tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1710073417412924020.post1886262873286639871..comments2024-03-21T14:29:41.877-06:00Comments on Oaxaca-The Year After: Holiday decorations?Christopher Stowenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17338834673351573616noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1710073417412924020.post-71945032504982060392020-12-11T22:36:04.764-06:002020-12-11T22:36:04.764-06:00Once again, a keen eye uncovers a remarkable synth...Once again, a keen eye uncovers a remarkable synthesis of holiday and color and shape in the natural world. Oh, to be so alive as to discover. <br /><br />I just read a sentence from Rebecca West in Survivors in Mexico that I absolutely must share: “What are the characteristics of Mexico? The sound of brooms sweeping courtyards and pavements in the early morning; cotton-wooly tortillas stuffed with the clotted heaven of avocado-pear puree; gesticulating cactus; flowers so bright that they seem to be audible; people who walk silently; and this historic oddity of insurrections by a subject people on the side of stability and tradition.”Mark Connerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773625925508274815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1710073417412924020.post-84995183103546730502020-12-11T13:50:14.054-06:002020-12-11T13:50:14.054-06:00I have had them before. Two years ago there were ...I have had them before. Two years ago there were quite a few. This year only three that I've seen. They are voracious eaters... an entire banana leaf in one day!Christopher Stowenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17338834673351573616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1710073417412924020.post-79403544075515205492020-12-11T13:40:53.951-06:002020-12-11T13:40:53.951-06:00Very festive! But I was sure right away that is w...Very festive! But I was sure right away that is wasn't likely a butterfly as generally their caterpillars are hairless.<br />What you have is some variety of Io moth (or two) Here's a page showing the Io caterpillars,- they start out small and red and become large and green. And yes they DO sting and you were lucky it was through your clothes.<br />https://tinyurl.com/y3wlensv<br /><br />Adult moth wingspans are an impressive 2-3.3 inches, and have a large IO mark on their under-wings. The thing is, most articles have their distribution involving the eastern half of the US and part of eastern Mexico. Oaxaca??? Did you import him on your last trip up north? Just kidding. Distribution info seems to be based on a 1996 study - guess they're on the move.<br />Diane<br />Clever Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02891955957448109569noreply@blogger.com