And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Drove out of New Zealand's biggest city last night. 170 kilometres. 40 kms on a city's motorway system, 110 kms through mainly through farm land, some small towns, 20 kms through a mountainous gorge. Left at 11.30pm, got to where I am staying just before 1.30am Little light rain on the outskirts of the city, some broken cloud cover, otherwise clear skies. Park up under the well lit carport (think Americans say 'well lighted') and not a single bug or insect anywhere ... not a smear on the glass or the paint. Some slightly mud coloured dirt on the sides of the car flowing back from the wheel arches, but no living creature seems to have collided with the car at all. Where are all the insects ? Seems like one day they all just POOF disappeared. Used to be that on that same drive I would have needed to use my wipers to see where I was driving, squirting washer water to wipe off the 372 dead insects.
Enjoy the above ladybug while you can. something is killing off the most abundant life forms of our planet.
I live in Wellington so hello. I find that the evening sees plenty still but worry at the lack of honey bees in my garden. It does feel like something is amiss. Another factor is that cars are streamlined nowadays so bugs you'd have squashed in the old days slide over in the airflow.
Isn't it the middle of winter in New Zealand? Lot's of bugs here in the middle of summer.. I can recall driving from Minnesota down to Illinois in the early spring time, clean windows until we got to the line that marked "spring", you could tell by the sudden appearance of bugs on the windshield!
If ladybugs weren't so tiny, they'd be really scary!!!
ReplyDeleteVery scary indeed. If your an aphid.
Deleteyou're
DeleteYou would think someone saavy would have copied this very design concept by now….!
ReplyDeleteDrove out of New Zealand's biggest city last night.
ReplyDelete170 kilometres.
40 kms on a city's motorway system, 110 kms through mainly through farm land, some small towns, 20 kms through a mountainous gorge.
Left at 11.30pm, got to where I am staying just before 1.30am
Little light rain on the outskirts of the city, some broken cloud cover, otherwise clear skies.
Park up under the well lit carport (think Americans say 'well lighted') and not a single bug or insect anywhere ... not a smear on the glass or the paint.
Some slightly mud coloured dirt on the sides of the car flowing back from the wheel arches, but no living creature seems to have collided with the car at all.
Where are all the insects ?
Seems like one day they all just POOF disappeared.
Used to be that on that same drive I would have needed to use my wipers to see where I was driving, squirting washer water to wipe off the 372 dead insects.
Enjoy the above ladybug while you can.
something is killing off the most abundant life forms of our planet.
I live in Wellington so hello.
DeleteI find that the evening sees plenty still but worry at the lack of honey bees in my garden. It does feel like something is amiss. Another factor is that cars are streamlined nowadays so bugs you'd have squashed in the old days slide over in the airflow.
Isn't it the middle of winter in New Zealand? Lot's of bugs here in the middle of summer..
DeleteI can recall driving from Minnesota down to Illinois in the early spring time, clean windows until we got to the line that marked "spring", you could tell by the sudden appearance of bugs on the windshield!
They can bite like a bastard too.
ReplyDeletereal ladybugs don't/can't. them damm invasive look-alikes DO. something about the spots being an identifier. another case of profiling.
DeleteThe larval stage have 2 hollow mandibles they use like a skeeter and they hurt like hell when they bite. And they do if you mess with them
Delete