#predates the republic

[sleepingsun501]

For anybody who’s played Jedi Fallen Order, doesn’t this look like Zeffo technology??

#can’t be a coincidence #can it? #thought it looked familiar #predates the republic #love callbacks like this #star wars #the bad batch #the bad batch season 2 spoilers #tbb season 2 spoilers #tbb season 2 #jedi fallen order #zeffo

[figures4fun]

Revenge of the Fifth is here!

#predator #yautja #star wars #revenge of the 5th #sith #Jedi #revenge of the fifth #predator 2 #predators #the predator #prey #alien vs predator #aliens vs predator requiem #avp #a new hope #the empire strikes back #return of the jedi #the phantom menace #attack of the clones #revenge of the sith #knights of the old republic #knights of the old republic 2 #KOTOR #action figures #toys #toy photography #action figure photography #figure photography #hot toys #darth revan

[clonewarslover55]

Blood on Stone summary and notes

Blood on Stone will be a Predator(Yautja), Alien(Xenomorph) and Clone Wars crossover! A lot of characters are in it, like my Yautja OC’s, the Delta Squad, and the Galactic Marines(lead by Bacara and Ki-Adi Mundi)

Summary: Marshal Commander Bacara and his general Ki-Adi Mundi get deployed to investigate a strange transmission coming from a seemingly barren planet in the outer rim. The transmission is impossible to decode, so it is vital that the Galactic Marines discover the source. Is it friendly? Sepratist? A warning? They have no idea and head to the harsh planet. The world is called Tarchceakeue, a world plagued by long nights, caves, and horrible cold rainy weather. Once on the world, the supposedly invincible and hardass marines experience some trouble, and have to call in the big guns. The Delta Squad. But after hearing their problems the Delta’s need their own help! So they call an old Yautja friend in for help. (It’s R’tka if you didn’t know)

Notes: I Don’t own Star Wars, or Predator, or Alien, or the species in this. Bla bla bla 

Okay, anyways! So I suggest you read ‘The Hunt’ before this so you can learn about how the Delta’s meet R’tka(my OC)  and get to know R’tka some before this! But it is truly up to you, my darling reader.

Along with R’tka, another Yautja OC will be joining this story, along with many clone OCs! Tarchceakeue is of my own creation as well! You will learn more about them all and the planet the further the story progresses 

You don’t have to know much about the Delta’s or Bacara and his boys to read this. But I do suggest you have a little bit of knowledge about Aliens(Xenomorphs) and Predators(Yautja) so maybe see a movie or two from the series! (The first Aliens VS Predator is good as hell) But in the story I tried to explains things to the best of my ability! 

Also! If Ki-Adi Mundi is out of character then I am sorry. There isn’t much on this dude other than he fucks, has a calm nice voice, and is pretty peaceful for a guy in a war. 

Warnings: 

Blood, gore, death, character death, alien things and technology, fight scenes that may be poorly written, lots of fighting and killing, Ki-Adi Mundi, cussing/cursing, OC’s, soo many OC’s, Xenomoprhs are gross and make nests from this weird clear gelatinous resin, so be prepared for alien goo and drool, violence and more violence, clone culture, alien culture, injury, major injury, acid and acid burns, advanced technology and medicine, fast healing, things get gross, 

I will post the same warnings at the start of each chapter so I don’t spoil anything within! 

I hope everyone enjoys this story!! 

#blood on Stone #Yautja #Yautja oc #predator #alien vs predator #Aliens vs predator #Republic Commando #republic commandos #delta squad #Clone Troopers #clone oc #commander bacara #ki adi mundi #galactic marines #xenomorph #xeno #Xenomorphs #xenomorph queen #Xenomorph warrior #boss #scorch #fixer #sev #walon vau’s boys

[21gabrielisivankov12]

I’m doing an investigation on how governments treat children that have been victims of child prostitution/ child forced sexual labour in Caribbean countries ie. The Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, etc.

This is the link to the google forms. If you were never in that situation, forward it to someone who did, please. Please speak out.

#child abuse #child abandonment tw #child labor #child predators #child prostitution #child protective services #healing #caribean #dominican republic #cubano #puerto rico #google forms

[offonaherosjourney]

The Rogues of the Republic trilogy walked so the Six of Crows duology could run and you may quote me on that

#for tumblr reasons this is a joke! i love both! and they have different vibes! rotr simply predates soc #also not implying anything by saying it predates it #fantasy heist books wasn't much of a genre back then thats all #rogues of the republic #six of crows #shadow and bone #crooked kingdom #grishaverse #rotr #nym's posts

[goalhofer]

Where every player played during the 2004-05 NHL lockout: Nashville

Belarusian Extraliga: Sergejs Žoltoks (H.K. Riga 2000) NL: Kimmo Timonen (C.D.H. Lugano) SEL: Kimmo Timonen (Brynäs I.F.) SL: David Legwand (E.C. Basel) Czech Extraliga: Martin Erat (H.K. Hamé Zlín) & Tomáš Vokoun (H.K. Znojmeští Orli) ECHL: Shane Hnidy (Florida Everblades) & Jeremy Stevenson (South Carolina Stingrays) GET: Scott Hartnell (Vålerenga Ishockey) & Chris Mason (Vålerenga Ishockey) Liiga: Marek Židlický (H.I.F.K.) & Tomáš Vokoun (H.I.F.K.) Mestis: Adam Hall (Kalevan Pallo) & Kimmo Timonen (Kalevan Pallo) MLH: Jamie Allison (Cambridge Hornets) & Scott Walker (Cambridge Hornets/Dundas Real McCoys) AHL: Mark Eaton (Grand Rapids Griffins), Vern Fiddler (Milwaukee Admirals), Simon Gamache (Milwaukee Admirals), Dan Hamhuis (Milwaukee Admirals), Andrew Hutchinson (Milwaukee Admirals), Wyatt Smith (Milwaukee Admirals), Jordin Tootoo (Milwaukee Admirals) & Scottie Upshall (Milwaukee Admirals) Didn't Play: Luke Bombardir, Greg Johnson, Raymond Murray & Steve Sullivan

#Sports #Hockey #Hockey Goalies #NHL #Nashville Predators #Belarus #Switzerland #Sweden #Czech Republic #Florida #South Carolina #Norway #Finland #Canada #Ontario #AHL

[dodydody1]

#the degenerate-drawing jianghu #throne of seal #the sword and the brocade #animals top predators fear the most #anime #creepy discoveries in congo that terrified the world #tiger's tremendous power deserves king of jungle #democratic republic of the congo #make way for the queens guard #30 incredible wild boar battles and brutal attacks #the manhwa man #fearless animals #the only animal great whites fear but you find cute will surprise you #wild boar battles and brutal attacks #dogs #Youtube

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

Hey, uh. So. What do you mean, "Nameless country that predated the Republic of Texas"? How much data did humanity lose between the 21st century and Aspen's time period? Or is like, "America" just a word that means "nameless" in Interlingua? Or did "America" become a taboo word and it was lost the same way that the old word for bear was taboo? Is the Republic of Texas censoring all mention of America??

How do you lose the name of a country like that????????????

America is the name of a continent -- two continents, in fact. It's not the name of a country.

[sailorkamino]

au where during the clone wars there's a republic photographer. i can't draw but here are some of my ideas!

• jedi laughing with their clones, they look incredibly young when happy

• clone sleeping on a jedi's shoulder, sharing a cloak as a blanket, another clone sleeps in their lap

• jedi standing protectively over a fallen clone, teeth bared like a predator, a dangerous look in their eyes

• young clones painting their armor

• jedi comforting a grieving clone, a silent tear rolls down their own face

• clones teaching jedi how to shoot, exchanging excited high fives when a target is hit

• clone holding a lightsaber in a dramatic pose, jedi looks amused, vode looks scared

• clones feeding their rations to animals, childlike smiles on their faces

• jedi leading a meditation or yoga class

• clones first snow ball fight

• clones playing hair salon, giving each other trims and dye jobs

• clones giving each other's tattoos and piercings

• clone protectively holding a civvie child (the caption: two children of war)

• clone desperately clinging to their fallen brother's blacks, it still smells like them

• batch mates in full armor discretely holding hands, it's their first battle and they're scared

• clone in a flower field, petals in their curls

• clones sleeping around their injured vod in the medbay

• kedable kisses (forehead presses)

• clones on leave volunteering at the jedi temple, playing with younglings and teaching classes

• jedi younglings painting their robes and skin to match their favorite vode

• a clone with a small smile, looking proud and emotional, the caption explains he just named himself

• clones trying sweets for the first time

• clone trying to imitate something cool their jedi did and face planting, vode laughing hysterically in the background

• jedi carrying an injured clone (caption: irreplaceable)

#clone wars #star wars #clone culture #jedi culture #bad batch #jedi x clone family hours #might reblog with pose refs!

[yourtongzhihazel]

To come to a dialectical conclusion on the clasicide of landlords under Mao Zedong, we must first: (a) understand historical context, (b) understand the popular will during that particular historical moment, (c) understand the material outcomes of the policy, and most importantly, (d) understand the dialectical and materialist foundation, justification, and theory.

Let us fisrt establish the historical context. Classicide ocurred in the late days of the second world war and the infancy of the Peoples Republic. In a roughly 5-7 year span. Predating the communist victory was a 12 year war against Japan, 10+ year civil war (with a break in the middle for the second sino-japanwse war), brief and chaotic rule under the GMD and warlords, followed by the Qing dynasty and beyond. During this time period, the peasantry was the largest and most oppressed class in the country, with minorities such as the Yi and Hui (and most famously, the Tibetan serfs) were entirely enslaved. During thr 1930s, in Shanghai alone, there would be employed body collectors who collected up to 100 dead peasants who had starved or froze to death in the streets. In the rural countryside, landlords held absolute sway over peasants who had to work the land and pay the rent with large proportions of their harvest. Landlords killing peasants for failure to meet quotas or rents was common and unpumished. Landlords raping peasants for rent or not likewise was common and unpunished. Evictions, property seizures, and forfeitures were also exceedingky common and backed by the state. For all intents and purposes, the peasant class was seen as entirely disposable banks of labor and nothing else. The forced selling of children to landlords so a family may survive was also common. The material effect of this millenia old system of oppression is a class full of revolutionary potential and (righteous) justified anger. Fanshen by William Hinton is a good documentary summary of the before and after of a rural peasantry village.

With the communist victory, the CPC put forth a very simple model for reform: assemble a committee of local and communist leaders, take suggestions and proposals from the population which are then put forth to a vote from the population. In many of the northern provinces, where communist bases and reform was more developed than the southern provinces, this process was largely peaceful and orderly. However, in the breadbasket of China, the southern provinces, where landlord control and excesses had been most fierce, the process was not nearly as peaceful. Apprehended landlords, mostly those who continued to try and hold land despite the incoming victory of the communists, were handed to the peasantey based on popular vote and they determined what happened to them. Usually, execution.

The outcome of the purging of the landlords was an egalitarian redistribution of of former landlord holdings to the peasants who actually lived and worked on the land. China at the time had about 500 million people. The landlord class was less than ten percent of the population, holding 70% of all the land. By the end of the land reform campaign, the entire class of landless peasantry was effectively eliminated as landless peasants were now landed.

The materialist and dialectical analysis of the land reform movement is as follows. The landlord class and the peasant class have diametrically opposed interests. The landlords want to maintain as much land as possible while the peasants want as much of the land as possible. There is no compromise solution because inevitably, these diametrically opposed forces will into play and class conflict will begin. If we give each class a 50/50 split, first of all, there would be no peasants to work the landlord's land and in effect, would eliminate the landlord class entirely as this too is a contradiction, but beyond that, the landlords want to get as much land as possible so they will put pressure on the landed peasants to sell or default so they can take it. This is an example of class warfare. Because there exists these antagonistic contradictions, the state exists to mediate class conflict. Before the communist victory, the state was controlled by the bourgeoisie, which included the landlord. This gave them all the power for mediation, allowing them to do whatever they want with no repurcussion, while any protest from peasants are shut down for "violence against property". When the communists put the peasantry in charge of the state, the script was flipped now it was the landlords' turn to eat their own medicine.

Eliminating the bourgeoisie as a class is not a secret communists are trying to hide. It is central to our thesis. By driving out landlords either through reeducation, exile, or killing, the result is rhe same: the destruction of the owning class. The only benefit of the landlord killings (if you want to call it that) is permanently compromising that individual landlord's chance of trying to gain back their power through insurrection, revolt, or other means.

Did excesses happen? Yes. Is killing landlords not ideal? Also, yes. However, we see that the landlord class interest of maintaining as much land as possible comes into conflict. The landlords were willing to rape, murder, enslave, evict, etc. to get more land before communist rule, and they were willing to kill and maim to keep it (hence why there was a civil war!). The contradiction thus could only be solved via violence. Thus, to criticize the landlord class liquidation is equivalent to criticizing the Algerians, or Vietnamese, or African slaves in Haiti and the americas in general as terrorists for fighting back, an opinion which only makes sense if you are not a member of these oppressed groups and classes.

You are, more likely than not, living in a dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. You are, more likely than not, not a member of the bourgeoisie (you work for a wage or salary and don't own things like a company, land, machibery, etc.), but rather a member of the proletariat. However, the ruling class in your country is not your class; it is the bourgeoisie. Therefore, the state has a vested interest in maintaining bouegeoisie rule. To that end, the media, economists, historians, teachers, etc. are groomed and incentivized into upholding bourgeoisie ideology. Thus, the rising of peasants against the bourgeoisie is seen as abhorrent violence, but the mundane violence of eviction, homelessness, starvation, as well as the casual murder, rape, and enslavement of the peasantey is simply seen as the cost of business at best, or entirely ignored or seen as good at worst. Thus, much of the literature on proletariat action is full of lies, exageration, and a focus on the bourgeoisie rather than the average person; the media has a bourgeoise class nature.

Know your class. Know your comrades. Know your class enemies.

#death to the usa #death to the west #common mao w

[renton6echo]

So not only are they phasing out clones and forcing them to retire. It’s being implied they are also being transported to the cloning facility to be experimented on. ‘Cause why not add to the laundry list of abuses and inhumane treatment of the clones. I just…it’s just so sad. The total apathy. “He [Commander Mayday] is expendable, as are you.”

They are being erased and soon they will be forgotten. The clone army will be a blip in the history of the fallen Republic and the rising Empire even though they played a vital role in both regimes. Do we see the complete impact the clones had on the socioeconomic and political structure of the galaxy? It is all seen and talked about but they are ghosts forgotten in the background because there is no one left to tell their story. And if they are remembered, it’s for the one act they had no control over - the elimination of the Jedi.

It was always going to play out this way for the clones. An inevitability like the circling predator stalking Crosshair and Mayday’s path the entire episode.

But seeing it play out is absolutely heart wrenching. The season is taking a darker and darker turn, and it’s amazing to see the fate of the clones play out in The Bad Batch. Let’s hope the Batch, Echo and Rex can save some of their brothers so they can write their story. God, I loved and hated “The Outpost.” It was so devastatingly good.

The Clone War and The Bad Batch fandom rn:

#star wars #the bad batch #the bad batch spoilers #the bad batch season 2 spoilers #tbb Crosshair #tbb hunter #tbb echo #tbb tech #tbb wrecker #tbb omega #arc trooper echo #captain rex #commander mayday #clone troopers #star wars meta #star wars the clone wars #I can’t with this show #how are you making me feel all this

[yxine]

— ADMIRE. ❞ (3)

part 2 — part 3 — part 4

Bada Lee x Original Character!:

— in which Bada unexpectedly gets to see and battle her long-time idol and crush on a survival show she was in, Street Woman Fighter.

— Everyone expected that Jam Republic would be only full of western dancers, so imagine when they found out that the "Queen of Dance" in the Korean Dance industry was joining the survival show Street Woman Fighter.

note: I do not own any of the people here nor the show except for Lea Chang. This was also made for entertainment purposes only.

[ short chapter ]

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The filming finally ended as each crew started going towards their respective rooms to gather their things. Jam Republic being one of the last ones to finish exited the studio a few minutes later.

"Kirs, you were so fire earlier! Those hips really do not lie." Ling complimented her leader as the whole crew walked through the small hallway.

"Thanks babe! Y'know what's more fire though? Lea and a certain Bebe Leader~" Kirsten teased Lea who only smirked remembering the whole battle.

"Yeah, what was that tension? It almost made me feel like I was watching a rated 18+ movie instead of a PG thirteen." Latrice said fanning her face with her hand as if it was hot while rolling her eyes exaggeratedly like she was dying from the heat.

"That's for me to know and for you to figure out." Lea said vaguely as she went ahead of the others, walking towards her motorcycle in the parking lot.

"Bye Lea! Have a safe trip home!" Audrey waved out to the tall woman enthusiastically along with Emma. Said woman just smiled and waved back before hopping on her bike. The engine roared into life as Lea adjusted her helmet before taking off.

"Bye Bada-unnie! Stay safe!" Tatter and the rest of the crew waved bye to their leader who said she would take a bit more time in the studio. She was doing some last check ups in the room to make sure nothing was left before leaving the studio just a few minutes before Jam Republic left as well.

Her apartment was a bit close but not too far either to the studio so she decided to take a walk to also clear her mind.

Bada released a sigh as exhaustion began to seep in her, it was a long day her energy is now drained from all the dancing she has done as well as the hyped up energy she gives for her team. Suddenly her face started to redden as she covered her face with both of her hands groaning into it while swaying her body. How could she forget that battle? It was the only thing in her mind bada began to lightly punch her head in fluster.

The way Lea just moved like a snake while also being a cunning fox, her gaze was like a predator seducing her prey to come closer to her, her body roles, and god her hips. Getting even more flustered with her thoughts, Bada buried her face into her hands even more.

"Stop it, Bada! She's your senior and your idol, you shouldn't think about her like that!" Bada told herself as she tried to convince herself that she's only a fan that admires her, nothing more.

"But the way she—" Bada got cut off as she flinched when a horn beeped at her, looking to her left it was someone on a motorcycle looking at her. This made her stop as she was confused on who this person was.

"Need a ride?" Biting back a gasp, Bada stared at the person with wide eyes. It was Lea Chang. Taking off her helmet, Lea shook her head to get her hair off her face, this just made Bada gulp nervously as she faced the older woman.

Gosh, that was so hot.

Snapping out of her daze, Bada blinked twice and shook her head no. "My place is just a few blocks away, there's no need for me to bother you." Earning a scoff of disagreement from the taller woman.

"Nonsense! Can't let a pretty girl like you walking around these dark streets alone." Lea said with a wink at the end making Bada speechless as a noticable dust of pink appeared on her cheeks if it weren't for the dark streets. Lea put her helmet on Bada's head before getting her bike started making it roar into life. This made Bada snap out of her daze once again as she hesitated to ride the bike but the roar of the said bike confirmed that she had no choice but to agree to ride with Lea.

"Hold on tight, sweetheart." Lea suggests to Bada who nervously and awkwardly embraced the taller male from behind. God, she can feel all those muscles under her shirt. Biting back a blush, Bada tightened her hold when they moved.

She will never be the same after this.

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taglist!: @ssivinee @froufrousnowman @amararosesblog (it seems I can't tag nermandi-san)

[jollyfoxavenue]

In a vast galaxy, the species living across various star systems were captivated by the arrival of a new species of omnivorous predatory apes known as humans. Hailing from a Class IV deathworld, these creatures quickly garnered a reputation for their remarkable ability to survive in environments that would easily kill other species. However, despite their resilience, humans were still in the tribal stages of their culture, dividing their world into different countries and believing in higher beings called Gods.

Among the intrigued species were the Starlings, who shared a similar form to humans, albeit with their blue skin, glowing hair, and advanced technological capabilities. They found it perplexing that humans would connect with a species so different from their own, but they were unsure how to navigate this newfound admiration.

The Starlings' bewilderment soon turned to desperation when the Wedfrghg Empire declared war on their home planet, leaving them on the brink of destruction. The Union of Interplanetary Republics, a once-believed ally, abandoned them in their darkest hour. Yet, amidst the chaos, one species stood by their side – the humans.

Humans, it seemed, would fight to the death for those they loved, an unrivaled ferocity that included even the Starlings. But what truly set humans apart was their unyielding insanity. No sane species would employ pizza delivery as a means of infiltrating an enemy fortress they intended to obliterate. Nor would they tame predators as pets, only to unleash them upon their adversaries. And surely, kidnapping an entire planet's sun was an act of madness beyond comprehension.

Within a month, by Earth's standards, the Wedfrghg Empire surrendered, retreating in utter shock. The Starlings were left in awe of their human allies, just as bewildered as the defeated empire and the Union of Interplanetary Republics.

As the dust settled, a dignified meeting was called on the Starlings' home planet. The humans, now revered as saviors, were invited to join the interplanetary council. At the center of the gathering sat the Starling High Council, their features blending the humanoid form as the humans called it, with their distinctive blue skin and radiant hair.

The Starlings, still struggling to comprehend the unfathomable acts of the humans, addressed them with a mix of curiosity and respect. "We owe you our planet, our lives. But why? What drove you to such madness, to combat the Wedfrghg Empire with such audacity?"

A human representative, his eyes ablaze with determination, rose to his feet. "We are a species born out of chaos and struggle," he began, his voice resonating through the grand hall. "On our deathworld, survival was never guaranteed. We fought against nature, against each other, until we became a species defined by tenacity and innovation."

He continued, his words captivating the room. "For us, courage isn't just found in the ability to face danger but in the audacity to defy the impossible. We may be divided by countries and beliefs, but when faced with threats to those we hold dear, we unite with an unwavering resolve. We may seem insane to others, but it is this insanity that drives us to achieve the extraordinary."

The Starlings listened intently, captivated by the human's explanation. As they absorbed the wisdom in his words, they began to understand the unique essence of humanity.

From that day forward, the alliance between humans and Starlings grew stronger, becoming a beacon of hope and unity throughout the galaxy. The humans shared their knowledge and technology, while the Starlings provided guidance and wisdom, their advanced understanding of science and diplomacy complementing the human spirit.

The rest of the of the universe might feel fear when speaking about humans or Earth, but the Starlings? They felt pretty good about their allies and close trade partners.

#humans are deathworlders #humans are space orcs

[ahsoka-in-a-hood]

Star Wars politics are funny because they’re fundamentally grim in a way, despite being built on hope. I find that, well, utopians? I suppose, have trouble with it. There’s no peace promised, no ending, no resolution. only an individual duty of care. One that will exist as long as sentience exists. The fight will never actually end. In the prequels you have your democrats and your separatists and your imperials, but there’s no fourth option in the narrative, there’s no perfect system just lurking out of reach. There’s just them. There’s just us. Like, Padme isn’t politically naive, she spends the whole first movie getting intimately acquainted with the failings of the republic, but she’s still fighting for it. Her politics are lucas’s politics, democracy is the only hope simply because it’s the only option offered that’s supposed to offer individual agency to participate in it, and only people can save people, by caring enough to do so, but you can’t control how or whether people participate. They might exploit it, they might destroy it, they might passively watch as it slips away because they assumed someone else would defend it. They will all lose in the end, like Dooku did, like the separatists did, like the imperials did, because even if they won for a while, they don’t care about other people so they eat their own, because even if you are a predator, there’s always a bigger fish. ““but you said that the biggest problem in the galaxy is that people don’t help each other”“ when your thesis is the individual responsibility of every person to the interconnected universe they live in, then the dereliction of that duty is the cause of societal collapse and darkness. But there’s hope if you have faith in people, I guess.

#star wars #once again not sober on tumblr.com

[typhlonectes]

A remarkable example of suspected Batesian mimicry of Gaboon Vipers by Congolese Giant Toads

Eugene R. Vaughan, Mark S. Teshera, Chifundera Kusamba, Theresa R. Edmonston, and Eli Greenbaum

Abstract

Batesian mimicry is a phenomenon in nature whereby a non-toxic animal emulates a noxious one, seeking to deter predators by deception. This type of mimicry occurs in many animals, with numerous documented examples of invertebrates, harmless squamates, and even birds that mimic venomous snakes. However, no observations of anurans mimicking venomous snakes have been reported. Based on comparative data from colour pattern, morphology, geographic distribution and behaviour, we propose that the Congolese Giant Toad (Sclerophrys channingi), endemic to Democratic Republic of Congo, is a Batesian mimic of the geographically widespread Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica). Although the colour pattern similarity between these taxa is not an exact match, aposematism and precise imitation are not required for Batesian mimicry to be effective, especially when the model (B. gabonica) is dangerously venomous and carefully avoided by other vertebrates. Given the morphological similarity between S. channingi and two other African toad species (S. brauni and S. superciliaris) that are sympatric with B. gabonica and its sister taxon (B. rhinoceros), similar examples of Batesian mimicry are likely.

Read the paper here: A remarkable example of suspected Batesian mimicry of Gaboon Vipers (Reptilia: Viperidae: Bitis gabonica ) by Congolese Giant Toads (Amphibia: Bufonidae: Sclerophrys channingi ) | Request PDF (researchgate.net)

Journal of Natural History 53(29-30): 1853–1871. (2019)

doi: 10.1080/00222933.2019.1669730

#mimic #mimicry #biology #zoology #herpetology #toad #frog #amphibian #snake #viper #venomous #reptile #animals #nature #africa #science

[libraryofmoths]

Moth of the Week

Salt Marsh Moth

Estigmene acrea

The salt marsh moth is a part of the family Erebidae. This species was first described in 1773 by Dru Drury. It is also known as the acrea moth.

Description Both male and female moths have white heads, thoraxes, and forewings with a varying pattern of black spots on the forewings, with some moths having no pattern at all. They also share an orange-yellow abdomen with a vertical line of back dots. On the male, the hindwings are the same organge yellow while on females the hindwings are white. Both males and females have three or four black dots on each hindwing.

Wingspan Range: 4.5 - 6.8 cm (≈1.77 - 2.68 in)

Diet and Habitat The caterpillar was first thought to be a pest to salt-grass, but in fact it prefers weeds, vegetables, and field crops such as dandelions, cabbage, cotton, walnuts, apple, tobacco, pea, potato, clovers, and maize. Adults do not feed.

This moth is found in North America, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Colombia, and Mexico. It prefers open habitats such as openings in woods, thickets, farm fields, grasslands, and marshes. It is called the “salt marsh moth” because it is common in coastal salt marshes (tidal marshes) along Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts.

Mating This species of moth does not emit pheromones from the tip of its abdomen but instead from its throat or the to of its abdomen. These moths are seen from May to August but can be seen all year in southern Florida and Texas. It is presumably during May and August they mate in most parts of their range while they mate all year round in Florida and Texas.

Yellowish eggs are laid in clusters on the host plant leaves. Females usually produce 400 to 1000 eggs in one or more clusters. It is possible to find a single egg cluster containing 1200 eggs. Eggs hatch in four to five days.

Predators This species is frequently parasitized as larvae, usually by flies in the Tachinidae family. In Arizona, the most common parasites were Exorista mellea and Leschenaultia adusta while two other parasitic flies were also seen: Gymnocarcelia ricinorum and Lespesia archippivora.

Both the larval and egg stages are oararzitized by Hymenopteran parasitoids such as Apanteles diacrisiae; Therion fuscipenne, T. morio, Casinaria genuina, Hyposoter rivalis; Psychophagus omnivorus, Tritneptis hemerocampae Vierick; Anastatus reduvii; and Trichogramma semifumatum.

A cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus is known to harm this species but there are little data on its importance and effect.

General predators such as lady beetles, softwinged flower beetles, and assassin bugs prey on these caterpillars, but are not thought to have a large impact on population.

Fun Fact This species has 4 subspecies: Estigmene acrea acrea, Estigmene acrea arizonensis (Rothschild, (1910)) (Arizona), Estigmene acrea mexicana (Walker, (1865)) (Mexico), Estigmene acrea columbiana (Rothschild, (1910)) (Colombia).

(Source: Wikipedia, University of Florida, Missouri Department of Conservation)

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