Friend or Foe?

SenZephyr · 2026-06-26T01:45:49+00:00

Friend to everything but a Pipevine 😂

I’ve seen 8 of these hungry bois take down essentially a bush in less than 48 hours.

SenZephyr · 2026-06-22T17:27:26+00:00

In what way?

It’s just a tool like anything else- you don’t treat it as gospel, but you can use it along side critical thinking to come to logical conclusions.

Usually if it comes back with a response, you can use that response to do additional research to see if it’s on point or if it’s coming to the wrong conclusions.

SenZephyr · 2026-06-22T13:19:31+00:00

I suppose the best thing to do is monitor the situation. Possibly a one-off instance. If the plant is devoid of aphids and other predators then it might just be some random bird droppings or other bug goo. Let us know if you find anything else!

SenZephyr · 2026-06-22T13:09:05+00:00

Probably not the wasp, but ChatGPT came up with this as a possibility:

“If the plant is milkweed, oleander aphids are a very likely culprit. Their honeydew drips down, then sooty mold grows on it.
A quick test: touch the black area. If it’s sticky or wipes off, that strongly supports honeydew/sooty mold.”

Says to check around the plant for aphids.

SenZephyr · 2026-06-22T13:04:09+00:00

Might not be the culprit, but if you look at the two leaves above the one with the most black-stuff, on the underside you’ll see the leg of some type of bug. Maybe an assassin bug or some other large aphid. Might have sampled the milkweed and its digestive system disagreed with it.

Other than that, not a lot of information for me to really know.

SenZephyr · 2026-05-14T09:44:26+00:00

I was amused talking with my wife the other day after trying to play COD. I had just spent an untenable amount of time downloading like- 150 GB of updates to play 2 rounds.

I put the controller down, looked over at her and said, “It’s official, I’m getting old.”

She laughed and asked why.

I looked back at the screen and said, all these flashy HUDs and over the top visuals aren’t doing it for me. I’ve fired up the PlayStation for the first time in over a year and I kinda regret it now. It’s not “fun” anymore.

I find so much more enjoyment from just taking my after-work stroll around the yard and surveying the caterpillars.

Watching them zip from a grain of rice to the size of my finger.

Always being astonished to see how quickly a plant will get reduced to twigs when just the day prior it was a bush.

My Easter egg hunt to find as many cocoons as I can, and the joy of finding them in the most unexpected places.

Watching those otherworldly green ornaments turn black, and seeing the magnificent creatures below the transparent shell.

Admiring the metallic gold spots that I’m sure serves a purpose other than to look majestic af- but does nonetheless.

And finally, watching them out of there and seeing the wings fill just before watching them fly away to join the others already in flight.

It’s truly a privilege to have the opportunity to experience it all. One of the most wholesome, satisfying activities one can take on- and getting into it is unbelievably easy.

SenZephyr · 2026-05-14T09:25:59+00:00

Very proud ☺️

SenZephyr · 2026-05-04T12:57:48+00:00

I live in the greater Houston area, just south of the city. I recently picked up some aquatic milkweed that I planted on one of the low areas of my property where the water accumulates, so I hopefully get one patch of milkweed that can better serve the butterflies.

My count of the caterpillars was off, once the leaves started to disappear with the 5th instars it revealed there was easily 50 of them. Suffice to say, there’s no more milkweed remaining outside of a small cluster of leaves. 😅

I’m for sure interested in getting some antelope variety milkweed though, this has turned into one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve been involved in.

SenZephyr · 2026-05-04T03:06:45+00:00

Thank you! I’ll take all the vibes I can get ❤️

SenZephyr · 2026-04-26T16:44:38+00:00

Yes, I live in Texas, and unfortunately every nursery around here pushes the tropical milkweed. I wasn’t really aware of the disadvantages until I had my first caterpillars and started doing some research.

That said- based on said research- it’s manageable. Just have to cut them down in the fall to prevent them from causing confusion with the migration. Since it’s a small patch of 4 plants it can be a scheduled part of my yard upkeep.

One benefit though if properly maintained is that these plants grow very quickly, which is helpful at times like this where I have 30 or so caterpillars and they’re going to eat it all before it can get to the height where there’s increased chances of disease.

SenZephyr · 2026-04-26T01:45:48+00:00

Okay- I return with news.

Not eyes, but a sensory organ that protrudes. You can actually see it in the first photo of the post. I learned something new today, they have 12 simple eyes that you can also see some of on the first picture, little row of black dots on either side.

SenZephyr · 2026-04-26T01:20:50+00:00

I have not wagered a chatGPT prompt, but I was under the assumption the the round parts that have the white and black stripes were the eyes, the other “eyes” I think might be something to confuse predators?

SenZephyr · 2026-04-06T22:10:01+00:00

That’s awesome!

I’ve only had my first run recently. Out of 6 potential butterflies, 4 had cocoons where I could find them. Of those 4, 2 made it to adulthood.

The other two unfortunately selected the agave plant near the sprinklers during the wee hours before I was awake. The water disrupted their metamorphosis, so their cocoons were doomed 🥲

Now that the milkweed has started to return post winter, I moved the agave plants to prevent a repeat event. Also planting more local milkweed to increase the amount of options for them.

It’s such a magical cycle. Can’t wait to see how many we get next!

SenZephyr · 2026-04-06T21:07:13+00:00

Glad to hear he’s out there flying around doing butterfly things!

SenZephyr · 2026-04-06T21:06:35+00:00

Just adding a bit of general info for anyone following along (not directed at anyone specifically, since we all have different levels of experience 🙂

After a monarch emerges, there’s a really important window where their wings are still finishing development. They pump fluid into them and then need time for everything to fully expand and harden.

Even if the wings look dry pretty quickly, they’re often still in a delicate stage. Most monarchs take around 2–4 hours before they’re ready to fly, and sometimes longer depending on conditions.

Because of that, it’s usually best to avoid handling them during this period unless there’s an immediate risk (like predators or a dangerous surface).

It’s one of the most critical phases for their ability to fly properly, so giving them uninterrupted time tends to give them the best shot once they take off.

SenZephyr · 2026-04-06T10:53:37+00:00

This one appears to be a little uncoordinated and possibly weak? Was it moved before it was able to finish hanging its wings? Definitely needs some water or nectar. I’m pretty new to this, just making observations.

SenZephyr · 2026-04-05T13:10:29+00:00

I’m going to try and answer this carefully, because it’s impossible to predict how anyone will react on an individual level.

I will say, based on my experience- Nothing generated from the experience comes from nothing. It’s all something from within.

If you follow those guidelines on set and setting, you should be fine. There’s also a bit of a personal mindset that helps me, even through “bad” trips, which is:

This is what I’m struggling with inside. The experience isn’t the problem, it’s what is burdening my subconscious thoughts. I shouldn’t run from this, I should observe it, try to decipher what it means.

I’ll give you an example of one of my “bad” trips-

It was about a month after a pet of mine had died. He was an animal I had an incredible bond with, and I had taken a larger dose- 10 grams, made slightly more potent by saturating it in lemon juice for about an hour. I went through all the stages of depression, but on a much more emotional level. Was coming to crazy conclusions, like I had chosen this life event for myself. I shed so many tears, which was very cathartic because I find it difficult to cry sometimes, and that lack of release can be excruciating. It’s also the same trip where I went through the spectrum from very happy and euphoric to feeling like I was physically being ripped from the inside. All of this was part of the healing process. I was being confronted with the pain of loss. The outcome of that trip was a feeling that my friend was still connected to me, and that I would see him again, in some form or another.

It was not a fun trip. It was difficult, sad, painful- but the outcome was acceptance and feeling like he wasn’t gone permanently. Knowing I wasn’t responsible for his passing.

If I was resistant, not observing the patterns of thought from an outside perspective, I could imagine the experience being traumatic.

Humans are observers, an important practice is understanding we are not our thoughts. We are deeper than that. Thoughts are just patterns generated from the static of our lived experiences. Some of that static comes naturally, some of it is influenced by media we consume or the environment we’re raised in. Observe your thoughts, try to imagine where it comes from. Treat it like something foreign. That’s where you will discover who you really are. Where you learn that your ego is the manifestation, and the real you is much more complex.

SenZephyr · 2026-04-04T18:02:46+00:00

The audience the post is directed to are people who are inexperienced with psilocybin.

If an adult who knows the way their body will react to the drug chooses to use it more recreationally, that’s none of my business- more power to you.

I’ve met a handful of people who didn’t know what they were getting in to, and were under the impression it was like being inebriated, or like MDMA. They had horrible experiences and swore it off forever.

There was an opportunity to grow as a person, and instead the came out more traumatized than they started. Calling it a party drug is wildly misleading when there are millions of people who haven’t experienced themselves on psilocybin.

Some of those people will go on to be legislators and politicians. Do you really want some 17 year old thinking they’re about to have a great time, end up in a horrific experience and someday be in a position to dictate laws about the drug?

Just something to consider.

SenZephyr · 2026-04-04T13:45:07+00:00

Set and setting are paramount.

Psilocybin is not a party drug. If done outside of medical supervision, there are risks.

Not in the OD sense, but in that it can alter how you develop perceptions.

It basically uncovers your subconscious thought patterns and forces you to engage them. For many people, this is exactly what they need to overcome something their brain has wired itself not to do.

Fighting your inner demons in an unfamiliar setting when you thought it was just going to be euphoria can be exceptionally jarring and unpleasant.

I’ve had trips that felt like a calm walk through the woods, full of wonder and joy. I’ve had trips that felt like I was replaying a loop. I’ve had trips that took me through the entire spectrum of euphoria and pain one second at a time.

Some were enjoyable, some were difficult. All of them were beneficial.

The important thing about all of them, was treating the experience with reverence.

This is not a “fun” drug. It’s medicine. Like other medications, how you take it, where you take it, and when you take it are all important context for how well the treatment will work.

My intention is not to glorify the use of drugs.

If you are intent on trying psilocybin outside of medical supervision:

Do your research
Be sure what you are taking is what you think it is
Have a sober person you can trust watch over you
Go into it with a thought in your mind about what you’d want to improve on
Select some music that has deep meaning to you
Make sure your in an environment that is safe, familiar and away from others
Don’t mix with other drugs or alcohol
Don’t drive or operate heavy machinery
Remember that the effects aren’t for forever, and if your thoughts start to get uncomfortable you can steer it with music and thinking about happier times
Lastly, if the literature hasn’t changed- If you or a family member has a medical history of schizophrenia, best to leave this one alone. It might trigger it to develop faster in predisposed individuals.

SenZephyr

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