We’ve had about two inches of rain over the past two days. That brings the total for the year to 44.48, as measured by the weather station at Merciers.
I’ve killed the first horrible red spider. They are the big spiders that weave large round webs, and they usually begin to appear in the fall. I was bitten in the small of the back a number of years ago, and there’s still a hard spot there. I’m mostly a live and let live kind of guy, but I draw the line at risking another bite from these guys. If you hit them with the wasp spray, they’ll fall down, and then you can smack them with the broom or step on them. They’re hard to kill. I’ve completely stopped spraying, for weeds or insects, and have been rewarded with some things I haven’t seen before, like Luna Moths emerging from their chrysalis. I’ve been very happy with this decision, but I compromise the case when faced with these spiders.
According to an article yesterday in the New York Times, the wet cool weather this spring has helped the lightening bugs. I think that’s probably true of our area as well, because their numbers seem to be normal or a little above normal here. It also doesn’t seem to have hurt the katydids, who also emerge from the ground. What it doesn’t seem to have helped are the butterflies, the skinks and fence lizards, and the toads. The butterfly density is markedly down, and there are a few species that I usually see that I haven’t seen at all, like the Red-spotted Purple. I’ve seen a few skinks, but I haven’t seen a fence lizard all summer. The same is true of the toads. I’ve seen one or two tiny ones, but no adult toads at all.
Speaking of lightening bugs, I discovered that there’s a rare species that I’ve actually seen, but didn’t realize was a species, the Blue Ghost. I knew that lightening bugs were beetles and that they flash in a pattern that allows males and females of the same species to identify each other. The Blue Ghost emits more of a continuous pale blue light than a flash. I’ve seen it, here on the property, but I thought that the steady light was some kind of anomaly being produced by the usual fireflies. Unfortunately, their season is the spring and early summer, so I’ll have to wait until next year to see them again.
Their range is mostly confined to the southern Appalachians, and they seem to be a tourist attraction in the Asheville area. The Cradle of Forestry is actually selling tickets to see them – for $55 – and they sold out this spring.
Here’s a few resources if you are interested. The first article includes a chart that depicts their flash.
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/love-fireflies-heres-how-you-can-help-scientists-save-them
Here’s an article from the Asheville Times about where to see them.
https://www.exploreasheville.com/article/ashevilles-blue-ghost-fireflies-where-and-when-see-them
And here’s the Sierra Club’s discussion.
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2023-3-fall/critter/magical-mystery-tour-blue-ghost-fireflies