Thought I’d start the week with some interesting information about a thing we see around here in the spring. I expect most readers will know what it is when they see it, but I’d not seen such a thing until I moved here, so here it is, and it has nothing to do with tourists or spiders. Phew.
You see them hanging in the Cyprus trees up the lane, and elsewhere, and each one is a tent for a Western Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma californicum). However, we can’t have those in Greece because of the illegal tariff set on them by the USA (note: californi in the Latin name; the ones pictured are native to the country of the orange dictator), we have our own version in Greece, and apparently, they are pine processionary caterpillars (Thaumetopoea pityocampa).
I am just stepping aside to examine the Latin name of that last one… Pityocampa. I looked it up and discovered that Pity O’Campa is currently appearing at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on a Saturday night doing drag bingo.
However, our local pine processionary caterpillars, whose incubation nest we were just looking at, will soon be appearing out and about, crossing the road and moving around the neighbourhood in procession, because that is what they do. A word of warning, though, and this is lifted directly from an online search:
Extremely dangerous to humans and pets due to toxic, urticating* hairs that cause severe rashes, allergic reactions, and are potentially fatal to dogs if ingested.
On the lighter side, can you identify what this is?
I know it’s part of a plant, but what plant? I only ask because I am waiting for the kettle to boil, and want something to do.
And here’s another ‘What is it?’ Only, this time, I can tell you, it is the work progressing on our water treatment plant at ‘Council Corner’ on the main road. When completed, I am told, it will look like all Symi buildings must (apart from the power station and police station), and stand at the entrance to the harbour like a neoclassical house that has stood there for 100 years. Or it might look like a sewage works.
Let’s hope it’s the former.
* Urticating refers to substances or structures that cause itching, stinging, or inflammation. (I had to look it up. I never knew!)
