a silver tone; his limbs seemed ready to collapse on their own, and his face was covered in wrinkles. He was old, very old; his robes and pearl necklace made him look like some kind of monk or something. When he moved, the other youngest ones lowered their heads, showing respect given only to the elders.

"The youngers told me about a human on our mountain...yet, I imagined some lost merchant or a pilgrim...not a fine-yoing lady, of course! I would say, What a lucky day for us."

He chuckled, his voice calming, despite the old age. 

"But...something tells me that...your not from these parts...no?"

The younger monkey, the one in front of you, felt that the elders know more than the others now, especially under that facade of ignorance.

"I...i...ugh, this must be a dream. You are...monkeys! Talking monkeys!"

You suddenly stand up from the bed, almost losing your balance; finito wasn't for the monkey, giving you his hand for balance. The elders kept similing, not so surprised by your outburst.

"If It Is a Dream, then...why are you feeling pain in your legs? I did not hear of people collapsing in their own dreams!"

He kept chuckling, ignoring your confused stare. It was like he knew everything; he just wanted you to get the answer on your own. You, on your side, were trying to avoid that answer, even though it was now becoming everything far too clear for you to hold it together.

"... it's not real."

"Oh, I'm real as much as you are!"

"The car hit me! I'm in a coma!"

"I heard people like you saying things like this. They turned to ending their own life, and we were left with a new thomb."

"......"

You couldn't ignore it any longer. You could even feel the furr of the strong monkey arm under your skin, the feeling of the dirt where you collapsed, and the smell of the place.You were... somewhere.

"...w-where am I?! How did I end up here?!"

"You," he continued, "are now at our home, Mount Huaguo, away from the chaos of the Yaoguais and the men. How did you come?..."

He interrupted himself, looking back at the two of you. He gestured to follow him, outsider of the small nest in the tree.

The fresh air of the night entered your nose, mixed with the smell of the trees and fruits. The sun was disappearing into the horizon, leaving space for the moon and the stars, already blinking in the pale pink-colored sky. Around you, several other trees were slowly glowing, showing several houses of more monkeys, some curious about the humans in their mountain, others too busy with their own tasks to care.

"Where are my manners... I'm the elder one. Us monkeys never needed a name, and never someone gave us one. This young one here," he pointed to the other monkey, who still kept following you, "is one of my warriors. And you... what's your name, dear?"

"...i-i'm y/n..."

"Um...well dear, as much as I can say about your arrival... I say that I have an inch about it."

You sighed. He talk in riddles; why has it got to be riddles?!

His small eyes darted from you to the young male.

"Tell me, how did you find each other? It's not every time that some human can get here, and it's not from every day that one disciple capable as you leaves his duty in such a hurry."

The two of you looked at each other, maybe confused, maybe curious, but it was like he knew something more about you and the male.

"I don't...listen, I just woke up here and...this...I felt something...like, I don't know... Just to walk? Tò...tò be somewhere?"

The looks on the male face changed immediately; your words struck something in him, which pleased the eldest.

"Like a call?!"

"...i...i Guess? Maybe?"

"I felt it too!" He was shocked, just as you were listening to him. "I don't know what to take to me, but I felt this urge for something! I followed it, and I found you!" 

"you...too?"

You looked at each other again, but this time the elders small laugh caught both of your attention.

"Oh...oh, my dear One... it's not by accident that fate brought you here..."He took a big sigh, his hands behind his back, looking at the two of you. "Have you ever heard the tale of the great sage equal to heaven?"

"...i....yes?" As much as a book that you read during your years in high school could mean something. You didn't have so many memories of what you studied during your teens years, but you remembered those books for some reason, and you remembered that you had enjoyed it a lot too but never went forward to love it.

"What happened at the end of the story? After Sun Wukong becoming Buddha?"

"Well...nothing; he became Buddha and just ended!"

"...." He shacked his head and moved his hands like to make your words fly away. "No, no, no. He became Buddha, yes, but he wished nothing more than a peaceful life here, with his kind... and the Celestial realm could not stand that."

Everyone listened to this story in solemn silence. It was like they all knew about it, and even though they heard of it several times, they still kept respecting it. You know that Sun Wukong, the Gret sage, was their king, and still now they kept on respecting him.

"And so, they once again had to Clash their weapon...the sage lost against the bounds of the celestial realm, ending his story."

To your ears, this story seemed absurd. That would have changed everything—the meaning of the journey, the change of the heart of Sun Wukong... It even showed the dark side of this place, this court where the gods lived... He fought for his freedom; they denied it and killed him for that?!

The elders turned around, motioning for the two of you to get closer.

"But his spirit endured! And so, in this land, only the relics can bring him back! To rise again and walk on this land! One, between us, is the destiny one to accomplish this mission!"

He then reached for the male shoulder, grasping it with his long, slender finger.

"My boy... it's your time to travel through the land to accomplish what others had tried before you."

While the male registered this information, which you didn't understand like half-bif whatever was happening, the elders now looked at you with an inch of kindness.

"And you... who had traveled to another realm..."

Hold on, what's going on?!

"You that are outsiders from schemes and rules of the celestial realm..."

Oh SHIT, oh fuck, oh fuck what?!

"You shall be at his side in the quest...at his Biàn huà."

Your eyes locked to his face on the hand, now resting on your shoulder. Suddenly, your first love was to take a big step behind, away from the elders and the male, holding your hands on your chest.

".....ME WHAT?!"

He paused, waiting for you to calm down enough.

"Since the beginning, a chosen one, unbound to this world, has been chosen to follow the Destined one, to be at their side, and to witness the comeback of the Great Sage. Someone that exists yet is not here...someone like..."  

You rose your hands, creating a wall between you and whatever strange things this senile simian was trying to tell you.

"NO! NAH AH! No way! I'm not any kind of Chosen or any Bia thing that you said!! I mean, I'm just a random girl walking around a mountain! How could you expect me to believe that I have to do something like... whatever this thing is?"

He took another step closer, motioning on his chest.

"Because you were called... by him." His hand moved to the male. "And so himself by you. The bond between the destined one and the chosen one is not detacted by any rule, magic, or sort of."

"Please," you pleaded, "this you can't ask me to bring back to life and old monkey! I don't even know what to do!"

"Well." He continued to circle you, moving his tails here and there, a little amused by the scene. "Not like someone knew the duty of the Bián huá! It's duty is to follow, yes, but to its purpose... well, you must take this journey to know it."

"But I want to go home! You can't force me!"

He hummed again, a little more confused this time. "I do not know how to take your back to your own realm. What I know is that the key lies on this journey. Maybe the way is at the end. But only going forward, you can really know."

You wanted to say something—that it was a mistake, that it was just a coincidence, that it was nothing such as that—but the monkeys voices were all united. One happy chorus of laughs, congratulations, and encouragement about the Destined One and his Biàn huà.

//////

Sitting on the robot of a tree, the one far away from those noisy celebrations, you kept on telling yourself that what was happening was a huge mistake.

Why that old monkey didn't want to listen to you!? Why forcing you to go through this?! It's not your mission; it's not your king; it's just an old story with a very sad ending! You're not the chosen one! Why kept one pushing it?!

You even kept on talking again with the elders, but he kept disseminating you, and he even told you basically that you were stuck there until the Wukong returned! They basically told you to screw it up and do what they wanted!

"Sulking won't lead you anywhere."

The voice of the male was followed by a pinkie object beating your head.

"I'm not hungry."

"Yes, of course. Came on. Just a few bites."

You have up and taken the peach from his hand, while he took that as and invitati on tò sit near you, a few feet away but enough.

"...I'm Sorry. It must be absurd for you."

"It Is. They want to force us to go and play Frankenstein."

He hummed, not knowing what you were talking about, biting a piece of his own fruit."Yeah, I get that... it's kind of my fault; I took you here in the village."

You sighed. Despite it all, this one seems nice. At least he had asked you how you felt about it. He wasn't like the others; he seemed serious, yes, but he was calm and educated enough to not push you... It was easy to talk to him.

And there was this still lungering feeling in your chest. You started to ask yourself if that thing about the bond was true, but you immediately dismissed it.

"I'll take you home."

"Come again?"

"It's not all right; you deserve to be chosen. That's what the Great Sage would have preferred. If I am the Destined One, then I must uphold his own view!"

"Wich is... great, really?"

You crossed your arm in your chest, "but the old one said clearly that he doesn't know how to bring me back home. How could you say that so easily?"

"He said that; he didn't say that there was none of them! I'm sure someone must know the way! A celestial being? Or maybe "he rose from his seat. "The Great Sage knows that! How to send you back home! If we find him, I'll complete my mission, and you come back home!

"He laughed, quite happy with his own ideas that... made sense? He was right; he didn't know! And, more importantly, by asking for help, you could have more chances!

"It does make sense..."

He smiled, the kneeled in Front of you, this time with a kind smile. He took your hands in his own. They were rough, but warm and just. Holding that staff on back every day... Must have been hard.

"I vow to you, Y/n, to help you in your quest, vile aiding me in mine. I'll promise to protect you, being your companion and ensuring your safety. I'll take you home, I promise."   

@sleepingdramaqueen

@sun-jglim

@crimsonflameproxy

@everlastingmoonlightsworld

@biankanoir

@cromboloni

@miraclecherryblossomsblog

@masksandfeathers

@certifiedsimpinggalore

@cinnamonroll-anon

@justrandomlypassing

@cute-angi

@dressycobra7

[treedoctorusasworld]

Protect your trees from harmful pests with Tree Doctor USA's effective insect control services. Our experienced team uses safe and eco-friendly techniques to keep your trees healthy and beautiful. Contact us today to schedule a service and ensure the long-term health of your trees.

[sagstelliums]

Where does your future spouse come from (pac) *follower request

Pile 1

I see that they come from the west/southwest. They may have come from somewhere with a lot of forests/sticks/trees/dry dirt/heat. They come from a single mother or they spent a lot of time with their mom, I see that their mom depended on them and they kept peace on their home. They may be the only child, they’re over protective of their mom or family in general. I see that they could like dark colors or they used to when they were younger, they’re someone who didn’t have alot of people around them growing up so they can be awkward around others. They may have grew up in an empty home or in a home with poor lighting/it got dark fast where they live. They may have been more pessimistic, they had to work hard from an early age and they get burnout easily. People may have taken advantage of them a lot when they were younger and misused their power. Signs- Pisces/cancer. Initials- T, F, B

Pile 2

I see that they may come from the northwest/west, they come from somewhere with a lot of insects/snakes/river snakes/animlas/insects with wings or nature/rivers and tall trees. They may have come from a single dad or they spent a lot of time with their dad, they may have had a controlling family but they always knew how to find the silver lining in the worst situations, they’re very forgiving and they’re good with criticism/reflection. They’re someone who’s free and playful, they may be very physically attractive or a lot of people from their hometown thought they were attractive. I see that they like to have a lot of freedom and they don’t always like to follow the rules, they may have had to suppress their true self’s growing up but now they’re confident and authentic. Signs- Aries/taurus. Initials- Q, K, E, N, F

Pile 3

I see that they come from the east or northeast, they may come from a city or from somewhere with a lot of bridges. They may live near water or an ocean, there could be a big bridge by an ocean in their city. They may live somewhere with caves and water/big caves/big bodies of water/big animals, they come from somewhere with a lot of a lot land. They may grew up in a spiritual home or they changed their spirituality/religion when they grew up, they could be very intuitive or connected with spirits/the divine. They may have come from a dysfunctional home, they depended a lot on God/their spirituality to get help and be stable. They’re secretive and don’t open up easily, they have a high guard and they have many layers to them. They have nice hands/fingers, they may be very touchy and affectionate once they’re comfortable with you. They may seem isolated when you first meet them but that’s because they don’t like to get attached too easily. Signs- Aries, Capricorn, Libra, Aquarius. Initials- J, I, G

Personal readings always available

Pngs by @ghiblisnoopy Divider by @steddiecameraroll-graphics

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Some Entomology Vocabulary

for your next poem/story

Entomology - The scientific study of insects.

Alary - 'Relating to wings'. It is often used when discussing the muscles used to operate the wings of an insect, these commonly being known as the alary muscles.

Aposematism - The use of bright colouration to advertise that an organism is dangerous or unpalatable.

Apterous - Insects without wings.

Batesian mimicry - A type of mimicry where a harmless organism mimics a poisonous or unpalatable one. Predators learn to avoid the unpleasant organism and, because predators are unable to distinguish the mimic from the poisonous/unpalatable organism, the mimics are also avoided.

Cerumen - A substance created by many species of social bee used to construct their nests. It is a mixture of tree resin (often in the form of propolis) that is mixed with beeswax. The consistency and colour is often determined by the trees close to the bee nest since this is where the resin is collected from.

Chorion - The outer shell of an insect's egg. It can consist of several layers including a waxy layer to prevent water loss.

Crypsis - The ability for a organism to blend in with its environment. This is often achieved through projections in the exoskeleton of the insect which makes it look like something else.

Eclosion - The emergence of an adult insect from a pupa or a larvae (or nymph) from an egg.

Endoparasitoid - A parasite that lives inside another animal and ultimately kills it. Endoparasitoids, such as some solitary wasps, are commonly used as biological control agents.

Frass - Insect excrement.

Gallery - A small tunnel or passageway made by an insect or animal.

Instars - Time periods between molts.

Iridescent - Displaying shining or glittering colors like those of a rainbow.

Mullerian mimicry - A type of mimicry whereby one or or more species develop a similar appearance. Each of the species is either poisonous, dangerous or unpalatable to predators. Predators may only encounter one specific species but protection is conferred to the other others due to their similar appearance.

Nuptial flight - The mating flight of some insects, most notably social bees and ants.

Oviparity - When insects reproduce by laying eggs.

Pectinate - Comblike

Plumose - Feathery

Pterygota - Refers to the Subclass of insects that possess wings.

Xylophagous - Describes animals that feed almost exclusively on wood.

Sources: 1 2 3 ⚜ More: Word Lists

[kakiastro]

Saturn + Saturn Placements

Hey you guys! Let’s talk about Saturn for a little bit. It’s a full Moon in Capricorn so let’s talk about her ruler. So get comfy, grab a snack and your favorite drink because this will be a long post

As a cap stellium, I’ve gotten to really know and deeply understand Saturn over the years!

I feel Saturn is misunderstood a lot in this community!

Saturn is Not the bad guy! Honestly without Saturn, your life would be in chaos! Saturn brings law and order into our lives.

Saturn delays but never denies!

Saturn is the stern parent that wouldn’t let you go to that one friends house but you rebelled and went anyway. Only to find out that one friend was never really your friend and you realize the stern parent was right.

-Saturn rules both Capricorn, Aquarius and is exalted in Libra. Saturn creates the rules for structure and order (Capricorn). Saturn can also break and create new rules for the betterment of society(Aquarius). He makes sure the rules are in balance and fair for all(Libra)

-Saturn rules over all things Government related. A lot of politicians will have Aquarius/11h, Capricorn/10h or Libra/7h placements in there . Saturn transits show us the energy of what the politics is going to look every 2.5 years.

Example: so I’m in the US, so with Saturn in Pisces, there’s a strong level of uncertainty, it’s hard to tell what’s going to happen since it’s an election year. The mental health of both candidates are being questioned, as there age. All very Saturn Pisces. Pisces rules over fog, health and uncertain energy. Saturn rules over age.

- The colors Black, Brown, Earthly Greens are Saturn colors

-Saturn rules over time. You know the phrase “All good things take time.” Saturn is ruled by Greek God Kronos who is considered “the God of time.”

-Capricorn is actually a feminine sign not masculine. It’s really funny when it’s called the “daddy” sign when it’s really “big mama”😅 keep in mind, feminine doesn’t equate to woman in Astro , it’s an energy!

- Saturn rules over these animals: Goats, Crows, Ravens, Bats, Eels, Owls, Crocodiles, Donkeys, Snakes, Camels, Beetles, poisonous animals, black colored animals/insects, domesticated Cats, and Buffalos.

- Saturn rules over these places: dry places like the dessert, low humidity, mountain locations, cold places, thick forests, underground places, caves, barren places. It also rules over graveyards, tombs and old temples. Government related buildings is also ruled by Saturn.

- Saturn traditionally rules over death. Pluto is the modern day ruler but Saturn also rules it. “Death is like meeting an old friend” that doesn’t sound like Pluto does it?😅 Saturn rules over time, when your time is up…

- A lot of people don’t know this but Saturn rules over weed not Neptune. Saturn rules over agriculture in general. Weed is a natural plant that takes time to grow and needs to processed. Neptune rules the actual high of the plant when you smoke it.

-some other plants Saturn rules is the Oak and Willow Trees.

- another thing people don’t know about Saturn is that it rules your hair not Venus. Saturn rules hair follicles and the texture of your hair. Aspects to it can show what type of hair you have. Venus is how you take care of your hair such as shampoos, conditioners, oils, hair styles etc..

Personal example: I have Saturn Aries, my hair is really thick and tightly curly. My hair fits on my head like a big helmet😅 i don’t even wear a hat in the winter because how thick it is😭I have to constantly keep it moisturize because it gets dry and itchy quick!! Summer months is never a fun time😂 I have a lot of Saturn aspects so I can make a whole post about my hair by itself LOL

-Saturn rules your teeth and bones.

- your Saturn placement can show you what your elder years will look like. That’s because it rules over the elderly.

-if you feel like you’re losing control of your life, you can tap into your Saturn energy to get it back.

Personal example: I have Saturn Aries, so when life feels like I’m out of control, I start to look at myself and what do I need to do with myself. I start making bold decisions about what I need to do! Aries is Mars energy and rules “thyself”

-Capricorn Suns can have a tough relationship with their father. Their father may have put lots of pressure on them to be the best or they want their child to be like them in some way, which makes the child feels restricted in showing their true personality. A lot of cap suns may have an absent father or father that was physically around but not emotionally around. These natives were born during a time when the father was either achieving something great or they missed an opportunity so they want their child to do it for them. This results in cap suns becoming workaholics and wanting achievements in their life.

-Capricorn Moons can also have this energy but it’s a little different. Capricorn Moons are born into families that put lots of pressure on them to be great but don’t fully believe in their success. Capricorns have big dreams that seem unrealistic to others especially family members. So they work hard, they’ll climb biggest mountain and they don’t care how long it takes because they know it’ll be worth it in the end. They may be the ones who creates a lasting kegacy in their family.

-Aquarius Sun may have more of a friendship type of relationship with their father. “That’s my buddy” type of energy between them. On the flip side, their dad may have been distant towards them. They were born during a time when their father was going through something and it made them feel distant. Their fathers could’ve had gained a new friend group. One of his friends could be these natives godparents or play uncle.

- Aquarius Moons come from family that’s emotionally distant or feel stagnant in some way. Their family probably feels more like a friend group than your “traditional family” they are here to gain freedom away from their family, do things outside the box of the traditional family . They are the black sheep of the family and may have a different vibe to them compared to their family all together!

I will end it here but I will continue to talk about Saturn for the next few days

[danielgold-16]

The Forest

Daniel tightened his grip on the strap of his water bottle as he moved through the forest. The dense fog curled around him like a living thing, clinging to his skin and obscuring the uneven ground beneath his feet. His breath came out in steady, disciplined rhythms, a habit ingrained from years of athletic training. The dark trees seemed to press inward, their twisted branches clawing at the blackness of the sky where no moonlight dared shine.

The only color in the darkness was his jersey—a shimmering gold Milan AC shirt with the number "16" emblazoned on the back. It had been a gift from one of his brothers, one he wore often during his evening runs. Daniel didn’t scare easily; his confidence, both physical and mental, had always been his shield. But tonight, something felt… off.

His golden eyes, almost otherworldly in their luminosity, scanned the mist ahead. He pushed his light brown undercut hair back absently, trying to shake off the unease creeping along his spine. The stillness of the forest was unnatural; no chirping insects, no rustling leaves, only the muffled sound of his footsteps against the damp earth.

Suddenly, a faint sound broke the silence—a mechanical whir, distant but unmistakable. He paused, cocking his head, trying to locate the source. The sound grew louder, a low hum that seemed to reverberate through the fog. Daniel’s pulse quickened. His instincts told him to move, but curiosity rooted him in place.

From the haze, a figure emerged.

It was human-shaped, but wrong in every conceivable way. The body was clad entirely in glossy black rubber that reflected the faint ambient light like a mirror. A gasmask obscured the face, the large circular lenses giving the figure a sinister appearance. Tubes protruded from the mask, hissing faintly as if alive.

Daniel’s breath caught. His body tensed, the urge to run surging through his veins. But he hesitated for just a moment too long, and the drone tilted its head toward him as if sensing his presence.

Its movement was deliberate now, purposeful. It began to walk toward him.

Daniel bolted.

He sprinted through the fog, adrenaline surging through his body as he pushed himself to his limit. His feet barely seemed to touch the ground as he weaved between trees, leaping over roots and ducking under low-hanging branches. The hum grew louder, and soon he realized why.

More drones.

They emerged from the fog like phantoms, dozens of them, their glossy forms blending seamlessly with the darkness. Their gasmasks glinted in the faint light as they moved with eerie synchronization. The forest seemed to close in around him, the trees now a labyrinth of twisted shadows.

Daniel’s chest burned, his lungs screaming for air, but he didn’t slow. He was an athlete, conditioned for endurance, and he knew he could outrun them—if only he could find a clear path. But the drones were everywhere, closing in like a noose.

A root snagged his foot, and he went down hard. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and for a moment, stars danced in his vision. He scrambled to his feet, but it was too late. The drones were upon him.

Rubber-clad hands gripped his arms and legs, their strength inhuman. He thrashed and kicked; his golden eyes wide with panic as he fought against their unyielding hold. But it was no use. They moved with mechanical precision, their grips like iron.

"No!" he shouted, his voice echoing into the void. "Let me go!"

The drones didn’t respond. They simply carried him deeper into the forest, their movements synchronized as if controlled by a single mind. The hum grew louder, a chorus of mechanical whispers that seemed to seep into his very bones.

Daniel’s struggles weakened as they brought him to a clearing. In the center was an object he couldn’t quite comprehend—a monolithic structure, black and glossy like the drones, pulsating with a faint, otherworldly light. It seemed alive, a heart beating in the center of this strange, fog-shrouded forest.

One of the drones stepped forward, holding an object in its hands. Daniel’s eyes widened as he recognized it—a black rubber polo shirt, identical to the ones the drones wore. His heart pounded as he realized their intent.

“No,” he said, his voice trembling. “You’re not putting that on me!”

But they were relentless. The drones worked in eerie silence, stripping him of his golden jersey and forcing the rubber garment over his head. The material clung to his skin like a second layer, cold and unyielding. He struggled, but their strength was overwhelming.

Next came the gasmask.

Daniel thrashed as they brought it toward his face, but the drones held him still. The mask was slid over his head, the straps tightened until it was snug against his skin. His breathing became labored as the rubber sealed around him, the sound of his own breath echoing inside the mask.

When they released him, he staggered back, gasping for air through the filters. The world seemed distorted through the lenses of the mask, the fog thicker, the drones more menacing. He raised his hands to rip the mask off, but they didn’t obey. His body felt… wrong, as if it no longer belonged to him.

He tried to speak, but his voice came out as a muffled whisper. The drones stood around him, silent and still, watching. And then, as one, they turned and began to walk.

Daniel hesitated, his mind screaming at him to run, but his legs moved of their own accord. Step by step, he followed them, his body obeying a command he couldn’t hear. The fog swallowed them as they marched deeper into the forest, the hum growing louder with each step.

As they walked, Daniel felt his resistance fading, his thoughts growing dim. The rubber seemed to merge with his skin, the gasmask a part of him now. He didn’t feel fear anymore, or panic, or even curiosity. Only a strange, detached calm.

By the time they reached the edge of the forest, Daniel was no longer himself. He moved in perfect harmony with the drones, his golden eyes now dull behind the mask’s lenses. The number "016" on his back glinted faintly in the darkness, the last remnant of the man he had been.

Together, they disappeared into the night, their footsteps silent, their purpose unknown.

[espionn]

LeafWing tribe sheet!

its over, i finally did them all. sorry this one took a while, ive been losing motivation, but at least its done!! honestly i love leafwings, so im glad i could get them out.

Physical Appearence + Traits:

-LeafWings are arboreal dragons, living in and relying on trees to hunt, shelter and sleep. Their talons are perfectly shaped to comfortably climb and hold onto branches, and their narrow wings allow them to swoop and weave through the trees without crashing.

-LeafWings’ colors, physical traits, and even demeanor shift and change with the seasons. During the summer, their frills and wings are rich green, and scales bright and glossy. They have higher energy and sleep less. During the fall, their colors shift to a warmer spectrum, their leafy frills start to flake off, and they start to prepare for winter. Once winter arrives, they lose their frills, tail-leaf and wing membranes, as well as turning duller and darker. They spend the majority of winter asleep, relying on the trees’ bare branches for camouflage, now rendered flightless. Finally, during spring, they wake up, their colors brighten, and their wing membranes return. The buds that grow along their backs open up and form their spine frills before summer begins.

-LeafWings are lithe and agile, and are very quiet fliers, especially when compared to HiveWings and SilkWings.

-During the summer, with their wings at their fullest, they can actually photosynthesize. They still need to eat food, but anytime they sleep during the day with their wings open to the sun, they wake up energized and not needing to eat for a while after. 

-The coloration and shape of LeafWings’ wings varies both by region and individual. Some LeafWings mimic specific types of trees.

-Some LeafWings also have Leafspeak, an ability which allows them to communicate with plants and even control them if powerful enough. 

Life Cycle:

-LeafWings hatch in clutches of one or two. They take around 5 months to hatch, and they are deeply reliant on their parents and their wider community. LeafWings are strongly protective of their dragonets. They also grow up somewhat quickly, reaching physical maturity quickly, but they continue to grow in size their entire lives.

-They partner for life, but often only raise one clutch of eggs (sometimes only a single egg) in their lifetime. The tribe is somewhat small as a result.

-LeafWings don’t have an official education system, instead relying on parents, peers and older, more experienced dragons to teach them what they need to know. LeafWings can then go on to pursue whatever tribe role stands out to them, using a sort of mentoring system.

Society and Culture:

-Before LeafWings were split into two groups, the tribe was quite peaceful and unified. The queen, by tradition, always had a council, and they lived nearby and alongside SilkWings. The tribe was known for being friendly and knowledgeable, and deeply dedicated to caring for the forest. 

-LeafWings are also very resourceful. From various leaves, grasses, bits of wood, flowers, and insects, they could create baskets and rugs, thin slats of wood to write on, dyes, storage objects, and various weapons and food preparing tools. Learning to make and control fire meant they could progress faster. They were also talented woodcarvers, weavers and artists, sometimes trading not only supplies, but also various art pieces to and from the SilkWings. 

-They were expert foragers, and had records of every type of tree, plant and animal in their forest. Many had  small gardens of their own - medicinal herbs, spices, and plants they simply found pretty. 

-Those with leafspeak were beloved and respected in the tribe, not dissimilar to animus dragons. Sometimes they would mould the shape of trees’ growth to create proper homes and nests for dragons to spend the nights, especially in winter.

-They have tribe-wide celebrations to mark spring, when they all wake from torpor, and the summer solstice, when they are at their highest energy and fullest lives. 

-The SapWings, after the tribe was forcibly split, remained very similar culturally, though they lost their ability to trade and had to concentrate on survival in the poison jungle. The PoisonWings, meanwhile, changed dramatically. They became distinctly aggressive and warlike, taking their understanding of plants and animals and weaponizing them. They used the many venoms, poisons and sharp, dangerous objects throughout the jungle to their full advantage. A number of dragons died in the process, but those who survived became stronger.

-LeafWings believe that plants hold some level of consciousness, and some believe that they are animated by fully conscious spirits, each with its own unique consciousness and opinions. Trees are unanimously believed to be extremely wise and benevolent, and as deserving utmost care and respect. They are treated as if they were tribe elders themselves. It was once agreed upon by all leafspeakers that if a tree resisted a request, they were not allowed to make any attempt to force it to do what they wanted. Leafspeakers would also be used to make requests before cutting off any part of the tree to use - if it refused, it would be left alone. (It isn’t hard to imagine the way they felt when the entire forest was cut and burned down by the HiveWings.)

Diet: Omnivorous. LeafWings eat meat (birds, rodents, sometimes large mammals and reptiles), sometimes raw, sometimes cooked, and also a wide variety of plants, fruits and nuts. Because of the versatility of their diet, they have a great number of meals they like to prepare, usually garnished with herbs, spices and sweeteners like honey and certain types of tree sap.