Random thought for the day

[Gwolf]

I'd take a VERY close look at that Spanish moss before wiping my behind with it!

You ever see all the bugs that live in that stuff?

Anybody that lives where Spanish moss grows already knows the red bugs live in the grass on the ground and you don't use any moss that has been on the ground. There are not any red bugs in the live moss hanging on the trees. You pull down the fresh moss for toilet paper.

 

[Albec]

Anybody who lives where Spanish moss grows already knows the red bugs live in the grass on the ground and you don't use any moss that has been on the ground. There are not any red bugs in the live moss hanging on the trees. You pull down the fresh moss for toilet paper.

Um, no. You do, not me.

"Are there bugs in Spanish moss"

Yes, Spanish moss often harbors various, mostly harmless, creatures like spiders, mites, and moths, and is a known hiding spot for chiggers (redbugs). While often rumored to infest the hanging plant, it is generally believed that chiggers only invade Spanish moss once it touches the ground, making it safer while hanging.

A bit of a contradictory statement, eh? "Making it safer while hanging"? Safer for what exactly?

 

[Gwolf]

Um, no. You do, not me.

"Are there bugs in Spanish moss"

Yes, Spanish moss often harbors various, mostly harmless, creatures like spiders, mites, and moths, and is a known hiding spot for chiggers (redbugs). While often rumored to infest the hanging plant, it is generally believed that chiggers only invade Spanish moss once it touches the ground, making it safer while hanging.

A bit of a contradictory statement, eh? "Making it safer while hanging"? Safer for what exactly?

A few red bugs won't hurt you even if they got on you. You can get them just from walking through tall grass and bushes. You can walk 2 miles to the nearest bathroom from where you are set up in the dove field waiting for them to come in if you want to. I will take care of my business in the fence row side of the field and get back to hunting. Might have a couple of paper towels with me and might not. I will use what I have to and get back to hunting. Been doing it all my life. We didn't even even have an indoor bathroom until I was about 10 years old. Had an old wooden outhouse 100 yards from the back porch. It was cold out there on the mornings when there was frost in winter. Wasn't no toilet paper in there either. Had one of the big, thick Tampa telephone books in there to rip a page out of. Don't guess very many people ever had to use the tiny little packet of toilet paper that came included in every box of C-Rations either. People are spoiled now and gotta have Chamin or Angel Soft or something.

 

[Albec]

Talk about going off on a tangent....

 

[Gwolf]

Oceola Nation Forest covers 250,000 acres close to where I live in Florida. Ain't nothing in there but a ranger station and a couple Forestry yards with fire fighting equipment. All the rest is pine flatwoods and swamps. I guarantee you all the vehicles pulled off the sides of the grades in there are not walking into the underbrush to get a closer look at the wild life or bird watching.

 

[Bfromla]

For your consideration & along with, keep that whatever you choose business to yourself!
PLEASE wash hands… etc etc.

 

[Gwolf]

Might as well go ahead and post some leeches too, then everybody just stay inside the house.

 

[Gwolf]

Keep On Truck'in -- Dave Dudley ​

 

[Albec]

 

[Albec]

Anybody that lives where Spanish moss grows already knows the red bugs live in the grass on the ground and you don't use any moss that has been on the ground. There are not any red bugs in the live moss hanging on the trees. You pull down the fresh moss for toilet paper.

I grew up in Naples; I do know a bit about Florida after all. At least I did, back before, well, before...

 

[RapidSpyder]

 

[Gwolf]

I grew up in Naples; I do know a bit about Florida after all. At least I did, back before, well, before...

OK, I will try to explain it so you can understand.

Spanish Moss on the ground contains red bugs (chiggers/mites) because these pests live in the soil and leaf litter, crawling onto the moss only after it falls, while moss hanging high in trees is too dry and far from the ground for them to inhabit. Chiggers require moisture and close proximity to the ground, so they do not live in tree-bound moss.
Key Differences and Reasons:

• Habitat Requirements: Chiggers (the larval stage of mites) live in soil, tall grass, and underbrush, not high up in trees.
• Contamination Process: When Spanish moss falls to the ground, it provides a damp, protective, and shaded habitat for these insects, which is why it becomes infested.
• Tree-Based Protection: Moss in trees is generally too dry and high up for ground-dwelling chiggers to colonize.
• Myth Busting: While it is a common belief that all Spanish moss contains bugs, studies have shown that moss hanging in trees is typically free of the "red bugs" (chiggers) that bite humans.
• Spray your boots with Deet and use the military style boot blousing cords to seal your pants legs to your boots.
• Wally World, Military Surplus, and most any Sporting Goods Stores got em for a dime a dozen....
• .
• Don't worry about the the red bugs. Worry about the sand gnats, they hurt when they bite and they suck blood. They can also fly.

 

[Gwolf]

View attachment 253917

This is true. I still have the old refrigerator I bought in 1982 and it has never had any problems or repairs. It makes some strange noises at times, but it always stays on the right temperature. I got one of the little fridge thermometers in there to keep track of the temperature. Mine looks almost exactly like the picture, except for the color.

 

[Albec]

OK, I will try to explain it so you can understand.

Spanish Moss on the ground contains red bugs (chiggers/mites) because these pests live in the soil and leaf litter, crawling onto the moss only after it falls, while moss hanging high in trees is too dry and far from the ground for them to inhabit. Chiggers require moisture and close proximity to the ground, so they do not live in tree-bound moss.
Key Differences and Reasons:

• Habitat Requirements: Chiggers (the larval stage of mites) live in soil, tall grass, and underbrush, not high up in trees.
• Contamination Process: When Spanish moss falls to the ground, it provides a damp, protective, and shaded habitat for these insects, which is why it becomes infested.
• Tree-Based Protection: Moss in trees is generally too dry and high up for ground-dwelling chiggers to colonize.
• Myth Busting: While it is a common belief that all Spanish moss contains bugs, studies have shown that moss hanging in trees is typically free of the "red bugs" (chiggers) that bite humans.
• Spray your boots with Deet and use the military style boot blousing cords to seal your pants legs to your boots.
• View attachment 253921
• Don't worry about the the red bugs. Worry about the sand gnats, they hurt when they bite and they suck blood. They can also fly.

So, when you found out that I grew up in Naples you felt the need to explain this to me?

I followed the words real slow like and I think that I got it now. I think being born in Illinois helped me out some though or maybe it's my college edumication?

No matter how many times you tell me that there ain't no bugs in Spanish moss, I'm not gonna wipe my butt with it.

 

[Gwolf]

Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) tea is a traditional herbal remedy brewed from the plant to treat fevers, chills, rheumatism, and diabetes, owing to its content of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid (HMG). It is prepared by boiling the cleaned moss in water.
Preparation and Usage

• Harvesting: Select clean, fresh Spanish moss, usually found hanging from live oak trees. Don't use moss found on the ground.
• Cleaning: Thoroughly wash the moss to remove debris and bugs.
• Brewing: Boil the cleaned moss in a large pot of water to create the tea.
• Traditional Use: Historically used by Native Americans and Cajun healers for medicinal purposes, including lowering blood sugar and aiding with colds.

 

[OldAge]

A few red bugs won't hurt you even if they got on you. You can get them just from walking through tall grass and bushes. You can walk 2 miles to the nearest bathroom from where you are set up in the dove field waiting for them to come in if you want to. I will take care of my business in the fence row side of the field and get back to hunting. Might have a couple of paper towels with me and might not. I will use what I have to and get back to hunting. Been doing it all my life. We didn't even even have an indoor bathroom until I was about 10 years old. Had an old wooden outhouse 100 yards from the back porch. It was cold out there on the mornings when there was frost in winter. Wasn't no toilet paper in there either. Had one of the big, thick Tampa telephone books in there to rip a page out of. Don't guess very many people ever had to use the tiny little packet of toilet paper that came included in every box of C-Rations either. People are spoiled now and gotta have Chamin or Angel Soft or something.

Unfortunately, I remember that LITTLE packet. Also that it wasn't always enough to do the job. !!!!

 

[Gwolf]

Unfortunately, I remember that LITTLE packet. Also that it wasn't always enough to do the job. !!!!

That is why they sold Stars and Stripes everywhere. You could read it and then do something useful with it.

 

[Gwolf]

Along Came Jones -- Ray Stevens ​

 

[RapidSpyder]

 

[Gwolf]

Tulsa Time -- Don Williams ​