Tiny wasp

One more insect video. I rescued this chalcidoid wasp from our cat's water bowl in the garage. It was teeny tiny! This one may in the subfamily of Eupelminae. 

A diving beetle

Look what I found yesterday when we were fishing for gambusia (so we could rehome them). A mottled diving beetle (Thermonectus nigrofasciatus)! So cool. This morning we rehomed the gambusia and my diving beetle. I have no clue how this beetle found our stock tank pond, but I have an inquiry out and hope to solve that mystery. But apparently, diving beetles can fly long distances in search of new places to live. 

 

Oh, be sure and check out my video below. These beetles come up for air, then dive back down and release used air (I think) from their bottom end. Watch for the two bubbles from my beetle's butt.  

Gambusia rehomed

 

It was quite a project, but yesterday afternoon we rounded up all the gambusia from the stock tank pond. The mottled diving beetle went, too. This morning, we drove everyone east of Blanco to Duan and Tanja's pond. What a nice pond! Lots of golfish and tadpoles. My gambusia will fit right now. Thanks, y'all!

 

 

Good by, stock tank pond

The end of a backyard era. Nearly 14 years! And yes, I got a little teary eyed. I enjoyed our stock tank pond so much. But nothing last forever. The deed is done now, and one less thing to care for. 

A tiny wasp with bow legs

  

Look what I found in our cat's water bowl! A tiny parasitic wasp, likely a chalcidid wasp species in the genus of Dirhinus. (It could be Dirhinus texana.) Very interesting body parts! Take a look at my video while you're here, too.  

Chi...chi...chi...chicken!

Yes, this morning James spotted a chicken in our front flower box! Was he surprised! Then when I stuck my head out the front door to see, I spotted EGGS! Lots of them! Another surprise – score! Thank you, Ms. Runaway Henny Penny! She's one of our neighbor's chickens that loves to roam. Two days ago, we spotted her skeddadling on another neighbor's fence side of our back yard. 

It's been a good run – stock tank

First I said good by to my mandarin tree. Now it's farewell to our stock tank pond, which we put together back in 2012. More than a week ago, I came to a decision. Today I solidified it. I'd gone out to add some water to the tank. Then I pulled up my lone pot of aquatic plants. Or should I say, what was left of it. James blames raccoons. I tend to agree. But my goodness, the culprits have completely destroyed my horsetail rush. How could they do that? I mean, physically how? Not to mention, that water is FRIGID. James says he can trap and relocate the culprits. I'm just to give up and retire. It'll be one less thing to take care of. With my hand disease progressing (Dupuytren's), it's time. But I sure did enjoy my pond. It was so beautiful in the early years. 

July 2019