Pumpkins, Spiders and Bats. Oh, my!

The term jack-o-lantern comes from the phenomenon of a strange light flickering over peat bogs, called will-o-the-wisp or jack-o'-lantern. The name is also tied to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a drunkard who bargains with Satan and is doomed to roam the earth with only a hollowed turnip to light his way. 

Jack-o-lanterns are a yearly Halloween tradition that came to the United States from Irish immigrants. In the 19th century, turnips were hollowed out to act as lanterns and carved with grotesque faces and used on Halloween in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.

Left: A traditional Irish Jack-o-lantern in the Museum of Country Life, Ireland.

Right: Modern carving of a Cornish Jack-o-lantern made from a turnip.

Thanks to Wikipedia for the information!

Orb-Weaver Spiders: Spooky Webs But Great For Pest Control

Halloween is not too far away and nothing is more iconic than seeing an enormous spider web and a scary-looking spider in the center as part of your decorations. The spiders that spin those familiar-looking webs are know as orb-weavers and are nothing to be afraid of. They're harmless to humans and are, in fact, beneficial garden residents for their constant pest control.

There are around 180 species of orb-weavers in North America. They vary in color, but all typically have large, bulging abdomens covered with unusual bold markings. One of the most striking is the Black and Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia). And the webs it weaves are equally unique and stunning, with a zigzag down the center.

This time of year, orb-weavers are busy spinning their large, circular webs--some up to 3 feet in diameter--in spots where pests are readily available: in flower and vegetable gardens, parts, fields, and forests.

Orb-weavers use their silk to create a natural, sticky trap--when a bug lands on the web, it struggles to free itself.That vibration signals to the spider that it has caught prey. The spider responds by quickly injecting the prey with paralyzing venom, preventing its escape.Then it wraps the captive bug in a mummy-like cocoon of silk until it is ready to consume it. Eating twice its weight in insects each day, these spiders protect the plants in your garden by helping control the bug population. At no cost to the gardener!

Thanks to Farmers Almanac for the story and to Master Gardener Dee for the photo!

Called Creepy, Scary and Spooky, Bats Often Get a Bad Rap.

For centuries, bats have been called sinister and spooky, likely because of their beady eyes and razor-sharp fangs. But there's more to these nocturnal creatures than meets the eyes. There are more than 1,300 species of bats in the world, making them the second most common group of mammals after rodents. Bats are the only mammals capable of sustained flight, as opposed to gliding, as in the flying squirrel. The fastest bat, the Mexican free-tailed bat, can achieve a ground speed of 100 mph. 

Many bats are insectivores and most of the rest are frugivores (fruit-eaters) or nectarivores (nectar-eaters.) Without bats, say goodbye to bananas, avodacos and mangoes. Over 300 species of fruit depend on bats for pollination.
Night insects have the most to fear from bats. Each night, bats can eat their body weight or more in insects. Their diet helps foresters and farmers protect their crops from pests.
Bats are inspiring medical marvels. About 80 medicines come from plants that rely on bats for their survival. While bats are not blind, studying how bats use echolocation has helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Research on bats has also led to advances in vaccines.
At least 13 types of U.S. bats are endangered, and more are threatened from habitat loss and disease. You can help protect these amazing creatures by planting a bat garden or installing a bat house.

Thanks to the U.S.Department of Interior website and to Wikipedia for the information!