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aangussca · 2 months

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Art Studio 1 Research: Biology of Slime (IDEA 2) PART 1

Properties of slime

Most slimes in organisms are aqueous hydrogels. However, not all slimes are hydrogels and not all hydrogels are slimy.

Aqueous hydrogels = substances where water trapped in a 3D polymer network.

Therefore, it is important to know that the primary characteristic of slimes is:

Viscoelasticity: the quality of having both viscosity and elasticity, "uniting the properties of liquids and solids" and enabling it to change its properties (Wedlich, 2022).

This gives slime its many functions in living organisms: lubricants, adhesives, protection (e.g. acting as a 'semi-permeable membrane' to filter out particles, and catching pathogens), communication, self-defence (physical or chemical), dispersal of reproductive material, etc. The slimes in living organisms contain glycoproteins such as mucins.

Why is slime so important for life (including in humans)?

As alluded to previously, slime has a number of different purposes. These purposes include:

Adhesion (for movement or catching food)

Lubrication (for movement)

Protection and self-defence

Dispersal

Adhesion and lubrication:

Movement of gastropods (sea slugs, land/cone snails, etc.): Two purposes of gastropod mucus are adhesion for climbing up vertical surfaces and to prevent being blown away by powerful wind/water currents, and lubrication to move across surfaces with ease.

Mucus in the digestive tract (oesophagus and intestines): Facilitates movement of food through the gut.

Mucus in creatures such as pelagic snails ('slime nets') and sundew plants (mucilage): Helps to collect food (adhesion).

Protection and self-defence:

Mucus in the respiratory tract: Filters and collects pathogens and other debris, which is carried out the lungs.

Mucus in the stomach: Protects the inner lining from acid.

Parrotfish and hagfish: Both use mucus to protect themselves from predators - the parrotfish to 'hide' its scent from predators while it sleeps and the hagfish to clog the throat/gills of a predator so it can escape.

Mucus on certain nudibranchs: Protects their bodies from the stings of some of the anemone/jellyfish nematocysts they eat.

Mucus on various amphibious/aquatic creatures (frogs, cephalopods, etc.): Prevent their skin drying out, and in some species to facilitate additional gas exchange through the skin (frogs and squid).

Dispersal:

Mistletoe berries: Sticky, viscous flesh that carry the seeds, which are excreted by the birds that eat them (they are also toxic to humans and most other animals = additional function of self-defence).

Stinkhorn fungi: Gleba, a gelatinous, sticky substance covering the fruiting body of the fungus, carries the spores needed to reproduce - insects like flies eat the gleba and help distribute the spores now attached to their bodies.

It has also been found that not only are gelatinous/'slimy' organisms integral parts of the marine food web (siphonophores (predators) and jellyfish (predators/prey)), but there have been theories that the earliest organisms may have originated from a 'primordial slime'.

Why slime and disgust?

Throughout the history of literature and other media (particularly horror and/or science fiction), slime/mucus has been depicted as 'disgusting', 'alien' or 'monstrous' rather than a natural (and integral) part of biology. Examples of such portrayals include H.P Lovecraft's At the Mountain of Madness (1931) and the 1988 film The Blob.

As Susanne Wedlich details in the book Slime: A Natural History, this perception was grounded in many social and political biases/prejudices throughout history (as shown in historical writings):

The vilification of various marginalised groups: In this case, particularly women and LGBTQ+ people (however, works like The Blob were inspired by global tensions and political panic during the Cold War).

The fear of death, disease and decomposition: This stems from the fear of confronting our own mortality.

The perception of anything biological (particularly in women/AFAB people) as 'taboo': For example, sexuality as 'animalistic', childbirth as 'grotesque' and menopause/ageing as 'undesirable/ugly'.

Martha C. Nussbaum reinforces this notion in her 2018 opinion piece: "Human beings are probably hard-wired to find signs of their mortality and animality disgusting, and to shrink from contamination by bodily fluids and blood. But in every culture something worse kicks in: the projection of these feared and loathed characteristics... onto a vulnerable group or groups from whom the dominant group wishes to distance itself [from]."

Wedlich also presents instances where people (especially women) in history reclaimed 'slime' (and anything else in their biology that was seen as disgusting) as a form of empowerment. For example, American writer Patricia Highsmith loved observing and breeding/keeping snails, even going on several trips to smuggle them across the French border when she moved from London. Fiona Peters (Professor of crime fiction) argues that snails were present as themes within Highsmith's works: "transgressive feminine sexuality", identity ('the self and the other'), and sapphic*/lesbian relationships (Highsmith was a lesbian herself).

(*NOTE: 'Sapphic' refers to women/gender-diverse people who are attracted to women. While 'lesbian' (women/gender-diverse people primarily or exclusively attracted to women) does align with the umbrella definition of 'sapphic', so do other sexualities like 'bisexual' (attraction to two or more genders, with or without a preference) and 'pansexual' (attraction to people regardless of gender).)

There is also media that directly subvert the 'slime = disgust' trope. On one hand, some works may portray mucus as a beautiful, mysterious part of the landscape (the gelatinous 'alien ocean' in Stanisław Lem's Solaris (1961)). Others may use it as a basis for empathy towards historically-marginalised groups, and for criticising the discrimination/exploitation of these groups (the titular creatures in Karel Čapek's War with the Newts (1936)).

While many perceptions of historically-marginalised groups have changed since then, the association of slime with disgust still persists. In his article Corporeality, hyper-consciousness, and the Anthropocene ecoGothic: slime and ecophobia, Simon C. Estok discusses the following term in relation to slime and disgust:

Ecophobia: The fear, aversion or ethical dismissal/devaluing of the natural world, its importance, and the issues that impact it.

With this in mind, you could argue that disgust towards slime/mucus as a whole (even without the social biases) may be considered a form of biophobia.

Biophobia: The fear/aversion towards anything biological (living organisms, one's internal biology, etc.), typically stemming from a disconnect with nature.

Below is a TED Talk by David Pizarro. While the methodology of the study discussed (its accuracy and potential bias) is debated, it does further explain the connections between societal/political perceptions and the disgust response.

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Interesting note: Dualities

In my research, multiple dualities have been observed here:

Beauty and disgust

Appreciation and repulsion

Familiar and 'alien'

Tangible and abstract

Understood and unexplained

Health and sickness

Open-minded and closed-minded

The comfortable and the 'abject'

Self and other

Us and them

Compassion and hostility

Life and death

Natural and 'unnatural'

Acceptable and taboo

Perhaps a few of those can be the basis of my work.

References

Bansil, Rama, and Bradley S. Turner. “The Biology of Mucus: Composition, synthesis and organisation.” Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 124, no. 1 (January 2018): 3-15.

Brownworth, Victoria A. “Patricia Highsmith: A Lesbian Life in Diaries.” Philadelphia Gay News. Published December 9, 2021. https://epgn.com/2021/12/09/patricia-highsmith-a-lesbian-life-in-diaries/

Estok, Simon C. “Corporeality, hyper‐consciousness, and the Anthropocene ecoGothic: slime and ecophobia.” Neohelicon (Budapest) 47, no. 1 (June 2020): 27-36.

McShane, Abigail, Jade Bath, Ana M. Jaramillo, Caroline Ridley, Agnes A. Walsh, Christopher M. Evans, David J. Thornton, and Katharina Ribbeck. “Mucus.” Current Biology 31, no. 15 (August 2021): 1-7.

Greenwood, Paul G., Kyle Garry, April Hunter, and Miranda Jennings. “Adaptable Defense: A Nudibranch Mucus Inhibits Nematocyst Discharge and Changes With Prey Type.” The Biological Bulletin 206, no. 2 (April 2004): 113-120.

TED Ed. “The Strange Politics of Disgust - David Pizarro.” Published April 9, 2013. YouTube video, 14:02. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqX9zMuKENc

Wedlich, Susanne. Slime: A Natural History. London: Granta Books, 2022.

Ze Frank. “True Facts: Stinkhorns.” Published November 21, 2019. YouTube video, 3:38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADrBo7u3tR4

#sca projects #aa sca yr 3 sem 1 week 3 #year 3 art studio project 1 #aa sca yr 3 sem 1 week 2

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maximumwashexteriorcleaning · 4 months

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Preserving and Enhancing: The Ultimate Guide to Roof Treatment

Your home's roof endures a lot of abuse from weather, debris, sunlight and more. Over time, wear and tear can lead to leaks, damage and costly repairs if the roof surface isn't adequately protected. Regular professional application of protective roof treatments can extend the lifespan and function of any residential or commercial roofing material. This comprehensive guide explains the benefits of roof treatments, when to apply them, what's involved in the application process, how much it costs, and tips for choosing the right treatment service provider.

Why Roof Treatments Matter Applying liquid treatments on top of shingles, metal panels, tile or flat roof membranes provides major benefits:

Prevents Leaks - Treatments seal small cracks and pores vulnerable to water intrusion during storms that could cause ceilings stains or even structural decays.

Blocks UV Rays - The sun's harsh rays gradually break down essential roofing components leading to brittleness. Treatments reflect UV rays.

Resists Mold & Algae - Wet grime eats away at roofing materials once it takes hold through spore rooting and acidic excretions. Treatments deter growth.

Repels Insects - Stinging pests like wasps and bees are attracted to bare shelter and softened decomposing surfaces. Treatments close off landing zones.

Beautifies - Clear treatments revive original color tones faded by years of sun exposure, rain wear and pollution accumulation.

When Should Roof Treatments Be Applied? Ideally treatments should be applied to roofs:

Every 3-5 Years Regardless of Roof Age

After Initial Roof Installation/Replacement

After Noticing Leaks or Seeing Surface Growth

Approaching Extreme Weather Seasons

Before Selling a Home or Commercial Building

Understanding The Roof Treatment Application Process Applying a high quality roof protective coating takes precision using the following steps:

Roof Inspection - Technicians examine roof structure, materials, drainage, accessories, and leakage pain points needing priority treatment focus.

Surface Preparation - Any stuck on debris obstruction or remnants of prior coatings are fully removed using pressure washers, wire brushes or chemical stripping agents so new treatments fully adhere.

Treatment Application – Utilizing commercial spray equipment, crews blanket roof surfaces using fan tips for broad coverage and cone tips for detail work. Many applications require 2-3 wet on wet coats.

Curing Oversight - Technicians stick around during the post application drying and set up process to check for any missed spots and make sure treatment sets up properly activated by moisture and UVrays.

What Types Of Roof Treatments Are Used? Professional roofing contractors select protective treatments based on:

Roof Material Type – Asphalt, wood, metal, tile, rubber

Pitch or Flat Structure

Exposure Elements Needing Protection – sun? rain? wind?

Building Use – residential or commercial

Common commercial grade options include elastomeric acrylic, silicone, urethane or liquid rubber coatings along with aluminum reflective membranes or cover tapes.

What Does Professional Roof Treatment Cost?

For a typical 2500 square foot suburban home, expect to invest:

Asphalt Shingle Treatment - $400 - $750

Tile or Metal Roof Coating - $750 - $1500

On commercial projects, costs range drastically based on roof size/access. Budget:

Small Flat Roof – $1000 - $5000

Large Factory/Warehouse Roof - $5000 -$15000+

How To Choose a Qualified Roof Treatment Contractor Be sure to select licensed, insured roofing companies who:

Provide formal roof inspections before coating quotes

Carry product and application workmanship warranties

Use commercial grade spray equipment for efficiency

Furnish client references and before/after project pictures

Follow safe guarded application procedures

Ensure proper treatment cure times based on weather

Proper roof treatments restore water integrity, deter pests, beautify curb appeal and ultimately extend the usable lifespan of roofs - saving building owners thousands. Stay proactive against leaks!

Maximum Wash- Exterior Cleaning Auckland

3 Pukemiro Street, Onehunga, Auckland 1061, New Zealand

027 206 8025

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wafact · 1 year

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Sharpshooter insects excrete vast amounts of urine using an anal catapult

Sharpshooters eliminate up to 300 times their body weight in liquid waste each day, and save energy through a phenomenon called superpropulsion Life 28 February 2023 By Christa Lesté-Lasserre Tiny sharpshooter insects produce so much urine that they catapult it out of their bodies in energy-efficient, high-speed droplets instead of streaming it out. These insects feed on small amounts of…

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heatherwhitney · 2 years

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Ants in Your Yard: How to Get Rid of Them

You can live without ants as a houseguest. Ants are invaders who get into your belongings and cause havoc.

When you disrupt their nest outside, they may transform family lawn activities or gardening into painful experiences. Just because ants are tiny doesn't mean they're easy to get rid of.

Ants coexisted with dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex on the planet and survived a cataclysmic extinction. That implies ants are incredibly resilient. However, as long as you don't underestimate ants, you can get rid of them.

Ants in Your Garden

Ants can be beneficial to your garden in several ways. They hunt other insects that live in your grass because they are predators, and they can aid pollination while foraging.

Ants, on the other hand, like to build nests around plant roots, which can limit growth and make plants more susceptible to disease.

Honeydew is excreted by aphids while they feast on plants, and many ant species devour it.

Ants have been observed protecting aphids from predators such as ladybirds to maintain a consistent food supply.

Increased aphid activity in your garden, especially when they're accompanied by guardians, can be devastating for plant life because they can move around freely, sucking up all of the delectable plant juice.

Important Step: Understand How Ants Live

Rather than simply repelling ants, it's preferable to eradicate the ant colony, whether you're dealing with them indoors or out.

Hundreds of thousands of ants might live in a single ant colony. Ant colonies develop swiftly if left unattended, and a minor problem can quickly turn into a nightmare. An anthill in the lawn or on the pavement is simple to notice outside. The anthill you see is only the tip of the iceberg that is the ant colony.

Colonies typically extend 2' to 3' beneath the surface mound and 2' to 4' around it! Because ants hide beneath floors, on walls, and between cupboards, it's difficult to find the colony indoors.

At least one queen and worker ants live in each ant colony. As long as the queen lives, the colony will thrive. Whatever method you use to get rid of ants, make it a point to eliminate the queen.

The colony can splinter and migrate, establishing new colonies if your therapy fails and the queen survives. If you merely repel ants, they may leave one location but will most likely return.

Get Rid of Ants in the Garden

Boiling Water Open the nest and pour hot water inside (add liquid soap for extra killing power). Because boiling water kills plants, this approach should not be used on lawns.

Vinegar Equal parts vinegar and water are combined. To improve the killing power, add a few drops of liquid soap. Open the ant nest and pour the mixture inside.

Because vinegar can damage plants, use caution when applying it to lawns.

Water Soak the nest in a hose for 15 to 30 minutes to saturate the dirt.

Because ants can survive for up to 24 hours underwater, you may need to repeat the procedure 22 to 23 hours later to guarantee the ants completely drown.

Boric Acid Blend 3 tablespoons sugar or peanut butter with 2 teaspoons boric acid crystals and 2 cups water to make your own liquid ant bait. To dissolve acid crystals, boil for 6 minutes. Allow to cool before storing in a labeled jar. Using a yogurt cup or another container, make a bait container.

Make holes in it for ants to crawl through. Cover the bait container with a lid or foil and 2 to 3 teaspoons of the solution. Place the container in close proximity to the ant colony.

Chemical Ant Killers Apply an ant-killer pesticide (granules, dust/powder, or liquid form) on the top of the ant mound, following package instructions. Some treatments act as bait, slowly killing ants as they take it back to the colony.

Other pesticides kill ants on touch, so the queen may be missed. The nest may eventually disappear in this situation, although a smaller nest may form nearby.

Treat the second nest and keep an eye on the area for more ants.

Professional Methods to Get Rid of Outdoor Ants

Ant Killer Gel Ant poison in the form of a gel is available at most garden centers. This is similar to how boric acid and sugar work.

The ants are attracted to the sweet gel, which is transported inside the nest and consumed by the queen.

Despite being a toxin, the gel is harmless to your plants and garden.

Ant Killer Poison Powder poisons are best utilized against ants discovered inside or near your home because their toxicity can harm plants and alter the soil.

If you decide to use powder poison, take certain measures first, such as fencing off the poisoned area to keep dogs and small children away. Spread it on a calm day to avoid the poison spreading to nearby gardens.

Another thing to remember is that ants can develop a resistance to the poison over time.

Professional Extermination If none of the previous measures have worked and the ants have taken over your home, it may be time to hire a professional to deal with the problem.

To Finish Up

There you have it, your guide to ant control in the garden. As you can see, there are a variety of methods for eliminating ants and decimating their nest, but before taking action, you should assess whether the ants are true pests or simply a minor annoyance. Otherwise, have fun chasing ants!

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moon6shadow-my-writing-bookmark · 3 years

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I have a new theory that Bacta is a type of modified honey. Which may not be too far off given it’s partly made from liquid excreted by insects or something I think?

Also this is totally fuel for my ‘Vader totally has an Off The Grid As Much As Physically Possible Fleet which includes gardens for air and water filtration as well as food’ AU headcannon.

Clone Wars: We need to make deals with Hutts l Slavers to keep the supply routes open and require you to take your freshly minted Padawan along with you.

Oh and supplies are almost always garenteed to be running out or low during the war even though they are always desperately needed by someone.

And you can never get too far ahead of the resupply vessels when racing to save the next planet or you’re screwed.

Oh and the sentient insects that make bacta were enslaved for it, while medical corporations created a fake bacta shortage shortly before the Clone War.

Anakin who overhauled the Venator Class war ships: Fuck that.

Vader getting a flag ship as big as a floating city that is way bigger than his old Flag Ship yet somehow apparently only has a tiny population on board: I know exactly what to do with all this space.

Piett would greatly appreciate it if the Empire population records included everyone on Death Squadron, rather than just those on the Imperial payroll. The discrepancies are giving him a headache.

He would also like to know why exactly nobody thought to inform him that becoming Admiral of Death Squadron was the equivalent of being handed command of an entire country, with each major ship being the equivalent of their own state.

Anakin isn’t good at leaving people behind in doomed situations, aka everytime he and the GAR had to retreat leaving Friendlies behind, especially after Jabiim. Never mind forbidding people from having relationships, children or living with their families. He just didn’t really have the space to put them before because the Republic never had enough ships…

Honestly who thought letting the hoarder have such a big ship was a good idea?

Oh right he sort of did, didn’t, steal The Lady l Executor out from someone else’s command.

Anyone who asks why someone would think it was a smart idea to raise children on a war ship is promptly going to be stared at blankly. Because Seppies never did care about opening fire on civilians no matter what planet or ship they were on. If the Core Worlds weren’t safe to leave children then where was? At least here they have an entire army between them and enemy forces.

The Clone Wars screwed up a lot of people’s ideas of where exactly was a ‘safe’ place, if such a thing existed at all without being armed to hell and back and teaching the kids to protect themselves for good measure.

In which there has always been a thriving trade system amongst the vod’e, it just keeps getting bigger as time goes on and more and more people and skills get added to the pot.

Cue “Imperial Credits will do fine.” “No, they won'ta!”scene every time a Shinie steps on board. The Vod’e have spent way too much time in the Mid and Outter Rim to accept Credits as currency.

Death Squadron also has it’s own tax system and by extension health care, education, etc. system because they sure as hell aren’t going to wait around for the higher ups to cough up the money for it.

Also the Imperial education is bullshit and really it shouldn’t surprise people they have mixed mode education programs that have been alive and kicking since the beginning given how often people were training on the go out of sheer necessity. Meanwhile getting recognition for prior learning is so common that nobody even bothers to bat an eye about it. Who cares if you ever got an official flying license as long as you can fly the damn thing.

Anakin l Vader’s Fleet not having a designated system to patrol but rather given patrol of the entire Republic l Empire as they run around putting out fires being made so much easier when they don’t have to depend so much on supply ships.

It also makes them a million times harder to track because they don’t have to depend on supply ships.

Part of the terror around Anakin l Vader is his ability to show up out of nowhere and turn the tide of any battle, knowing his entire fleet can do the same is terrifying.

‘Oh and the sentient insects that make bacta were enslaved for it, while medical corporations created a fake bacta shortage shortly before the Clone War.’

May or may not be correct as I’m trying to remember stuff I’ve heard about from Legends or somewhere else, but haven’t read myself.

#star wars #bacta #Youtube #Death Squadron #anakin skywalker #headcanons #humour #Darth Vader #admiral piett #clone troopers

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jonnysinsectcatalogue · 2 years

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Meadow Spittlebug Nymph - Philaenus spumarius

Spit! Has someone passed by these plants and purposely spit on them? And more worryingly, how does the spit deft gravity and just hang there on the plant? While you may be tempted to be grossed out at first, the globs of foam on these plants aren’t actually spit. It’s a collected mass of various liquids (which ones will be revealed later) that come together, generating a sticky foam which a family of insects uses to ward off drying out from the elements and avoid predation by staying hidden in the frothy mass. Such a behavior has given these insects the name “Spittlebug.” While I don’t encourage ruining an insect’s hard work in order to get a good image of them, I can recommend patience because you might find one of these insects that escapes from its foam to explore its home briefly. Since the insect is soft-bodied, it can’t afford to explore for too long. It could attempt to make fresh foam like the individual in Pictures 2-6, but a better strategy may be to return to its foam-home or enter the home of another Spittlebug. It’s unclear whether they’d cooperate or fight over ownership of the bubbles, but it may depend on how much room there is to go around.

Even this liquid safety has its drawbacks, however. Since the young insect is in a foamy environment, it needs specialized spiracles (breathing-holes) that are careful not to take fluid in when surrounded. Not much else this squishy little Bug can do until it reaches maturity and gains wings, stronger legs and a more solid body. Upon the final molt, the insect will look similar initially, but turn color from green to brown after leaving the foam and getting a little bit of sun. The individuals on display here aren’t too far away so with a little more feeding and growing, they’ll be ready. To achieve growth into adulthood, the young nymphs will settle on the plant and pierce the stem, drinking the sap from within. The excess of moisture obtained from the feeding is excreted as urine from the rear and incorporated into the production of the foam using specialized glands. Goodness, it’s like honeydew only acrid and nasty to any creature who dares eat it! So yes, is it insect spit? No, it’s much worse than that! It’s diluted insect urine frothed up into a home. Startling to think about, and yet, quite effective at protecting the little nymph. If there’s any consolation, its a boon that the urine is rather diluted and filtered to minimize unwanted effects from grime or pH balance.

Pictures were taken on June 8, 2021 with a Google Pixel 4.

#jonny’s insect catalogue #ontario insect #spittlebug #spittlebug nymph #meadow spittlebug #meadow spittlebug nymph #hemiptera #auchenorrhyncha #true bug #insect #toronto #june2021 #2021 #entomology #nature #invertebrates

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noblecrumpet-dorkvision · 5 years

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Fantastic Flora/Fauna for D&D

D&D games don’t have nearly enough mundane fantasy creatures. Everything needs to either be useful or dangerous for people to care about it! To remedy this, I've created a bunch of fantasy creatures and plants that sprinkle into your campaign to create amazing and slightly alien environments.

These are inspired by settings like Pandora in Avatar, or the world of the Dark Crystal, where everything seems to teem with movement and sound and luminescence. Most of these creatures and plants are almost entirely harmless but can make a setting unique by inserting just one or two into your world.

Feel free to steal these or let them inspire you to create your own wacky or weird minor plants and animals.

Fantasy Fauna

Balloonfrogs: These frogs inflate pouches in their bodies with air, making themselves rather buoyant. They then leap from trees and spread their large webbed legs and toes to glide through the air. They usually come in bright colors to look like other poisonous frogs, but are actually harmless. Their ability to quickly escape danger is their primary means of avoiding predation.

Cave Barnacle: Cave barnacles can be found in neglected dungeons filled with moisture. They resemble regular barnacles in most ways; clinging to walls and ceilings protected with a hard shell 1-2 inches in diameter. This shell is wider than it is tall and spirals inward towards a central node covered in a hard membrane. The barnacles feed on many things that are considered poisonous or toxic to other creatures. When such a substance floats nearby, they open up their central node and unfurl a frilled fan that twitches in the air to gather the nutrients. Wary adventurers know when cave barnacles are waving their fan it means something dangerous could be in the air. The barnacle’s fan is rather beautiful and comes in bright colors often not visible in the darkness of its home. Some varieties of cave barnacle have a glowing fan.

Floraflies: These insects have many wings and false wings that give them the appearance of a large orchid or other such showy and colorful flower. While at rest, it is nearly indistinguishable from a flower but its true nature can be determined with careful inspection or knowledge of the true flower it mimics. There are many different types of floraflies, each looking like a different flower. Some use their feature to hide from predators while others use it to hide and wait for a pollinating bug to come by. Such floraflies will ambush their prey this way and lay their eggs in them; a gruesome tactic for such a beautiful creature.

Ganglers: These creatures look like large long-leg spiders, but with only three limbs protruding from their fist-sized body. With their legs, they are about 3 feet in diameter when viewed from above. They can climb some sheer walls, but are clumsy and have a hard time on ceilings. Their uneven number of limbs makes them move awkwardly as they scramble away from predators. Despite their slightly scary appearance, they are herbivores and only feed on plants that are common underground and in swamps. They are easily startled by light and will scuttle away from torches or magical light that finds its way into their habitat. The creatures are far from solitary and often gather in colonies ranging from 20 to 100 creatures.

Giant Glow Worm: Like a regular glow worm, these creatures create strands of sticky silk covered in glowing beads of saliva to entrance and ensnare prey. These worms can grow up to one foot in length compared to their smaller counterparts. They feed on Tiny creatures like bats and birds that they catch on their strands, in addition to insects. If a Small or larger creature is caught on a strand, it will usually snap and just stick to the creature causing a mild annoyance. Even if the strand doesn’t break, the worm will know if a creature is too big for it to eat by the vibrations on the silk, and will stay put if it’s too large.

Lightsteel Mites: These insects are very tiny, enough to drift through the air on the slightest breeze. They cling to dungeon and cave walls and eat dust particles. They are a relatively unassuming creature until they come into contact with metals. The mites produce a natural light when touched by a conductor. This light comes in a variety of colors but tends to be one color in particular regions. The mites are only really noticeable when they gather in large colonies and drift onto creatures to feast on the dust covering them. Creatures wearing armor or wielding unsheathed weapons while covered in large numbers of lightsteel mites shed dim light in a 10-foot radius. Trying to wipe away the mites squishes them and spreads their light-shedding blood over the surface they were on. This doesn’t put out the light. The only sure way to get them off and prevent their light is by washing them off with water.

Magma Slug: This 8-10 inch creature looks like a sea slug glowing orange like a candle. It has red frilly feelers going down its back that seem to sway back and forth as it creeps its way along. It can cling to sheer surfaces unless they are slippery with liquid like water or oil. The slug eats iron that it heats up within its body, giving off its orange glow. When frightened, it expels the smelted contents of its stomach quickly, leaving a small red-hot ingot of steel behind. While its predators go after the glowing iron waste, it crawls away, no longer glowing until it eats more iron to digest. The slug dwells in subterranean areas and can survive in an around volcanoes. The creature is immune to fire damage and touching one deals 1 fire damage with each round of contact. Magma slugs do not gather in large groups unless it has no natural predators nearby. Salamanders and other fire creatures prefer their taste.

Marble Glob: These 2-foot diameter oozes look like they are made of polished marble with shifting veins of color including black, white, gray, red, or gray-green depending on its diet. That diet consists of stone and minerals that it breaks down with its unique acid. This acid does not harm organic material, but it is so weak that the glob has little use for industrious creatures. It takes days to eat through even an inch of stone. The glob is harmless and slow-moving, but many of them beneath a foundation can serve a threat to its structure.

Mortar Worm: A mortar worm is an 8-inch long worm only an inch in diameter. It isn’t a particularly remarkable creature, only colored in russet brown. However, it creates spectacular designs. The mortar worm feeds on stone and excretes a natural mortar as waste. As it travels along cavern and dungeon walls, floors, and ceilings, it creates tunnels and ribs in the stone. With enough worms and enough time, the area can take on the porous looking texture of sponge or dried coral, despite actually being made of natural cement.

Prismapods: These creatures look like enlarged pill bugs, about one foot in length. They have the distinctive feature of changing the color of the exoskeleton on their back to match their surroundings. When frightened or when trying to attract a mate, the isopods instead create vibrant colors that alternate down their back segments like a rainbow. These colors glow, producing dim light out to a mere 5 feet. Prismapods live in woodlands in and around fallen trees; the bigger the better. They eat the wood as it decays, leaving trails in the wood that look like they could have been caused by worms.

Skyswimmer Eels: Often found in jungles with moist and warm climates, skyswimmer eels look like flat wavy ribbons undulating up and down as they fly through the trees below the canopy. They range from white to pale blue in color and can reach up to 10 feet long. Their main body is about 4 inches wide and 1 inch high, with the rest of their apparent form comprised of 2 fins that span their body’s length, each extending out to 10 inches. At rest, they cling to trees with their bodies spiraling down the trunk’s length. Some varieties can change color to blend in with trees and leaves, and others have spined rays on their fins. Jungle denizens hunt these beautiful creatures and adorn their clothes with their colorful fins. Other cultures consider the creatures sacred and consider slaying them taboo.

Sleep Geckos: This tiny pink and purple gecko’s skin is poisonous to smaller predators, but to humanoids it is not potent enough to cause harm. However, the poison is a mild anesthetic for them, and can cause mild numbness and drowsiness in Small or Medium creatures. Those that are aware of these properties can gain advantage on Wisdom (Medicine) checks to treat painful wounds. Those who come into contact with the poison must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or gain disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks for 10 minutes. Tiny or smaller creatures that fail this saving throw instead take 2d4 poison damage and fall unconscious for 1 hour.

Spectral Terrazoa: This creature looks like a translucent, glowing hydrozoa about the size of one’s fist that roams dark wilderness regions rather than the water. Although called spectral, the terrazoa are quite corporeal albeit ghostly-looking. The creature feeds on airborne nutrients spread by other plants, using its thin tendrils to draw them into its mouth. Spectral terrazoa gather in clusters wherever the air is dense with pollen or fertile scents, slowly climbing trees and boulders to get the best position. They do have a poisonous sting, so they are not entirely harmless, but it only deals 1 poison damage to creatures that touch it. Spectral terrazoa shed dim light out to 10 feet.

Starbugs: These beetles create globes of saliva that they fill with air, then they seal them off and get carried away by the slightest breeze. Starbugs are far from subtle. They can also glow like a firefly. This gives off some heat and lets their saliva-sphere float with a bit of control. The light fills the globe like a lantern, making it seem like a will-o-the-wisp from afar. These creatures inhabit dusky swamps and use their odd form of locomotion to find suitable mates and avoid waterborne predators in the swampy waters where they lay eggs.

Tile Scuttler: Tile scuttlers are land-dwelling crustaceans or possibly insects that dig beneath tiles and stones in subterranean dungeons, hiding beneath them much like a hermit crab hides in a discarded shell. Tile scuttlers can get fairly large, about 5-6 feet in width and length but only about 2 feet tall. They have many powerful legs to hold up the stone that rests on its back, and usually the weight of a Medium creature that stands upon it. Their claws and mouth are too small to do significant damage, using them to feed on insects, small particles, or even tiny vermin. The scuttlers can feel creatures approaching using tremorsense, out to about 15 feet. It tries to hide form larger creatures, but if someone steps on it the scuttler will lift it up and try to move away. In moist places with lots of nutrients, a whole colony can gather in a dungeon’s room, causing an unsettling but usually harmless encounter for adventurers.

Fantasy Flora

Brushgrass: Brushgrass looks like natural grass with frilled tips that grow up to 4 feet in height. They have a peculiar tendency to be attracted to movement and will brush up onto creatures moving near it. Some believe it is to help spread their seeds or to pick up pollen from passing creatures. It is otherwise harmless.

Coilies: This plant looks like a simple, albeit large, teal fern that curls up when creatures come within 5 feet of them. They stay coiled for about 30 minutes, making it easy to tell if a creature has passed by recently.

Dancing Lilies: These white flowers dangle from thin vines that hang from tall trees. Their petals are narrow then fan outward and flop under their weight. The lilies compress their vines to rise and fall to catch sun peeking through the canopy, which often gives them the appearance of dancing.

Dice Plant: The dice plant is an unassuming leafy weed that creates a large, translucent blue seed pod filled largely with air and large loose seeds. When creatures come close to it, the plant shakes to rattle the pod to scare them away, making a sound like dice being shaken in a cup. The plant is otherwise unremarkable.

Fairy Nest: This large flower is about 6 inches in diameter and has yellow or white petals with dark speckles. Its unusual feature is the translucent bright vermilion spheres at the center of the flower that it holds like a cup. These spheres are as small as beads and resemble caviar. The flower is named for these “fairy eggs,” despite the fact that no known fey actually lays eggs. The spheres contain seeds, and creatures that eat them are sure to spread them somewhere. The spheres are rubbery and both taste and smell awful. Strangely enough, orc and half-orc pallets actually enjoy the stuff.

Filigree Plant: The filigree plant has evolved to look like stone, steel, or precious metals despite being as soft and delicate as a regular flowers and leaves. They do so mainly to avoid notice by herbivores that wish to end their long lives. They tend to thrive in man-made dungeons where they simply look like a part of the architecture. When they need to spread seeds, they produce brightly colored fruit that eventually drops to the ground to be eaten by creatures. The fruit is not poisonous and is considered a rare delicacy, so adventurers that find a piece of floral masonry sprouting fruit would best grab it and sell it to the local fruit merchant.

Fountain Coral: This coral has evolved to survive on coasts and strangely above the water. Although made of a colony of hundreds of smaller yellow and pink creatures, its main structure looks like a cluster of seven or so 3-4 foot tubes standing vertically out of the water. As long as it rises out from a reliable source of water filled with nutrients, it can survive by drawing the water up through its tubed form and squirting it out the top of its tube. This method of feeding gives the fountain coral its name. Some are constantly spitting water, while others do so intermittently. Dead fountain coral no longer does squirts water and turns white and hard as stone. Some intelligent creatures use dead fountain coral as natural tubing over short distances.

Rolling Mossball: This creature ranges from 3 to 6 inches in diameter and is made of soft green scraggly plantlife. The mossball’s main form of locomotion is rolling by spinning a water-filled plant organ in the center of its form. It tumbles along the ground, seeking puddles or other bodies of water to rest in or deposit seeds. It is easily startled and its first instinct is to flee. Dead mossballs turn brown and dry out, and are often picked up by gusts of wind.

Shy Ladies: These large plants have giant, 4-foot petals that come in reds, pinks, and violets. When a creature comes within 20 feet of the plant, it curls up its petals into a 4-foot tall, half-foot thin green-white column curving under its own weight. Fey creatures seem to be able to not cause shy ladies to hide their petals, so sprites and other small fey tend to hide their treasures within their petals.

Windstrands: This plant is a vine with red arrowhead-shaped leaves that are always twisted and wavy. Windstrands grow on trees and boulders in hilly or mountainous regions where it can get lots of wind at its height. Without sensing any wind, its seeds simply refuse to grow. The reason for this is how it spreads its seeds: the vine grows several maroon pods that burst in autumn. Inside the pod is a thin, 2-foot long black strand with white puffs at regular intervals. The puffs are like dandelion seeds and separate from the strand when caught by a strong enough wind. Then they float away to grow elsewhere. When the season is right, these puffed strands can be seen waving off of the vines while more white puffs linger in the winds like cherry blossoms.

#D&D #dungeons and dragons #worldbuilding #setting #environment #fantasy #DnD

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billionneuronscurious · 1 month

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youtube

Cicadas Excreting Liquid (Cloud of Cicadas).

#cicada excretion #cicadas #insect excretion #insects #hemiptera #arthropods #insects of maharashtra #insects of india #insect excreting liquid #cicada cloud #entomology #biology #zoology #Youtube

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monster-huntologist · 4 years

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Monster Ecologies: Glavenus and Acidic Glavenus

Entry 21 - Glavenus and Acidic Glavenus

Name: Glavenus and Acidic Glavenus

Aliases: Slash, Furnace, Cutting Wyvern for Glavenus and Ace, Sulfuric Cutting Wyvern for Acidic Glavenus

Classification: Reptile, Brute Wyvern

Biology: Glavenus are a more-recently discovered species of Brute Wyverns. Its body is mostly covered in deep red scales with a cream underside and two rows of large blue spikes running along its back. Similarly to most Brute Wyverns, it’s arms are tiny and practically useless while its hind legs are strong and muscular. The most impressive part of a Glavenus is its huge blade-like tail, adorned in a brighter blue colour compared to its back spikes. Surprisingly flexible, the monster uses its tail in a variety of ways such as slashing, slamming and even blocking attacks. The scales in its tail contain volatile and flammable components, creating a unique ability only Glavenus are capable of. By grinding it against the ground or other hard surfaces, it can ignite its tail and heat it to temperatures of up to 1000 degrees. This is an extremely deadly weapon, but also causes the tail to dull. To combat this, Glavenus have a set of specific fangs in their mouth that sharpen the tail much like a whetstone. The scales on its face are extra tough to protect themselves from the sparks created in this process. While the tail is being sharpened, soot, ore and other debris is removed and swallowed. These are accumulated and sent to a set of furnace-like organs known as Flaming Bursas. Once here, the materials are heated and melted into an explosive molten substance. This can be used to help speed up the heating of its tail or fired out of its mouth as a projectile. The high body heat the Glavenus produces will occasionally cause portions of its body to glow a red tint, best seen with its back spikes. A population of Glavenus have adapted to life in the Rotten Vale, becoming a subspecies known as Acidic Glavenus. Their bodies are covered in a mix of emerald and deep blue shades, with dark grey spikes and horns. Its most unique adaptation is in its tail, which now consists of lighter and more flexible silver scales. The Brute Wyvern can no longer ignite its tail, but it is still an excellent conductor of heat. Instead, it covers its tail in a unique type of corrosive acid unique to the Vale. This acid is a chemical marvel due to the liquid solidifying into crystals when heated, such as from the sharpening of the tail. This allows the tail of the Acidic Glavenus to function as both a blunt object and a blade. Its Flaming Bursas have deteriorated and instead serve the function of holding ingested acid to be excreted at a later point.

Behaviour: Despite being relentless and aggressive predators, Glavenus are among the smartest non-Elder Dragon monsters. They show advanced tactics during battles and will usually attempt to intimidate opponents into leaving rather than fighting an unnecessary fight. They will ignite their tails while roaring, showing their openly that are capable of using fire. Acidic Glavenus are just as intelligent, but show more fighting skill in the control they have with tail attacks. A baby Glavenus is known as a “Dagger” and are born surprisingly large, about the size of a Kestodon. This is important as Glavenus parents only stay around to guard the eggs and then leave them to fend for themselves just before they hatch.

Habitat: Glavenus have been known to inhabit three types of areas: forests, deserts and volcanic regions. Correspondingly, they live in the Ancient Forest, Wildspire Waste and Elders Recess in the New World. Acidic Glavenus exclusively inhabit the Rotten Vale and primarily stick to the lower levels.

Diet: Although they will sometimes supplement this diet with the occasional snacks of coal and ore, Glavenus are almost exclusively carnivorous. Their prey are mainly herbivores such as Aptonoth, Apeceros, Kestodon and Gastodon, but they will also feed on Gajau and Wingdrakes from time to time. Acidic Glavenus are primarily scavengers that eat the numerous corpses available in the Vale, but they won’t pass up live prey like Girros and Raphinos. Glavenus Daggers hunt for smaller food such as insects, fish and Kelbi.

Attack Method: While not necessarily the absolute strongest of the Brute Wyverns, the skills and intelligence of the Glavenus make it one of the deadliest. It’s main weapon is of course it’s blade-like tail, but its strong jaws and muscular body allow for powerful bites and body slams. They are much more agile than one would assume on first glance, aided by claws on the back of its legs to support its weight. The most powerful attack of a Glavenus involves it spinning 360 immediately after sharpening its tail, slicing anything around it. Acidic Glavenus fight in much the same way as their regular counterparts, but faster and with a greater control over its tail attacks due to its lighter tail. It uses more precise tail slashes and jabs in addition to wider slashes. When covered with crystals, the tail is heavier and the creature slows down to the speed of the ordinary species. The crystals themselves can cause the “Defense Down” debuff on contact.

Place in the Food Chain: Apex predators, Glavenus often rule whatever environment they are currently inhabiting. But regularly keeping this position is a difficult task as they will have to compete with equally powerful Apex monsters like Rathalos, Diablos, Tigrex and Brachydios. Acidic Glavenus occupy a similar role, often sparring with Odogaron over territory and food. The only known predator of Glavenus is only found in the Old World, the Elder Dragon Nakarkos.

This has been a report on the Glavenus and Acidic Glavenus. Thank you for reading.

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wisdomrays · 4 years

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TAFAKKUR: Part 169

Surface Tension and Life

Do you know how a steel blade can float on the water? Or how can some insects stride on a pond? How do your contact lenses stay in position on your eyes? And how does water reach the higher parts of plants?

While wandering near a creek, have you ever seen bugs walking on the surface of the water? Have you felt any resistance when you hit the surface of the sea with your palm? Have you ever thought about what causes these to happen?

The two examples of events given above happen to be related to "surface tension." This situation is described as the force per distance unit that is generated in the opposite direction of the direction of expansion between two different surfaces. It can take place in between two different liquid layers, as well as among liquid-gas and liquid-solid layers. For example, the surface tension of a liquid forms in the transitional region where liquid and gas molecules make contact. The source of this force generated on the liquid's surface is the intermolecular attractions that hold the liquid molecules together. Each molecule in the liquid is pulled via opposite but equal forces by neighboring molecules, thus no single force is acting on the molecules. However, the molecules on the surface are only surrounded by one side, therefore they are pulled inwards with a net force (Figure 1), causing a tension similar to an inflated balloon on the surface of the liquid.

When we look carefully to a stagnant pool of water in a container, the surface of the water seems to be covered with a thin layer of film, resembling a stretched membrane. In order for a substance to enter or leave the body of water successfully, it must puncture this membrane. In other words it has to overcome this intermolecular force. If a steel blade is laid horizontally on the surface of the water slowly, it floats despite that it is made of denser steel because it cannot overcome this surface tension. Surface tension is the principle responsible for the trampoline-like behavior of liquid surfaces. Many insect species created for aqueous habitats can maintain their lives on the water via their adapted leg parts. The best example of this is the water strider. This insect lives on water by taking advantage of water surface tension. Though the surface tension principle is a requirement to be on the water, it is also necessary that the strider not to stick to the surface. Therefore, this insect is also equipped with a paddle made of waxy hairs at the end of their legs (Figure 2).

Forces of cohesion and adhesion

The intermolecular force of a liquid among the same kind of molecules is called the "cohesion force," and intermolecular attraction between different types of liquid molecules is called the "adhesion force." These forces of adhesion and cohesion determine the behavior of a liquid in a container. If some mercury is put in a glass tube, because the cohesive forces among the mercury atoms is greater than the adhesive forces in between the glass container and the mercury, the mercury assumes a convex shape. Here, mercury has a tendency to reduce its contact with the glass and does not wet it. In contrast to mercury, when water is put inside the tube, the surface layer between the water and air takes an inward concave shape. This is caused by the greater adhesion force between the water and glass compared to the intermolecular cohesion forces of water. Water wets the glass since it has a tendency to spread towards the greatest surface possible (Figure 3).

When there is a thin layer of water or tea left in between a tea glass and its plate, the adhesion force glues the glass and plate together. Since the adhesion force is greater than the weight of the plate, the glass cup can be lifted together with the plate. Contact lenses also stay in position on the eyes without falling through the help of adhesion forces. Tears strongly pull both cornea and the contact lens together, holding it in place.

The capillary effect

A liquid inside a thin vertical tube is pulled upwards by the inner surface of the tube until the adhesion force becomes balanced with the liquid weight. This event is called the capillary effect or capillarity. Liquids naturally rise in narrow channels if there is sufficient adhesion force. This effect is enhanced in narrow tubes due to the smaller volume of the liquid, but reduced in wider tubes because of gravity. Therefore, there is an inverse ratio between the channel diameter and liquid height in capillarity.

The reason a sponge absorbs water effectively is the easy rise of water in the capillary openings of the sponge. In a similar fashion, there are small openings found in paper napkins and towels. When a napkin makes contact with a wet surface, water is pulled inside the small openings with capillary action, thus removing the water from the surface. This is because the adhesion force in between the napkin tissue and water is greater than the cohesion force of the water molecules. This principle is also utilized while getting blood samples with capillary tubes. In addition, the removal of continuously excreted tears by the capillary ocular ducts that extend into the nasal cavity is another example of this wise law.

Capillary action is also important for the transportation of water molecules from humid parts towards drier areas in soil, providing for the spread of water. The same principle is also vital to nourishment of trees. Every part of a tree encompasses capillary channels, all the way from the tips of the roots to very ends of the branches. Water molecules are transported to the leaves against gravity when they enter the tips of these capillary channels at the roots. Even though the adhesion forces between the water molecules and the root's tissues win the war against gravity, at a certain height, this force becomes equal to the gravitational pull, thus not allowing water molecules to climb higher. This is the ultimate height a tree reaches. Capillarity also affects internal water pressure of a tree, leaf size, photosynthesis, and other factors. This is why the leaves of a tree are usually bigger on lower branches compared to higher ones (Figure 4).

The surface tension of water is the highest among the known values of other liquids and this has very significant biological effects. If the surface tension of water was to be lower, like other liquids, it would not be able reach the higher parts of plants through capillary action, thus preventing the survival of taller plants. The vegetation waits patiently as nourishment is delivered to its roots. Water has been assigned a vital role in this service.

The water-dependent survival of plants is made possible through the capillarity and surface tension. Could this amazing phenomenon, in which the capillarity is on duty to water the leaves on the highest branches of the tallest trees to ensure the maintenance of life, take place via blind atomic interactions or accidental occurrences?

How do liquid droplets get their shape?

Objects with a wider surface will have a greater surface tension. Since the force of surface tension, acting on per unit distance, is equal to the surface energy per surface area, a wider surface requires greater accumulation of energy on the surface. All the matter in the universe tends to stay at a lowered energy level. Therefore, it is ideal for objects to reduce their surface area. When the surface area to volume ratio of the known geometric shapes is investigated, the smallest ratio is found to belong to a sphere. A small value of this ratio means the most reduced surface area per volume. Among enclosed containers of equal volume, a sphere is also the one with the smallest surface area. When two equal volume watermelons of spherical and cubical shape are peeled, the spherical one will produce the least amount of rinds.

Because of the reasons mentioned above, liquids take a droplet shape immediately when they fall, reducing their surface area. That is why a water droplet dripping from a faucet, a falling rain drop, and a droplet on a leaf are all in the shape of a sphere (Figure 5). It is the same principle that makes planets and other heavenly bodies resemble a globular form. This indeed points to an Almighty Power who plans the motions, positions, and assignments of all the objects, from particles to giants, managing and dispatching them as The Self-Existent One holding everything together.

Temperature increase is directly proportional to a decrease in the surface tension in most liquids. When the temperature of a liquid rises, so does the kinetic energy of the particles in it, making these particles move faster. This leads to a weakened intermolecular attraction that binds molecules together. Since this change affects the particles at the surface, it decreases the tension. Improved soaking of hands and laundry can be achieved with warm water during cleaning because heat reduces the surface tension. This helps with better cleaning results in a shorter amount of time.

In a similar fashion, soap and detergents also reduce the surface tension of water. If a small soap bubble is placed on a water droplet, the droplet spreads away instantly. This indeed tells us that the soap bubble reduces surface tension.

If a substance dissolves in a pure material, surface tension is found to change depending on the solute and the solvent structure. For example, salt decreases the surface tension of water. Salt weakens the intermolecular bonds of the water molecules, and therefore reduces the cohesion and surface tension. That's why sea waves foam when they hit shore.

Can surface tension be associated with the ability of unconscious and primitive atoms as the principle behind many functions and tasks in the lives of plants and animals? Do such wondrous events happen by chance? Isn't this principle such a blessing of the One who easily provides what is necessary to all living things, nourishing them in time according to their needs?

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sciencenewsforstudents · 4 years

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There are no teensy cups. But a new urine test for wild mosquitoes has proved for the first time that it can offer an early warning that local pests may be spreading disease.

The new test added a pee-collecting card to a mosquito trap. That card picked up telltale genetic traces of West Nile and two other worrisome viruses. Researchers in Australia described the new technique April 4, 2019 in the Journal of Medical Entomology.

The idea grew out of testing insect saliva. Scientists unveiled such tests in 2010. These lured mosquitoes into tasting cards coated with honey. The skeeters left some saliva behind. Scientists then checked for genetic traces of viruses in that saliva.

Explainer: What is a virus?

Saliva checking had its charms. The cards do not have to stay cold the way samples of whole insects do. And the saliva method did not take as much work as checking chickens or pigs for signs of a virus.

But the tiny traces of saliva left on these cards were almost too small to test. A mosquito drools fewer than five nanoliters of saliva when it tastes a card. In contrast, mosquitoes excrete about 1.5 microliters of liquid per pee. That’s a flood compared with saliva.

That flood prompted Dagmar Meyer of James Cook University in Cairns, Australia and her colleagues to create a urine collector. They used standard overnight traps that lure mosquitoes with light. They also used longer-standing traps that exhale carbon dioxide, which lures a mosquito.

The team set out 29 urine traps in two insect-rich spots in Queensland, Australia. Researchers also set out saliva traps. When mosquitoes entered a urine trap, their pee dripped through a mesh floor onto a collecting card. Adding a moist wick of water kept trapped mosquitoes alive and peeing longer. That improved the sample.

Pee traps picked up three viruses — West Nile, Ross River and Murray Valley encephalitis (En-seff-uh-LY-tis). The saliva ones only detected two, the researchers report.

#science #scied #sciblr #west nile virus #ross river encephalitis #murray valley encephalitis #entomology #mosquitoes #mosquito trap #viruses

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gardeninginfoonline · 4 years

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5 Garden Pests – Insect Identification & Treatment Tips

Prevent your garden from being devoured by uninvited pests. By knowing how to protect your garden from a variety of insects, you can grow your plants and crops stress-free.

gardeninginfo-online.com gathered the following information and tips to help you eliminate garden pests naturally, without using harsh chemicals.

Garden Pests – Identify and Combat These Insects

The following common garden pests, if left unchecked, can consume enough of your garden to leave your plants in poor health and your crops partially destroyed.

Slugs and Snails

Basically, slugs are snails without the shell. These gastropods eat large, ragged holes in the foliage of plants and can entirely consume seedlings. Slugs and snails pose a particular threat to:

Violets

Lilies

Cabbage

Lettuce

Strawberries

Spider Flowers (Cleome)

Floss Flower (Ageratum)

Hostas

The more problematic species of slugs and snails include:

Garden Snail (Helix aspersa)

Grey Garden Slug (Deroceras reticulatum)

Tawny Garden Slug/Cellar Slug (Limax flavus)

Leopard Slug (Limax maximus)

Slugs and snails travel over a trail of mucus, seek protection from dehydration in cool, shaded, and damp locations. Unless disturbed or treated, they will return to their hiding and feeding places nightly.

You can confirm the presence of snails and slugs in your garden by the dried mucus/slime trails they leave behind.

Control measures include:

Physical removal, when combined with other control measures, is an effective and long-lasting method of control.

Diatomaceous earth or “DE” sticks to the snail or slug’s body, causing desiccation. DE dust should be applied in inch-wide bands near and around your plants and garden. Reapplication may be necessary after heavy rain.

Copper strips fastened to flower bed containers or boxes are incredibly effective. Snails and slugs have a shock-like reaction when they are in contact with the metal.

Commercial traps, boards, tiles, shingles, or anything that offers daytime protection are very effective in trapping this pest.

Yeast trapping is another efficient method of control. Shallow containers filled with water and yeast or beer lure snails and slugs to the container only to fall into the liquid and drown.

While there are chemical control methods, it is highly recommended to seek natural, chemical-free solutions. If chemical control is used, pay particular attention to the label and its safety measures.

Caterpillars

Caterpillars are moths and butterflies in their larvae stage. These insects chew irregular holes in leaves or flowers and can entirely consume seedlings, young shoots, buds, leaves, or flowers.

A caterpillar’s diet is comprised almost exclusively of plants. Most caterpillars can be found consuming plant foliage, but some may feed on seeds, roots, stems, fruit, or flower petals.

Tip: Caterpillars can be identified by the three pairs of (true) legs behind the head and five or fewer pairs of leg-like appendages on some but not all abdomen segments. These features distinguish them from beetle, fly, and sawfly larvae.

Some of the more common, problematic species include:

Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum)

Evergreen Bagworm Caterpillar (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis)

Banded Woollybear Caterpillar (Pyrrharctia isabella)

American Lady Butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis)

Common Buckeye Butterfly (Junonia coenia)

Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar (Hypercompe scribonia)

Bent-line Gray Caterpillar (Iridopsis larvaria)

Fruit Tree Leafroller Caterpillar (Archips argyrospila)

Cabbage Looper Caterpillar (Trichoplusia ni)

You can easily confirm the presence of caterpillars by examining the extensive damage to foliage, leading you to the insect’s presence. Caterpillars feed practically non-stop until they enter the pupa stage of their lifecycle.

Control measures include:

Pruning off rolled or webbed leaves and handpicking caterpillars from plants.

Applying bacillus thuringiensis-kurstaki (Btk) an organic microbial insecticide that kills only caterpillars. This product is safe to use around bees, beneficial insects, and wildlife. Newly hatched caterpillars must feed on treated leaves to be eliminated. Treatment timing is critical in early to mid-spring.

Covering your plants or crops with an insect barrier fabric (floating row cover). The covering forms a barrier, keeping moths and butterflies from laying eggs on the plants.

Neem oil can be sprayed directly on plants and foliage throughout late winter and spring to prevent egg laying and deter caterpillars from consuming the plant.

If commercial pesticides are used, pay close attention to the label and use only as directed. When treating edible plants, it is highly recommended to use organic alternatives.

Tip: When physically removing caterpillars from your garden, keep a container with a warm water and detergent solution handy. This solution kills caterpillars quickly.

Beetles

The beetle family (Coleoptera) consists of thousands of species, both destructive and beneficial, all necessary to maintain equilibrium in our environment. The following beetles are considered beneficial in a garden setting:

Tiger Beetles (Cicindelinae)

Soldier Beetles (Cantharidae)

Lady Beetles (Coccinellidae) also called ladybirds and ladybugs

Lady Beetle Larvae

These beetles spend their larval stage and adulthood consuming aphids, mealybugs, small invertebrates, and other insects. The following beetles devour plants, leaves, flowers, and can severely damage or kill trees:

Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica)

Black Blister Beetles (Epicauta pensylvanica) Meloidae family

Red Milkweed Beetles (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus)

Cottonwood Borer (Plectrodera scalator)

Northeastern Sawyer Beetle (Monochamus notatus)

Rose Chafer (Macrodactylus subspinosus)

All beetles have a set of hard outer wing cases, known as elytra, and a hard upper body called a carapace. The elytra cover the flight wings and come together to form a straight line down the back. Beetles all have chewing mouthparts, powerful jaws, and antennae that are often longer than their boy length.

Damages may include boring holes in stalks and trunks, and partially or entirely consumed foliage, flowers, or fruit.

Control measures include:

Apply floating row covers

Prune and destroy (burn) affected stems and foliage

Handpick them and drown in a warm water, vinegar, and detergent solution

Spray foliage and stems with insecticidal soap or neem oil

Set out lures to draw soldier beetles (predators) to your yard and garden

Tip: You can attract soldier beetles by cultivating pollen-producing plants and allowing milkweed and wild lettuce weed species to grow.

Note: Using commercially produced chemical sprays or deterrents may cause severe damage to beneficial insects and the plant itself. It is highly recommended to use organic alternatives when treating consumable crops.

Aphids

Tiny aphids (Aphidoidea) congregate and quickly reproduce to form large groups that wound and suck juices from the host plant to the point of causing it to wilt, dehydrate, die. Without control measures, a small aphid issue can become an out-of-control infestation.

Aphids have long antennae and two tubes projecting from the rear of their abdomen. They are found in green, yellow, red, brown, or gray. They may be winged, depending on the species and life stage.

They usually congregate on fruits and vegetables, flowers, ornamentals, and even shade trees throughout the North American continent. Aphids feeding on plant sap cause foliage to distort and drop. Honeydew excreted on leaves promotes sooty mold growth, and their feeding can spread viral plant diseases.

The honeydew produced by aphids not only causes the growth of sooty mold, but it also attracts other insects, including ants, that compound the pest problem.

Control measures include:

In infested areas, frequently wash sturdy plants with a strong spray of water

Attract native predators and parasites such as aphid midges, lacewings, and lady beetles

Cover plants with floating row covers

Apply hot-pepper, garlic repellent sprays

When infestations become severe problems, apply horticultural oil, insecticidal soap, or neem oil

Note: Aphid infestations are typically accompanied by an ant infestation. Ants “herd” the aphids and farm the honeydew to nourish their colony. Once you control the aphid infestation, direct your attention to controlling the ants.

Ants

Individual ants are members of highly organized colonies. They are always in search of nourishment and water to promote the health and growth of their colony.

Once a source of nourishment is located, ants will return to their colony via a pheromone trail, which is the path for the rest of the colony to follow. As long as the pheromone trail exists, ants will follow it regardless of your control measures.

Ant colonies can consume incredible amounts of plant foliage, but, as previously mentioned, they can also “herd” aphids to collect the honeydew they produce after consuming the juices from your plants.

Some of the more destructive ant species are:

Black Garden Ant (Lasius niger)

Black Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)

Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta) also known as Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA)

Wood Ants, Mound Ants, Thatching Ants, and Field Ants are all part of the genus Formica

Leafcutter Ants are part of nearly fifty species belonging to the Atta and Acromyrmex genera

Control measures include:

Squeeze a lemon or an orange over areas where the ants transit

Sprinkle pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, or cinnamon around areas you wish to protect

Peppermint or white vinegar can be spread around to repel them

Spray ants with a mixture of water and dish soap (the soap penetrates their exoskeleton and kills them)

Lay a one-inch strip of food-grade diatomaceous earth by trails and nests

Set borax (or boric acid) and sugar poison traps around your plants

Set traps with powdered sugar and baking soda (the baking soda dries their bodies and kills them)

Eliminate aphids from your garden

Tip: Wherever you see an ant trail, make it your goal to interrupt the pheromone trail they are leaving behind. You can accomplish this with diluted white vinegar or juice squeezed from a lemon or an orange.

Note: When you apply salt to soil, you are altering the soil’s pH and potentially harming the plants growing there.

Read the following link for additional tips and advice on keeping pests out your garden, and check out this simple recipe for homemade non-toxic pesticides for your garden.

Garden Pest Control

In this article, you discovered information on how to identify and eliminate 5 destructive garden pests without using harsh chemicals.

When you take action to control and eliminate garden pests, you can preserve your garden and crops, harvesting pristine fruits and vegetables.

Allowing garden pests to flourish can lead to massive infestations leaving your garden looking chewed up and dying.

Sources: extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/slugs-and-snails-flowers wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/identify-caterpillars insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Aphids extension.umn.edu/insects-infest-homes/ants caterpillaridentification.org/ ipm.ucanr.edu/QT/lfcaterpillarscard.html

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