Insectary Notes
NS Dept. of Natural Resources
Forest Health
June / July 2013
From the Editor
In this issue
Under the title “Who’da Thunk It?” . . . this issue marks the
20th year of publication for the Insectary Notes. It’s difficult
to believe that the newsletter has been trundling along for
that many years. I guess the next goal is 25!
Earlier in the year, we received several questions about the
possible appearance of the periodical cicada. Although Nova
Scotia was not graced with its presence, you can check out
the Insect Focus for a little more information on its life and
times.
Along with an update on some of the new projects we’re doing this
season, you’ll find the annual index of Focus articles on
page 6.
‘Til next time,
]tvÖâ|
Editing . . . a Rewording Activity
(click on article title for navigation)
Insect Focus
Periodical Cicada
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 2
Project Updates
Blackheaded Budworm Pheromone
Trap Survey . . . . . . . . . Pg 4
Balsam Fir Sawfly Biology Study
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 4
Index of Focus Articles
1993-2013 . . . . . . . . . . Pg 5
Bits and Pieces
Tabanidae - Horseflies & Deerflies
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 7
the last laugh
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg 8
Say What? And Quote Quips!
An object in motion will be heading in the wrong
direction.-Gerrold’s First Law of Infernal Dynamics
An object at rest will be in the wrong place. Gerrold’s Second Law of Infernal Dynamics
I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He
told me to quit going to those places.
-H. Youngman
An unbreakable toy is useful for breaking other toys.
-Unk.
Sharp as a sack full of wet mice. -Foghorn Leghorn
There is always one more bug. -The Law of
Cybernetic Entomology
Don’t meddle in the affairs of dragons, ‘cuz, like, you
are crunchy and taste good with ketchup. -S. Adams
I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
-Unk
Common sense and a sense of humor are the same
thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor
is just common sense, dancing. -W. James
Insectary Notes is published 6 times per year by Forest Health.
Contact: Jacqui Gordon (902-758-7014) [email protected]
June / July 2013
Insect Focus
2
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Periodical Cicada (Magicicada sp.)
Jacqui Gordon
Earlier this year the media was abuzz (apologies,
but I couldn’t resist the pun!) with news that the
periodical cicada would be making its 17-year
appearance. News reports in New York City predicted
people would be batting them away as they tried to
walk down the street, crunching their bodies under
foot, and cringing from the deafening buzz. Well,
reports indicate that most boroughs of NYC did not
experience the severe onslaught, with the exception
of Staten Island. Luckily, a friend sent me some
pictures of the cicadas in her backyard in Staten
Island and I thought it would be a good time to shed
a bit more light on these interesting creatures.
Fig. 2 Adult periodical cicada, Staten Island, NY, June
Photo: J. Burtner.
2013.
One of the questions I had to answer for myself was the difference between the cicadas I hear every year
and these cicadas that appear en mass every 13 or 17 years. Of the approximately 150 species of cicada in
North America, only seven belong to the genus Magicicada, the periodical cicadas. They have synchronized
development and periodical emergences (meaning that all individuals in a population - or brood - are always
the same age). The other species are called annual cicadas. Their life cycles last more than one year but they
are not synchronized so we hear them every year.
What are Broods?
Periodical cicadas only occur in North
While reading about this critter, I found many references to
America mostly in the eastern United
Brood II. After a bit of digging, I found an explanation. In the
States. The 13-year species are
early 1900s, an entomologist assigned numbers to the
primarily in the southern part of their
populations of the periodical cicadas. Seventeen-year cicadas
range and the 17-year species are in
the northern part.
were given Roman numerals from I to XVII (1-17) and 13year cicadas were given Roman numerals from XVIII to XXX
(18 -30). The cicadas that flew in 2013 were Brood II and
were last seen in 1996. Because cicadas don’t spread very far, it is now possible to predict when and where
they would appear again. So, unless my friend paves her backyard she can expect to see the cicadas again in
2030.
Life History
This is an insect that truly deserves the term “history” to describe its life cycle. Adult cicadas mate and lay
eggs about 10 days after they emerge. There are more than 80 species of deciduous and woody shrubs that
the female will lay her eggs in. She uses her ovipositor to cut a pocket in a twig and then deposits rows of
eggs in the opening.
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June / July 2013
After six or seven weeks, the eggs hatch and the nymphs make their way out of the twig and fall to the
ground. They burrow into the soil and begin to feed on fluid from the
tree roots with their piercing, sucking mouthpart. They feed for 17
years and then the full-grown
nymphs burrow to the surface of
the soil (Fig. 2) and emerge in the
spring when the soil temperature
reaches 18EC (64EF). The nymphs
crawl up a vertical surface (tree
Fig. 3 Cicada nymphs emerging from the trunk or other vegetation) and the
soil, Staten Island, NY, June 2013.
adults emerge from the nymphal
Photo: J. Burtner.
Fig. 4 A collection of nymphal
skin. When the adults emerge they emergence holes, each just over 1cm
Photo: J.Burtner
are soft and light in colour but soon the exoskeleton hardens and darkens. in diameter.
The adults mate and the 17-year cycle begins again.
Cicada tidbits . . .
Are they locusts? No. Locusts are a type of grasshopper. The name confusion
may have come from their mass emergence and high numbers being mistakenly
described as a “plague of locusts.”
Heat Bugs? In Nova Scotia you’ll find that
if you hear the cicada calling, you can plan
on a beautiful warm day.
Fig. 5 A cicada nymph will rest on
a vertical surface until the adult
Photo: J. Burtner
emerges.
Pronunciation? The most common way to
say it . . . si-KAY-da.
Fig. 6 Adult cicada.
Photo: J. Burtner
Damage
The adult cicadas do not feed on leaves. They have a piercing sucking mouthpart and will feed on plant fluids
but this damage is negligible. The major damage caused by the adults is done by the cut made to lay the eggs.
This can cause twigs to wilt, die, and fall to the ground. This can cause significant damage to deciduous
shrubs, and fruit and nut trees.
Although it would seem to be a cause for concern, the feeding of the nymphs on the plant roots causes only
minor damage.
References
Hoover, G.A. 2013. Periodical Cicada Fact Sheet. Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.
http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/periodical-cicada
Magicicada Mapping Project. Magicicada.org
http://magicicada.org/magicicada_ii.php
Stone, D. March 2013. Cicadas Coming to U.S. East Coast This Spring. National Geographic Daily News.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/130329-cicadas-coming-sky-locust-swarm-animal-science/
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June / July 2013
Project Updates
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Blackheaded Budworm Pheromone Trapping
Tanya Borgal
This season Forest Health set pheromone traps for eastern
blackheaded budworm. This is an addition to the annual surveys.
Working in collaboration with researchers from the Canadian Forest
Service, NRCan, a pheromone was synthesized and deployed in
multipher traps throughout the Cape Breton Highlands. Traditionally,
Forest Health has been monitoring the eastern blackheaded budworm
population by collecting branch samples. The samples were collected
in the fall, processed in the lab, and the numbers of overwintering
Fig. 7 Eastern blackheaded budworm
eggs were recorded. We are hoping to have success with this new
moth. Image: Natural Resources Canada,
Canadian Forest Service.
monitoring tool, to add to our traditional overwintering survey.
Balsam Fir Sawfly Biology Work
Jeff Ogden
This summer Forest Health has undertaken a bit of biology research in this case on the phenology of the
balsam fir sawfly (BFS). Although the biology of this pest insect has been previously examined in other parts of
Atlantic Canada it was strongly advised we do our own study as the results vary greatly from one region to
another.
The purpose of phenology work is to gain a better
understanding of the development of a particular
insect. Numerous factors may impact the
development rate of an insect species including
temperature and climatic events, parasitism and
disease. In this study we are collecting larvae
weekly and recording their growth by measuring
their head capsules. Each time an insect grows it
molts and sheds it skin and a larger version results.
Previous studies have determined what sizerange of larvae is within each instar (growth stage)
and we can then determine the age of the
population after each visit. The hope is to correlate
larval development to temperature data we gather
from our “Tiny Tag” temperature recorder and the
local Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources
weather stations.
We have chosen to study a population, detected through our 2012 fall
survey, in the Cape Breton Highlands. So far we have visited and
collected larvae half a dozen times and things are going well, with
development of the larvae seemingly on track. As the larvae get larger
we also have plans to collect specimens not only to determine the
development rate but also detect any disease or parasites within the
population.
Fig. 8 Balsam fir sawfly larvae.
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June / July 2013
Focus Index July 1993 - July 2013
Another year gone by and it’s time for the annual index of Focus articles.
(Use underlined issue dates for navigation.)
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Ages of Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 2000
Carpet Beetle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May/June 2003
Alder Flea Beetle . . . July/Aug 2004, April/May 2013
Cerceris fumipennis and EAB . . . . . . May/June 2009
American Dog Tick . . . . . April 1999, May/Apr 2002
Chinch Bugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 1999
Ants in Lawns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 1998
Cluster Flies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 1993
Armillaria Root Disease . . . . . . . . . . Sept/Oct 2011
Colony Collapse Disorder . . . . . . . . . May/Jun 2007
Ash Rust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June/July 2012
Cytospora Canker . . . . . . . . . . . . July/August 2006
Asian Longhorn Beetle . . . . . . . Aug 1998, July 1999
Deathwatch Beetles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan 1994
Asian Gypsy Moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov 1993
Deer Tick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July/Aug 2002
Bacillus thuringiensis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1996
Drugstore Beetles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb 1999
Bagworm Moths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 1994
Due Diligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb 1996
Balsam Fir Cytospora Canker . . . . July/August 2006
Dust Mites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan/Feb 2007
Balsam Fir Sawfly . . . . . . Sept 1998, Mar/Apr 2011
Earwigs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 1995
Balsam Gall Midge . . . . . . . May 1999, Mar/Apr 2008
Balsam Shootboring Sawfly . . . . . July/August 2006
Eastern Blackheaded Budworm
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct 1997, Sept/Oct 2004
Balsam Twig Aphid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 1999
Eastern Dwarf Mistletoe . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept 1994
Balsam Woolly Adelgid
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Apr 1998, Jan/Feb 2001
Eastern Spruce Beetle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 1993
Balsam Fir Decline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov 1999
Emerald Ash Borer . . . . Jan/Feb 2003, Jan/Feb 2012
Bed Bug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1998
European Fire Ant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jul/Aug 2008
Beech Bark Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 1999
European Marsh Crane Fly
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 1996, May/June 2002
Bees- Colony Collapse Disorder . . . . . May/Jun 2007
Eastern Tent Caterpillar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1994
Biocontrol of Purple Loosestrife
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb 1997, Mar 1997
European Pine Shoot Moth . . . . . . . . . . . Sept 1996
Biting Insects . . . . . . . . June 1995, May/June 2000
Fall Cankerworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct 1993
Blacklegged Tick . . . . July/Aug 2002, Mar/Apr 2010
False Powderpost Beetles . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan 1994
Blackheaded Budworm
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct 1997, Sept/Oct 2004
Fleas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb 1994, May 1998
Blackheaded Budworm in NS . . . . March/April 2005
Forest Tent Caterpillar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1994
Black Vine Weevil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan/Feb 2001
Forestry Pest Management Forum Update
Nov/Dec ‘07, Nov/Dec ‘08, Nov/Dec ‘09, Nov/Dec ‘10
Blow Flies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aug 1999
Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle . . . . . . . . . July 2000
European Spruce Bark Beetle . . . . . . . . . Sept 1996
Forest Insect & Disease Survey . . . . . . . . . May 1999
Browntail Moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan 1999
Fruit Flies
. . . . . Oct/Nov 98, Aug 99, Sept/Oct 05, July/Aug 06
Bruce Spanworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct 1993
Fungus Midge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 2000
Bug Zappers Exposed . . . . . . . . . . July 96, June 98
Giant Garden Slug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct 1996
Carpenter Ants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct 1994
Giant Water Bug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 1998
Gouty Oak Gall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May/June 2001
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June / July 2013
Great Grey Slug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct 1996
Mosquito Magnetism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 1997
Greenstriped Mapleworm . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 1995
Mosquitoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May/June 2000
Ground Beetles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May/June 2001
Moth Flies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 2000
Gypsy Moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 1994
No-see-ums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July/August 2002
Gypsy Moth Biocontrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan 1997
Pale Winged Grey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan/Feb 2004
Gypsy Moth in NS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mar 1995
Pavement Ants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July/Aug 2005
Hairy Chinch Bug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 1999
People Pressure Diseases . . . . . . . . Aug 96, Nov 96
Hardwood Discolouration . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aug 1999
Periodical Cicada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June/July 2013
Harvestmen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July /August 2006
Phenology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mar/Apr 2010
Hemlock Borer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May/Jun 2004
Pheromones and Allomones . . . . . . . Sept/Oct 2005
Hemlock Looper
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Aug 1993, Nov 1994, Sept/Oct 2002
Pine Shoot Beetle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 1999
Hickory Tussock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept/Oct 2011
Pitcher Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 1994
Hylobius Weevil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 1997
Plantwatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 2000
Hypoxylon Canker of Poplar . . . . . . . . Mar/Apr 2003
Pseudoscorpians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 1996
Ice Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 1998
Rosy Maple Moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 1995
Indian Meal Moth . . . . Mar/Apr 2004, Jan/Feb 2008
Insects as Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan 1996
Salt (Tree Susceptibility to Road Salt Damage)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May/Jun 2010
Insects in Firewood . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb/March 2013
Salt Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mar/Apr 2001
Jack-O-Lantern Fungi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1995
Satin Moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 1997
Jack Pine Budworm . . . . . . . . . . . March/April 2006
Sawflies on Conifers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 1996
Ladybird Beetles . . . . Sept/Oct 2001, Sept/Oct 2006
Sawtoothed Grain Beetle . . . . . . . . . . Mar/Apr 2011
Ladybugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept/Oct 2001
Seedling Debarking Weevil . . . . . . . . . . . April 1997
Larch Casebearer . . . . . . . .
March/April/May 2012
Silverfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 1999
Larder Beetle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan 1995
Sirococcus Shoot Blight May/Jun 2010, May/Jun 2005
Leaf Blotch of Horse Chesnut
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept/Oct 2010, Sept/Oct 2011
Snow Fleas
. . . . . . . . . . . . March 1994, Feb 1998, Jan/Feb 2002
Leatherjackets . . . . . . . . June 1996, May/June 2002
Sowbugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov 1995, Dec 1999
Leucostoma Canker . . . . . . . . . . . July/August 2006
Spiders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept/Oct 1995
Lice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct 1994, July/Aug 2001
Springtails . . . . . . . . . . . March 1994, Jan/Feb 2002
Lily Leaf Beetle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May/June 2011
Springtime & Wildfire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 1996
Longhorned Beetles . . . . . . . . . Jan 1994, Aug 2000
Spruce Budworm . . . . . . . Sept 1993, Sept/Oct 2007
Maggots Nurse Wounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb 1996
Spruce Beetle (Eastern)
. . . . . . . . . . . . July 1993, March 1995, Jul/Aug 2007
Maple Trumpet Skeletonizer . . . . . . . Sept/Oct 2011
Millipedes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct 1999
Mimic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 1994
Moisture Stress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1998
Monarch Butterfly Genome . . . . . . . . Nov/Dec 2011
Pine Spittlebug . . . . . . July 1996, July/August 2010
Spruce Cone Maggot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 1994
Strawberry Root Weevil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dec 2000
Sugar Maple Borer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mar/Apr 2001
Swiss Needlecast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1996
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June / July 2013
Tar Spot of Maples . . Sept/Oct 2010, Sept/Oct 2011
Tent Makers . . . . . . May/June 2008, April/May 2013
Ticks, Removing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May/June 2009
Ticks, Which is Which? . . . . . . . . . . . May/June 2009
White Pine Weevil
. . . . . . . . . . Aug 1994, Mar/Apr 2007, Mar/Apr 2008
Whitemarked Tussock Moth
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan 1998, Jan/Feb 2005
Toxic House Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb 1999
Whitemarked Tussock Moth in Christmas Tree Lots
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mar/Apr 2007
Tree Banding . . . . . . . . . . . . June 1995, Nov 1999
Whitespotted Sawyer . . . . . July 2000, May/Jun 2010
Tree Injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aug 1996, Nov 1996
Winter Caterpillars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb 1998
True Powderpost Beetles . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jan 1994
Winter Insects . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feb 1995, Feb 1999
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Winter Moth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oct 1993
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May/June 2001, Nov/Dec 2011
Woolly Alder Aphid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept 1997
What to Watch For (Part 1) . . . . . . . . Jan/Feb 2009
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 1996
What to Watch For (Part 2) . . . . . . . . Mar/Apr 2009
Yellowheaded Spruce Sawfly . . . . . . . . . . Aug 2000
What to Watch for (Winter Edition) . . Sept/Oct 2009
Yellowjackets & Paper Wasps . . . . . . . . . Sept 2000
White Grubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept 1999
Yellow Witches’ Broom . . . . . . . . . . . May/June 2011
Bits and Pieces
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Tabanidae - Horseflies and Deerflies
Jeff Ogden
Recently we had a call about the varieties of deer flies that were harassing field
staff. I am actually surprised we don’t get many more of these types of calls during
the summer months. Of all the biting flies we have in this province . . . and there
are a lot . . . my toleration level is lowest for deer flies. I find they treat DEET like it
was BBQ sauce on my skin and always seem to find holes in any screen suit I have
tried, next step is one of those dragonfly pins on my hat.
Fig. 9 Deerfly,
Chrysops vittatus (Wied.)
Horseflies, deerflies/mooseflies are all members of the family Tabanidae. Generally they can be broken into
two main groups, horseflies, the larger of the two and deerflies, always smaller and have patterned wings.
Tabanids are common in many habitats: favorite spots include bogs, barrens, open woodlands and salt water
beaches. Males are nectar feeders but like other biting fly families the females need a blood meal to nourish
their eggs properly. The larvae live in species specific habitats but generally most are aquatic, semi aquatic or
terrestrial and are predators of other insects and earthworms and sometime even cannibalistic.
In eastern Canada there are more than 40 species of deerflies, two dozen of these have been recorded in
Nova Scotia and 80 species of horseflies, with nearly 30 species recorded or expected to occur here.
References
Thomas, A.W. and S.A. Marshall. 2009. Tabanidae of Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains. Can. J. Arthropod
Identification.
http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/tm_08/tm_08.html
Thomas, A.W.. 2011. Tabanidae of Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains 2. Can. J. Arthropod Identification.
http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/t_13/t_13.html
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June / July 2013
the last laugh . . .
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Editor’s privilege: You may think that you’ve read these before. I picked some of my favs! Enjoy!!
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are busy with yet another complicated case. Suddenly, Holmes seizes a
chunk of blood-spattered limestone from the ground.
"What is it, Holmes?" asks Watson, eagerly.
Holmes turns and replies, gravely, "It's sedimentary, my dear Watson."
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson went on a camping trip. After sharing a good meal and a bottle of
Petrie wine, they retire to their tent for the night.
At about 3 AM, Holmes nudges Watson and asks, "Watson, look up into the sky and tell
me what you see?"
Watson said, "I see millions of stars."
Holmes asks, "And, what does that tell you?"
Watson replies, "Astronomically, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially
billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and
we are small and insignificant. Horologically, it tells me that it's about 3 AM. Meteorologically, it tells me that
we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Holmes?"
Holmes retorts, "Someone stole our tent."
In 2004, we had a contest for witty ways to use the word “weevil.” Here is one of the submissions that bears
repeating . . .
A bug, let’s call him Perceevil,
Jumped, with instinct primeval.
From a tree with delight,
As he sailed into flight,
Said, “Call me Weevil Knievel.”
-E. Leighton
A taxi passenger tapped the driver on the shoulder to ask him a question. The driver screamed, lost control
of the car, nearly hit a bus, went up on the footpath, and stopped just inches from a shop window.
For a second everything went quiet in the cab, then the driver said, "Look Mac, don't
ever do that again. You scared the daylights out of me!"
The passenger apologized and said he didn't realize that a little tap could scare him
so much.
The driver replied, "Sorry, it's not really your fault. Today is my first day as a cab
driver . . . I've been driving a hearse for the last 25 years!"