Mystery Flora + Cryptopod Double-Header!

The Gray is here for a (hopefully) limited time, so the kitties and I have taken the opportunity to be magnificently lazy while the sun don’t shine. Well, they get to be lazy 24/7; I’ve actually been getting some work done in between cuddles. But even authors need fresh air, so Boo and I went down to the back yard.

S has pretty much always installed some new plant whenever I go. He’s like the plant whisperer (and if you’ve got a garden that needs a loving, expert touch, I’ll send you his info). I’ll have to get you all pictures of the really extravagant one with over two dozen huge blooms before it’s cut back for the winter, but for now, I got some newbies down by the creek.

Image shows a stem full of flowers and buds. The flowers are white with purple speckles, with six pointed petals, purple anthers, and a mauve-speckled pistil that looks like a jester's cap.
Mystery Flora I

We’ve got another of these up on the upper patio, but it’s a short little thing. These are nearly as tall as I am.

Another cluster of the flowers, with the board bridge and creek in the background.
Mystery Flora II

The one on the porch does a bloom or two per stem, but these were all about packing on many on as possible. They’re not huge flowers, but they’re substantial, and they’re really pretty wild looking.

A single flower and two buds.
Mystery Flora III

Why, yes, the buds do look like they’re covered in short fuzzy hair. And yep, the bases of the petals do look like tiny purple hairy scrotums. Yep, I probably just changed the way you see these flowers forever. You’re welcome.

Another flower, with a bud popping up through its petals.
Mystery flora IV

There. That one’s not quite as traumatizing.

So, these plants were being used to support a huge orb weaver web. And if you looked down one of the support stands, you’d see it anchored by a stick, and then you’d see a little brown beetle hanging out there with not a care in the world.

Image shows a dark brown beetle looking down from above. Its thorax is broad, like it's wearing triangular shoulder pads. It has folded wings that look like brown leaves, and a roundly tapered bum.
Cryptopod I

The lighting was lousy, and my camera had a hard time understanding what we were aiming at, but it got there in the end. I was even able to get a nice side view.

Image shows the beetle from the side, with the creek and the wall in the background.
Cryptopod II

Here’s a top view without all that distracting ground stuff underneath.

View of top of beetle with my hand underneath.
Cryptopod III

And then a bit zoomed out, with my hand for scale.

Same beetle with most of my hand visible.
Cryptopod IV

And with that, our adventures were concluded. Boo and I zipped back up the stairs and returned to our cozy indoors. Not that outside was cold – it was actually quite warm for October. Just… damp. And gray. Gray is okay. It gives us an excuse to stay inside and munch on the amazing almond cream cupcakes they’ve got at QFC right now. In fact, I think I shall go have one right now…

{advertisement}
Mystery Flora + Cryptopod Double-Header!
{advertisement}

9 thoughts on “Mystery Flora + Cryptopod Double-Header!

  1. 1

    …So, these plants were being used to support a huge orb weaver web. …

    And you didn’t include the spider in your photos WHAT HAVE YOU GOT AGAINST COOL SPIDERS!?

  2. 2

    That beetle’s not a beetle…it’s some kind of stinkbug/shieldbug. Beetles’ wings are completely covered but you can see this guy’s wings peeking out.

  3. 4

    Looks like a typical brown marmorated stink bug. They’ve become serious pests and have really multiplied in many areas of the US recently. As for the plant, I can narrow it down to one of the type that has flowers. I’ve never gotten the hang of identifying plants…

  4. 5

    Hmm. A quick Google search tells me the plant might be a Toad Lily (Tricyrtis hirta). Still can’t be sure, though since I don’t really know what specific characteristics to look for in plant identification.

    Spectacular pictures, by the way. I know you say your camera is giving you problems, but you really are able to get the most from it.

  5. 6

    Agree on the bug. Clearly hemiptera rather than coleoptera. (My insect collection for ninth grade science has really stuck with me!) For the flower, I can get no farther than “Lily”. Toad lilies aren’t native here, it may have been put in as an ornamental.

  6. 8

    My first thought was stink (aka shield) bug, which is a true bug and not a beetle, and a lily that is not a tiger lily, but is similar. Toad lily sounds about right.

    Stink bugs are prolific pests where I live, enough so that editorial cartoons have been made regarding people’s attempts to keep them from overwintering in our homes. Their smell when startled or squished is truly noxious and permeates both fabric and skin. I accidentally washed some curtains in which they had taken shelter and never did get the stink out.

Comments are closed.