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Could it be that Willow is a quick learner?
For the first time in months, there was no plaintiff wake-up call this morning for which I was grateful considering the lateness of the hour at which we retired last night.
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It was no social event that kept us up.
Toward midnight I found myself staggering about in the dark with my inadequate torch (flashlight, not flaming), hoping not to encounter a skunk or put my foot in a chipmunk hole…
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Let me start at the beginning.
Maladera formosae.
Returning from his morning rounds yesterday, Grant was enraged, his squashes having been ravaged during the night.
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“Identify this thing for me!”
He produced the diminutive culprit.
After all the hours of labour he has put into his vegetable plot, he had a right to be more than a little cross.
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Digging the plot in the type of terrain we have, building a fence to keep deer and rodents away, not to mention hours of sorting out weeds was hard work. Only to have beetles eat the squashes he so lovingly tended.
It’s a bit much and when he researched the problem, it seemed the only solution was to catch the wretches in the act and physically remove them.
This, I was told, would happen when it got dark.
It turned out he meant full dark, not just twilight.
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I have to admit that I was quite relieved when my offer of assistance was declined. I retired to read, vaguely aware of the man going out, but I didn’t pay much attention.
It was only some time after 11 pm that I began to wonder if I should worry that he was gone so long. After all, the vegetable plot is not huge.
Peering out of a window, I saw no light on the hill and you could hardly be murdering beetles in pitch darkness.
Which is why I found an old torch and went to check.
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As I rounded the lilac bush I heard his voice call me.
“What the – are you doing?” I asked crossly.
“They didn’t come out yet. I’m waiting to see when they show up.”
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He was sitting on the ground inside the fence and I realised what the sounds effects had been. He’d donned his outdoor gear against the likelihood of rain and protection against mosquitoes, intent to wait for however long it took.
Well, whatever. I was going to bed.
“Leave the door open!” he yelled.
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Earlier, we had both managed to disturb old man possum on the patio, so we’d made a point that Grant would use the porch entrance – which is what I left open.
Half an hour later, having abandoned his vigil, he came crashing to the front door:
“Why did you lock the patio door?”
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So I was quite pleased not to be awakened at the crack of dawn this morning.
The beetles must have received notice that Grant was on the warpath because they steered a wide berth around his squashes.
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As with many unfortunate events, something good did come out of it.
June is the month when we are likely to see fireflies but preoccupied with Muffin’s decline, I’d not been thinking about them.
In the dark, you couldn’t fail to see them, but if we’d not been outside we would not have noticed, Grant because he wouldn’t have looked and me because my eyesight has changed.
This was very noticeable last night because while Grant was in raptures over a veritable sea of flashing lights, I could only see a few and from within the house I would not have seen any, which is perhaps why I thought the fireflies didn’t turn up last year.
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Coming indoors from bright sunlight, my eyes now take a long time to adjust, so I’m thinking that going out into darkness from a lighted house might be why I could not see the fireflies, if you follow my logic.
I shall endeavour to find out.
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I have never seen fireflies, and would like to see them. Sad news about the squashes, but when all is said and done, beetles have to eat too. 🐞 Just like the groundhogs, foxes, possums, and skunks.
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes. The reason I was glad he didn’t need my help is because I hate killing things. Anything…even ticks.
Thank you, Carolyn, for the trilling saga of missing squashes, and Grant’s heroic attempts to save them. I hope he will be able to save his veg. plot!
Joanna
Oh my word, that sounds like a late night that I wouldn’t want to have (except maybe to see fireflies)! Waiting for the culprits in the dark in the garden – I had to smile, I have never heard of such a determined gardener😉.