My speculation may not withstand cooperative argumentative dialogue stimulating critical thinking.

Of course, it’s also possible the predator/prey dynamic will follow with the MALB-wolves trailing their aphid-sheep to new pastures. Thus, poison hemlock may serve as an early season reservoir for this aphid supporting the rapid development of high populations on other plants in the summer. On the other hand, fennel aphids are capable of feeding on a number of other plants including their namesake host they can be a serious pest of fennel. Given that the biennial poison hemlock plants are producing seed and are nearing their annual decline and collapse, it would seem the predators may soon lose the plants supporting their bountiful aphid bistro. However, the aphid populations I observed today were much higher than last season calling into question the overall impact of the lady beetle predation. Apparently the fennel aphid’s deactivation of the poison hemlock alkaloids is sufficient to make them vulnerable to predators including MALB and green lacewings. The common names for some of these aphids indicate they have an ability to detoxify some pretty serious plant toxins. Others include: Pear-Parsnip Aphid ( Anuraphis subterranean) Milkweed Aphid ( Aphis asclepiadis) Foxglove Aphid ( Aulacorthum solani) Hawthorn-Parsley Aphid ( Dysaphis apiifolia) and Honeysuckle Aphid ( Hyadaphis passerinii), just to name a few. And, they aren’t the only aphids that can sip poison hemlock sap. However, fennel aphids are obviously able to handle the toxins without going the way of Socrates.

It is apparent by the small numbers of herbivorous insects that will feed on poison hemlock that insects aren’t necessarily immune to the alkaloid toxins. I also observed green lacewing eggs perched on their stalks on the stem of a heavily infested poison hemlock plants. I visited that same poison hemlock patch today and found that the aphid and MALB populations are even higher. Even more startling, Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles (MALB) ( Harmonia axyridis) were grazing on the aphids with no apparent ill effects. While photographing poison hemlock plants going to seed last season, I came across a number of plants heavily infested with Fennel Aphids ( Hyadaphis foeniculi). In fact, the exact meaning behind Socrates’ last words has long been debated by scholars … which is why I like my fake news version better. Really? He ordered a chicken dinner for a friend? Frankly, when I first learned this, I heard the sound of a deflating balloon in my head. His final words were: “ Crito, we ought to offer a cock to Asclepius. But, his last words certainly weren’t, “ pour a round for the house,” because we do know Socrates’ actual last words thanks to a witness referenced in Plato’s dialogue titled, Phaedo (Phaedo of Elis was one of Socrates’ followers). It is native to North Africa and Eurasia including Greece and is the plant behind the “hemlock tea” that was responsible for Socrates' famous last words, ' I drank what?' Not really that’s fake news. This non-native invasive weed contains highly toxic piperidine alkaloid compounds, including coniine and gamma-coniceine, which cause respiratory failure and death when ingested by mammals. “Monsters Never Leave You” by Carlie St.Poison hemlock ( Conium maculatum, family Apiaceae) is one of the deadliest plants in North America. 'The Last Good Time to Be Alive' by Waverly SM ( Reckoning 4, edited by Danika Dinsmore and Arkady Martine) Markoff” by Gabriela Santiago ( The Dark, March 2020 ) “Body, Remember” by Nicasio Andres Reed ( Fireside, November 2020) “Thin Red Jellies” by Lina Rather ( Gigonotosaurus, February 2020) “To Balance the Weight of Khalem” by RB Lemberg ( Beneath Ceaseless Skies, March 2020 ) “The Ashes of Vivian Firestrike” by Kristen Koopman ( Glittership, May 2020 ) 'Portrait of Three Women with an Owl' by Gwen C. “Everquest” by Naomi Kanakia ( Lightspeed, October 2020 ) Lewis ( Glitter + Ashes, edited by dave ring)

“Salt and Iron” by Gem Isherwood ( Podcastle, May 2020 ) “Rat and Finch are Friends” by Innocent Chizaram Ilo ( Strange Horizons, March 2020 ) 'A Voyage to Queensthroat' by Anya Johanna DeNiro ( Strange Horizons, August 2020 ) 'If You Take My Meaning' by Charlie Jane Anders (Tordotcom, February 26, 2020) We’re Here 2020 includes the following stories from 2020: “This promising start to a new anthology series will appeal to any reader of contemporary short SFF, queer or otherwise, and reinforces Neon Hemlock’s spot at the apex of queer speculative fiction publishing.” Clark & series editor Charles Payseur of Quick Sip Reviews. Winner of the Locus Award for Best Anthology.

Hemlock sip meaning