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Post by tom π on Sept 27, 2020 12:46:16 GMT -5
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Post by gardendmpls on Sept 27, 2020 13:20:13 GMT -5
Most of those caterpillars are venomous, not poisonous. Just one of those English usage irritants that some people go crazy over and others might explain because they are science teachers and need to slowly let go when they retire. Venomous creatures usually inject toxins through fangs, spurs, barbs or bristles. Poisonous creatures are more passive aggressive. Their toxins may be absorbed through the skin or in the digestive system if they are eaten (being passive aggressive doesn't help them here). Plants are more complicated to describe, as shown in the article referenced below. www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-venomous-and-poisonous
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Post by Wheelgarden on Sept 27, 2020 13:24:21 GMT -5
Caterpillars are going to get more respect from me. ...as well they should! I've had many encounters with the venomous crawlers, mostly saddlebacks and spiny oak slugs, just by brushing against them. They do hurt like the dickens, and cause a painful rash that can last for days.
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Post by tom π on Sept 27, 2020 13:53:26 GMT -5
Venomous creatures usually inject I wondered about the distinction between 'venomous' and 'poisonous' because Walter Reeves calls attention to it. Unlike snakes and wasps, the caterpillar is passive and does not inject -- so far as I know. The victim is the active one. I also had a problem between 'clump' and 'tuft' but choose 'clump' because it is a more common word.
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Post by breezygardener on Sept 27, 2020 16:21:21 GMT -5
I came across a Saddleback caterpillar here once, but guessed enough not to touch it. Figured anything that colorful had to be bad news.
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Post by gardendmpls on Sept 29, 2020 0:17:24 GMT -5
the caterpillar is passive and does not inject "Stinging caterpillars possess hollow quill-like hairs, connected to poison sacs, which are used as defensive weapons. When these hairs are touched they pierce the skin releasing poison." This is different from poison brushing off the caterpillar and being absorbed by the person's skin, such as what happens with poison frogs. Above quote from: entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef003
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Post by tom π on Sept 29, 2020 10:05:22 GMT -5
Stinging caterpillars possess hollow quill-like hairs, connected to poison sacs The link has an excellent picture of a caterpillar's "spine". A venom is an animal poison that is actively delivered by the animal. (Snakes are the model.) I checked on the frogs. Poisonous frogs are not said to be venomous because the frogs are passive in the delivery of the poison. If they were described as "venomous", that would suggest that the frogs bite. The question is, Are caterpillars active in the delivery of their poison? If the caterpillar rears up so as to force spines into the victim or if the poison sacs contract so as to inject the poison, then the caterpillars could properly be described as "venomous". These ideas are coming out of my head like kale. If I keep it up, I may get a headache. nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/poison-frogs-- no mention of venom en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poison_dart_frog
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Post by gardendmpls on Sept 30, 2020 13:33:56 GMT -5
I think the difference is that in venomous creatures the poison is injected into the skin, whether by teeth, spines, fangs or other mechanisms. In poisonous creatures it is either ingested or rubs off and is absorbed. So I suppose that is why it is poison ivy, not venomous ivy. Also stinging nettle, although we might refer to it as venomous nettle.
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Post by James on Oct 1, 2020 10:03:51 GMT -5
Hmmmm..... around these parts if you are going up in the rocks on the sunny side, best watch out for rattle snakes. Other than that, not much to worry about. Oh in season you may get a wood tick, or some mosquitos. For the ticks, a body inspection when you get ready for bed. Mosquitos, a can of spray.
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Post by tom π on Oct 1, 2020 13:38:23 GMT -5
Other than that, not much to worry about. No fire ants or wasps? I'm recovering from a few fire ant stings now. This year I've had one bumblebee and two wasp stings. The bumblebee flew into my boot. Usually they are harmless.
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Post by James on Oct 5, 2020 9:28:42 GMT -5
Oh we have wasps, but they usually leave you alone unless you happen to knock down their nest. As mentioned a can of wasp spray takes care of the problem. I am a beekeeper. I am also highly allergic to the bee venom. So if I am going out to work the bees, I cover up. Coveralls, boots, hat, veil, gloves, gauntlets. Tuck the pant legs down into the boots so any bees crawling up come on top not under the clothing. It has been said that if you got stung 70 times in one season, that you would become immune. I said, "No Thanks"
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Post by tom π on Oct 5, 2020 10:02:45 GMT -5
Oh we have wasps, but they usually leave you alone unless you happen to knock down their nest. As mentioned a can of wasp spray takes care of the problem. The wasp here will attack if you get in the area of their nest. I once saw a person stung, and the nest was 15 feet away.
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Post by James on Oct 5, 2020 10:25:02 GMT -5
Here you are in NC Zone 8, and here I am in high dry Northern Utah at 5000 ft elevation. Zone 5. Ya I reckon there will be quite some variation in weather patterns, insect populations etc from there to here.
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Post by James on Oct 5, 2020 10:34:07 GMT -5
Here we normally get around 100 frost free days. From mid May till early September. One never knows though. One year it froze the cukes on July 5 after being 90 for the parade on the 4th. So we plant and hope.
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