http://alisonslife-in-the-slow-lane.blogspot.com/ Life in the Slow Lane: LOOKING UP AND DOWN

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

LOOKING UP AND DOWN

I am so enjoying the photographic meme started by HELENA:

Helena’s Creative Maven


I enjoy seeing what the participants are  looking up and down at, in their part of the world. 

This week, in my little part of the world, on looking up at one particular species of Pine tree we see this


See that fuzzy looking thing just off-centre?....that is actually a cocoon, full of PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLARS... a  species of caterpillar that is especially poisonous to dogs and cats and is  highly prevalent at this time of year,..hence the reason my 'DOWN' picture is this....


....Boo on an incredibly short leash!

  I had the zoom lens on the camera on at full strength, taking the tree shots! I actually spent more time looking at the ground than I did at the tree..it was literally 'point and shoot'. In saying that, you see most dog-owners walking with their heads down at the moment, as the caterpillars can actually be found anywhere, and the countryside around us has hundreds of these pine trees. 

Before Boo came to live with me, I had a line of them crawling through the garden... I can see how they get everywhere- the little blighters move at a fair speed! Fortunately I had been warned about them and gave them a wide berth (but had I been blogging at the time, I would have taken a photograph!)

Hope life is looking good where you are!

Thanks for dropping by!
take care of you
Alison xx





Posted by Alison at 17:30
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14 comments:

  1. Anonymous13 March 2013 at 17:36

    Oh dear! Hopefully Boo is not upset by the very short lead. How long does this last for? Hopefully just days. Good luck with keeping her away from them.

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  2. scrappyjacky13 March 2013 at 18:19

    I had never even heard of this type of caterpillar.

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  3. Debbie P13 March 2013 at 18:54

    That is cool. I've never heard of that type of caterpillar either. I will have to look it up. Great photos!

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  4. crimsoncat0513 March 2013 at 20:04

    poisonous caterpillars- ewww! We have our fair share of poisonous creatures in AZ, but none of them can fall from the trees (that I know of, anyway)! Hopefully they'll be on their way soon!

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  5. Lisa-Jane13 March 2013 at 23:00

    Bleurgh! I dislike things like that. I remember being told about a caterpillar getting in my pram when I was baby and bringing me out in a rash. Makes me itch just thinking about it!

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  6. Mitralee14 March 2013 at 02:37

    Goodness! I thought we had some wacko bugs! What is the deal? They eat one and get sick? Oh goodness! Keep that precious baby dog safe!

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  7. Margaret14 March 2013 at 03:40

    We must not have those caterpillars in my neck of the woods, which is good for Scout.

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  8. Beverly14 March 2013 at 04:57

    Oh that is pretty scary, I would be so anxious. Keep Boo on that short leash as long as needed!

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  9. helena14 March 2013 at 08:50

    the cones are so lovely but the caterpillars sound nasty

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  10. Sian14 March 2013 at 11:10

    Wow, you learn something new every day! I don't like the sound of these at all. An informative pairing today!

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  11. alexa14 March 2013 at 11:14

    Oh my goodness, that sounds a bit scary if you are a dog-lover/owner! Presumably they only are around for a shortish time? Great job on the up/down today :).

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  12. Maria Ontiveros16 March 2013 at 08:29

    Oh my, take care of that little doggie.
    Rinda

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  13. Sandra17 March 2013 at 21:39

    Oh my goodness, that's scary

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  14. Jo18 March 2013 at 10:54

    Great photos, I hope Boo keeps away from the caterpillars x

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