Insect Photos: Pellucid Hawk Moth Not A Hummingbird !

These Things Can Fool You

 

 

Without sharp eyesight they might be mistaken for hummingbirds.

They could look like large bees, too.

But, have no stingers.  They are moths and won't bite you.

Instead of a stinger, it has a feather-duster of a tail.

And, that's good for spreading pollen from flower to flower.

So, people shouldn't go around killing these creatures.

They buzz around just like hummingbirds and eat the same nectar.

If they didn't have six legs and antennae, they'd look almost like a hummingbird.

Hummingbird Moths, are closely related to these insects.

 The Pellucid Hawk Moth has clear wings.

In Japan, they are called Oosukashiba (オオスカシバ).

 The Latin name is, Cephonodes hylas, for this species.

Having spent half the day getting a solid ID on this character, I give you some links.

That way, if you spot something like this in your garden, you'll know what it is.

This one, I'm calling a Ryukyu Oosukashiba (オオスカシバ) because I have proof...

from  the Okinawa Yanbaru Wildlife Field Guide ISBN978-4-408-32351-0

Those scientists should put RYUKYU in the name for ryukyuan stuff !

REFERENCES:

TpittawayTripodChina

WhatsThatBug  

Learning More About Nagashi Somen

A Lot of Work Behind the Scene

 

The cold meal isn't exactly like making a 3 minute cup of noodles.

Somebody has to boil them in a big pot of water.

Once they are strained, cold, running water gets them sliding down the bamboo tube.

Hungry customers, are waiting, to grab the noodles with their chopsticks.

They lined up on both sides of this stand-up-sort of outdoor buffet.

Sitting or squatting on the lower end, is acceptable but, not many noodles, make it that far.

If the strainer basket below, fills up, somebody takes it back to the top of the hill.

And, they slide the noodles back down the pipe again.

More Than You'll Ever Need to Know 

 

 

A gal from Los Angeles calls this, The Table Sport of Japanese Nagashi Somen.


Also see The Complete Guide to The Flowing Somen and, learn how to make your own.


If you can find over 800 bamboo poles this size maybe, you could win.

Ide Town, in Japan holds the Guinness World Record for the Longest Nagashi Somen.

They built the thing over 3,000 meters (10,000 ft) long !

Having a Blast at the Local Mud Festival

2014 Tanbo Festival in Kin Town

 

 

For those who don't already know, a tanbo is a flooded field.

Somebody donates their land for this event during Golden Week.

 Kids love playing games in the mud.

They get to do stuff like slide and splash.

Big people are allowed to have fun in the mud, too.

Sometimes, parents and children participate in relays where they do some crazy stuff in the mud.

There was good, clean fun, away from the flooded fields, too.

Try catching noodles with chopsticks while they are sliding down a bamboo pipe.

This is what's called, Nagashi (flowing) Somen (similar to ramen) but, it's not hot.

Not many noodles make it to the end of the line.

That kid in the red shirt was happy, just catching a few !

Running around, trying to capture all the events at this festival gave me an appetite.

So, while the camera was downloading, I went down the street and grabbed a hamburger.

Photo Tip: How to Create a GIF with Google+ Auto Awesome

It's a Simple Process and Free

 

Before getting started, there are a few things, you might want to try.

The Auto Awesomenator needs a good series of photos to work with.

Use a tripod or, be sure to steady the camera by some other means.

Five or more photos are needed to create the GIF.

Set your camera to burst or, continuous shooting mode and, fire away.

Identify and prepare the series of images and place them on your computer desktop.

Ten Easy Steps to Get a Motion GIF

 

1. Go to your Google+ Profile Page

2. Hover over the Profile Button (top left) and click PHOTOS

3. On the Photo Page (upper right) click UPLOAD PHOTOS

4. Drag Photos Here or, Open Browser appears

5.  It's easy to drag the photos from your desktop and watch them upload

6. Once you're satisfied with the upload hit the SAVE Button

7. Google will tell you to Hang On a Second.  They are looking for people

8.  If any people are in your photos they will ask you who they are

9. That scares me so, I just hit the SKIP Button and take a break.

Go outside and have a smoke and coffee.

Sometimes, I wonder if a secret agent might be watching me.

Those precious moments are what you should save farts for.

10. Usually, after about ten minutes, you can go back to your Google+ Photos

Click ALL PHOTOS at the top of the page.

If you see a black stars symbol in the upper right of one of the photos, click on it.

Auto Awesome may have created a Motion GIF for you !

MORE PHOTO TIPS AND TRICKS

Photos of Shiso: Green and Purple Growing Side by Side

Beefsteak Plant

 

 

In Japan, the green plant is known as Aojiso (青紫蘇).

The one that looks purple is called Akajiso (赤紫蘇) or, red shiso.

The wind and rain held off just long enough to get these photos.

These two plants are growing right behind my office.

 Perilla frutescens is the scientific name.

The most common place I see these leaves is at sushi bars.

It's a mildly, tangy sort of herb that goes well with fish or salads.

 Red Shiso, which, I call purple is good, too.

This is one of the secret ingredients, I put in salsa.

The rest of the stuff will remain a secret.

Not until today, did I ever think of cooking the stuff.

That's because, they are both delicious, raw.

There Are Many Uses for this Herb

 

At About Japanese Food it's even be called Japanese Basil

Just Hungry says the flowers get salted and pickled and you should grow your own.

The stuff is expensive but, seeds are cheap. 

Serious Eats tell me, sometimes shiso is served as tempura.

The Global Healing Center says it may prevent dental problems.

Somebody called Wabi Sabi made this video about Purple Shiso Juice:

Last but not least the Wiki folks helped with some translation.

It got me thinking.

It might be a good idea to grow your own and make that purple juice.

It's probably cheaper and, better for you, than drinking wine !