There’s a cold, misty rain blowing around here on the writing porch so I’m pretending I’m on the deck of an ocean bound ship just off the coast of Labrador. It’s too misty to have even seen Newfoundland as we passed. Arrrr. The horses are out in the pasture happily eating grass without flies bothering them. Flies hate the rain. It’s quite empty of any insects here on the deck of the ship too which makes me wonder… I love bugs, but until ten years or so ago I had no love for flies. Most people don’t, which I get. Especially here and in places where black fly season is a reality and in general flies are hated with a passion. Biting insects are a scourge, no question, but I had to rethink my feelings about flies seeing as I am a longtime dedicated reader of
Yay for Miss Lynda! We worked together pasting up the Rocket in its early days. Our headline “Ride Ride Ride the Wild Tse-Tse Fly” (for a band called Insect Surfers, I believe) held up production until we could recover from an intense bout of hysteria. I thought you know …
My wife spends time in our garden photographing all our insect visitors. She uploads the photos to a cool site called iNaturalist! You should check it out!
Before I bought my home, I rented a place with a few acres of property. My landlord was an older, traditional, farm-y type that couldn't seem to stay away, mowed anything that that could be mowed (boring), and seemed to hate lots of critters including squirrels and moles. Moles in particular seemed to inflame his ire, and if mole sign appeared (a fresh mound of churned dirt) he would set traps immediately. I honestly can't imagine giving a shit if a mole dug up some dirt in a field, but he killed them for it. The trap was an underground spring-triggered noose contraption, and you can imagine the rest. Perhaps moles are not a despised as flies, but they are murdered without much thought at all. Now that I have my own place, moles are welcome! I like moles. They are good for the soil (soul?). Now I will be eyeing all the flies and thinking about them, even though here in Washington I mostly see the usual black chunky sort that thuds around the window-sills. :)
When I come across slime mold when I am hiking, I spend a long time watching it. Does that mean I like it? Not exactly, but I am fascinated by it. I think I am mostly scared of it, because I don't know what it wants. Very hard to figure out slime molds. Inscrutable.
I have a noisy fish crow who hangs around the yard. Initially, his unique brand of caw-ing was annoying at 6am, but he's grown on me. He is very inquisitive, struts with authority when on the ground and we apparently have a shared love of seafood.
Solitary wasps are fascinating; scary looking but not aggressive. When tending to my little pond they enjoy the puddles on the rocks around it. Their use as a non pesticide agricultural pest control is also great. Humans working WITH nature.
They have come a long way in the esteem of humans in the past 20 years or so, perhaps because of Shark Week and Finding Nemo, but I was an early adopter of sharks as my favorite animal. I don't mind any insects or arachnids that aren't likely to sting or bite me unprovoked (ergo I hate mosquitos, ticks, and September/October yellowjackets), but my favorite maligned insect is the lowly stink bug. People really hate them, but I think they're fascinating. I love their stout and mottled little shield-shaped bodies. I say hello to the ones who hang out on my window ledge every time I pass by. I have never and will never kill one [on purpose].
I love my stink bugs! And oddly, they haven’t been around this year. The last few years they have cling to the outside of the converted barn I live in and will find their way inside and chill out in the window sill where the sun shines. Maybe it’s a fall thing? Thank you for sharing because now I’ll be on the lookout. :)
I think they like the heat, so they don't come to the sunny spots near buildings until they need to warm up. Peak "stink bugs on the window sill" season at my house (Baltimore) is usually September into October.
Lynda Barry is the bomb. I did workshops with her at Omega Institute. For those who haven’t seen her books about the craft of storytelling-- such as What It Is and Syllabus--I highly recommend picking them up. She illustrates what she shares in the classes about writing narrative. Her workshops end up being a gathering akin to a joyous reunion of people who all adore her and she adores right back.
Many people find the common woodlouse repulsive, especially here in The Netherlands where they’re called ‘pissebedden’ (yep, bed pissers). But they are actually fabulous creatures, they huddle together to keep warm and moist, roll up into little balls when frightened, and the moms carry their offspring in a pouch... and they look super cool and ancient!
Oh, I just looked these up and it appears they are the same as, or known as, pill bugs (nick name "rolls pollies") here in the U.S., and I have always enjoyed them, even or especially when I was a kid and saw them more often. I probably encouraged them to roll a little too often. Didn't know about the pouch, though!
Just a thought, but might try a different search engine. I won’t mention the one I use, but it is NOT the Behemoth snd it doesn’t keep or sell my data. I typed in “fly species identification” and, yeah, I did get a pest company, but most were good. 😉
Interesting piece. Not a fan of bugs. However, the floor of that stable is amazing! Somebody's OCD kicks in and the horses have a happy home. I was reading an article in Harpers about the relative meaninglessness of generational labels, and for some reason it got me thinking of Sweet Jane in the Velvet Underground Version. Is doing something Ironic actually Ironic?
Yay for Miss Lynda! We worked together pasting up the Rocket in its early days. Our headline “Ride Ride Ride the Wild Tse-Tse Fly” (for a band called Insect Surfers, I believe) held up production until we could recover from an intense bout of hysteria. I thought you know …
What an awesome tidbit! Thank you for this!
PS saw you at ZooTunes in June. I’m an animal!
You are so welcome! “I thought you SHOULD know” is what I meant to type. 🏄♂️
My wife spends time in our garden photographing all our insect visitors. She uploads the photos to a cool site called iNaturalist! You should check it out!
Highly recommend iNaturalist too!
Before I bought my home, I rented a place with a few acres of property. My landlord was an older, traditional, farm-y type that couldn't seem to stay away, mowed anything that that could be mowed (boring), and seemed to hate lots of critters including squirrels and moles. Moles in particular seemed to inflame his ire, and if mole sign appeared (a fresh mound of churned dirt) he would set traps immediately. I honestly can't imagine giving a shit if a mole dug up some dirt in a field, but he killed them for it. The trap was an underground spring-triggered noose contraption, and you can imagine the rest. Perhaps moles are not a despised as flies, but they are murdered without much thought at all. Now that I have my own place, moles are welcome! I like moles. They are good for the soil (soul?). Now I will be eyeing all the flies and thinking about them, even though here in Washington I mostly see the usual black chunky sort that thuds around the window-sills. :)
Lynda Barry is a FUCKING NATIONAL TREASURE. Cool that our mutual friend Kelly Hogan has been working with her
Kelly Hogan another FNT! Saw her last with Mavis
not an insect but I really love slime mold lol
When I come across slime mold when I am hiking, I spend a long time watching it. Does that mean I like it? Not exactly, but I am fascinated by it. I think I am mostly scared of it, because I don't know what it wants. Very hard to figure out slime molds. Inscrutable.
I have a noisy fish crow who hangs around the yard. Initially, his unique brand of caw-ing was annoying at 6am, but he's grown on me. He is very inquisitive, struts with authority when on the ground and we apparently have a shared love of seafood.
Solitary wasps are fascinating; scary looking but not aggressive. When tending to my little pond they enjoy the puddles on the rocks around it. Their use as a non pesticide agricultural pest control is also great. Humans working WITH nature.
They have come a long way in the esteem of humans in the past 20 years or so, perhaps because of Shark Week and Finding Nemo, but I was an early adopter of sharks as my favorite animal. I don't mind any insects or arachnids that aren't likely to sting or bite me unprovoked (ergo I hate mosquitos, ticks, and September/October yellowjackets), but my favorite maligned insect is the lowly stink bug. People really hate them, but I think they're fascinating. I love their stout and mottled little shield-shaped bodies. I say hello to the ones who hang out on my window ledge every time I pass by. I have never and will never kill one [on purpose].
I love my stink bugs! And oddly, they haven’t been around this year. The last few years they have cling to the outside of the converted barn I live in and will find their way inside and chill out in the window sill where the sun shines. Maybe it’s a fall thing? Thank you for sharing because now I’ll be on the lookout. :)
I think they like the heat, so they don't come to the sunny spots near buildings until they need to warm up. Peak "stink bugs on the window sill" season at my house (Baltimore) is usually September into October.
I’ll be on the look out for them. :)
Lynda Barry is the bomb. I did workshops with her at Omega Institute. For those who haven’t seen her books about the craft of storytelling-- such as What It Is and Syllabus--I highly recommend picking them up. She illustrates what she shares in the classes about writing narrative. Her workshops end up being a gathering akin to a joyous reunion of people who all adore her and she adores right back.
Many people find the common woodlouse repulsive, especially here in The Netherlands where they’re called ‘pissebedden’ (yep, bed pissers). But they are actually fabulous creatures, they huddle together to keep warm and moist, roll up into little balls when frightened, and the moms carry their offspring in a pouch... and they look super cool and ancient!
Oh, I just looked these up and it appears they are the same as, or known as, pill bugs (nick name "rolls pollies") here in the U.S., and I have always enjoyed them, even or especially when I was a kid and saw them more often. I probably encouraged them to roll a little too often. Didn't know about the pouch, though!
Rolly pollies, that’s lovely :-)
Should read: rolly pollies (auto correct really doesn't like that term)
"Other flies I Like" sounds like a companion to "Things That Scare Me" 😎
Maybe the only time I’ve read anything praising the lowly yet efficient fly. Lyrically done.
Just a thought, but might try a different search engine. I won’t mention the one I use, but it is NOT the Behemoth snd it doesn’t keep or sell my data. I typed in “fly species identification” and, yeah, I did get a pest company, but most were good. 😉
Interesting piece. Not a fan of bugs. However, the floor of that stable is amazing! Somebody's OCD kicks in and the horses have a happy home. I was reading an article in Harpers about the relative meaninglessness of generational labels, and for some reason it got me thinking of Sweet Jane in the Velvet Underground Version. Is doing something Ironic actually Ironic?
I bought Barry’s book on your recommendation years ago and it really changed how I thought about things, and not just creatively. Required reading!
Neko, if you are fascinated by flies on poop you will absolutely love this book!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13429570-life-everlasting