Pig’s Ear

June 13

As the weather has warmed Melissa has been moving her summer succulents out of the sunroom and onto the patio. We moved the two glass-topped tables that were in our entry way onto the patio to provide the plants with more light. Melissa also bought several Talavera Mexican Pottery wall hangers. Talavera Pottery are works of art handcrafted using techniques that have been passed down generation to generation since the 16th century and produced in the Mexican state of Puebla, and Dolores Hidalgo. Each piece is hand molded clay or a poured ceramic. While there was no room for them inside, they were perfect for hanging high on the patio fence. These became a nice arraignment next to the gate leading to the side yard. The succulents Melissa chose to plant in these hangers were all small but ones that would send shoots for the flower clusters when they bloom. One of these early bloomers was a pig’s ear.

When I went online, I found the pig’s ear (Cotyledon orbiculate), also known as round-leafed navel-wort, is a South African succulent belonging to the genus Cotyledon. The common name comes from the shape of the leaves resembling a pig’s ear. Pig’s ear is an extremely variable species but grows to around 4.3 feet (1.3 m) in height. It has gray-green leaves up to 5.1 by 2.8 inches (13 by 7 cm) which naturally develop a white, powdery substance (farina) on their surfaces. The farina helps reflect sunlight and conserve water. If the leaf area is brushed against or disturbed the farina will become noticeably smudged. The farina will not regenerate if disturbed, but this is not detrimental and rarely unsightly. Water (dew, marine fog, mist, rain, or even garden hose) does not seem to wash the powdery farina off and it reappears as the leaves dry. The bell-shaped flowers are usually a blood orange-red or a paler salmon-orange, but yellow varieties also exist. Cotyledon produces tubular, upside-down bells which are small, usually less than 1.2 inches (3 cm) in length. They hang and droop from the top of a 24-inch (60 cm) stalk.

While pig’s ear is native to South Africa, it is popular in gardens in many countries. In the wild it grows naturally in rocky outcrops in grassy shrubland and the Karoo region. In New Zealand, it is considered an invasive plant and is listed on the National Pest Plant Accord. Pig’s ear has several medicinal uses. The fleshy part of the leaf is applied to warts and corns in South Africa and heated leaves are used as poultices for boils and other inflammations. Single leaves may be eaten to expel parasitic worms (vermifuge) and the juice has been used to treat epilepsy. However, the leaves contain a bufanolide called cotyledon toxin, which is toxic to sheep, goats, horses, cattle, poultry, and dogs, causing a condition known as cotyledonosis. Lucky this is high on the fence and Loki will not be able to chew on it.

THOUGHTS: In their native country of South Africa pig’s ear generally bloom in the winter. It is interesting that in Arkansas this plant has chosen to bloom in the summer. Since the plant was imported, perhaps it is confused and thinks it is still in the southern hemisphere. The Talavera planter is not frost or freeze proof, so we will need to move it indoors during the winter. Neither does the pottery like to sit in water, wet mulch, or be subjected to the extreme humidity of a growing green house. That makes hanging on the fence the perfect location. Imported plants (and people) are forced to adapt to their new location. However, their preference is to stay the same. Finding a comfort level is what creates the Barrios and ethnic neighborhoods that make up most larger cities in all countries. Adaptation is often a long process. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Inca

June 12, 2025

As I looked out my back window this afternoon, I saw a flash of copper as a bird flew from our window feeders to the pool deck. At first, I thought it was one of the elusive mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) I see and hear frequently around our property (but not at our feeders or been able to get a picture). The problem was that it seemed a little smaller than a mourning dove, and then there was that copper flash as the bird landed on the deck. I enjoy watching the small passerines that flock to our feeders in the morning and evening. I will even tolerate the common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) that drive the other birds off and eat the entire feeder in short order. That is as long as they do not arrive en masse. I have watched them strip all eight feeders along the fence in less than 10 minutes. Now I have taken to occasionally send Loki out to scare them away. While he does not do anything except run into the yard, the grackles seem to be afraid of his size. The bird on the deck seemed to be a species I was unfamiliar with. I was able to get a photo of the bird before it flew off and I checked it against the google identification app. It turns out it was a new bird, an Inca dove.

When I went online, I found the Inca dove (Columbina inca), also called the Mexican dove, is a small New World dove first described by French surgeon and naturalist René Lesson in 1847. The Inca reaches 6.5 to 9.1 inches (16.5 to 23 cm) in length, weighs 1.1 to 2.0 ounces (30 to 58 g) and has an average wingspan of 11.2 inches (28.5 cm) and a max wingspan of 12.6 inches (32 cm). The Inca is a slender species, with a gray-brown body covered in feathers that resemble a scaled pattern. The tail is long and square and edged with white feathers that may flare out in flight. The underwings are reddish (hence the copper I saw) and on takeoff produce a distinctive, quiet rattling noise. The species ranges from Costa Rica in the south to the American Southwest in the north and is often common to abundant in suitable habitat. This terrestrial species forms flocks in desert, scrubland, and cultivated areas and may also be found in urban settings where they feed on grass seeds and take advantage of the availability of water from agricultural and suburban irrigation. During winter, Inca doves roost in communal huddles of 10 or more birds by making a pyramid formation that aids them retain body heat. They often flock outside of their territories, with flocks growing up to 100 birds. Its range has been expanding northward and southward in the past few decades.

Despite being named after the Inca Empire, the species does not occur in any of the lands where the Inca empire existed. When I looked at the range map for the Inca dove, I noticed it did not include Arkansas. The closest it came was toward the top of Texas, or several 100 miles (320 km) to the south and west. The Inca has in the past escaped or been deliberately released in the state of Florida in the US, but there is no evidence that the population is breeding. It may only persist due to more releases or escapes. The single bird I saw may have been blown off course by the current round of storms which have been coming up from Texas. Or perhaps it just wanted to be a tourist in the Natural State (i.e., Arkansas). Regardless, this qualifies as a rare bird sighting. A rare bird sighting is observance of bird species that are uncommon in a particular region or that are considered at risk of extinction. These sightings can include birds that are not typically found in a specific area due to changes in migration patterns, unusual weather conditions, or simply because they are very rare.

THOUGHTS: When I identified the Inca dove it became my first rare bird sighting. I was a little skeptical being a newbie birder, but my daily rare bird notification listed another Arkansas sighting as well. I posted the picture and have already gotten a Like. Being an amateur and posting on a site of experts made me nervous. Perhaps more of us should follow the advice of Eleanor Roosevelt – “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Catchments

June 09, 2025

I found it fitting after blogging last month about the wildlife structures in Southern Colorado that allow animals to safely cross highways to come across an article in Sunday’s paper addressing the drought wildlife faces in the Arizona desert. The article began with the parade of animals coming to the human-made watering hole on a night in May. First a coyote (Canis latrans), then a gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), followed by a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), and finally a herd of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). As dawn broke the watering hole began to serve its daytime visitors. These were the scaled quail (Callipepla squamata), ravens (Corvus corax principalis), vultures (Cathartes aura), doves (genus Streptopelia), and the occasional lizard (genus Tupinambis). This activity was recorded at the “Teddy Bear” water catchment, nicknamed for the teddy bear cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) that grows around it. This is one of the thousands of catchments managed by Arizona Game and Fish (AGF) built to boost game numbers for hunting and compensate for habitat fragmentation. The catchments have satisfied thirsty animals since the 1940’s.

When I went online, I found Teddy Bear (catchment No. 436) was built to draw deer away from the Central Arizona Project (CAP) Canal. The site has a large sheet of metal that directs rainwater into a gutter and feeds it into an underground tank. The water resurfaces a few yards away as a square of slick green in the arid desert. A fence surrounds the catchment to keep livestock out yet allows wild animals in. Joe Currie, AGF habitat planning program manager, said the catchments are a great support for creatures who live in Arizona’s unforgiving deserts. Many animals can only live a few days without water or the water-rich food the catchments provide. When they were built, many of these watering holes thrived on the more consistent rain. Now, state officials say the drought has forced them to use trucks, and even helicopters, to keep the catchments full. Each year AGF hauls more than 1 million gallons of water to nearly 3,000 catchments. As severe drought deepened in Arizona in 2024, hauling has picked up.

After decades of long-term drought throughout the Southwest, Arizona suffered its hottest summer on record in 2024 and a near-record dry spell back-to-back. These short-term drought conditions persisted through the first half of 2025. Every region of Arizona has been under an official drought designation since January. The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management own two-thirds of the catchments. Those departments used to have robust wildlife management programs but now have no budget to maintain the sites. Arizona has taken responsibility for the entire network, spending roughly US$1 million each year maintaining the catchments. Helicopter deliveries, with the same equipment used to dump water on wildfires, cost more than US$10,000 each. The AGF maintains a donation program where donors have contributed US$1.3 million since 2018.

THOUGHTS: Along with the catchments, Arizona has invested in wildlife structures for animals crossing highways and neighborhoods. Both allow animals to reach the water and food they need in dry times. The CAP also has 30 crossings dispersed along the canal system. These linkages also support genetic diversity in animal populations and allow wildlife to adjust to the effects of climate change. Deer are ruminants (like cows) and cud-chewing animals in dry areas struggle to digest the vegetation. Deer stuck in dry areas might also give birth to fewer fawns. The same goes for a range of other species. While hunting may provide emphasis (and funding) for the structures and the catchments, like most conservation projects they serve the entire ecosystem. If showing how such projects provide for human interests works, I say, “make it so #1!” Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Domino

June 05, 2025

Yesterday morning Melissa asked me to come to the front porch and look at the beautiful flower that had sprung up overnight on one of her cacti. With warmer weather she has placed many of her summer growing cacti on shelves along the front entryway. This allows them to catch the early rays of sun and protects them from the rain we have been getting. I have mentioned how Melissa says one of the worst things you can do for a cactus is to water it. While they need moisture, if you over water it will cause root rot and kill the plant. This is one of melissa’s newer cactus and the first time it has bloomed. The domino cactus flower dwarfed the small globe of cactus it sprouted from.

When I went online, I found the domino cactus (Lobivia ancistrophora) has a globular shape, few spines, with large, white flowers attached to long, green tubes. The domiono is endemic (native) to Bolivia at altitudes of 1,968.5 to 5,905.5 feet (600 to 1800 m). It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit under the synonym Echinopsis ancistrophora. The domino has a single spherical shaped grey-green body, slightly depressed at the top. The plant grows to heights of 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) with diameters of 2.7 to 4.7 inches (7 to 12 cm). It has 10 to 12 straight, sharp ribs with small, cream-colored, elongated-elliptical bumps (areoles) that are 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) apart. The small thorns are grayish brown and often hidden in the areole wool. The upright central spine is again small (2 mm) with 3 to 7 tiny 1.5 mm) thorns at the base. The narrow funnel shaped flowers are white to light pink and slightly curved above the ovary, are 6.5 to 7.8 inches (17 to 20 cm) long. They appear on the side near the top of the shoot and open at night. The pale green flower tube is up to 5 inches (15 cm) long. Its purple scales are pointed with long white and black hairs. The flower blooms at night and then closes during the day.

The domino cactus is one of the many cacti that are night bloomers. The night bloom is primarily to facilitate pollination by nocturnal creatures and to conserve water. These cacti have evolved to attract pollinators which are active at night, like bats and moths. Since the habitat where they thrive is cooler and more humid at night, a night bloom reduces water loss through evaporation from the plant’s leaves and flowers (transpiration). The timing of cactus blooms is also part of a broader adaptation known as a pollination syndrome, where plants co-evolve with their primary pollinators to maximize pollination efficiency. Melissa’s domino cactus is continuing its genetic predisposition. While we do not have a lot of bats swooshing through our front porch, there are a lot of moths which could facilitate pollination.

THOUGHTS: The domino cactus is not native to the desert of Southeast Utah, but pollinating bats are plentiful. My son and I used to camp by rolling our bedrolls out on the slickrock above the wadi beds. Although the sand may have been softer, the rock got you above any possible flash flood from a rain 20 miles upstream. One of my memories was listening to the swishing sound as the bats zipped through the air in search of insects. I never saw a bat in the dark, but the sound of their wings was unmistakable. Many desert plants have adapted to produce bright showy flowers, and a number of those produce a strong aroma, to attract pollinators. Different environments have created selective ecosystems that have adapted to their conditions. When humans interject new species or radically change the environment it can have devastating effects. Some species will survive by adapting to the new environmental conditions, but many will either lose out to competition from the invasive species or die from lack of suitable habitat. While change itself is inevitable, forcing change from artificially created human conditions is rarely good for an existing ecosystem. Eventually however, mother nature wins, and often in surprising ways. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Hiding

June 04, 2025

I woke this morning to the frantic yipping and growling of our dog Loki. I went into the dining room to see what was wrong and he was standing at the picture window looking onto the flower bed. This behavior is usually attributed to the neighborhood cats who like to stroll leisurely across our lawn. Our yard has also been attracting a few eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) that he barks at. As I have left the house, I see them lying under the knockout rose bush (Rosa “Radrazz”) in the middle of the yard or sitting next to the hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) in the front bed. I am surprised they do not pay much attention to me as I leave the house. Last week I found three rabbits sitting in the yard, but they took off when I came out. Loki’s manner said this was something different. When I looked closer, I saw a rabbit nestling beneath the tree. She had made a little bed among the succulents and appeared to be preparing to have her kittens. She was hiding in plain sight.

When I went online, I found Eastern cotton tails often make their nest in open areas, or hiding in plain sight. This behavior is used to discourage the predators that are too timid to enter those areas. The mother rabbit cares for the babies in a way that limits her time in the nest, making it less likely a predator will find the nest. Rabbit mothers nurse for approximately 5 minutes a day, once in the morning and again in the evening. They do not “sit” on the babies to keep them warm like some mammals and birds but instead build a nest with fur and grass which helps to keep the babies warm in between feedings. The home range is roughly circular, and a rabbit typically inhabits one range throughout their life. A range averages 1.4 acres (0.57 hectares) for adult males and 1.2 acres (0.49 hectares) for adult females but vary in size from 0.5 to 40 acres (0.20 to 16.19 hectares), depending on season, habitat quality, and individual. Adult males have larger ranges during breeding season. Multiple and a nesting rabbit say we will have rabbits hiding in our yard for the foreseeable future.

When a nest hiding in plain sight is discovered many assume it has been “abandonded” and want to help. Less than 10% of orphaned rabbits survive a week and the care attempted can be illegal, unnecessary, and potentially harmful. To determine if the mother is returning, create a tic-tac-toe pattern over the nest with twigs and wait 24 hours to see if the twigs have been removed. If they have been moved the mother is coming back. You can also listen to the amount of time the kittens spend crying. The kittens should be quiet most of the day, and if they are constantly crying, they are not being fed. If you find a nest that has been disturbed, do all you can to restore and protect it rather than bring the kittens inside. If a dog has discovered the nest (Loki is not out front), you can put a wheelbarrow or a wicker laundry basket with a hole cut in it to allow the mother to enter. If you come across a rabbit nest in the wild and the mother is not there, leave them alone. If you remove them from the nest, you will greatly reduce their chance of survival. If you are in doubt about what to do and want to help, the best thing is to contact a wildlife rehabilitator in your area.

THOUGHTS: Finding the rabbit trying to build a nest hiding in plain sight gave me pause. The presence was driving Loki nuts, and I knew if I did not do something we would have an active nest. This year the bed includes tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), squash (Cucurbita pepo), and red onions (Allium cepa), so I will be weeding close to the nest. Melissa pointed out the rabbit did not move when we went to look at it, and even when I went to the mailbox it ran away and immediately came back. I have decided to leave the choice to the mother. Wanting to help has often put humans in conflict. While humanitarian aid should be provided, changing lifestyle is the choice of the person wanting help, not the aid giver. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Caissons

May 28, 2025

Inside the front section of my local newspaper was a USA Today article on funerals conducted at Arlington. For more than seven decades, the Caisson Platoon of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (“The Old Guard”) has provided horse-drawn caisson funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. The tradition was formalized in 1948 and rooted in 19th-century military honors. These operations were paused in May 2023 after two horses died from intestinal impaction. A 2022 Army report detailing living conditions contributed to the halt. The report showed 4 equine deaths within a year, an aging herd averaging 15-20 years old, and a training system using soldier-to-soldier instruction. “We were doing things the historical way we’ve always done them, a practice common in The Old Guard,” said Army Major Wes Strickland, 3rd Infantry Regiment public affairs officer. The suspension triggered a comprehensive overhaul and rebranding the unit as the Caisson Detachment. The caissons were no longer rolling.

When I went online, I found caissons are a two-wheeled cart designed to carry artillery ammunition. Caissons were used in conjunction with a limber, the two-wheeled cart designed to support the trail of an artillery piece allowing it to be towed. The trail is the hinder end of the stock of a gun carriage, which rests or slides on the ground when the carriage is unlimbered. Six horses harnessed in pairs on either side of the limber pole were the preferred team for a field artillery piece. A driver rode on each left-hand (“near”) horse and held reins for both the horse he rode and the horse to his right (the “off horse”). After the end of WWII horses were replaced by trucks or artillery tractors to move artillery and the need for limbers and caissons died out. Caissons are also used to bear the casket of the deceased in some state and military funerals in certain Western cultures, including the US. Caissons are used for burials at Arlington National Cemetery for service members killed in action, Medal of Honor or Prisoner of War Medal recipients, senior noncommissioned and senior officers, and for state funerals for government dignitaries, including the President.

Upgrades were made to both the facilities and the caissons pulled to make horse health a priority. The 10 x 10 feet (3 x 3 m) stalls are expanded to 14 x 14 feet (4-1/4 x 4-1/4 m) with rubberized flooring and sloped designs for sanitation. The Fort Belvoir pasture was closed and replaced by a partnership with an equestrian center in Northern Virginia which offers 50 acres (20 ha) of pasture, along with rehabilitation tools like aqua treadmills. Herd management received a US$5 million budget increase which lowers the average horse age to 8-10 years. A veteran 14-year-old is now paired with a 6-year-old to allow the veterans to mentor the young. Equipment upgrades include replacing the wooden saddles with lightweight, custom fitted leather saddles specific to each horse. The caissons weight was reduced by 1,205 pounds (546.5 kg) and added rubber wheels and articulating limber poles to reduce strain on the animals. Training also shifted from impromptu to a 12-week Basic Horsemanship Course at a private stable, followed by a 6-week boot camp at a large climate-controlled equestrian sports facility in Ocala, Florida. On April 8, 2025, the Army announced caisson services would resume during the week of June 2, limited to two funerals daily and up to 10 a week. The caissons are ready to roll again.

THOUGHTS: “The Caissons Go Rolling Along” refers to these ammunition carts. The version adopted as the US Army’s official song replaced the word caissons with Army. The song is adapted from a 1908 work entitled “The Caissons Go Rolling Along”, which was in turn incorporated into John Philip Sousa’s “U.S. Field Artillery March” in 1917. While caissons are no longer a staple for the Army, they are still used to honor the fallen. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Crossings

May 27, 2025

My NY Times feed highlighted an article by Catrin Einhorn that told of an attempt to save both motorists and animals from deadly highway collisions. Aran Johnson, a wildlife biologist for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in Colorado, has been working for the last 15 years to provide a way for large animals to avoid being hit while maneuvering road crossings. Now entire herds of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and elk (Cervus canadensis) use the structures, as well as black bears (Ursus americanus), mountain lions (Puma concolor), bobcats (Lynx rufus), coyotes (Canis latrans), and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). They are expensive, but research has shown they can save money when installed on stretches of highway with at least an average of three collisions between motorists and deer per mile per year. For collisions with elk and moose (Alces alces), which are bigger and cause more damage to vehicles and people (let alone the animal), that threshold goes down to less than one collision per mile per year. Johnson started collaring mule deer to better understand how they moved around the reservation and superimposed his findings on state records of wildlife-vehicle collisions. “It couldn’t be more perfect,” he said. “These things line up so precisely.”

When I went online, I found wildlife crossings are structures that allow animals to cross human-made barriers safely. Wildlife crossings include underpasses or wildlife tunnels, viaducts, and overpasses or green bridges for large or herd-type animals. The crossings also provide for smaller animals with amphibian tunnels, fish ladders, canopy bridges (monkeys and squirrels), culverts for otters (Lutra lutra), hedgehogs (subfamily Erinaceinae), and badgers (Taxidea taxus), and green roofs for butterflies and birds. Wildlife crossings are a practice in habitat conservation, allowing connections or reconnections between habitats to combat habitat fragmentation. Crossings also assist in avoiding collisions between vehicles and animals, which in addition to killing or injuring wildlife may cause injury or death to humans and property damage. Similar structures can be used for domesticated animals, such as cattle creeps.

Wildlife crossings are growing in popularity across the country, and Colorado has emerged as a leader building 28 large game crossing structures since 2015, according to the state Transportation Department. Many of the species which use the structures travel from higher elevations in the summer to lower ones in the winter and are often forced to cross existing highways. The Colorado General Assembly passed a law in 2022 creating a cash fund for the department to use for animal crossings and the state has evaluated its highways to create a priority list for future projects. Wildlife crossings are combined with long stretches of fencing to funnel animals to the right location and have been found to reduce vehicle collisions with large animals by more than 80 percent. The Colorado Department of Transportation covered most of the cost for wildlife crossings. The tribe came up with US$1.3 million from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and an additional US $12 million for the project came from the state department of wildlife, nonprofit groups, and a private donor. A bonus of wildlife crossings is the photos from trail cameras which bring attention to the programs.

THOUGHTS: Wildlife crossings transcend political divisions and have bipartisan support. The crossings also fit in with the cultural importance of being stewards of the land for the Southern Ute. As the current administration cuts federal spending the grant program that helps states and tribes pay for wildlife crossings in collision hot spots is now in doubt. A chainsaw is effective if you want to remove the whole tree. Pruning is effective if you want to save the tree and remove unwanted parts. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Mosura

May 20, 2025

Danielle Dufault/Royal Ontario Museum

Inside the front section of my local newspaper was a USA Today article about a predator that roamed the seas during the Cambrian period (500 million BP). The fossilized remains were found in the Burgess Shale of Canadian Rockies, presenting researchers with new insight into animal life in the Cambrian period, according to a paper published this week in the journal Royal Society Open Science. According to researchers, the discovery revealed the creature was more complex than other radiodont fossils suggested. Rather than the simple abdomen-like area, this creature’s body included 16 segments lined with gills, like modern arthropods. The well-preserved fossil showed an open circulatory system, consisting of a heart that pumped blood into large body cavities (lacunae). The species is called Mosura fentoni, or commonly, the sea moth.

When I went online, I found Mosura fentoni is an extinct species of hurdiid radiodont (marine arthropod) from the Cambrian Burgess Shale in British Columbia, Canada. This is the only species in the genus Mosura, and is known from sixty specimens collected between 1990 and 2022. The specimens were discovered in the Raymond Quarry and Marble Canyon localities, with the majority being placed in the invertebrate paleontology collection of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROMIP). The specimens range from 0.59 to 2.40 inches (1.5 to 6.1 cm), making this one of the smallest radiodonts known. The head has three eyes with two on short stalks and a third on the head between them. The 26 body segments comprise the head, the four-segmented neck, and the trunk. Like other radiodonts, the body bears pairs of swimming flaps, which are considerably larger on the anterior (mesotrunk) than on the posterior (posterotrunk). The gills are very large compared to body size. The specific name (fentoni) honors Peter E. Fenton and his work at the ROMIP. The generic name is from the Japanese name of Mothra (Mosura), the fictional moth-like kaiju monster featured in films by the Japanese company Toho and references the animal’s moth-like appearance.

Mothra (Japanese: Mosura) is a fictional monster (kaiju) that first appeared in the 1961 film of the same name. Mothra has appeared in several Toho tokusatsu (live action) films and as a recurring monster in the Godzilla franchise. She is typically portrayed as a colossal sentient larva (caterpillar) or imago, accompanied by two miniature fairies speaking on her behalf. Mothra is a largely heroic character, having been variously portrayed as a protector of her own island culture, the Earth, and Japan. Mothra’s design is influenced by silkworms, their caterpillars (imagos), and those of giant silk moths in the family Saturniidae. The character is often depicted hatching offspring when it nears death, a nod to the Saṃsāra doctrine of numerous Indian religions. Although Mothra is generally portrayed as female, male individuals have also been featured in the franchise, and a male Mothra larva appears alongside his non-identical twin sister in Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. Mothra is one of Toho’s most popular monsters and second only to Godzilla in her total number of film appearances.

THOUGHTS: Mosura is a heroic counterpart to the destruction of Godzilla. The 1954 Japanese film presented Godzilla as a metaphor for the devastation and fear caused by nuclear weapons and atomic testing. It symbolized the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the aftereffects of nuclear devastation. The film reflected the anxieties and traumas of the Japanese people during the American occupation in the post-war era. Mosura is not created by atomics and provides safety to the Earth and Japan. Cultures often present images of strong male beings running roughshod over others, along with gentile female beings offering solace and nurture. While that is the stereotype, all humans can choose to be strong, nurturing, or both. It is a choice that needs to be made. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Returned

May 17, 2025

Last May I blogged about the nest an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) had made on top of the curve in the downspout on the side of our house. While this stuck me as amusing, it prompted an exploration into what I could (and could not) do with the nest. I was not too keen about having a bird nest attached to my house (neighbors: how unsightly!). The nest was just above my raised vegetable beds, so I wondered about being attacked every time I came out to water or pick new fruit. The birds were not overly territorial but would always make a scene of flying to the fence along the yard in an apparent effort to divert my attention from the nest. Since I did not want this to become a permanent nesting site, I checked Arkansas law and found the nest was protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1918) if the nest was active (eggs or chicks present). If the nest has been abandoned or has no eggs it can be removed. I waited until late September before I removed the nest. This year another pair of robins built a nest in the exact same location. That got me wondering if the pair returned or if this was just a great place to build a nest and raise a family.

When I looked online, I found the American robin has an extremely high rate of return to the same breeding site each season (nest fidelity). Why birds returned to nest was not really understood until the early part of the last century when Oliver Austin, with the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Massachusetts, started banding the Common tern (Sterna hirundo) which nested there. Austin found that the same terns returned to Wellfleet each spring and often laid their eggs in the exact spot on the ground as they did the year before. While robins return to old nesting sites, they typically do not reuse nests. They might repair or build on top of an old nest, but they generally build a new nest for each brood they raise. Old nests can harbor parasites and diseases, so building a new nest helps keep the nestlings healthy. Robins return to a previous nesting site if they had a successful hatch. They may instead prefer a new nest site, especially if they have found a more protected location or have discovered a potential predator eyeing their old nest.

A bird building a nest in your house is often seen as a positive omen, symbolizing new beginnings, a safe and peaceful environment, and a connection to higher powers. The nest can also represent the presence of loved ones (living or dead), and a message of love and care. Birds are often seen as messengers of hope and faith, and their presence can be a reminder of your spiritual connection to the universe. Birds are drawn to places with positive vibrations and a sense of peace so the nest in your home suggests your house is a harmonious and safe space. The act of building a nest symbolizes new beginnings and a sense of starting anew. A nest in your home can be seen as a message from loved ones who recently died and a reminder of their continued presence and love. The nest itself is a symbol of home and the importance of creating a safe and nurturing environment. Finally, in Buddhist traditions the bird’s nest symbolizes a nurturing environment and the importance of caring for new life. I guess that means when they return you have been doubly blessed.

THOUGHTS: Last year’s arrival of the robins met with concern over what the nest said about me as a homeowner. When they returned to the down spout it was met with a sense of joy at the wonder of life on display (including the two chicks in the photo). I work hard to keep the feeders full and water on hand. The nesting pair acknowledges our yard is a safe haven. Safe havens need to be available for both birds and humans. These places usually take hard work to ensure they are not lost. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Wheel Bug

May 14, 2025

Last weekend I decided to weed the succulent bed beside the drive. Melissa planted the bed with white stonecrops (Sedum album) mats placed around the 4-foot by 3-foot (1.2 m by .9 m) bed. The bed sits under the Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) tree I had trimmed for the limbs and branches that made up the base layer of my hügelkultur raised beds made last year. The problem was the bed was filled with dead leaves and the invasive Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) from the surrounding yard. After an hour of concentrated effort, I amassed a large pile of grass, leaves, and weeds on the driveway. I raked the debris into a pile and scooped it up to place in the trash bin (I do not have a large compost pile, yet). When I came back to blow the remaining debris onto the yard, I noticed a small insect with a red back scurrying across the drive. At first, I thought it was a Black widow (Latrodectus hesperus) spider dislodged from the debris. A closer look showed the creature had 6 legs, meaning it was an insect rather than a spider. I took a picture and googled the bug, and it was identified as an assassin bug, or more specifically a North American wheel bug.

When I went online, I found the North American wheel bug (Arilus cristatus), or simply wheel bug, is a species of large assassin bug in the family Reduviidae and the only species of wheel bug found in the US. It was described in 1763 by Carl Linnaeus. It is one of the largest terrestrial true bugs in North America and reaches up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) in length in its adult stage. It is sexually dimorphic with males slightly smaller than females. The characteristic feature of the species is the wheel-shaped armor on the first segment of the thorax which also bears the first set of legs. Adults are gray to brownish gray in color and black shortly after molting, but the nymphs (which have not developed the wheel-shaped structure) have bright red or orange abdomens. Wheel bugs prey on caterpillars and beetles by piercing them with their beak to inject salivary fluids that dissolve soft tissue. Wheel bugs are the most active in daylight but may feed at night in areas illuminated by lights. A wheel bug uses camouflage and hides in leafy areas (like my overgrown bed) whenever possible. Despite the prevalence of the wheel bug in many habitats, the information on the species is haphazard and incomplete. Most of its prey are pests, so the wheel bug is considered beneficial.

The wheel bug I found scurried off and I did not think any more about it until I noticed another one on my rake 20 minutes later. My app initially identified the insect as an assassin bug, but this refers to over 7,000 species of Reduviidae, a large wide-ranging (cosmopolitan) family of the suborder Heteroptera of the order Hemiptera (true bugs). Scanning pictures of the 5 different types of assassin bug, I determined it was a wheel bug, which also had 5 species. I narrowed this to the North American wheel bug because it was the only one native to North America. North American wheel bugs are highly regarded by organic gardeners because they consume a variety of insects, and their presence indicates a healthy, pesticide-free ecosystem. “They are the lion or the eagle of your food web,” according to Michael J. Raupp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland. I was glad I had left it alone.

THOUGHTS: The pictures of wheel bugs all showed a large black or gray adult, unlike the tiny (.25 inch/6 mm) insect I found. This was a nymph version of the wheel bug that hatches at the beginning of May and matures (after 5 molts) in July. That explains the second individual on my rake. I had disturbed a group of hatchlings hidden in the leaves. When I saw the wheel bug my first reaction was to squash it because it was unknown. Taking time to know, I found it was beneficial. Taking time to know (things or people) can often change our understanding. We just need to be willing to spend the time. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.