The other day, while perusing the state of my Brandywine tomato plant, I noticed an odd sight at the edge of the pot. There, in the dirt, were two, fully intact butterfly wings.
I didn’t flip either of them over to check and see if, you know, one of these wings is not like the other, but from the looks of it, they are the fully intact wings of two separate butterflies. The markings look far too dissimilar for them to be the same insect.
I’m puzzled by this development. What could have killed these in such a manner as to preserve an entire wing…or two? And why?
Where are Sherlock Holmes or Jessica Fletcher when I need them?
on Jun 6th, 2007 at 6:58 am
That’s so sad. I’m wondering if it’s a big spider? That’s something that wouldn’t eat the wings. Got any huge scary spiders anywhere?
on Jun 6th, 2007 at 7:25 am
I’m voting on a spider somewhere, as for Jessica Fletcher; there was an awful lot of crime in Cabot Cove that she rather conveniently solved. Pretty fishy if you ask me.
on Jun 6th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Michelle and Steven, oh my God. A spider? That ate the butterfly bodies? Are you kidding me? And it’s probably on my tomatoes?
This is supposed to be comforting? Yikes… Seriously…huge scary spiders? TOTALLY not my thing. I’m a complete girl like that.
on Jun 6th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Spiders are your friends, unless they’re the deadly poisonous kind, then they’re like neighbors you wave at, but don’t know their names. Think of all the other bugs the spider is eating that aren’t eating your veggies. Too bad spiders don’t eat basil-eating slugs and snails.
on Jun 6th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I know, I know…all this is true. I still freak out. Totally freak out.
Such. A. Girl.
on Jun 6th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Wait until you get a spider bite like I did 2 weeks ago. As you go through the pain, numbness, blister, and now lovely scab, try going anywhere near a plant without long sleeves and gloves on! And spiders freaked me out before the bite, imagine my squeals of terror now.
on Jun 6th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Heather, see, that’s exactly how I feel about it. The last time a spider bit me, I had the biggest, hugest bruise on my thigh ever. Totally freaky. Plus, spider bites usually just make me itch like crazy…less pain, more itch.
on Jun 6th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
I laughed out loud when I read your responses to the comments to this post b/c I knew, knew, knew that even the thought that you might have to deal with a big ole spider in your tomato plants would totally creep you out (of course, it would creep me out, too, but that’s why I don’t garden).
on Jun 6th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Jenny, you’re so right. Sheesh. I have about as much interest in coming across a spider in my tomatoes as I do in finding a snake.
Gaak. Gaak. Gaak.
on Jun 6th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
That is plain scary – I think you might need to employ some sleuthing techniques to catch the culprit in action. I hope you don’t find anymore butterfly wings though!
on Jun 7th, 2007 at 7:36 am
Kate, if the sleuthing techniques involve getting bitten by a spider, I’m probably going to pass…
on Jun 7th, 2007 at 8:05 am
Maybe you have an adorable insectivorous marmoset that’s escaped from a zoo living in your garden? Feel better now?
on Jun 7th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Steven, absolutely. I would much, much, much rather have a marmoset. MARMOSETS RULE. :-)
on Jun 7th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Love your blog!
I just wanted to ask if you’d actually turned the wings over at all? Because the 2 sides of the same butterfly’s wing can look really different…
on Jun 7th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Kat, you know…as I was staring at the photo, I had the exact same thought. I’m sorry to report that no, I didn’t flip ‘em. I should have, though. Next time…
Thanks for the visit and for the shout-out!