#was thinking about lacewing moths

[carkeyarts]

winged

(also happy pride!)

[fallenclan]

sunnycotton has got me thinking about the "asking someone out with an insect" fallenclan tradition, and so i've decided to compile a little list of what insects i think have been used in the past... there are so many cool insects i WANTED to add but i'm going to try and be at least. semi-realistic. about what types of insects these mountain cats could plausibly have found.

antbite/lionsong = asian longhorned beetle

moorthistle/littleleaf = monarch butterfly caterpillar (specifically a caterpillar because of its soft texture - neither of them killed it. moor gave it to little for him to inspect and once he realized what she meant he instantly accepted. she later returned the caterpillar to the milkweed plant it had been on)

russetflare/cinderstone = eastern-eyed click beetle (russet was SO proud of catching one, cinder was reluctantly impressed)

willowsplash/bub = boll weevil

blizzardfang/crowflame = pill bug (roly-poly)

nettlestem/scorchstar = indigo duskywing skipper butterfly

newtscar/bluefern = spotted orbweaver (BEFORE evie joined the polycule)

newtscar/bluefern/evie = silver arigiope (after learning of the tradition, evie found one of these guys for his wives)

goldenstar/morningbloom = yellow garden spider

beefreckle/jaycall = praying mantis

cloudtuft/pondshine = green lynx spider (pond was like "cool thx!" at first and then cloud had to explain the tradition)

mossfrog/rustbee = green lacewing

ashblink/sleepydawn = checkered skipper butterfly

sleepycloud/ivybounce = two-striped grasshopper

yewberry/brambletuft = common scorpionfly

flyspots/wormshade = the spongy moth (wormshade didn't know about the tradition, being the kit of an ex-kittypet, and reluctantly accepted, confused. hence why flyspots thought they were mates)

pebblefreeze/human = brown centipede (these two aren't mates, and i see them as more of a QPR situation, but i feel like pebble would've given human a brown centipede anyway. he was horrified)

-🐉(i am in no way an insect expert, esp in regards to location so these still might be wildly impossbile. that's ok tho, fallenclan can exist in a pocket dimension with all the insects)

CUTE!!!!!!!!! all around very good choices (canonizing littlemoor monarch caterpillar & blizzardcrow pill bug bc AUGHHHH <3), i love the way your mind works... also pebble giving human a centipede really makes me giggle

also a few of these do have canon bugs here!

[herpsandbirds]

Found a creature of all time I reckon, they were interested in the pasta leftovers I was about to microwave.

Sat with me by the oven while I was searching some moth guides but there's . So many moths. Any idea what this critter is? Western Montana

P.S I politely let them stand on the pepperoni slice they landed on, claimed it. I don't think they cared for it though

Insect ID - We. MT, USA:

Hello, yes, this appears to be a Giant Lacewing (Polystoechotes punctata), family Ithonidae, order Neuroptera.

Species Polystoechotes punctata - BugGuide.Net

[forestkodama]

Entomologists have been dealing with bug misidentification for as long as we've induldged the brain's drive to make nice neat categories for things. Some of the oldest misidentifications are still on record from antiquity (think "bees" and rotting flesh), which still happen to this day. So many flies, beetles, hell even a few moths, get mistaken for bees and other wasps. This is pretty much what evolution selected for anyway: Big lumbering mammals with nimble grubbing digits learned pretty quick that the black and yellow stripey flying things can pack a punch if threatened, and sure enough, despite not being equiped to also pack said punch other black and yellow stripey flying things also didn't die as frequently, though very far in relation to wasps. So it is a commong and easy sort of astonishment to provide laypeople with knowledge that not everything that is black and yellow striped is in fact a wasp, and it is always hilarious to find mistakes in news articles and picture books of "bees" that are, in fact, flies.

Another common misidentification is dragonflies and antlions. A lot of people only encounter antlions in their larval stage, as sort of Sarlacc-beasts hiding at the bottom of the sand pit. If you grew up with sandy soil or someplace like, you might have passed some time in childhood throwing ants into the pit to watch the antlion jaws snap them up. The adults, however, look much like giant lacewings (which to the same order they belong). They often don't fly about unless they must, which their long membraneous wings folded back over their long slender abdomen. Their wings often have hairs (like moths, which they are somewhat closely related) and are sometimes pointed, with the hindwings just slightly different shaped, with the hingwing smaller than the forewing. However, when put in a collection, their wings are often spread, and they superficially look very similar to dragonflies (whose wings are always spread open, the hindwing often larger than the forewing) or danselflies (whose wings are [almost] always closed like a book and similiar sized). The easy give away are the antennae though: Dragonfly antennae are pretty small, while antlions are long and distinct.

A lot of art confuses antlions for dragonflies, possibly because they have an aesthetic slenderness to them while also possessing the visible antennae, while most people know insects should have. I see antlions declared dragonflies in home decor and tattoos, which never fails to make me giggle.

This time now, I was struck unawares. I was completely unprepared for it.

I'm home sick with COVID, indulging in some Doctor Who fanfiction aka Outlander, and as I start the thrid season, the "dragonfly in amber" comes back around for the plot point it is.

Except it's not a dragonfly.

It's a fucking antlion.

The hilarity of it temporarily cured my COVID.

It does not matter, necessarily, to the plot, what kind of bug it is. Once could argue that this old bug trapped in amber is symbolism for time travel, and a migratory, far-flying dragonfly would better represent the journies of the protagonists in their drives to always find each other, for which a fairly sessile antlion would undermine a bit. Dragonflies, too, are sometimes considered to be human souls off to their afterlife, and as far as I know, no such similar belief are attached to antlions.

I find it more amusing, however, how much identification of wild plants was relied upon for various plots, and this was such an easy misidentification to make.

Anyway that is your friendly neighborhood bug lady's COVID induced info dump for the day.

[cinnachaos]

Hallo cinna !! I was wondering if you knew what kind of bug you were, I like the Indian tiger and the orange footed centipedes a lot so I was wondering about you ^w^

like which is my favorite or? my favorite of all of any of the bugs (myriapods arachnids insects and land crustaceans cus thats what roly poliws are heheh) is dragonflies because dragon + insect = win for the autism

i really like harvestmans (opiolones, often mistaken for spiders but theyre different species!) and regal/royal walnut moths :3

though i do enjoy me a good neuropteran (lacewings), oururrghh its so hard to pick

ok my favorite arachnid is opiolones and if i had to pick one in specific the bunny harvestman or the daddy long legs ones cus theyre cute, theyre tied with jumping spiders for me tho cus those fuckers are CUTAY PATOOTAYS

my favorite moth is regal moth/cecropia moth

i adore african millipedes theyre so SILLAY. hands down my favorite myriapod

tbh i just love any fucking massive insect. just. just cus. theyre cool. i like holding them

i really wanna hold a tarantula too but that is the only large arachnid (ig other than harvestmen) i will get within five feet of them mfs SCARY

i love springtails but idk enough about them yet , i just think they look like sentient jellybeans and id love to give one a smooch (they r too small for that tho </3)

also indian tiger centipedes are so cool???!! and rhe orange footed centipede???

do u wanna knwo the difference between centipedes and millipedes :33

[xtruss]

A common ladybug species, these multi-colored Asian lady beetles inhabit various regions around the world. They move slowly on land but can reach speeds of up to 37 miles an hour in the air.

These Photos Are Works Of Art And The Artists Are Bugs

A Photographer’s Innovative Technique Reveals the Flight Paths of Insects in Exquisitely Alluring Ways.

— Photographs By Xavi Bou | March 25, 2024 | ByAnnie Roth

Movements of flying insects make them tough to track, but technological advances and some creative thinking have allowed Spanish photographer Xavi Bou to do just that. After spending 10 years concentrating on birds in flight for his Ornithographies project, he shifted his focus to bugs.

For Entomographies, he uses high-speed video footage taken by Adrian Smith, an entomologist at North Carolina State University, to decode and document insect trajectories. Then Bou selects multiple frames and merges them into single images that convey the rapid motions through space and time of one or more animals.

With Smith’s help, Bou has mapped the aerial acrobatics of wasps, the leaps of leafhoppers, and the flutters of butterflies in stunning detail. In doing so, he hopes to raise awareness about the decline of key insect populations worldwide. “It’s happening in front of our eyes, and we are not paying attention,” Bou says.

Zebra Longwing

This butterfly, found in many parts of the Americas, lives up to its name. The insect can soar to great heights with just a few beats of its supersize wings.

Two-Lined Spittlebug

This insect, native to the eastern United States, is often called a pest because of its taste for turf. Spring-loaded hind legs can launch the animal into the air like a rocket.

Yellow-Collared Scape Moth

Unlike most moths, this North American species can be seen flying during the day, with its iridescent blue-black wings that shimmer in sunlight.

Ailanthus Webworm Moths

These tropical moths have moved farther north in the U.S. Thanks to their larval host, the invasive tree of heaven, they are among the most widespread backyard moths in the country.

Common Stonefly

Found mainly in eastern North America, this insect spends time as an underwater nymph, often in forested streams or rivers. Then it emerges from its aquatic environment, molts into an adult, and gains its wings.

Green Lacewings

Eighty-seven species of this insect have been recorded in the U.S. and Canada. Because they have hearty appetites for unwanted plant visitors such as aphids and mites, they’re often used for biological control of pests.

Grapevine Beetle

This insect, with an apt name, feeds on the leaves and fruit of grapevines, both wild and cultivated, but it does little harm to the plants. A type of scarab beetle, it often flies in a curved path.

Oak Treehopper and Green Treehopper

Treehoppers are known for their distinctively shaped pronotum, the area behind the head, that often mimics parts of plants to provide camouflage from predators. Specialized muscles provide their jumping ability.

Banded Orange

This strikingly colored butterfly has a range that stretches from Mexico to Brazil. Before the mating season begins, males seek mineral salts, sometimes even drinking briny secretions from the skin, eyes, and nostrils of other animals.

Sapho Longwing

Longwings can live for six to seven months, a longer life span than most butterflies. This variety, ranging from Mexico to Ecuador, has lustrous blue on its wings, which inspired another of its common names: Sapphire longwing.

[onenicebugperday]

@pyramidrising submitted: I think this is lacewing fly larva but I am not sure (especially not sure about the english names) I found it on my apartment building yard where we have quite lot of plant louses and it was having a feast! Also a butterfly with damaged wing, I have no idea of the species tho. Uusimaa, Finland

I love your blog!!

Thank you! And yes, you're right, and we usually just call them lacewings. Glad it was enjoying a buggy feast! RIP to its dinner. The other bug is actually a geometer moth, not a butterfly. Specifically a clouded magpie, Abraxas sylvata. I imagine they could still fly just fine despite the damage!

[galacticnova3]

sunflower emoji

I think we as a society need to start appreciating neuroptera a lot more. Like sure, odonata are great and all, love me some dragonflies and damselflies, but what about dobsonflies? Owlflies? Lacewings, antlions, mantidflies?

Like, look at this lad I found! This is an owlfly. They look like someone mixed together a butterfly(antennae, body), odonata(wings, mouth), and a fly (eyes). Body feels like that of a moth but isn’t the same shape, but jot that down anyways.

And!! They come in blue and yellow flavors!

Antlions are also super cool, this is an adult lad I found tonight/last night since its after 4 am. They’re also called doodlebugs! And start out as the lil dudes that make the cone-shaped pits in sand. These are what the trapinch line in Pokémon are based on!

I’ve only ever encountered one dobsonfly in person, but I at least got a picture! This was a male one based on the mandible size, and despite their intimidating look they actually can’t pinch very hard because they’re so big! It’d be like trying to pinch someone via two sticks, one in each hand. The females can apparently do so, though, but as I said I haven’t met any others besides this lad. They’re surprisingly light and fluttery, reminiscent of a butterfly in terms of how the flying felt. Also in size; this one was a bit longer than my palm.

And lastly I am absolutely enraged by the fact that I only learned about the existence of mantidflies a couple days ago. They look like a fusion between a praying mantis and a wasp, but they’re neither and also can’t sting! THAT’S SICK AS HELL, I WANT 20 OF THEM(captive bred, not wild caught obviously) SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO ME BY 2 DAYS AGO! WHY HAVE I NOT SEEN AT LEAST 50 MANTIDFLY HOLLOW KNIGHT OCS? WHEN ARE WE GETTING A MANTIDFLY POKÉMON? HOW DO I MAKE THEM START MANIFESTING PHYSICALLY IN MY HOUSE? I WANT ANSWERS!!

Basically we all need to start appreciating more glass-looking winged bugs besides just dragonflies. Well, everyone else, I’ve already started because I am epic and have great taste in insects. Granted I also got attached to some wasps that chilled on the frame of the front door of my house for several weeks(no nest, just 6-8 wasps huddled up) last year. But that’s besides the point! All bugs deserve love and it needs to be distributed more equally among them!

[draconicmaw]

I should really stop coming up with AUs. I really should. I have too many of them already. It's like that story of the old lady and the shoe. But instead of having a ton of children, I just have a ton of AU ideas.

And, for some reason, I thought of a Fairy AU for YGO. Yeah. Idk. I'm throwing it out there for you guys to sink your teeth into. Do with it what you will! Lol

Anyways, here are the ideas I've come up with so far:

Yugi:

The violet sabrewing hummingbird

The undersides of the wings are a beautiful silvery black, but the tops are a iridescent blue-violet-green that change color depending on how the light reflects from them. Yugi is the only one I selected hummingbird wings for, because he's my special boy. I also really like the idea of them buzzing so fast you can hardly see them.

Atem

The monarch butterfly or the red lacewing butterfly

With Atem, I was torn. The monarch butterfly is very fitting in name (and some people refer to it as the King of Butterflies), but... I just love the red lacewing aesthetics so much. I don't know if I like Atem with that shade of orange, but I really do think that Atem would absolutely rock the fiery red and black of the red lacewing. Anyways, moving on...

Kaiba Seto

The blue-banded morpho butterfly or the silver emperor moth

Again, I was torn. The topsides of the morpho's wings just seem so austere and stately, and the undersides are stark and intimidating. BUT I really love the way the silver emperor is so HUGE and IMPOSING, just like our favorite teenage CEO. So, I'm definitely leaning toward the silver emperor on this one...

Anzu

The luna moth

As soon as I thought of this one, I was done. Set. No more. I had found the perfect wings. They are simple, but elegant and stunningly beautiful, and I think that they would do very nicely on our proud, fierce Anzu.

Jou

The tiger swallowtail butterfly

I thought of giving Jou something simpler but... Idk. I think he would have flashy wings, something to really preen about, ya know? (Because he would.) I imagine that they started out as a simple yellow (which he was picked on for) but they developed the black and splashes of blue and orange as he grew older.

Honda

The polyphemus moth

This moth is very big and sturdy. Just like Honda. And though the colors are understated, the wings are very handsome. Just like Honda. I definitely think he would poke fun at Jou because he has bigger wings.

Anyways, if you like these, I will come up with more for other characters later.

[anipgarden]

Ok homies we finished chapter 3 (it was 10 pages) woohoo!

- Lots of talk about including more permanent plants in your garden like trees, shrubs, vines, hedgerows, perennial vegetables, and herbs! That’s basically the entirety of chapter 3 yeah. They’ll provide habitat to the creatures that call your garden home!!

- Make sure you pick out plants, varieties, etc. that’ll work in your area! Hardiness, salinity, acidity, soil dryness, temps, and light conditions are all things to consider!

- This chapter made me want a hedgerow of fruit trees and fruit bushes so bad but my yard simply does not have the space + I gotta abide by the whims of my parents.

- Which reminds me, this book’s advice is very Universal (at least I feel as a US person reading a US person’s book) BUT it does pitch ideas that sometimes feel more for people with larger planting areas and larger budgets. Still, when reading books, its key to remind ourselves to take the wisdom that’s relevant to you and don’t sweat over whats not. I am typing this out as a reminder to myself I keep thinking about wildflowers this is a VEGETABLE GARDENING BOOK

- Holy shit serviceberry/juneberry/saskatoon mention 👀

- Hedgerows are fantastic for wildlife especially if they’re made of fruiting plants. There’s gonna be more on hedgerows in chapter 5.

- Apparently asparagus and strawberries are great companion plants I didn’t know that (no one in my family likes asparagus so the chances of me using this info is highly unlikely but it still feels cool to know)

- catnip attracts ladybugs. It also attracts cats.

- wasps seem to like chamomile, dill, and fennel

- comfrey is nice for beneficial spiders. So is horseradish, and it repels potato bugs.

- Garlic repels aphids, tree borers, snails, flea beetles, and squash bugs. Maybe I should plant some if I ever try growing squash again (I have learned squash is Not A Great Grower in Florida apparently)

- mint attracts lacewings and ladybugs, and repel flea beetles, cabbage flies, and mosquitoes.

- Oregano repels aphids and attracts ladybugs and lace wings

- rosemary repels bean beetles and cabbage moths, and thyme repels whiteflies, and I should try growing more herbs.

- Nettle is pog champ in the garden AND in soups and casseroles apparently

Tomorrow I will read Chapter 4: Attracting Pollinators and Beneficial Predators (at least I hope to) but for now its 4:20 am (blaze it) and I’m going tf to sleep I have a splatfest tomorrow to be ready for

Also this illustration is cute

Lets liveblog a different book now

Today we’re starting “The Wildlife-Friendly Vegetable Gardener: How to Grow Food in Harmony with Nature” by Tammi Hartung (author of Homegrown Herbs.)

I’m interested in this because my dad likes growing vegetables and I feel I should learn how to grow more veggies (it’ll be harder to say I’m wasting money on ingredients when trying new foods if its stuff I grew myself) but since I’m really into pollinator gardening and helping ecosystems however I can, I wanna see what this book has to say!

I haven’t opened it yet but I can already say the cover illustration is Funky! Illustrations are by Holly Ward Bimba

[catsentry]

I AM STILL IN DENIAL- You're an actual human being who's passionate about insects, this is so nice. I'm aware that phrasing it like this probably sounds dumb and naïve, but I can't begin to tell you the amount of times I've been bullied as a kid up till now for being extremely fond of insects and plants. My entire school seems to abhor them, and if you like them, congrats, you're filthy and gross by their standards - which isn't even fair because how could you look at them and not be mesmerized. Some of the bugs that we find regularly over here are green lacewings ((super beautiful - they literally look like fairies)), red palm weevils ((I love their proboscises,, they look so silly)), and click beetles ((they click and kind of pop whenever they get toppled over onto their backs, which is often because they're pretty bad at not bumping into things.. it's kind of startling sometimes, as the click can be quite loud, but it's alright usually!!)) I am so sorry for how long this is, I think I may have just gotten too excited, but thank you for reading through all of this if you do!! Stay swell :'')

Thank you so much!!! I've loved bugs since I was born pretty much, and yeah a lot of people think its gross haha (even my parents are a little grossed out by it 😅). I'm sorry to hear that you've been bullied just for being interested in something, I know how it feels. But it's good that you didn't let it get to you and that you're still passionate about something you love! :)

I looked up a green lacewing and it looks so cool! Almost like a mix of a mantis and a moth. The click beetles are also super cool! I've only ever seen a weevil once and it was this teeny tiny little black weevil, it was so cute :,)

Again thank you so much for your ask and your kind words. It's great to meet other people who also love insects!! :D

[dansnaturepictures]

8 of my favourite pictures I took in August 2020 

1. View at Magdalen Hill, Hampshire

2. Yellow flowers at Lakeside Country Park, Hampshire

3. Some of one of my favourite birds the Great Crested Grebe at Lakeside 

4. Water at Fingle Bridge, Dartmoor, Devon 

5. Meldon Reservour on Dartmoor 

6. Wall Brown at Cape Cornwall 

7. Orange Swift moth at home 

8. Woodpigeon out the back 

I must admit one thing that is easier when the world is normal and I am at work in the office and in an average week will only take photos the Saturday and Sunday is these posts. Had I been in the office from next Tuesday onwards I would have quite liked the fact that I would post this then to add something to my social media in a time I would not normally post on my wildlife/photography accounts probably. Don’t get me wrong, I am loving every minute of being able to have walks with my camera as part of my working day each day though and then have the weekends. But its meant it can be hard to find where to stick these posts, of which I can’t believe I only have two left after this as the idea is the amount of my photos I select corresponds to the number of the month and 10 is the maximum number for a Tumblr photoset this strange year is certainly going very fast. With my life as it is now, doing these posts the last few months have been a classic Saturday morning job which I’ve enjoyed and has allowed me to reflect on the amazing wildlife experiences I have had each day and so many photos taken. A little bit later than that today as I began writing early afternoon and couldn’t finish this blog before we went out today which I shall post about later, but I thought just two days until the end of the month I would just post it now I very often write it up a few days prior to posting and its a pre-what I did in my day post. 

August 2020 has been packed, thrilling and fantastic for me come rain or shine of the very hottest kind in a heatwave starting the month and patches within it. The above meant I didn’t really know where to turn at times for picking these eight standout photos I took this month and notable ones miss out in the interest of giving different pictures a chance. Photographically the first point to make is my yields of photos each day got higher and higher and this has to be the month when I finish it I’ll have produced most photos in and certainly had a couple of the days I produced my most photos ever in a day during last week. I have really enjoyed it. 

To summarise the month for wildlife its been an insect dominated one again. The butterfly season may be quieter now but this month I was able to put what I think is the crucial cherry on the top of an extraordinary and amazing butterfly year for me again by seeing my first Painted Lady (Farlington Marshes) and Silver-spotted Skippers and Clouded Yellow (Old Winchester Hill) of the year to take my butterfly year list to 43 making it my second highest ever behind last year’s 45. Leaving just three I’ve seen in my life I am yet to see this year. One of those despite trying we just couldn’t make happen and the other two are not immediately local to us so its ones we didn’t go anywhere we could see them this year. So that’s why I feel I’ve seen all the butterflies I have done, and that time at Old Winchester Hill at the height of the heatwave was a particularly memorable day one of my best this year as I saw an abundance of insect life in a thriving flower meadow and much more wildlife in one of the most beautiful spots in Hampshire on the South Downs. What a start to the month I’ll keep that time with me always in memory. Its got to the stage the last few wet in places days I didn’t see a butterfly which is probably for the first time since well before the summer showing how crucial butterflies have been for me this month and the others this year with how many seen especially. I concluded my Big Butterfly Count surveys spanning July into August that national survey I contribute to well that day at Old Winchester Hill with so many seen. 

I think a big part of my August has been the amount of moths we have seen mostly coming in the house but outside too, with so many I managed to photograph and enjoy and of the ones I identified mostly with the kind help of others online six were new to me so far this month continuing a strong trend of my 2020 as I did in 2018 and 2019 really of noticing moths, yearning to know what they are and learning and celebrating them. Fitting 10 years on from when my butterfly and side interest in moths began too. 

But I cannot say August hasn’t been a birding month at all because it has, and compared to July I saw so much more. Year list wise seven year ticks to date renergised my year a little for this its always quieter over the summer with my bogey bird seen and another candidate for it ones I normally and can see easily but don’t in a year for whatever reason and two of my favourite birds and one on my B list seen gloriously during our weekend away in the West Country last week. I could add more bird year ticks yet and its meant my bird year list is competing with my last two years again being the third highest amount of birds I’ve seen on given dates lately. But bird wise alongside many other great species seen locally in the garden at Lakeside, and getting to visit the Peregrines of Winchester Cathedral due to something I was required to go to the office for in Winchester for the first time seeing them or any in the flesh since March, the big story has been those Great Crested Grebe chicks at Lakeside. I craved seeing this pair I’d followed before this year produce chicks and when they did at the end of July I was beyond excited and through this month I have taken many moments of pure joy and fascination at seeing these adorable youngsters of one of my favourite birds grow. Some of the best bits of my walks locally whilst working from home. I took so many pictures of them too. 

Other wildlife wise I had some great dragonfly moments in August a couple of Golden-ringed Dragonfly one of my very favourites sightings standing out that day at Old Winchester Hill we went to Cadman’s Pool in the New Forest and saw one a key place for them the forest is and we saw one in similar surroundings at Dartmeet, Dartmoor on Monday. Other insects have been seen by us like the Buff-tip moth caterpillar at the start of the month at Baddesley Common and Emer Bog and the Common Green lacewing in the kitchen yesterday. I’ve seen nice mammals this month too most notably my first bats of the year out the window and then I enjoyed a glorious dusk walk seeing them skim over beach lake at Lakeside what a moment. 

I’ve taken in many breathtaking landscapes this month producing so many photos of them I’ve seen some wonderful habitats in vibrant summer colour and the early autumnal signs I’ve been noticing have come on more fully with so many colourful leaves and berries observed. 

Finally a focal point of August was that instead of going to Rutland Water for the Bird Fair which we had done every year since 2008 obviously it was cancelled and held virtually which was good to bits of, we went to Devon staying in Dartmoor and visiting special locations we found last year in Cornwall too on Sunday. It was a sensational and needed few days away, where I had magical experiences for seeing birds, butterflies, some of my best views this year and much more in weather that we got so much sunshine out of in the end. I really enjoyed relaxing and taking in one of the best bits of the country wildlife and landscape wise some of my favourite habitats that weekend. Here’s to September! Stay safe and well all. 

[davinciandwilde]

Ok, so I thought I might as well toss my hat into the ring as well when it comes to a reverse AU for Good Omens.

Let’s start here though.

In the beginning, there was Crowley, that guarded the eastern gate. There was concern about him being too caught up within the galaxies and stars, to begin to blaspheme against Her, so they literally brought him down to earth. His form served him well though, able to blend into shadows, to listen to Adam and Eve as they speak and follow silently without either of them being any the wiser. It allows him to see the same atoms he used with stars in humans, and he grows to love them perhaps more fondly than originally thought.

The White Moth, the first of its kind, its wings as iridescent as his scales, with a shadow that casts a rainbow of color like a stained glass window, is quieter than the snake though. It is the Moth that tempts Eve with Enlightenment. Don’t you want to know? The difference between good and evil is fine and all, but it’s only the start, isn’t it? Knowledge, knowledge is the greatest concept that She ever created. So many forms, so many variations, it is as bountiful as the garden, just as wild, just as sweet, just as tempting. It’s not a reminder of a decision, but it is a decision all the same. And make no mistake, that they BOTH make the decision.

(The Moth is banished to the night, it’s glow taken, it’s colors bleached, rendered too sensitive for the day, forever searching for the warmth it used to have. I suppose it’s Fallen in more ways than one.)

So it is Crowley that gives away his sword, unwilling to see another light go out (They are the closest I can get to the stars, there is too much Falling already, please, not again) and it is a Moth that approaches, with his fluffy white hair and a nervous smile. The mark, for all demons, are marked, of course, spreads across his hands, his pinkies acting as the body and the lacewings spreading across his palms. Crowley can only cringe in sympathy, as they are still singed when they first meet.

The years go by. Crowley still keeps his eyes covered, the brilliance of gold and pupil that narrows into their very souls too much for humans. He still dresses in the rich colors of galaxies and nebulas, rich reds dark blues, royal purples, and, occasionally, even hot pink. His apartment still remains sparse and green. The walls are covered in art from the centuries, Di Vinci sketches, the blueprints for Michelangelo’s original plan for the Sistine Chapel, rough drafts for Donatello’s first statues, and Caravaggio’s Davis and Goliath piece, to name a few. And of course, anything that the astronomers find is quickly tucked away as well. Those are special. Those only get pulled out on occasion, with plenty of red wine nearby, and guaranteed silence (It is the smallest respect he can give. He can’t leave his station, of course, but he can still be reverent of the stars he crafted. God knows they do not sing for any other Angel other than him, though none of them tell him that).

He still has his plants. This shabby illusion of Eden that he crafts just as meticulously as he the night sky, and if he is a bit harsher with them than necessary, well, they should be grateful. Out of the hundreds of cuttings and seeds of rare plants, flowers, trees, and every other single species he could save before the humans took it all in senseless violence and wars, he decided that they were the ones deemed worthy of growing in the present day. They will grow to his standard, or they won’t grow at all.

Aziraphale still collects every book he can find, keeping his prized first editions hidden away and chasing away customers with a snarl. The rumors of the shop being a front for a mob boss are worse with his leather-clad hands and careless (not careless, Aziraphale knows exactly what he is saying) words. The rumor that he is the mob boss is never completely dispelled either. If it keeps people away, all the better. He smiles when they turn to look at his three-piece suit. They start calling him the English Gentlemen of Soho. (The real gangs figure out real quick to turn the other way. real quick)

It is still Crowley that approaches with the idea of the Arrangement. Aziraphale loves what humanity does, loves humans to an extent, but not in the same way that Crowley does. They both know that. But they enjoy each other. Aziraphale can be a bit careless sometimes, forgetting the fragileness of humans and occasionally self-centered to the point of stupidity, but never cruel. Crowley can be possessive and obsessive, but he is just so damn good that Aziraphale wonders how heaven can look at themselves and think they are better. (How he has managed to stay Good, watching the atrocities that humans create with their own imaginations, Aziraphale honestly doesn’t know.)

It is still Crowley that loves from afar for thousands and thousands of years. Aziraphale is a demon, yes, but he never abolishes him when he asks questions in the safety of the book shop or drinks himself to a stupor. Never tells him what he can and cannot say, never tells him to shut up after raving about the human’s latest discovery (I created that, I did that, look at it Aziraphale!). It is basic kindness, but so much more. Aziraphale’s favorite sin may be sloth, and he only because he can see how much Crowley likes being able to provide for somebody just a little, to be able to help just this once. He still denies himself, and Aziraphale is still scared (He made a name enough for himself in Hell for others to leave him alone, but they will tear Crowley apart, please, for somebody’s sake, not him).

But the motivations are different maybe? Crowley is torn between his love for humans and his desire to go back to create galaxies and stars again. Where he belongs. Right? Aziraphale is torn between wanting to keep his books, to delight in the things that humans create, and Crowley, God-Satan-Somebody’s sake, he wants him by him for the rest of his life, but what does that mean? He has tainted every other bloody blessed thing he has ever touched, would he really be selfish enough to-

Well, I suppose it isn’t all that different in the end.  

[archiveofidentityconstellations]

ladybug friend: actually chill, likes to bake, drinks coffee 24/7, genuinely jazzed to be here, fake but pretends not to be, sunshine and rainbows, zany smiles, "i forgot", doesn't cry easily, likes sweet-smelling flowers, gets competitive over board games, tap dances in the grocery aisle, says they're not going to get into it but always does

firefly friend: really nice but will fight if you push them, exclamation points!!!!, summer breezes, hopeful even when sad, loves comics, writes in caps, orange blossoms, notes of encouragement, dark past but you wouldn't know it, gives the best hugs, Eyebrows of Doom, sparkly jewelry, knowledgeable about weird trivia facts, thinks YA is deepest of the deep

butterfly friend: tragic™, tries to be chill but is really shy, owns a billion candles, pretty but has Too Many Problems, knows about Art, wine and whine, makes bad decisions, cries five times a day, does it perfectly or doesn't do it at all, daydreams about closet space, texts you at 3 am to tell you their dream, winter sunsets, believes in love at first sight

luna moth friend: secret geek, "the rules are there for a reason", sarcastic but honest, not as chill as they act, drinks tea, doesn't understand poetry, has actual trash taste, binge watching master, pretends to be an intellectual but actually isn't, shares memes with you, thinks yoga pants are valid, still uses XD, s'mores and firepits

lacewing friend: sCIENCE, wishes scrunchies were still a thing, constant research on multiple topics, brings up topics that shouldn't be allowed but are interesting, romanticizes cacti, doesn't actually sleep, baffled by people who are hurt by bluntness, space aesthetic = anthem, would lick a rock without even being dared to, owns Too Many mugs, makes friends with trees, 80s music

bee friend: nice stationary, can't sit still, the Mom friend, quietly judgmental, drinks coffee but it's full of sugar, reads the label on food, uses highlighters but only because they think it looks nice, can't dance at parties, listens to jazz, can't watch action movies because they're Too Much, thinks Tom Hanks is bae, freesia shampoo, highkey about hygiene 

dragonfly friend: always down to eat your leftovers, pretends to be chill but has no chill, pizza and crazy stunts, "are we there yet", ripped jeans and ponytails, the smell of the ocean, will Protect You™, dRAGONS!!!, rock paper scissors is a viable way to clear up disagreements, takes music Very Seriously, sparklers at night, actually understands difficult theories but doesn't get into it, snuggles in their sleep

[hogwartslessons-blog]

Potions| Friday. June 15th, 2018| Lesson Three: Arthropods as Ingredients

Perhaps to many of your chagrin, one of the most common phyla of animals used in our Potions is the phylum Arthropoda, or the arthropods. Insects(for example beetles or cockroaches), arachnids (spiders), and crustaceans (crabs or lobsters) are all examples of specific classes that make up the arthropods. Now although many of the ingredients we use from this phylum are simply mundane or magical, there are an overwhelming number of creatures that display transitional qualities. There is also a remarkable variance in the effects that these creatures can have on a Potion, from being vital to certain Potions for heart health to increasing vitality and energy. 

Scientists trace the beginning of the phylum  Arthropoda to sometime during what is called the Cambrian Explosionsometime between 570 and 530 million years ago. During this time, fossil evidence suggests an emergence of the major lineages of most life currently found on Earth. The species that appeared during this era were aquatic and most were relatively small in size. The compositions of these creatures are also typically simplistic. Major observable traits of arthropods - which can even be found in these early forms of life - include:

bilateral symmetry: if you cut them down the center from head to     tail, the left side would be a mirror image of the right

paired appendages: an even number of legs, claws, wings, or other     appendages that are paired

segmented composition

a hard exoskeleton:     this is typically made of a hard substance called chitin that     they shed throughout their lives as they grow

An example of one of these early arthropods, which of course predates Witches and Wizards and therefore has no known use in Potions, is the Sanctacaris, which exemplifies all of the physical attributes listed above.

The Sanctacaris’ name translates to mean “saintly crab,” and it is considered to be an ancestor to arthropods such as spiders and scorpions. Again, as the only evidence we have of these early arthropods is fossil evidence, it is impossible to say which of these creatures (if any) possessed elemental magic in any form, or whether living creatures did not yet possess magical ability. It is unlikely, owing to their simple composition, that they possessed any powerful magic. However, as our own understanding of the derivation of magic remains so scarce, it is impossible to say with absolute certainty.

Cockroaches

It is important to note that the name cockroach does not refer to a single species, but rather a group of insects that consists of over 4,600 species. The most commonly recognized species are the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and the Oriental cockroach or waterbug (Blatta orientalis). Termites also belong to this same order of insect, and are in fact cockroaches that adapted to ingest wood. The earliest fossils from this order date back to between 354 and 295 million years ago, and evidence has been found of the modern cockroach living over 100 million years ago. Cockroaches survived the famous mass extinction of the dinosaurs, and for this longevity, it is often suggested that cockroaches are among the hardiest creatures on the planet.

Despite the negative connotation many current societies have with the cockroach, Healers all over the world have been using the insect in mundane remedies and magical Potions for over one thousand years. There is record of their magical medicinal use from Rome to Egypt to as far as China and Southeast Asia. As recently as the 19th century, Healers in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy is still often stretched just a little bit, used cockroach tea for medicinal purposes when treating both Magical and Non-Magical clients.

In the Magical world, the American cockroach is a valuable transitional ingredient in certain Potions that help treat and manage heart disease and other pulmonary issues. The Pacifying Potion, often used to treat trauma and anxiety attacks, also utilizes the magical properties of cockroaches in order to slow the heartbeat and calm pulmonary distress without causing drowsiness or other soporific effects. While the treat known as Cockroach Clusters is often mocked and used in pranking friends and relatives, it is thought that these sweets were initially created as a nutritious, more heart-healthy magical snack.

For Witches and Wizards who prefer to keep and harvest their own ingredients, the American cockroach is probably one of the easiest to maintain. Although it is possible to purchase cockroaches at your local apothecary, some Potioneers and Healers will keep a small colony in their home or Potions closet. The American cockroach is omnivorous, or capable of eating both meat and vegetables, and has been known to eat everything from glue to rotting vegetables to cheese, spoiled meat, and bread. They have been known to go up to a month without food, although this is not recommended or at all ethical if you are keeping your own colony of cockroaches.

Butterflies

For the purpose of this lesson, we are only talking about true butterflies, in contrast to skippers or moth-butterflies. Butterflies are certainly held in higher romantic esteem than cockroaches, and have long endured in Magical and Non-Magical culture as symbols of rebirth or continuity of the soul. This is greatly owing to their transition from caterpillar to butterfly.

One detail that is interesting to note is that lacewing flies, an important ingredient in the Polyjuice Potion undergo a transformation from larva to grown adult through the creation of a silk cocoon, which they use to protect themselves similarly as they transition to adulthood. It is thought that this transformative ability may have some latent magical quality to it that is integral to this Potion, with which the consumer undergoes a temporary transformation of appearance. However, lacewing flies are of a different order than butterflies, so the direct genetic connection is not as strong as between butterflies and moths, for example.

Wizards use both caterpillars and butterflies in Potions, interestingly for different purposes. Caterpillars are very useful in Potions and concoctions that shrink or eliminate blemishes, such as the Tolipan Blemish Blitzer. This may indicate that the magic they possess is somehow related to their immaturity and the fact that they are not yet fully adult. Caterpillars are also used in Potions that help to regrow hair as well as finger and toenails. These Potions are often consumed orally as well as applied to the region where hair or nail growth is desired. It is interesting that their potential for metamorphosis does not manifest in latent magical uses and qualities. In the creation of very early Potions similar to Polyjuice Potion, many Potioneers experimented with caterpillars, thinking that the potential to transition from caterpillar to butterfly would yield positive results in a Potion. However, to this day they have not been successful in creating a Potion to this effect.

Potioneers often use butterflies, meanwhile, particularly butterfly wings, in certain Potions that cause hallucinationsand a trancelike state. Some Magical beings claim that this trance helps them communicate more effectively with the Afterlife, although this has never been conclusively proven. What is known is that the magic within butterfly wings are capable of altering chemicals in the brain enough to create a temporary though intense magical hallucinatory state. Consuming Potions with butterfly wings can be dangerous, however: incorrect dosages or improper recipes can cause a permanent catatonic state or a permanent psychological break from reality

Arachnids

The class Arachnida is composed of arthropods that include the scorpion, spiders, ticks, and mites. Arachnids all have eight jointed legs, and almost all currently in existence are terrestrial, or live on land. 

While spiders are known to be venomous, one interesting thing to note about spider venom is that the toxins within the venom vary spider to spider. This variation causes certain spider venom to harm living creatures differently than another species’ venom. For example, the funnel-web spider of Australia’s venom has one toxin in its venom so specific, the only things harmed by it are humans, baby rats, monkeys, and fruit flies. Even adult rats are not impacted by this chemical: only the infant and immature rats. There are also spiders that, while their venom may not be immediately fatal to humans, have toxins that cause tissues to dissolve and break down after the bite has been administered.

One of the most common phobias among both Non-Magical and Magical beings is what is known as Arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders and creatures that resemble spiders. Studies have shown that up to 50% of women and 10% of men show signs of at least mild phobic responses to spiders. When considering the above information about spider venom, it may not be an entirely irrational fear at all: some hypothesize that this phobia developed as an early survival mechanism for humans, given the fatality of many spider bites even to fully adult humans.

In the Magical world, Potioneers and Healers mostly use spiders of the suborder Araneomorphae when brewing Potions. These are the typical, smaller spiders one usually sees in the home, in contrast to the Mygalomorphae, which includes tarantulas. Those of this suborder have fangs that point directly at one another, in contrast to tarantulas, whose fangs point more downwards. These spiders are typically used in Confidence Potions, although they are not an ingredient in Felix Felicis or other Luck Potions. Spiders are also used in their more mundane state to enhance certain magical poisons, though interestingly, they are also often used in the antidotes to those same poisons. One interesting thing to note about this is that spiders are not necessarily immune to their own venom, which means that it is not a magical transference of immunity when spiders are used in these antidotes.

[unlimitedgreens]

Why Should You Have An Oregano Plant In Your Yard?

There are so many people who love to have plants in their house and not just for the charm but also for the healthy routine. Of course, you can also go for the plants that are more of herbs and add up to a healthy lifestyle.

You can look for Oregano plant online because this plant is going to be a great investment. Oregano is a wonderful herb, and definitely one that everybody should have growing in their backyard herb garden. Not only does this plant add great flavour to your preferred or loved dishes, it’s also a robust medicinal herb. Many of the common culinary herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and sage also have healing benefits, and do double work in the garden. The medicinal benefits of oregano are a win-win for anyone. Here are some reasons that you should go for this herb plant for your house.

A Rich Tang

A main in Mediterranean, French, Italian, and Latin American recipes, oregano is much prized for its culinary usages as well as its medicinal properties so, do you really still think that you should not think about this herb?  No matter you are working with an outdoor garden or you want to do indoor gardening vessels, oregano will not be easier grow and may need little, if any, special treatment. Of course, if you take proper care of this plant, it is going to keep you in the best spirit and health. And another amazing thing is that oregano comes back each season, huger and stronger than the previous year.

It is drought tolerant

Exactly, oregano is not just tolerant of drought, it flourishes in drought-like conditions. Native to the mainly Mediterranean region, oregano comfortably grows in dry soil, rocky, in an arid climate. So, you can be sure that it grows without any flaws.

Oregano is a really resilient plant and will grow into a strong shrub with very little attention. Remember that its chief needs are direct sunlight and well-draining soil. And there would be no need of any sort of fertilizers.

The Plant Deters Garden Pests

It might excite you that oregano does a good job of deterring common garden pests like that of mosquitos, cabbage moth caterpillars, and even that of cucumber beetles. Also, lacewings is going to seek out oregano for its nectar and for egg-laying, when the larvae have hatched, they will eagerly feed on pests like that of aphids and whiteflies. Also, remember that you can further guard your beloved oregano from common pests by placing or planting them next to garlic, chives, or onions.

A Versatile Herb

Once oregano is dried it takes on a wholly new tang and flavour-profile. It becomes more mint-forward and plain as it dries out. Indeed, a staple ingredient in tomato sauce, soups, marinades, and egg dishes as well as in Mediterranean, French, Italian cuisines and Latin American, you can easily dry out your oregano harvest. Hence, you can make the most of this amazing herb.

Conclusion

SO, you must buy oregano plant and feel the diverse charms it has to offer you. You will not regret your move for sure.