Over the weekend, we explored different ways to love. Today, tell us about the most unconventional love in your life.
Photographers, share a photo that says unconventional.
You think being a Fire Bug is nothing special. I can tell you it is one of the most exhausting species to maintain. I was born a fire bug and grew up all on my own. No mum and dad to look after me, from day one it was just I, me and myself; hunting for seeds around the roots of the lime trees with hundreds just like me. It was the general meeting place. We had fun munching the seeds and sitting in the sun, what could be better.
Then it happened. I know the humans think it is unconventional, not the sort of thing they might be up to, but we are firebugs and do it all in our own way. I saw her sitting on a lime seed, munching away. I think it was some time in the month of April, our love month if you like. Of course, if I knew what lay before me I might have thought twice, but firebugs do not think, we act.
She looked at me with her wonderful eyes, her body vibrating with colour. I had feelings, sort of adolescent fire bug feelings I suppose.
I chanced a few words “Hello beautiful, what do you think.”
“Why not” she answered, “but this is going to be a long walk.”
I did not exactly know what she meant, but we got a little closer, like fire bugs do and we started walking. Not just walking, it was a marathon. There we were stuck together, where she went I was with her and where I went, she just followed. I supposed she did not have much choice really. We must have been something spectacular, perhaps a little out of the ordinary, in human terms. I think it would even be unconventional. We just forgot the time. That was true love if ever. I noticed that many of my fellow colleagues were also marching in pairs. Some were still alone, so I clung to my mate with all my strength. You have to be careful these days, just cannot trust every fire bug, especially the ones still searching.
To cut a long story short, we eventually separated, exhausted after so much walking. I decided my duty was done. I really did like her, but being tied to her for a week was more than enough. I never saw her again, but I think she had other things to do, like maintaining the firebug population. Anyhow, who knows, same place same time next year.
So that’s what they’re called! It’s been so long since the last time I thought about them I forgot I’ve always wanted to know what they were called. Thanks, you just helped reconstruct my childhood memories! :))
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Our garden is full of them in April/May, so I have plenty of chance to take photos. We call them “Feuerwanze” here as we speak German, so I had to look them up in the dictionary. I am english but often learn the words first in German.
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Awesome, do they really stick together for a week?
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According to Wikipedia it can be a week, but also a couple of days.
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Ah I should have wiki-ed it myself. Thank you ! I asked because I’ve seen moths stuck together, but I’d always thought it was just a little while. Haha. Not that I’ll assume it’s the same between moths and firebugs. We don’t have them here, at least I’ve never seen one.
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Go check this out. You are a recipient of these no-strings-attached awards
http://themotherofnine9.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/blog-awards-straight-from-the-heart/
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