Alien Bugs

Black Witch Moth(This one is for you Ragged Robin:)

Here's a collection of interesting bugs I've found around Southern Arizona. The above was a great find.  This moth is found mostly in Mexico but it does make it's way up into Southern Arizona and what a find!!!  The name alone is fun:) It is considered a harbinger of death in Mexican and Caribbean folklore.  Glad I didn't touch it:)

And while the monsoon brings on the rain, you'll see many many beetles flying around our parts.  Some I like.  Some I don't.

Blue Mud Dauber Wasp

But this Blue Mud Dauber is something.  Here's why you don't squash this one.  The blue mud dauber is a metallic blue species of mud dauber wasp that preys primarily on black widow spiders. It does not build a nest, but uses nests abandoned by other mud dauber wasps. Like other mud daubers, it is rarely aggressive. Blue mud dauber wasps are generally considered beneficial, because they help to regulate the population of black widow spiders.

Giant Mesquite Bug

When I first met this bug, I thought, "Is that real?"  And yes.  Yes it is. They are harmless and don't bite.  And you can hold them in your hand.

Palo Verde Beetle

And this one.  This is the grand daddy of them all.  I'll tell you a short story for this GIANT bug.  This one looks like a cockroach, but it's not.  Here's one for the books.  I first discovered this alien bug while moving here in '96.  It was during monsoon and the thing flew into our apartment window.  I had thought it was a bird at first.  I opened the door and it got into our place.  I began to scream because I had never seen a beetle that big.  I would NOT put this guy in your hand at all.  They don't bite, but they do click and could pinch your skin.  But that's not my story:)  One of my friends came to visit from the Midwest during the summer.  They drove with their windows down probably listening to the Macarena.  It was evening time when these bugs like to come out and of course one flew into my friend's car.  Let's just say that a car crash almost happened from all the screaming and swirving on the road from this Giant Bug.  It was on Speedway and the monsoon storms were getting started:)  Thankfully no one was hurt and a hilarious memory still surfaces today in conversations:)  "Do you remember that time when that alien bug entered your car?" Evil laughs follow. And you should have heard her describe this beast.  It was the funniest thing ever. If you have friends in Arizona, ask them about the Palo Verde beetle and see what their reactions are:)  I've come across so many people with great stories of their first encounter because it's rather traumatic:) 

Figeater Beetle

Horse Lubber Grasshopper

This actor played Johnny Rico from the movie Starship Troopers which was a violent movie about humans fighting alien bugs. One of his lines was, "I'm from Buenos Aires, and I say kill 'em all!" His very American accent wasn't quite convincing to play someone from Argentina so I'm not sure his words should be taken seriously:) Everything has a purpose. More tomorrow.....

Cicada-when they emerge from their exoskeleton, you'd swear there was an alien in the garden somewhere

 Carpenter Bees(above).  They seem scary, but they're not:)

Peach Trees In Tucson

Hey hey hey!!!  Have you heard?  The peaches are here....the peaches are here.  This year at Presidio all 3 varieties (Red Baron, Elberta and Babcock!) have produced delicious peaches.  The reliable peach over the past two summers has been the Elberta (producing plenty!).  And this year 2 more surprises!  The Red Baron and Babcock both have peaches on them!!!

Babcock Peach

These pictures were taken on 6/30 and they should be ready to eat now.  A couple things to note about growing Peach trees in Tucson.  Like any fruit tree, they will need plenty of water if you are going to have plump and ripe peaches:)  They also surprisingly will take our sun if watered well.  I placed all 3 in different locations around the property.  Two had almost full sun along a water line and the second(the Red Baron) was in some shade.

Red Baron Peach

Now about placement.  Put them along a water line.  All of these trees are dwarf trees which means they'll only grow to about 12 feet.  Perfect height for picking peaches:)  Another reason to plant peach trees?  In Spring, when it's cold(for the desert) and there's nothing on the branches, the first sign that spring is around the corner comes in the color of blooms!!!!  Depending on the variety, the blooms will be red red or a bright pink.  Each bloom represents a peach so protect from winds during this time period.

And what about wildlife vs. the peach?  You all know I am an avid fan of birds and everything else.  Some people have suggested putting brown paper bags over the fruit and leaving a few out for the birds.  Surprisingly it wasn't the bird I had to be weary of.....it was a huge shiny alien green beetle known as the Figeater(I'm calling it Peacheater)!  I came back from my trip last year in July and found that they ate about HALF!!!  the crop.

Elberta Peach

So keep an eye open for these critters in the Tucson area.  A reliable fruit tree for the desert.  Chill hours are the lowest for this particular fruit tree.  Apricots and Nectarines also do very well here.  For two years I've had a few green apricots on the trees but they seem to disappear....hmmmm......now I think a bird may be responsible for these disappearances:)

I look forward to tasting the 3 different peaches as they ripen.  What fruits are growing in your garden?  Would love to hear your favorite seasonal fruit right now or what fruit you've had success with?  More tomorrow....

This Figeater should be called Peacheater:)