Stalking the Ravenous Razor Flies of Coastal Southern Oregon
Mr Attenbourough barely escaped with his life this day. Braver than I, he is!
I’ve warned the cameraman back. I now know how these butterflies think, and I’ll not put someone else in danger unnecessarily. They react on airborne pheromones but with the breeze shifting so constantly, I wonder if any of us are safe?
I once saw the Southern Oregon Masked Russet Butterfly take a man’s ear off because he was between it and a food source.
I’ve heard of a medium-sized swarm eating all the meat off two tourists from Florida in about an hour. The paramedics lost their bravado that day!
The surf crashes desultorily upon the compacted sand of this southern Oregon beach. But nearby there is a menace …waiting…and flitting from one flowering tree to another.
It all seems so pastoral. But I know better
I can clearly see the “Alfa,” with his dangling feather-like protuberances beneath him (her?). Each of those 6-8 inch long “trailers” can cut through 1/8 inch aluminum, not to mention skin.
He is hovering in the air, not far away; not far away at all. He seems to be daring me to attack.
As if he knows something I don’t.
Like the swarm I saw a short time ago is nearby and resting…waiting in a nearby tree.
So if I make any sudden or overt movements, I might have the entire swarm attack me. Even the protective clothing I’ve worn will likely not be any match for a thousand- thousand slashing trailers.
The breeze shifts again, and I watch the reaction of the butterflies carefully. All it takes is one “alfa” to incite the entire horde.
This is not what I’d hoped for today.
The butterflies shift restively but none take to the sky and my pulse slows a bit; my breathing quiets slowly.
And now, I’ve finally gotten my photos and vids. I’ve gotten what I came for, so I could bring it to you today… I stalk predators large and small to show you how like us they are; how well organized they are and how well we might co-exist…
Today we examined the Southern Oregon Coastal Razor Butterflies, and brought you vid files so you can see what’s happening around this tiny blue ball. And when I think back on stalking the razorflies…and I breathe a sigh of relief.
Luckily for civilization, they have a short life span and die off within about six weeks. Again, Humanity has dodged a bullet.
