It rained, Bob and I stood admiring the rain drops on the Powder Puffs.,you can guess what happened next... I left Bob staring at the bush...
I hear the sliding glass door open and Bob Shouts come here! Bring the camera!
The dreaded Thorn bugs were back... these are all females and they were sucking the life out of the tree and laying eggs to make MORE bugs...
Last year we almost lost the tree, they were on all the limbs. Bob sprayed the whole tree and they fell off on the ground. they are sharp thorns, and can cause infection if stepped on.
We were lucky, only one branch had the bugs, Bob broke it off and I came in the house to download the photos.
Later he told me he cremated them and DID NOT CALL ME to document it.
I was really mad, you all KNOW I love fire.
At least he spared you those photos... LOL
Link below if you want to read up on them.
Found on Powder Puff Bush Monday PM...Sap Sucking Thorn Bug better known as
Umbonia crassicornis I will spare you the details, if interested just click on the link.
Oh my - I have never of such a thing! That's pretty interesting.
ReplyDeleteI was going to say exactly what Montana said...never seen such a thing. They are sort of pretty but don't sound like a very nice thing to have...going to read up on them before the day is over.
ReplyDeleteOUCH! That would hurt! I've never seen those before. I love the water droplets on the powder puff!
ReplyDeleteOh how dare he burn them without telling you. LOL. No bug dare show his head in the deep freeze. It must be so nice to live where you do.
ReplyDeletewow, they are FUNKY!!!
ReplyDeleteWish we had a power puff tree but not those yucky thorn bugs.
ReplyDeleteShame on Bob, miss firebug :)
Wow I have never seen the like, they are just amazing, but not I suppose if they are sucking the life blood out of your favourite tree/shrub.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Gordon.
I think even the bugs are pretty.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. I'm glad we do not have these here. I would say death by fire is good for them.
Great pictures as usual but tell Bob I sure am disappointed I missed the fire.
Well, there are thorn birds and thorn trees and just plain thorns, so there may as well be thorn bugs! I've never heard of them either and at first thought they might be pretty butterflies. Ick.
ReplyDeleteWoooo---those don't even look like BUGS... Goodness!!!! Glad you caught the boogers when they were only on one branch... I'm sure Bob will keep an eye on the rest of the tree for awhile. I love the Powder Puff bush...
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
Pretty to look at, but so destructive and glad that Bob gave them what they so deserve. Guess he forgot to let the fire-lover know in advance.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it's the red sharp peaks or the water droplets, but the first images really stands out to me. Love it!
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to see the bugs, but I can understand why you got rid of them - quite pretty, but rather nasty to have around.
ReplyDeleteUmbonia crassicornis OMCs MS i thought you were going to post in Latin or something.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous flowers and oh my word
thorn bugs..never in all mine and Mom's 76 combined years have we ever seen anything quite like those.
Holy moley FL is amazing
Hugs madi and Mom
Say what!? I've never seen anything like that. I thought it was another of your exotic plants. Yuck.
ReplyDeleteThe powder puff blossoms look like mini fireworks. Glad you were able to get rid of the bugs.
ReplyDeleteThe puff is so pretty! And the bugs are, too...what a shame that they are so destructive. Glad you caught them early!
ReplyDeleteThat's a first for me, Thorn bugs? I've never seen one before, they look pretty but I can see how they could be so destrucive.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
In spite of the close-ups, I just can't believe those are bugs, I've never seen anything like it! (Of course I do believe you, but they look like part of the plant to me.) Amazing. (PS. Can't believe Bob burned them without you present!!!)
ReplyDeleteYou know when I read things like this - I am always in awe. Who - what - when - why - how and then I think of God. Those are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI would have never guessed that those were bugs.It looked more like some growth on the branch.Of course what would I know about bugs that live in your world?:)
ReplyDeleteThat is WILD!!! I have never seen or even heard of these!! Glad your hubby was paying attention!!
ReplyDeletefirst of all that first picture is gorgeous. Perfect in every way
ReplyDeleteSecond those bugs are really something. I thought they were some kind of bloom when I first saw them.
Sci Fi come to life! Those are creepy! Great photos, though! Have you baggied them up and taken them to a nursery to ask about a chemical cure?
ReplyDeleteLike most everyone else, I have never heard of such critters or even seen pictures of them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. I found it fascinating.
I thought they were butterflies and then I thought they were just plain sharp thorns.
Pity you didn't get to see them cremated. Talk about a missed photo opp.
Dang gal, that first photo is an eye catcher!!! WELL DONE!!!
ReplyDeleteNOW this is a new one on me, thorn bugs, what a photo op but not for the sake of the tree. They are lovely but I think I would rather just see them in photos. Scary that if you step on them you can get an infection... ouch!!!
Good you spared us from the cremation, I do know you love to photograpy fire!
Stay warm.
I read the link and close up they are kind of pretty with all the colors but definitely a critter I would not want to have around. Love your photo of the rain drops on the Powder Puffs.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! We don't have those up north. I'm guessing they wouldn't survive the cold. They do look kind of pretty. But not as pretty as the flowers.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of these bugs before, and after reading what they do, I hope I don't hear about them again.
ReplyDeleteLovely colors..
ReplyDeleteGorgeous fiery red flower. And lovely yellow tree bugs. Felt sorry that you had to get rid of the beautiful tree wrecking pests.
ReplyDeleteThey sure do look like thorns. Great camouflage.
ReplyDeleteEW! Those thorn bugs look gross! What a pain to have to spray them every year.
ReplyDeleteThey sure were named correctly...how do you get rid of them? I do believe your first photo would win a ribbon in a art show...it is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThey sure were named correctly...how do you get rid of them? I do believe your first photo would win a ribbon in a art show...it is fabulous.
ReplyDeletegosh, i have never seen such a thing! they sure look like thorns.
ReplyDeletei loved that first photo of the red flower. incredibly gorgeous!!
Love how you caught the raindrops!
ReplyDeleteThis is better than a sci-fi flick!
ReplyDeleteWow I have never heard of a Thorn Bug.
ReplyDelete