Portland, Oregon

When Cheyenne pointed out this beasty in our laundry room I couldn’t believe it. I’d never seen anything like it. A quick google search identified it as a common house centipede. If it’s so common why haven’t I ever seen one? Apparently they’re notorious for infesting first floor apartments in old buildings. Which I guess makes us glad that we live on the 2nd floor and only have to venture down to the basement to do the laundry.

Centipedes are predators that hunt and kill bugs, larvae, and spiders and can be considered beneficial. Mildly poisonous but harmless to humans… they say.

Ashland, Oregon

I painted this picture yesterday of a dead butterfly I picked up somewhere in Central America (well, part of a butterfly). Wingspan across the top is approximately 3.75 inches. It may not come out in the painting, but the large grayish spots on the upper and lower wings are clear windows you can see through.

Edited: I found out that it is a moth and not a butterfly–the antennae were missing and I had to guess–so was much of the body, which I slimmed down a little more than necessary. It is called “Forbes’ Silkmoth” (Rothschildia lebeau forbesi) or “Cuatro Espejos” in Spanish.

Eugene, Oregon

Rio Rico, Arizona

These guys congregate outside the door to feast on bugs attracted by the porch light. They leave surprisingly large poops. Never in my life had I though about toad poop.

We’re in Portland Oregon, by the way. Stay with us and we’ll get some current stuff up soon.