Vine Weevil on Pink Petals by Chipka

Photography • Insects • posted on Nov 27, 2009

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Description

Black Vine Weevils are a pest species—so it’s no surprise that I think they’re adorable. Pests are, after all, living things that have no need to continuously stroke the human ego by being “cute.” Though I have it on good authority that most “cute” things care little for the human ego as well; they’re more interested in getting things from us…like free food and housing. Free for them that is. Pests, on the other hand, take what they will, live where they please, and if it just so happens to be your cupboard, your garden, or even your personal naughty bits, then okay...get used to it! I love that attitude, and in many ways I try to act accordingly, though I’m not interested in setting up housekeeping in anyone’s naughty bits. I took this picture last summer, during one of the relative lulls in the often-boring craziness that has been my return to Chicago. I’d seen such creatures in Prague, though not as many. Prague has other interesting creatures, and a number of those consume mass quantities of beer, and sound amazingly like Borat when they speak English. As I sat, enjoying my nightly infusion of nicotine, I noticed this creature, nuzzling through the impatiens that had been planted recently. Now, as the weather is decidedly non-Summer, I’ve decided to post this. It was warm on the night that I took this picture. The sky was relatively clear. I’d been listening to good music, alive with the sounds of Middle Eastern and Japanese instruments, accented by a woman singing in Armenian. I have no idea what she was actually saying, but it was compelling music on a warm night. Now, as I post this, I’m listening to the same song and feeling echoes of that warm summer night. Life is good with flowers and weevils, and women singing haunting songs in Armenian. As always, thank you for viewing and reading and commenting...and for those who celebrate the holiday, I hope you've had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and are sufficiently torpid, as the holiday tradition dictates. **Please Zoom**

Comments (23)

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blondeblurr

6:25PM | Fri, 27 November 2009

It must have been a very delicious meal for weevils in the hood, more like a dessert, looking at those beautiful pink Impatiens, not so good anymore, when he is finished with them. *** Sounding like Borat, that's funny...has he finally made his way to the U.S. ? Everyone of your photos has a little story attached to it, which is really charming, I can almost visualize these moments you are experiencing again, with sights and sounds, smells and tastes. Well told, as always... BB

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ladyraven23452

7:17PM | Fri, 27 November 2009

love the shot and all the pink the bugs are neet to.

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mbz2662

8:56PM | Fri, 27 November 2009

Good shot of this ravenous little creature on the pink flowers :) Btw, do you like the Men in Black movies? I always think of them, especially the first one when I see your little bug photos. It must be because you like bugs and alien/space type things. Just curious. MIB is a staple movie in our house. Ooops, :) , I am off on a tangent I believe.

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Sea_Dog

8:56PM | Fri, 27 November 2009

Superb detail. I like the contrast between the "pest" and the beauty of the flower - a very interesting comment that you expand on in the narrative. Great post.

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auntietk

9:54PM | Fri, 27 November 2009

I am SO PROUD of you! You'll never guess why. It's not for the spectacular bug photography with all the glittery detail. It's not even for the beautifully written multi-layered memories. (How DID you do that, btw? Warm summer Chicago evenings, Armenian music, cute guys drinking beer in Prague, all at the same time? Your genius is showing, my dear.) Nope ... it's because you told us what kind of flower this was, and you were right! :D <--- that's me, smiling really big. ---> :D

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myrrhluz

11:31PM | Fri, 27 November 2009

Excellent detail! Even though he's in sober colors, the ridges, polka dots, bands around waist and neck and bumpy vest make him look quite elegant. Beautiful narrative! I love it when I feel echoes of past delights. The smell right before a rain carried on the breeze does it for me.

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Meisiekind

12:40AM | Sat, 28 November 2009

Wonderful image Chip. Sexy pest on a lovely rose! LOL @ Tara!!! :)

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bmac62

1:21AM | Sat, 28 November 2009

Success Chip...the comments above show overwhelming approval. Add mine for all the same reasons:) Hey, what are we doing up this late? I'm listening to the Blues and still enjoying Turkey sandwiches from my leftovers.

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helanker

2:19AM | Sat, 28 November 2009

HE ! Here we call these flowers Flittig Lise (Busy Lizzie) and the weevil we call a nose-beetle. lol. It is a beautiful capture of both Impatiens and weevil. I like the thought, that you really epreciate the pleasant moments in life, as you write about here. :)

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flora-crassella

3:06AM | Sat, 28 November 2009

the same unpleasant species as my tiny “Green”..... fantastic picture!!!!!

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bimm3d

3:31AM | Sat, 28 November 2009

superb!!!

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durleybeachbum

3:34AM | Sat, 28 November 2009

Now, come on, Chip! Even I draw the line at vine weevils! Ok, so they are cute, I admit that, but a creature who indiscrimately scatters 500 eggs around producing fat white root eaters is uniquely unwelcome in my garden! But..your narrative is compelling and the photo super. What struck me on first look was how the shapes of the insect and the ovary echo each other.

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tamburro

8:05AM | Sat, 28 November 2009

Fantastic capture!!!!

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gypsyflame

9:22AM | Sat, 28 November 2009

Great capture, I'm glad the bug is where you are though...

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faroutsider

9:55AM | Sat, 28 November 2009

Thanks for the grand trip, ending with the humble weevil...

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NefariousDrO

10:00AM | Sat, 28 November 2009

Fascinating contrasts between the insect and the flower. One of my favorite things to do is make a flower salad, yes it's really made from edible flower petals, but I don't do it very often. Still, I can relate to this critter's desire to feast on the lovely red petals of this flower.

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