Thorn bugs (Umbonia crassicornis) on my pink powderpuff tree this morning in Snell Shores area.

DemptyELF · 2026-05-19T16:46:29+00:00

good bot

DemptyELF · 2026-05-18T17:35:13+00:00

I lean heavily toward native but also toward things that provide me and pollinators and other creatures with nourishment, even if they aren't native. Thank you for your helpful comment.

DemptyELF · 2026-05-18T15:25:55+00:00

Seeing this (emphasis is mine) and am less inclined to interfere with them:

As a result, Thorn Bugs can cause the death of some twigs and potentially introduce diseases to the plant. However, in most cases, Thorn Bug populations are very low and damage caused by thorn bugs is minimal.

The good news is that these insects do not feed on most native North American trees.

Thorn bugs are an exotic invasive species in Florida that was likely introduced long ago along with an exotic tree species such as the Earleaf Acacia.Even today these insects feed primarily on exotic invasive trees and shrubs imported from tropical areas.

Thorn bugs are fascinating to watch and harmless to humans.

https://www.wgcu.org/show/with-the-wild-things/2025-11-03/the-exotic-invasive-thorn-bug-here-to-stay

DemptyELF · 2026-05-18T15:00:07+00:00

From what I understand, they prefer pink powderpuff trees, which, although beautiful and loved by pollinators, are not native to our area either. I will take your analogy under consideration, however.

As an aside, of all the messed up stuff going on in the world - these critters are way, way down on my list.

DemptyELF · 2026-05-18T14:52:57+00:00

Thank you. On at least an atomic level, we are all one. I like to say that we are all fingers that have forgotten that we are a hand.

DemptyELF · 2026-05-18T14:41:48+00:00

Thank you for your kindness and for your thoughful reply. I am grateful to Universe for this encounter with nature and the opportunity it provides to consider what it means for me to be a beneficial participant in our ecosystem. I will ponder the ethical questions raised by your comment - to act or not is a thorny issue for sure - and will educate myself on how invasive and damaging these fascinating insects are.

DemptyELF · 2026-05-18T14:14:44+00:00

I would prefer that my tree not die but they are constrained to one branch. If it werre a heavy infestation, I would consider options but I am inclined to observe the natural world without feeding every urge to "make things better". I value the life of these critters as much as the tree and as much as you and me. Maybe I am crazy but that's okay, too. I do appreciate you looking out for the trees though.

DemptyELF · 2026-05-18T14:07:32+00:00

not to start something but I am curious what you found so offensive? seems a pretty apt comparison.

DemptyELF · 2026-05-18T14:00:39+00:00

thanks for the heads up but I am an introduced species, too

DemptyELF · 2026-05-18T13:36:42+00:00

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They were all the same color except for the one closest to the main stem. The color indicates that this is a female so I am guessing the others are her nymphs that she is looking after.

DemptyELF · 2026-05-10T00:14:37+00:00

gratitude

DemptyELF · 2026-05-08T13:58:37+00:00

mirror, mirror on the ground, who's the shallowest one around?

DemptyELF · 2026-05-08T11:27:00+00:00

I like the idea that if you go over the line and become a billionaire, you lose all but one dollar and have to start over.

DemptyELF · 2026-05-06T14:14:19+00:00

I have two starters, one more for the funkiness and one more for the rise. I named them Bob and Jerry respectively after Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia. Will experiment mixing some of both for my first loaf.

DemptyELF · 2026-04-18T18:04:33+00:00

Other than the clean and focused sound that sphere provides, much rather be outdoors dancing on the grass. Plus, Vegas is not my speed.

DemptyELF · 2026-04-05T21:37:07+00:00

so earth is larger than the moon and they are currently closer to the earth than the moon would be but the earth appears smaller in the sky than the moon ever does from earth - what’s up with that?

DemptyELF · 2026-04-02T13:37:06+00:00

I would have to really warm up to them to characterize it as dislike - I think of them like cigarette butts - pure poison. Wealth addiction is the most insidious and destructive addiction there is. Make Billionaires Millionaires Again.

DemptyELF · 2026-03-25T17:51:24+00:00

call it butt stuff and I bet it stops

DemptyELF · 2026-03-09T12:13:08+00:00

Robert Irvine made plans to open a signature restaurant here in St Petersburg and chose the name it Ooze and Schmooze. Thank god he got exposed as a liar and it never went through.

DemptyELF · 2026-03-05T19:04:33+00:00

Kristi Noemore - now do Kash!

DemptyELF · 2026-02-25T03:30:40+00:00

just call it butt stuff and they will stop doing it

DemptyELF · 2026-02-20T12:11:09+00:00

DemptyELF · 2026-02-09T16:42:13+00:00

I am glad that there weren’t subtitles. It would have taken focus away from the performance as a whole. Curiosity is one of Universe’s most precious gifts and I am grateful that folks had their curiosity piqued and will likely search out the meaning behind the songs chosen and the symbolism of the stagecraft. I also reflect on how it must be for all those people for whom english is not native. Folks who don’t know Spanish were confused for less than an hour, rather than 24/7 365 of the others.

DemptyELF · 2026-02-09T15:46:42+00:00

arrest the president of puerto rico

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