I think I've already told my reader(s) about the bagworm dilemma, but I hadn't when I started this. I'll type it up anyway. Bagworm season has wrapped up for this year, thank heavens, and I can only hope that Purdue doesn't have many (or perhaps any) of the little critters.
Bagworms are little caterpillar-like bugs. I'm sure they're the larval form of some other bug, but I don't know what bug. They're kind of cute and I love the way they crawl around. Here's the source of the dilemma: they kill trees.
Do I kill them or let them kill trees? Do I let everything proceed naturally, or do I intervene? Obviously, there's no way the bagworms can eliminate huge amounts of trees. They' haven't yet. Birds eat a lot of them, and I'm sure many more die in other ways. But they attack without discrimination, and sometimes the loveliest of trees and shrubs are their victims. But I have major issues with killing things, even bugs that kill trees.
I've gone through a variety of solutions. One year, we burned the nest that attacked a tree near our house. Another year, I collected them and dropped them down into a sewer so I wouldn't be quite so directly responsible for their deaths. The next year, I mustered up the determination to actually step on some of them (with shoes on), but I felt pretty horrid about it. This year, the bagworms came during a week when I was pretty messed up physically, mentally, and emotionally, and the strain was almost unbearable. There was one day when I actually became sick to my stomach every time I saw one.
At the end of this year's season, I decided that this mental agony was a little - okay maybe a lot - dramatic, over-the-top, and unnecessary, so I set out to develop a final decision in regards to bagworms. If they decide to invade one of my trees, they're done for. If they invade a different tree and I'm called on to help eliminate them, I will lend a hand. However, I can't stand to just squish every one I see, so I'll let the other ones go. It's really rather ridiculous that this ever caused me such an issue. I'm glad it's been resolved. I hope (using the true meaning of the word) that my resolution will remain firm and I will never again be unduly troubled by the adorable but deadly bagworms.
2 comments:
"Reader(s)." Funny.
I don't even know how long you've been my only reader, excepting some very rare visits from a couple of other people.
Also, "final decision" is a little too close to "final solution" for comfort, I suspect.
Evidently Ronda would read my blog from time to time and talk to my mom about parts that amused her. I don't know whether or not she still does, but it's possible.
It took me several moments to catch what you were referring to with "final solution." It was not considered when I chose the phrase "final decision," so I'm glad I inadvertently avoided that blunder.
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