My Polka-Dot Friend — Not Dead Yet

A bug story

Day-by-day, sunrise is getting later. These mornings, the pups and I walk in semi-darkness — not opportune photography time.

This morning was frigid by Florida standards — 35 degrees (1.66 C). The darkness made it feel colder. Taking a photo means pulling my hands out of my fleece sleeves and I only did that once — to capture this picture of the moon slice a few minutes before the sun’s rays appeared in the eastern sky.

It was too cold to eat breakfast on our porch. We tried, but Ben said the small heater we have wasn’t enough to make the cold tolerable, even with steaming cups of coffee in our hands. Doesn’t help that our porch faces north and there was a brisk northerly wind.

After breakfast for us and the pups, cats, and guinea pigs, I drove to the vet to leave a stool sample from Sophie for testing — a regular part of her illness monitoring. Our vet is 12 miles away. Yes, there are many veterinary offices closer, but I used to live out that way and have been going to that vet for more than 35 years. I’m not changing.

As I was walking up the wooden steps to the pet clinic, I saw a most unusual bug on the boards in front of me (see photo at top).

What is that? A wasp?

He wasn’t moving. I picked him up. He still didn’t move. Dead from the cold temperatures, I figured. I laid the poor, dead bug on the wooden railing and went inside to attend to doggy business.

When I went to my car, the dead bug went with me. I laid him on a paper towel on the front seat, did some Googling, and discovered my car companion is a Polka Dot Wasp Moth:

Fascinating! A moth that looks like a wasp!

As a resident of warm climates only, my assumption that he froze to death seemed spot-on.

Except, as I drove to work with the little guy beside me, he came back from the dead, slowly moving his legs and antenna. By the time I reached my client’s office, he was standing:

So, now what?

The cold was continuing all day. If I put him outside while I worked, he would surely die from the cold or a bird would nab him — he was alive but not moving very fast and not trying to fly.

I decided to leave him in my Kia but in the hatchback area. If I left him in the front seat, he might move from the passenger to the driver’s seat. As tired as I am, I might forget about him and sit on the poor guy.

So, I took my polka-dot friend and his paper towel and set them gently in the hatchback area. If he passed during my work hours, he would at least be warm.

I returned to my car seven hours later, shocked to discover my polka-dot friend was still alive!

I had one more client that evening and the temperature was dropping quickly. When I returned to my car two hours later, he was still there and still alive.

Now what??

We drove home — my polka-dot friend and me.

Temperatures will be colder tonight. So, I brought him into my home.

Now what??

A delicate plant that I brought inside due to freezing temperatures is in my kitchen window — the only window that gets enough light for a plant. I considered placing him there but I have a nosey cat that might see or hear him moving around. I imagined waking in the morning with a plant splattered on the kitchen floor and a dead polka-dot friend or worse, a missing one, probably in the stomach of my cat.

I put him in the plant but moved the plant to what used to be my grandchildren’s room and is now my office/guest room. I am there now typing this and wondering if my polka-dot friend is doing okay in the plant.

Problem is that he exists on oleander and my plant is not that.

I see him now, crawling on one of the leaves.

What now??

Well, there are no oleanders nearby or I would surely bring leaves home for my polka-dot friend.

The best I can do is leave him in a somewhat natural setting with leaves and stems and dirt.

He may die tonight but at least he will be warm and in a plant that is as close to his natural habitat as I can provide.

Tomorrow, if he is still alive, I will stop at a nursery and ask about oleanders.

Meanwhile, I’ve named him Oleo.

The things I do for bugs!

My moth story ended up with three more installments. Here are links, by date, to each. I hope you enjoy my moth friendship/adventure as much as I did!