Apple Pip in May
Don’t bug me!
The venerable backyard Apple tree attracts a lot of wildlife. The blossoms of last month are almost gone, Pip wants to find out who else likes to climb trees… Woodbugs scuttle around the bark at the base of the tree. Woodbugs are isopods, terrestrial crustaceans with seven pairs of legs and a hard shell. Pip says they tickle, and the fact that they eat rotten wood is not good news for the tree.
Ants galore.
The ant columns were only temporarily distracted by the offering of a drop of Honey…Pip admires the elbowed antennae of these insects.
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Up We Go.
Pip shins a little higher.
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What are You doing up here?
The snail seems to have run out of Irises. Gastropods can be beautiful, but one could wish they’d exercise their radulas on something other than my favourite plants.
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A test of Pip’s Buddhist inclinations.
The top of the tree has a nasty surprise. The tent caterpillars (Malacosoma sp. larvae) can defoliate a lot of the tree if left unchecked.
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Pip gets Another Shock.
Oh my goodness, what is THAT?
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If you want to see Pip’s adventures in the apple tree, month by month, click this link.
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Quimper Hittys 
Looks like Pip has already found an adventure. Beautiful shots. It’s nice to see the micro world from a Hitty perspective. I hope the tree stays healthy.
Our neighbour’s tree, planted at the same time about 60 years ago, lost a big limb in the winter storms, both trees are waning, but in their ending they are providing delight to the insects and birds…we still get a reasonable crop of apples, but it might be time for us to plant a scion. Meanwhile Pip wants to spend the entire summer out there.
She’s more tha welcome – our cool mornings and balmy nights are already settling in.
A new tree for the Quimper girls sounds exciting. I’m glad to know the old tree is returning to nature so beautifully.
Pip has found a bug! Or two. Is Pip a canopy species, or a ground dweller, exploring? It looks like it will be fun to get to know Pip over the next while.
Pip, unlike The Bug, has legs and feet, and is planning to make the most of bipedal abilities…
Wonderful photo, and the scientific info is interesting. I’m glad Pip gets to go exploring. I’m sure she will find many more fun things!
The apple tree is full of memories of fun times. Pip is planning to have a great time this summer!