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Substancewithoutstyle's Slightly Frivolous Flora and Fauna Photo Gallery

HomesickAlien

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HomesickAlien
HomesickAlien

16 March 2014 Sunday   The Titan Arum Amorphophallus titanum   http://i.imgur.com/sAtk90F.png http://i.imgur.com/q69WGSs.png http://i.imgur.com/nRM9UdN.png http://i.imgur.com/jRegam3.png

HomesickAlien
HomesickAlien

02 May 2015 Saturday     Madagascar Leaf-Nosed Snake   This bizarre-looking snake is an arboreal species endemic to Madagascar. As their name implies, leaf-nosed snakes have bizarre nasal appendage

HomesickAlien
HomesickAlien

18 June 2014 Wednesday     Alligator Snapping Turtle       The prehistoric-looking alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America and among the largest in the world. Wi

HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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08 March 2015

 

FLORA SUNDAY :blink:

 

Castor Bean

 

(Ricinus communis)

 

The castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. Its seed is the castor bean, which, despite its name, is not a true bean. Castor is indigenous to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa, and India, but is widespread throughout tropical regions (and widely grown elsewhere as an ornamental plant). In areas with a suitable climate, castor establishes itself easily where it can become an invasive plant and can often be found on wasteland.

 

The castor oil plant can vary greatly in its growth habit and appearance. The variability has been increased by breeders who have selected a range of cultivars for leaf and flower colours, and for oil production. It is a fast-growing, suckering perennial shrub that can reach the size of a small tree (around 12 metres or 39 feet), but it is not cold hardy.

 

Castor seed is the source of castor oil, which has a wide variety of uses. The seeds contain between 40% and 60% oil that is rich in triglycerides, mainly ricinolein. The seed also contains ricin, a water soluble toxin, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout the plant. Commercially available cold-pressed castor oil is not toxic to humans in normal doses, either internal or externally.

 

The toxicity of raw castor beans is due to the presence of ricin. Although the lethal dose in adults is considered to be four to eight seeds, reports of actual poisoning are relatively rare. According to the 2007 edition of Guinness World Records, this plant is the most poisonous in the world. Despite this, suicides involving ingestion of castor beans are unheard of in countries like India where castor grows abundantly on the roadsides. The aversion to the use of the beans in suicide could be due to the painful and unpleasant symptoms of overdosing on ricin, which can include nausea, diarrhea, tachycardia, hypotension and seizures persisting for up to a week. However, the poison can be extracted from castor by concentrating it with a fairly complicated process similar to that used for extracting cyanide from almonds.

 

If ricin is ingested, symptoms may be delayed by up to 36 hours, but commonly begin within 2–4 hours. These include a burning sensation in mouth and throat, abdominal pain, purging and bloody diarrhea. Within several days there is severe dehydration, a drop in blood pressure and a decrease in urine. Unless treated, death can be expected to occur within 3–5 days, however in most cases a full recovery can be made.

 

In 1978, ricin was used to assassinate Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian journalist who spoke out against the Bulgarian government. He was stabbed with the point of an umbrella while waiting at a bus stop near Waterloo Station in London. They found a perforated metallic pellet embedded in his leg that had presumably contained the toxin ricin.

 

 

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

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08 March 2015

 

FLORA SUNDAY :blink:

 

Castor Bean

 

(Ricinus communis)

 

The castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. Its seed is the castor bean, which, despite its name, is not a true bean. Castor is indigenous to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa, and India, but is widespread throughout tropical regions (and widely grown elsewhere as an ornamental plant). In areas with a suitable climate, castor establishes itself easily where it can become an invasive plant and can often be found on wasteland.

 

The castor oil plant can vary greatly in its growth habit and appearance. The variability has been increased by breeders who have selected a range of cultivars for leaf and flower colours, and for oil production. It is a fast-growing, suckering perennial shrub that can reach the size of a small tree (around 12 metres or 39 feet), but it is not cold hardy.

 

Castor seed is the source of castor oil, which has a wide variety of uses. The seeds contain between 40% and 60% oil that is rich in triglycerides, mainly ricinolein. The seed also contains ricin, a water soluble toxin, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout the plant. Commercially available cold-pressed castor oil is not toxic to humans in normal doses, either internal or externally.

 

The toxicity of raw castor beans is due to the presence of ricin. Although the lethal dose in adults is considered to be four to eight seeds, reports of actual poisoning are relatively rare. According to the 2007 edition of Guinness World Records, this plant is the most poisonous in the world. Despite this, suicides involving ingestion of castor beans are unheard of in countries like India where castor grows abundantly on the roadsides. The aversion to the use of the beans in suicide could be due to the painful and unpleasant symptoms of overdosing on ricin, which can include nausea, diarrhea, tachycardia, hypotension and seizures persisting for up to a week. However, the poison can be extracted from castor by concentrating it with a fairly complicated process similar to that used for extracting cyanide from almonds.

 

If ricin is ingested, symptoms may be delayed by up to 36 hours, but commonly begin within 2–4 hours. These include a burning sensation in mouth and throat, abdominal pain, purging and bloody diarrhea. Within several days there is severe dehydration, a drop in blood pressure and a decrease in urine. Unless treated, death can be expected to occur within 3–5 days, however in most cases a full recovery can be made.

 

In 1978, ricin was used to assassinate Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian journalist who spoke out against the Bulgarian government. He was stabbed with the point of an umbrella while waiting at a bus stop near Waterloo Station in London. They found a perforated metallic pellet embedded in his leg that had presumably contained the toxin ricin.

 

 

Fancy patterned beans...but dangerous, too.

I think I'll stick with Baked Beans...those don't cause abdominal pain, purging and bloody diarrhea....or not often, anyway

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Babycat

Babycat

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08 March 2015

 

FLORA SUNDAY :blink:

 

Castor Bean

 

(Ricinus communis)

 

The castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. Its seed is the castor bean, which, despite its name, is not a true bean. Castor is indigenous to the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa, and India, but is widespread throughout tropical regions (and widely grown elsewhere as an ornamental plant). In areas with a suitable climate, castor establishes itself easily where it can become an invasive plant and can often be found on wasteland.

 

The castor oil plant can vary greatly in its growth habit and appearance. The variability has been increased by breeders who have selected a range of cultivars for leaf and flower colours, and for oil production. It is a fast-growing, suckering perennial shrub that can reach the size of a small tree (around 12 metres or 39 feet), but it is not cold hardy.

 

Castor seed is the source of castor oil, which has a wide variety of uses. The seeds contain between 40% and 60% oil that is rich in triglycerides, mainly ricinolein. The seed also contains ricin, a water soluble toxin, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout the plant. Commercially available cold-pressed castor oil is not toxic to humans in normal doses, either internal or externally.

 

The toxicity of raw castor beans is due to the presence of ricin. Although the lethal dose in adults is considered to be four to eight seeds, reports of actual poisoning are relatively rare. According to the 2007 edition of Guinness World Records, this plant is the most poisonous in the world. Despite this, suicides involving ingestion of castor beans are unheard of in countries like India where castor grows abundantly on the roadsides. The aversion to the use of the beans in suicide could be due to the painful and unpleasant symptoms of overdosing on ricin, which can include nausea, diarrhea, tachycardia, hypotension and seizures persisting for up to a week. However, the poison can be extracted from castor by concentrating it with a fairly complicated process similar to that used for extracting cyanide from almonds.

 

If ricin is ingested, symptoms may be delayed by up to 36 hours, but commonly begin within 2–4 hours. These include a burning sensation in mouth and throat, abdominal pain, purging and bloody diarrhea. Within several days there is severe dehydration, a drop in blood pressure and a decrease in urine. Unless treated, death can be expected to occur within 3–5 days, however in most cases a full recovery can be made.

 

In 1978, ricin was used to assassinate Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian journalist who spoke out against the Bulgarian government. He was stabbed with the point of an umbrella while waiting at a bus stop near Waterloo Station in London. They found a perforated metallic pellet embedded in his leg that had presumably contained the toxin ricin.

 

 

Fancy patterned beans...but dangerous, too.

I think I'll stick with Baked Beans...those don't cause abdominal pain, purging and bloody diarrhea....or not often, anyway

 

I think I'll stick with the Baked Beans too. Though the farting I could do without...... :o

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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12 March 2015

Thursday

 

Mary River Turtle

 

The Mary River turtle is found exclusively in the Mary River in Queensland, Australia. It varies in color and can be red, pink, brown, or black. Its head is small, and the tail is extremely long compared to its body size—growing to near the length of the shell. There are also long protrusions under the turtle’s chin called barbels. It takes 25 years for female Mary River turtles to reach maturity and 30 years for males, which is an exceptionally long time for turtles.

 

The turtle takes regular breaths out of the water, but it can absorb oxygen from the water as well. The oxygen enters through organs located on its tail. The turtle spends most of its life in the river, allowing algae to grow on its body. It may use the algae for camouflage.

 

The Mary River turtle is already listed as endangered, and is featured on the IUCN Red List. The population has suffered a large decline over the past decades. Some factors known to have affected their numbers include collection of eggs for the local pet trade in the past, and the impact of predators such as foxes and dogs.

 

 

 

Edited by substancewithoutstyle
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Babycat

Babycat

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12 March 2015

Thursday

 

Mary River Turtle

 

The Mary River turtle is found exclusively in the Mary River in Queensland, Australia. It varies in color and can be red, pink, brown, or black. Its head is small, and the tail is extremely long compared to its body size—growing to near the length of the shell. There are also long protrusions under the turtle’s chin called barbels. It takes 25 years for female Mary River turtles to reach maturity and 30 years for males, which is an exceptionally long time for turtles.

 

The turtle takes regular breaths out of the water, but it can absorb oxygen from the water as well. The oxygen enters through organs located on its tail. The turtle spends most of its life in the river, allowing algae to grow on its body. It may use the algae for camouflage.

 

The Mary River turtle is already listed as endangered, and is featured on the IUCN Red List. The population has suffered a large decline over the past decades. Some factors known to have affected their numbers include collection of eggs for the local pet trade in the past, and the impact of predators such as foxes and dogs.

 

 

 

 

What an amazing creature! :)

But so sad to hear that they're a threatened species. :(

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

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12 March 2015

Thursday

 

Mary River Turtle

 

The Mary River turtle is found exclusively in the Mary River in Queensland, Australia. It varies in color and can be red, pink, brown, or black. Its head is small, and the tail is extremely long compared to its body size—growing to near the length of the shell. There are also long protrusions under the turtle’s chin called barbels. It takes 25 years for female Mary River turtles to reach maturity and 30 years for males, which is an exceptionally long time for turtles.

 

The turtle takes regular breaths out of the water, but it can absorb oxygen from the water as well. The oxygen enters through organs located on its tail. The turtle spends most of its life in the river, allowing algae to grow on its body. It may use the algae for camouflage.

 

The Mary River turtle is already listed as endangered, and is featured on the IUCN Red List. The population has suffered a large decline over the past decades. Some factors known to have affected their numbers include collection of eggs for the local pet trade in the past, and the impact of predators such as foxes and dogs.

 

 

 

Amazing. They have such characterful faces. Very Jim Henson-like

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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12 March 2015

Thursday

 

Mary River Turtle

 

The Mary River turtle is found exclusively in the Mary River in Queensland, Australia. It varies in color and can be red, pink, brown, or black. Its head is small, and the tail is extremely long compared to its body size—growing to near the length of the shell. There are also long protrusions under the turtle’s chin called barbels. It takes 25 years for female Mary River turtles to reach maturity and 30 years for males, which is an exceptionally long time for turtles.

 

The turtle takes regular breaths out of the water, but it can absorb oxygen from the water as well. The oxygen enters through organs located on its tail. The turtle spends most of its life in the river, allowing algae to grow on its body. It may use the algae for camouflage.

 

The Mary River turtle is already listed as endangered, and is featured on the IUCN Red List. The population has suffered a large decline over the past decades. Some factors known to have affected their numbers include collection of eggs for the local pet trade in the past, and the impact of predators such as foxes and dogs.

 

 

 

Amazing. They have such characterful faces. Very Jim Henson-like

 

http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/3-13-2015/aNhMEg.gif

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x1yyz

x1yyz

Posted
Posted

12 March 2015

Thursday

 

Mary River Turtle

 

The Mary River turtle is found exclusively in the Mary River in Queensland, Australia. It varies in color and can be red, pink, brown, or black. Its head is small, and the tail is extremely long compared to its body size—growing to near the length of the shell. There are also long protrusions under the turtle’s chin called barbels. It takes 25 years for female Mary River turtles to reach maturity and 30 years for males, which is an exceptionally long time for turtles.

 

The turtle takes regular breaths out of the water, but it can absorb oxygen from the water as well. The oxygen enters through organs located on its tail. The turtle spends most of its life in the river, allowing algae to grow on its body. It may use the algae for camouflage.

 

The Mary River turtle is already listed as endangered, and is featured on the IUCN Red List. The population has suffered a large decline over the past decades. Some factors known to have affected their numbers include collection of eggs for the local pet trade in the past, and the impact of predators such as foxes and dogs.

 

 

 

 

What a great hairdo!

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Babycat

Babycat

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12 March 2015

Thursday

 

Mary River Turtle

 

The Mary River turtle is found exclusively in the Mary River in Queensland, Australia. It varies in color and can be red, pink, brown, or black. Its head is small, and the tail is extremely long compared to its body size—growing to near the length of the shell. There are also long protrusions under the turtle’s chin called barbels. It takes 25 years for female Mary River turtles to reach maturity and 30 years for males, which is an exceptionally long time for turtles.

 

The turtle takes regular breaths out of the water, but it can absorb oxygen from the water as well. The oxygen enters through organs located on its tail. The turtle spends most of its life in the river, allowing algae to grow on its body. It may use the algae for camouflage.

 

The Mary River turtle is already listed as endangered, and is featured on the IUCN Red List. The population has suffered a large decline over the past decades. Some factors known to have affected their numbers include collection of eggs for the local pet trade in the past, and the impact of predators such as foxes and dogs.

 

 

 

 

What a great hairdo!

 

I love his face - looks like he's smiling. :)

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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13 March 2015

 

FUNGUS FRIDAY

 

Death Cap

 

(Amanita phalloides)

 

This is one of the most poisonous European toadstools. All parts of the fungus are deadly, and it should never be eaten. The cap is typically yellowish to olivaceous green, sometimes paling almost to white, usually with darker streaks radiating outwards. It is convex at first, but becomes flattened as it ages, and may develop a sickly sweet smell. The gills underneath the cap are white, and the white stem has a distinct ring, although this may become damaged or lost. The base of the stem bulges into a 'bulb', which is covered by a white sheath known as a volva.

 

Fungi are neither plants nor animals but belong to their own kingdom. They are unable to produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis, as plants do; instead they acquire nutrients from living or dead plants, animals, or other fungi, as animals do. In many larger fungi (lichens excepted) the only visible parts are the fruit bodies, which arise from a largely unseen network of threads called 'hyphae'. These hyphae permeate the fungus's food source, which may be soil, leaf litter, rotten wood, dung, and so on, depending on the species.

 

The death cap grows either singly or in groups, and typically occurs between July and October in Europe and North America, and from March to July in South Africa. This deadly species contains two types of toxins. The effects of consuming even small amounts include initial dehydration, nausea and vomiting, followed (up to three days later) by severe kidney and liver damage, resulting ultimately in coma and death. There is no specific antidote for cases of poisoning, and treatment, if delayed, may require liver transplantation.

 

This fungus grows in deciduous woodlands, particularly under beech and oak trees, and shows a slight preference for acidic soils. In mountainous areas it occurs in coniferous forests, and is also found in pastures on the edge of woodlands.

 

 

 

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Babycat

Babycat

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Posted

13 March 2015

 

FUNGUS FRIDAY

 

Death Cap

 

(Amanita phalloides)

 

This is one of the most poisonous European toadstools. All parts of the fungus are deadly, and it should never be eaten. The cap is typically yellowish to olivaceous green, sometimes paling almost to white, usually with darker streaks radiating outwards. It is convex at first, but becomes flattened as it ages, and may develop a sickly sweet smell. The gills underneath the cap are white, and the white stem has a distinct ring, although this may become damaged or lost. The base of the stem bulges into a 'bulb', which is covered by a white sheath known as a volva.

 

Fungi are neither plants nor animals but belong to their own kingdom. They are unable to produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis, as plants do; instead they acquire nutrients from living or dead plants, animals, or other fungi, as animals do. In many larger fungi (lichens excepted) the only visible parts are the fruit bodies, which arise from a largely unseen network of threads called 'hyphae'. These hyphae permeate the fungus's food source, which may be soil, leaf litter, rotten wood, dung, and so on, depending on the species.

 

The death cap grows either singly or in groups, and typically occurs between July and October in Europe and North America, and from March to July in South Africa. This deadly species contains two types of toxins. The effects of consuming even small amounts include initial dehydration, nausea and vomiting, followed (up to three days later) by severe kidney and liver damage, resulting ultimately in coma and death. There is no specific antidote for cases of poisoning, and treatment, if delayed, may require liver transplantation.

 

This fungus grows in deciduous woodlands, particularly under beech and oak trees, and shows a slight preference for acidic soils. In mountainous areas it occurs in coniferous forests, and is also found in pastures on the edge of woodlands.

 

 

 

 

Have you seen Shrooms?

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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14 March 2015

Saturday

 

Treehoppers

 

Treehoppers are a diverse group of plant-feeding insects comprising approximately 3,200 species worldwide. Currently, these species are placed in three separate families (Melizoderidae, Aetalionidae, and Membracidae), of which Membracidae is by far the largest and most widespread. Most membracids may be easily distinguished from related Hemiptera by their enlarged and often highly ornate pronotum (the dorsal part of the first thoracic segment). These insects have long attracted attention because of their bizarre forms and unusual behaviors. Many species are gregarious, forming large and often conspicuous groups of adults and immatures. Some of these are ant-mutualistic and may also exhibit presocial behavior. Most species are solitary and these are often cryptic, at least as immatures. True to their name, treehoppers are most abundant in forest or savanna habitats, particularly in the tropics, where they utilize a wide variety of tree species as host plants. Nevertheless, many species feed on herbaceous host plants, at least for part of their life cycle.

 

Hoppers are agile insects that can move with equal ease either forwards, backwards, or sideways like a crab. The crab-like motion distinguishes hoppers from most other insects. In addition, they can hop to escape danger or to move to another host plant.

 

Treehoppers usually have one or more generations per year. Eggs are laid singly or in masses, either inserted directly into the living tissue of their host plant, or deposited on the surface of the plant. The females of some species coat their eggs with a frothy substance that hardens when dry. In temperate regions of North America, the eggs of most species remain in the plant through the winter and hatch in the spring at approximately the same time that the overwintering buds of the host plant break open and begin to grow. The young treehoppers feed by inserting their piercing/sucking mouthparts into the plant and sucking the phloem sap. In some species, the adult female guards her eggs and remains with the young, which stay together in groups called aggregations, throughout their development which may take a month or more. Many of these gregarious species are tended by ants. The ants collect a sweet secretion called honeydew from the treehoppers and, in return, protect the treehoppers from predators. The growing young, or nymphs, go through a series of five moults (shedding their exoskeletons) prior to reaching the adult stage. Adults locate a mate through the use of courtship calls, similar to those used by their relatives, the cicadas (but too faint to be heard by human ears without special amplifying equipment). Females usually deposit their eggs a few days after mating, but in some species oviposition (egg-laying) is delayed until the following spring, with the female hibernating through the winter.

 

 

 

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Babycat

Babycat

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14 March 2015

Saturday

 

Treehoppers

 

Treehoppers are a diverse group of plant-feeding insects comprising approximately 3,200 species worldwide. Currently, these species are placed in three separate families (Melizoderidae, Aetalionidae, and Membracidae), of which Membracidae is by far the largest and most widespread. Most membracids may be easily distinguished from related Hemiptera by their enlarged and often highly ornate pronotum (the dorsal part of the first thoracic segment). These insects have long attracted attention because of their bizarre forms and unusual behaviors. Many species are gregarious, forming large and often conspicuous groups of adults and immatures. Some of these are ant-mutualistic and may also exhibit presocial behavior. Most species are solitary and these are often cryptic, at least as immatures. True to their name, treehoppers are most abundant in forest or savanna habitats, particularly in the tropics, where they utilize a wide variety of tree species as host plants. Nevertheless, many species feed on herbaceous host plants, at least for part of their life cycle.

 

Hoppers are agile insects that can move with equal ease either forwards, backwards, or sideways like a crab. The crab-like motion distinguishes hoppers from most other insects. In addition, they can hop to escape danger or to move to another host plant.

 

Treehoppers usually have one or more generations per year. Eggs are laid singly or in masses, either inserted directly into the living tissue of their host plant, or deposited on the surface of the plant. The females of some species coat their eggs with a frothy substance that hardens when dry. In temperate regions of North America, the eggs of most species remain in the plant through the winter and hatch in the spring at approximately the same time that the overwintering buds of the host plant break open and begin to grow. The young treehoppers feed by inserting their piercing/sucking mouthparts into the plant and sucking the phloem sap. In some species, the adult female guards her eggs and remains with the young, which stay together in groups called aggregations, throughout their development which may take a month or more. Many of these gregarious species are tended by ants. The ants collect a sweet secretion called honeydew from the treehoppers and, in return, protect the treehoppers from predators. The growing young, or nymphs, go through a series of five moults (shedding their exoskeletons) prior to reaching the adult stage. Adults locate a mate through the use of courtship calls, similar to those used by their relatives, the cicadas (but too faint to be heard by human ears without special amplifying equipment). Females usually deposit their eggs a few days after mating, but in some species oviposition (egg-laying) is delayed until the following spring, with the female hibernating through the winter.

 

 

 

 

I've not even heard of them, but they sure are fascinating. And brightly colored.

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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15 March 2015

Sunday

 

 

Spittlebug

 

Spittlebug is a common name for members of a family of plant-feeding insects, the nymphs of which cover themselves with a protective frothy material that looks like human spittle. Spittlebugs, like their relatives the aphids and cicadas, suck plant juices with their needlelike mouthparts. Although the bugs' feeding can distort or stunt herbaceous plants, they are generally harmless. Nymphs and their spittle can be washed off of plants with a forceful stream of water. About 850 species of spittlebugs are known worldwide, and 23 species are distributed throughout North America. They can be found on a wide variety of plants.

 

Adult spittlebugs are inconspicuous, dull-colored, and about 6 mm (0.25 in) long. They readily jump or fly when disturbed. Females lay small eggs in rows, usually in hidden parts of the plant, such as the sheath between leaves and stems. Immature spittlebugs are readily recognized by the frothy white mass that surrounds them. The spittle is a mixture of watery waste and air, which is blown through abdominal openings to make bubbles. The bugs secrete the frothy spittle to protect themselves from parasitic and predaceous insects. More than one nymph may be found in a single spittle mass. Spittlebugs have incomplete metamorphosis. Nymphs undergo about five molts and may be orange, yellow, or green. Most species have only one generation per year.

 

 

 

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

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13 March 2015

 

FUNGUS FRIDAY

 

Death Cap

 

(Amanita phalloides)

 

This is one of the most poisonous European toadstools. All parts of the fungus are deadly, and it should never be eaten. The cap is typically yellowish to olivaceous green, sometimes paling almost to white, usually with darker streaks radiating outwards. It is convex at first, but becomes flattened as it ages, and may develop a sickly sweet smell. The gills underneath the cap are white, and the white stem has a distinct ring, although this may become damaged or lost. The base of the stem bulges into a 'bulb', which is covered by a white sheath known as a volva.

 

Fungi are neither plants nor animals but belong to their own kingdom. They are unable to produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis, as plants do; instead they acquire nutrients from living or dead plants, animals, or other fungi, as animals do. In many larger fungi (lichens excepted) the only visible parts are the fruit bodies, which arise from a largely unseen network of threads called 'hyphae'. These hyphae permeate the fungus's food source, which may be soil, leaf litter, rotten wood, dung, and so on, depending on the species.

 

The death cap grows either singly or in groups, and typically occurs between July and October in Europe and North America, and from March to July in South Africa. This deadly species contains two types of toxins. The effects of consuming even small amounts include initial dehydration, nausea and vomiting, followed (up to three days later) by severe kidney and liver damage, resulting ultimately in coma and death. There is no specific antidote for cases of poisoning, and treatment, if delayed, may require liver transplantation.

 

This fungus grows in deciduous woodlands, particularly under beech and oak trees, and shows a slight preference for acidic soils. In mountainous areas it occurs in coniferous forests, and is also found in pastures on the edge of woodlands.

 

 

 

 

Yeouch! I'll stay clear of those :scared:

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

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14 March 2015

Saturday

 

Treehoppers

 

Treehoppers are a diverse group of plant-feeding insects comprising approximately 3,200 species worldwide. Currently, these species are placed in three separate families (Melizoderidae, Aetalionidae, and Membracidae), of which Membracidae is by far the largest and most widespread. Most membracids may be easily distinguished from related Hemiptera by their enlarged and often highly ornate pronotum (the dorsal part of the first thoracic segment). These insects have long attracted attention because of their bizarre forms and unusual behaviors. Many species are gregarious, forming large and often conspicuous groups of adults and immatures. Some of these are ant-mutualistic and may also exhibit presocial behavior. Most species are solitary and these are often cryptic, at least as immatures. True to their name, treehoppers are most abundant in forest or savanna habitats, particularly in the tropics, where they utilize a wide variety of tree species as host plants. Nevertheless, many species feed on herbaceous host plants, at least for part of their life cycle.

 

Hoppers are agile insects that can move with equal ease either forwards, backwards, or sideways like a crab. The crab-like motion distinguishes hoppers from most other insects. In addition, they can hop to escape danger or to move to another host plant.

 

Treehoppers usually have one or more generations per year. Eggs are laid singly or in masses, either inserted directly into the living tissue of their host plant, or deposited on the surface of the plant. The females of some species coat their eggs with a frothy substance that hardens when dry. In temperate regions of North America, the eggs of most species remain in the plant through the winter and hatch in the spring at approximately the same time that the overwintering buds of the host plant break open and begin to grow. The young treehoppers feed by inserting their piercing/sucking mouthparts into the plant and sucking the phloem sap. In some species, the adult female guards her eggs and remains with the young, which stay together in groups called aggregations, throughout their development which may take a month or more. Many of these gregarious species are tended by ants. The ants collect a sweet secretion called honeydew from the treehoppers and, in return, protect the treehoppers from predators. The growing young, or nymphs, go through a series of five moults (shedding their exoskeletons) prior to reaching the adult stage. Adults locate a mate through the use of courtship calls, similar to those used by their relatives, the cicadas (but too faint to be heard by human ears without special amplifying equipment). Females usually deposit their eggs a few days after mating, but in some species oviposition (egg-laying) is delayed until the following spring, with the female hibernating through the winter.

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, those look amazing!!! :o They look like little toys that you get free inside cereals. "Collect 'em All!"

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

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Posted

15 March 2015

Sunday

 

 

Spittlebug

 

Spittlebug is a common name for members of a family of plant-feeding insects, the nymphs of which cover themselves with a protective frothy material that looks like human spittle. Spittlebugs, like their relatives the aphids and cicadas, suck plant juices with their needlelike mouthparts. Although the bugs' feeding can distort or stunt herbaceous plants, they are generally harmless. Nymphs and their spittle can be washed off of plants with a forceful stream of water. About 850 species of spittlebugs are known worldwide, and 23 species are distributed throughout North America. They can be found on a wide variety of plants.

 

Adult spittlebugs are inconspicuous, dull-colored, and about 6 mm (0.25 in) long. They readily jump or fly when disturbed. Females lay small eggs in rows, usually in hidden parts of the plant, such as the sheath between leaves and stems. Immature spittlebugs are readily recognized by the frothy white mass that surrounds them. The spittle is a mixture of watery waste and air, which is blown through abdominal openings to make bubbles. The bugs secrete the frothy spittle to protect themselves from parasitic and predaceous insects. More than one nymph may be found in a single spittle mass. Spittlebugs have incomplete metamorphosis. Nymphs undergo about five molts and may be orange, yellow, or green. Most species have only one generation per year.

 

 

 

I get the name. That's a pretty unique defence mechanism

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Babycat

Babycat

Posted
Posted

15 March 2015

Sunday

 

 

Spittlebug

 

Spittlebug is a common name for members of a family of plant-feeding insects, the nymphs of which cover themselves with a protective frothy material that looks like human spittle. Spittlebugs, like their relatives the aphids and cicadas, suck plant juices with their needlelike mouthparts. Although the bugs' feeding can distort or stunt herbaceous plants, they are generally harmless. Nymphs and their spittle can be washed off of plants with a forceful stream of water. About 850 species of spittlebugs are known worldwide, and 23 species are distributed throughout North America. They can be found on a wide variety of plants.

 

Adult spittlebugs are inconspicuous, dull-colored, and about 6 mm (0.25 in) long. They readily jump or fly when disturbed. Females lay small eggs in rows, usually in hidden parts of the plant, such as the sheath between leaves and stems. Immature spittlebugs are readily recognized by the frothy white mass that surrounds them. The spittle is a mixture of watery waste and air, which is blown through abdominal openings to make bubbles. The bugs secrete the frothy spittle to protect themselves from parasitic and predaceous insects. More than one nymph may be found in a single spittle mass. Spittlebugs have incomplete metamorphosis. Nymphs undergo about five molts and may be orange, yellow, or green. Most species have only one generation per year.

 

 

 

 

Fascinating tiny species.

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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16 March 2015

Monday

 

Dracula Ant

 

Endemic to Madagascar, the recently discovered dracula ant is a highly unusual species, so named because of its grisly feeding habits of drinking the blood of its young. First described in 1994, these ants did not attract much scientific attention until the discovery of an entire colony in 2001. The dracula ant has since attracted widespread interest not only because of this curious behaviour, but also because of its seemingly ancestral morphology. Unlike most ants, these orange coloured ants have abdomens that closely resemble those of wasps, from which ants are believed to have descended some 70 to 80 million years ago. Thus, they have been described as a possible ‘missing link’ in ant evolution. Winged males are a darker orange than the workers, the queen is yellow, and the larvae are white.

 

Colonies of dracula ants may contain as many as 10,000 workers, winged males and several wingless queens. The workers go out each day to capture prey, which they stun using venom, to bring back to the colony for the larvae to feed upon. It is the unique and bizarre feeding habits of the queen and workers, however, which has fascinated researchers. Hungry dracula ants scratch and chew holes into their larvae and suck out the hemolymph, the ant equivalent of blood. This practice has been described as a form of ‘non-destructive cannibalism’, since the larvae are not killed by it. Nevertheless, when hungry workers enter the chamber, the larvae have been observed attempting to flee and escape their fate.

 

Winged males are thought to disperse by flying to other colonies before mating. However, the colonies reproduce by budding (fission), with colony fission in ants being synonymous with short-range dispersal on foot because the queens are wingless. This has dramatic consequences on both gene flow and colonisation patterns, and thus dracula ants may be more susceptible to habitat disturbance.

 

 

 

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Babycat

Babycat

Posted
Posted

16 March 2015

Monday

 

Dracula Ant

 

Endemic to Madagascar, the recently discovered dracula ant is a highly unusual species, so named because of its grisly feeding habits of drinking the blood of its young. First described in 1994, these ants did not attract much scientific attention until the discovery of an entire colony in 2001. The dracula ant has since attracted widespread interest not only because of this curious behaviour, but also because of its seemingly ancestral morphology. Unlike most ants, these orange coloured ants have abdomens that closely resemble those of wasps, from which ants are believed to have descended some 70 to 80 million years ago. Thus, they have been described as a possible ‘missing link’ in ant evolution. Winged males are a darker orange than the workers, the queen is yellow, and the larvae are white.

 

Colonies of dracula ants may contain as many as 10,000 workers, winged males and several wingless queens. The workers go out each day to capture prey, which they stun using venom, to bring back to the colony for the larvae to feed upon. It is the unique and bizarre feeding habits of the queen and workers, however, which has fascinated researchers. Hungry dracula ants scratch and chew holes into their larvae and suck out the hemolymph, the ant equivalent of blood. This practice has been described as a form of ‘non-destructive cannibalism’, since the larvae are not killed by it. Nevertheless, when hungry workers enter the chamber, the larvae have been observed attempting to flee and escape their fate.

 

Winged males are thought to disperse by flying to other colonies before mating. However, the colonies reproduce by budding (fission), with colony fission in ants being synonymous with short-range dispersal on foot because the queens are wingless. This has dramatic consequences on both gene flow and colonisation patterns, and thus dracula ants may be more susceptible to habitat disturbance.

 

 

 

 

Those poor tiny larvae... :(

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HomesickAlien

HomesickAlien

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17 March 2015

Tuesday

 

Monkey Puzzle Tree

 

Monkey Puzzle or Araucaria trees are an ancient species of evergreen conifer that is today only found in some parts of Argentina and Chile. The trees have oddly scaled branches – the scales are actually leaves – and have distinctive bark likened by some to reptilian skin. The trees are tough and hardy, and can grow to heights of 130 feet and diameters of up to 6 feet.

 

Monkey puzzle trees are highly distinctive, with mature trees possessing a tall, straight trunk and an umbrella of branches at the crown. Young monkey puzzles have a ‘christmas tree’ shape, with branches on the lower parts of the trunk which are later shed. The smooth bark is greyish-brown in colour and can be up to eight centimetres thick. The horizontal branches emerge from the trunk in whorls of three to eight and the tree is covered in scale-like leaves all year round. These trees are mainly dioecious; different trees bear flowers of different sexes. The large cones develop in the upper branches and bright orange-brown seeds are released.

 

The seeds are shed between March and April and germinate the following spring after dispersion. Falling to the base of their parent tree they are dispersed by a wide variety of animals such as birds (Enicognathus leptorhynchus), rodents (Phyllotis darwinii) and cattle. The seeds of the monkey puzzle constitute an important food source for the indigenous Pehuenche people, who have been collecting these protein-rich seeds for centuries.

 

Monkey puzzle trees have a number of adaptations to survive fire, and may need low levels of fire to maintain the population. Volcanic activity and fire caused by lightning are regular features of this landscape and help to maintain the forest composition by periodically removing faster growing species.

 

Endemic to Chile and Argentina in South America, this species is found in the Andes Mountains that separate these two countries. The range extends from 900 metres above sea level to the tree line at 1,800 metres. Two additional populations are found in the coastal mountain range of Chile known as the Cordillera de Nahuelbuta; these coastal populations are thought to be genetically distinct from the Andean trees.

 

 

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/1415528257_Monkey_puzzle_tree_zpsuto7ur8l.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Monkey-puzzle-trees-in-habitat_zpspk5asect.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/araucaria-forest-chile-james-brunker_zpsrzlfnzan.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Living_Fossils_2b_zpsdobudloz.jpg

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/araucaria-araucana-trunk_zpsqbd81bhl.jpg

 

Seeds:

 

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/mystery-seeds-153-12_zpsnqgolzjh.jpg

 

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/Sean81A/Tyrannosaur%20with%20araucaria_zpsajfwod0o.png

Samples of Monkey Puzzle trees were first brought to Great Britain in the early 19th century and by the 1850s the trees were being grown at botanical gardens. As for the unusual name, it’s said that a visitor to Pencarrow Garden in Cornwall, upon observing the odd tree, suggested that “It would puzzle a monkey to climb that”. Monkey Puzzle trees are often used by artists to ‘flesh out” prehistoric scenes, like the one above from the BBC TV series “Walking With Dinosaurs” that features an Allosaurus on the prowl.

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Your_Lion

Your_Lion

Posted
Posted

16 March 2015

Monday

 

Dracula Ant

 

Endemic to Madagascar, the recently discovered dracula ant is a highly unusual species, so named because of its grisly feeding habits of drinking the blood of its young. First described in 1994, these ants did not attract much scientific attention until the discovery of an entire colony in 2001. The dracula ant has since attracted widespread interest not only because of this curious behaviour, but also because of its seemingly ancestral morphology. Unlike most ants, these orange coloured ants have abdomens that closely resemble those of wasps, from which ants are believed to have descended some 70 to 80 million years ago. Thus, they have been described as a possible ‘missing link’ in ant evolution. Winged males are a darker orange than the workers, the queen is yellow, and the larvae are white.

 

Colonies of dracula ants may contain as many as 10,000 workers, winged males and several wingless queens. The workers go out each day to capture prey, which they stun using venom, to bring back to the colony for the larvae to feed upon. It is the unique and bizarre feeding habits of the queen and workers, however, which has fascinated researchers. Hungry dracula ants scratch and chew holes into their larvae and suck out the hemolymph, the ant equivalent of blood. This practice has been described as a form of ‘non-destructive cannibalism’, since the larvae are not killed by it. Nevertheless, when hungry workers enter the chamber, the larvae have been observed attempting to flee and escape their fate.

 

Winged males are thought to disperse by flying to other colonies before mating. However, the colonies reproduce by budding (fission), with colony fission in ants being synonymous with short-range dispersal on foot because the queens are wingless. This has dramatic consequences on both gene flow and colonisation patterns, and thus dracula ants may be more susceptible to habitat disturbance.

 

 

 

 

creepy! They have a pretty cool looking rusty colour, though

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