RDP # 84 – ELDER
Old English ellærn ; related to Middle Low German ellern, elderne .
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This is an American Box Elder Tree:
And these are Box Elder Bugs:
Cute little boogers, huh?
We’re coming into the season of the Bug. I work in a very old PA farmhouse, dirt basement, probably well over 100 years old. Apparently, we have box elder trees nearby, fairly close to the house. Every year, we get an infestation of these dumb bugs. They particularly love my office, I think because it’s the closest to the tree. Every year, the owner of the practice has to get the exterminators to clean up these bugs, and every year they come back. Like clockwork.
Along with the box elder bugs, we also get stink bugs.
This one looks prehistoric to me. Like little itty bitty shields with legs. Harmless, but annoying when they swoop down from behind the window blinds and land on your client’s head. They’re really dumb, and easy to capture and flush. I suppose, though, that maybe they reproduce in the sewer pipes.
Now, don’t get the wrong idea. The building has been renovated, recently repainted. It’s charming, and has a colonial look about it inside. People comment all the time on how nice it looks.
It’s just that we’re surrounded by woods that produce these irritating bugs. Just part of life in my little corner of Pennsylvania 🙂
We know ALL ABOUT box elder beetles, which we call maple bugs. I saw one crawling on the floor yesterday. They usually cluster and can get pretty thick around, and in, our trailer some Sept. Thankfully they seem harmless; some people say they bite but I’ve never learned that from personal experience.
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Me neither. They’re just annoying 🙂
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When I hear Pennsylvania I always think of the song by Guy Mitchell (My mum is a big fan). It came as a surprise to me to learn that neither Pittsburg nor Philadelphia is the Capital of Pennsylvania.
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Nope. Harrisburg. And I like that song, too 🙂
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This song, in case you didn’t know which one I meant 😉
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Hadn’t heard it in many, many years. Thanks 🙂
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I have to admit to rather liking his songs too, She wore red feathers is probably my favourite. 🙂
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Always enjoy a different take on the prompt than what is expected. 😊
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Thanks, me too 🙂
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Great use of the prompt. I could not help smiling at the thought of the bugs landing on a client’s head. That must cause some serious jumping and worrying. Great job! Regina
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Thank you. It has actually happened. These bugs tend to swoop down, and yes, there have been a couple of funny scenes 🙂
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