Aircraft Spangdahlem AB
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Just an update on my summer Monarch caterpillars. I had planted more milkweed because they were running out of leaves. Eventually, we had a birth, and things quieted down. The milkweed regenerated with fresh new leaves, albeit some getting aphids moving in. Then recently, I noticed the leaves looking chomped on again. Sure enough, YESTERDAY, that's November 4, I noticed the caterpillars all over the place again. I guessed at least 20-30 or more. And they are voracious eaters. The plants looked so decimated by this morning I went in search of more milkweed. Got the last one in town, the nursery fellow said. So, this is just really a record shot - at least 6 caterpillars in the frame (if you count the part of one lower left). And it's a good example of their leaf-eating skills. I watched - a caterpillar can pretty well devour a leaf while-u-wait. My friend Lou likened it to eating corn-on-the-cob, row by row working its way across the leaf. They do seem to disappear, mostly - I don't know where they go or if they're getting picked off at night. I've only had the miracle of the one pupa hatching into the butterfly, a few weeks ago. I've not yet seen any more. Pretty cool stuff.
Thebe making an entrance
THEBE (IMO: 9199696) is a Cargo/Containership that was built in 2000 (23 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Antigua Barbuda.
Her carrying capacity is 2500 t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 3.5 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 89.6 meters and her width is 11.65 meters.