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rebeccathenaturalist · 9 months

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How to Identify Spotted Lanternflies

Click here to learn more about the How to Identify article series.

Name: Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma deliculata)

Range and typical habitat(s): Native range includes China and Japan; is invasive in North America and South Korea

Distinguishing physical characteristics (size, colors, overall shapes, detail shapes) and behaviors: The spotted lanternfly is a distinctive looking insect at any stage of development. The nymphs/instars have round, black bodies that taper to a small head with two large, round, yellowish eyes, one on either side. Younger instars have white spots, while the fourth and final instar additionally features bright red patches on its body. They do not have wings.

The adult spotted lanternfly is about an inch long, and is tan to light grayish-brown with a dark head and legs, and a dark triangle on the shoulders. The forewings also feature dark spots, and a dark web-like pattern at the wingtips, which are rounded in shape. The hindwings are often cover when the insect is at rest, but when spread they display bright red patches with black spots, and the distal ends are black with a white horizontal bar across each. The abdomen is thick and has yellow stripes, and the tip of the abdomen is red. The head is comparatively small, and again has two yellowish round eyes. In spite of having wings, they do not properly fly. Instead, they use these wings to help them leap from one plant to another.

The nymphs usually hatch in April or May. By July, the first adults appear, and prepare to mate and lay eggs. One female can lay up to fifty eggs that are protected in a waxy casing; they look a bit like a clump of clay or dirt stuck to a tree, wall, or other surface. They will overwinter in that spot, and in fact the colder the temperatures the more eggs hatch the following spring. The adults, meanwhile, usually die off by the end of the year; a lanternfly that has reached one year in age is geriatric indeed.

Spotted lanternflies are herbivorous; the nymphs prefer the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), but will also opportunistically feed on other plants, ranging from trees to grapevines to soybeans. The nymphs and adults both suck sap from their host tree using specialized mouthparts, and in sufficient numbers can be deadly to the plant. All told, spotted lanternflies have been observed feeding on the better part of two hundred plant species.

Other organisms it could be confused with and how to tell the difference: There are two other species in the genus Lycorma that look quite similar to L. deliculata; both are found solely in Asia. L. imperialis, found in China, India, and Bangladesh, looks almost identical to L. deliculata, except the base color of the forewings in adults tends to be darker and greener in tone than the grayish-brown seen in L. deliculata. The coloration on L. imperialis’ abdomen may also vary, with orange or red patches being common.

L. imperialis. Photo by Tanja Popp, CCA-SA-4.0-Intl

L. meliae is more obviously a different species than L. deliculata. Its forewings are a deep red with the same black spots and webbing pattern. There is also a variant that is solid black except for white spots on the forewings, with a deep red to orange abdomen with black stripes or splotches. L. meliae is only found in Taiwan.

L. meliae. Photo by Lin Sun-Fong, CC BY-SA 2.0

Anything else worth mentioning? Spotted lanternflies are considered to be a highly invasive insect in North America; they arrived by accident in 2014 and have been spreading throughout the northeast since then. They do significant damage to crops such as soybeans (Glycine max) and apples (Malus domestica), and also attack native plants like black walnut (Juglans nigra) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). The nymphs parasitize the tree in such large numbers that they can cause severe damage in a short period of time. Additionally, leaking sap from the tree as well as the nymphs’ waste (honeydew) not only drip onto the plants’ leaves and hinder photosynthesis, but they also promote fungal growth that further injures the plant.

In its native range, the spotted lanternfly’s usual host is the tree of heaven. Like the lanternfly, this tree is also highly invasive in North America, and has been a key factor facilitating the spread of spotted lanternflies. Many efforts to control or prevent the spread of lanterflies involve removing tree of heaven, which can be quite difficult to eliminate completely. However, evidence is growing that lanternfly nymphs that feed on plants other than tree of heaven are not as healthy, and this may be a crucial control in keeping these insects in check.

People in North America who find the nymphs or adults, and especially egg casings, are encouraged to smash them on sight. Other regions around the world that regularly trade agricultural products with China or North American countries are also on the lookout for any sign of spotted lanternflies being introduced.

Further Reading:

USDA APHIS: Spotted Lanternfly

PennState Extension: Spotted Lanternfly

Invasive Bug Prompts Quarantine In Pennsylvania Townships

Spotted Lanternfly in New Jersey: What you need to know

Spotted Lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) Can Complete Development and Reproduce Without Access to the Preferred Host, Ailanthus altissima

Did you enjoy this post? Consider taking one of my online foraging and natural history classes or hiring me for a guided nature tour, checking out my other articles, or picking up a paperback or ebook I’ve written! You can even buy me a coffee here!

#spotted lanternflies #spotted lanternfly #insects #invertebrates #invasive species #nature #wildlife #animals #invasive plants #environment #conservation #science #sci comm #science communication #PSA #nature identification

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blood-darkened-moon · 5 months

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Alfred, Alexia, and the Dragonfly

The infamous video of Alfred and Alexia torturing a dragonfly and feeding it to the ants can be found twice on Rockfort Island. The first time, you see it in the room with the Lugers and then again in Alfred’s office as the startup of his PC. Of course, it has a deeply person meaning to Alfred. We know about his obsession with his sister, and Alexia is in there as well. Maybe the video is the only one with her or the last one that was taken before her cryogenic sleep. It makes sense that Alfred would hold dear something like this. But is it just about Alexia, or is there more to it? After all, we even have to watch it twice.

The twins do not talk the entire time and barely interact during the video. The only noteworthy interaction happens during the last scene, in which Alfred and Alexia share a knowing gaze. The way they look at each other makes it clear that there is more to the whole scene than what meets the eye. It had a deeper meaning, which only they could understand. A secret they share with each other. Words are not necessary.

When I first played Code Veronica X, I assumed the video mainly existed to show the cruel and twisted nature of the twins, while it also foreshadowed what Alfred would become. But after replaying the game last year, I changed my opinion. The video isn’t about Alfred and Alexia’s general cruelty or torturing of defenseless creatures. The content represents something more personal to them - their revenge on Alexander.

It was never said when the video was recorded, but the twins aren’t small children anymore. Based only on their appearance, I would estimate them to be between 10 and 12 years old. Now, considering the content of the video, I think it was recorded after Alfred discovered the truth about their origin and after they came up with a revenge plan as the earliest possible date. However, it is more likely that they had already executed their plan some time before.

Let’s take a closer look. First of all, the visual language. The ants symbolize Alfred and Alexia. Alexia sees herself as an ant queen and refers to Alfred as a soldier ant. The dragonfly is Alexander. It is more obvious for Alexia’s third form, but Alexander’s mutated form resembles a dragonfly too. He has three appendages on his back, similarly arranged like three of four wings of a dragonfly. Additionally, these appendages are long and thin, like insect legs. In Darkside Chronicles, he even uses them to move around. Also, Alexander’s real legs are bound together with the rug, which makes his lower body look vaguely like the elongated abdomen of the insect. The belts even give it a segmented appearance.

The last similarity isn’t related to the real animal but to an item. To activate the self-destruct system, you have to assemble a dragonfly key. On the underside of this key is a prominent red jewel in the middle of its thorax, similar to Alexander’s exposed heart.

The dragonfly in the video is rather large. It has a blue abdomen with black markings and a yellow thorax. I tried to find out what dragonfly species we see there and found three possible candidates. One is the green hawker (Aeshna viridis), another is the southern migrant hawker (Aeshna affinis), and the last one is the emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator). (I’m not a dragonfly expert, though. Maybe there are other ones that fit better.)

The abdomens of the green hawker and southern migrant hawker are also blue, the thorax is yellowish-green, and they have black markings on their bodies. The emperor dragonfly has an apple-green thorax rather than a yellow one, but it would fit the other criteria. Other dragonfly species with a similar color palette have either more black markings, differently colored spots on the abdomen, a different body shape, or are too small. In all three cases, only the males have this coloration. The females are green or yellowish green instead of blue. Selecting a male dragonfly specifically could be another reference to Alexander. As for the emperor dragonfly and the southern migrant hawker, contrary to the green hawker, they also inhabit Great Britain, which delivers another connection to Alexander. And while Alexander is, of course, only an earl, not an emperor, an emperor dragonfly could still refer in a wider sense to his peer status.

From left to right: green hawker (male), southern migrant hawker (male), emperor dragonfly (male).

The general events of the video reflect what happened to Alexander. Only Alfred interacts with the dragonfly. He was also the one who initiated the revenge plot after discovering the truth about himself and Alexia, as well as the one who suffered subjectively more under his father. Alexia stays passive the whole time and only watches her brother, while in real life, she is the one who has carried out the experiments, not Alfred. However, even if she does not join her brother here, Alexia still contributes by providing an instrument to execute the allegorical revenge - her ants (and the virus in reality).

Instead of simply killing the insect, Alfred rips out its wings, making it incapable of flying away. Like the dragonfly, Alexander was still alive when he met his fate. The twins tranquilized their father before Alexia injected him with the virus, which caused his transformation. Afterward, Alexander’s confinement continued, and he was chained for years in agony, probably awaiting his death if he was still capable of having coherent thoughts.

The dragonfly’s death is not in vain. Feeding the insect to the ants serves a purpose. The ants can feast on it, and the colony can grow. Alexander’s life wasn’t wasted either. Alexia directed Alfred’s revenge plans from simply killing their father to using him for research purposes. Their “useless father” could contribute for once to Alexia’s research and the Ashford family. Even though the experiment was a failure, Alexia was still able to use the data she required from it for her benefit.

Why all the effort with the cryptic symbolism? Alexander was a terrible father. Probably not intentional, but this isn’t an excuse. He took the childhood of the twins for the sake of his own ambitions. He used Alexia to fulfill what he could not achieve and disregarded Alfred for not being as intelligent as his sister. Finding out that they were the result of a genetic experiment was the final straw, especially for Alfred. Their father then got what he deserved, according to them. Alfred hated Alexander with a passion. It must have been a great feeling to get rid of him, and to celebrate it, he (maybe Alexia too) wanted a keepsake. Direct photos or videos of their father were out of the question. Alfred even wrote in his diary that they have to be careful so that Harman (their butler) doesn’t discover what has happened to Alexander. The dragonfly video works well. It is cryptic enough that no one could understand its meaning without more background knowledge. People who see it randomly would assume it is a disturbing and slightly eerie home video. Alfred and Alexia, on the other hand, know exactly what it is about. It’s so important to Alfred because it does not only show Alexia but also their victory over Alexander. The insects are nothing more than involuntary actors. The real dragonfly and what is happening to it is secondary. The symbolic meaning behind the dragonfly’s death struggle holds significance.

Some notes as a closure that didn’t fit in the rest of the text: What makes the video so creepy, except for the circumstances you find it in, is the twins’ acting. Without them and out of context, the dragonfly video wouldn’t even be that unsettling if you consider some facts. The video was recorded in the Antarctic base. Dragonflies do not inhabit Antarctica. This means the dragonfly was bred there. The twins did not randomly catch it for the purpose of torture. What’s the purpose of breeding dragonflies? I assume it’s for (virus) research. We know that Umbrella performed experiments on other invertebrates. So, if dragonflies are bred in the lab anyway, why not use some as a protein source for the ants as well? More common insects for feeding ants would be mealworms and meal beetles, house crickets, flies and fly larvae, roaches, and plant lice, though. Also, dragonflies are predators and attack everything they can overpower, including other dragonflies. And unlike ants, they can fly. It makes sense to remove the wings first to prevent it from flying away or attacking the ants. Sure, ripping out its wings and not killing it first is still cruel, but at least the ants will take care of this soon.

#resident evil #alfred ashford #alexia ashford #alexander ashford #ashford twins #🩸🌙#meta #re meta #uploading this video was the most bug-ridden thing i’ve ever encountered on tumblr #at least so far

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gliphelgeneral · 2 years

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Cecropia Moth Caterpillars (Hyalophora cecropia) ●▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬๑۩۞۩๑.▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬● Hyalophora cecropia, the cecropia moth, is North America's largest native moth. It is a member of the family Saturniidae, or giant silk moths. Females have been documented with a wingspan of five to seven inches or more.

Like other members of the giant silk moth family, the cecropia moth lacks functional mouth parts and a digestive system. Due to this, they survive approximately two weeks.

To find a mate, the female cecropia moth emits pheromones which the male detects with its sensitive antennae. Male cecropia moths can detect these pheromones from up to a mile away, although a male may fly up to 7 miles while searching for a female. Mating typically begins early in the morning hours and lasts until the evening.

After mating, the female will lay up to one hundred eggs. These eggs are a mottled reddish brown and are usually found on either side of a host leaf. These eggs will eventually hatch into tiny black caterpillars.

There are typically five larval instars (developmental stages), each lasting approximately one week. The first instar larvae are black. Their coloration is due to small black hairs growing from tubercles (small projections) all over their body. These larvae feed upon many common trees and shrubs including maple, birch, and apple. As the caterpillars grow larger into the second larval instar, they become yellow green. During the third, fourth, and fifth instars, the cecropia moth becomes rather large and bluish green. At these final stages, the tubercles become blue, yellow or orange, depending on location on the body, while the black hairs are eventually lost. The caterpillars reach maturity in autumn and are about 4 to 4.5 inches (100 to 110 mm) long.

Once the caterpillars reach maturity, they spin large brown cocoons longways on trees or wooden structures. They will then emerge as adults in the first two weeks of seasonally warm weather in early summer. Hyalophora cecropia moths are univoltine, having only one generation per year.

Upon reaching adulthood, their size is variable. They are usually quite large, with a wingspan of about 5 to 7 inches (130 to 180 mm). The cecropia moth's wings are brownish with red near the base of the forewing. There are crescent-shaped spots of red with whitish centers on all wings, but are larger on the hindwings. All wings have whitish coloration followed by reddish bands of shading beyond the postmedial line that runs longitudinally down the center of all four wings. The body is hairy, with reddish coloring on the anterior, and fading to reddish/whitish. The abdomen has alternating bands of red and white.

#cute insect #insect #insects #entomology #bug #bugs #cute bugs #cute bug #tw bugs #bugblr #caterpillar #Cecropia Moth Caterpillars

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mothocean · 6 months

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Do you have a favorite moth (◕‿◕)

GOOD QUESTION

I want to say no, that i think all moths are beautiful in their own right (which is true) and i can't pick a favorite, but I do have one:

Princely Tiger Moth

[Image ID: a photo of a Princely Tiger Moth. It is standing on a cluster of small white flowers, with its back towards the viewer and its wings in a resting position, such that its hindwings are positioned below its forewings and aren't visible. The moth has black bushy antennae, a small black head, a black thorax with some white markings near where it connects to other body parts, and a shiny gold and pink abdomen. Its wings are long, shiny and have a similar gold-pink coloration to its abdomen, with some smal black markings along their edges and veins and two large black markings with white spots on them around the middle-top and middle-bottom areas of the wing. In the bottom left corner of the image there is a watermark stating: © JUAN CARLOS GARCIA MORALES. End ID]

Look at it. Silly lil guy. Both colorful and black. Looks like those rainbow monarch butterflies you sometimes see in art except its real and much cooler. These guys also come in a green-blue coloration which is probably either a different species(?) or just a trick of the light since their wings are reflective (im thinking its probably not sexual dimorphism bc theres photos of mating pairs/male and female moths side by side that show they have the same coloration and are actually more distinct in their body shapes). Then again I'm not an entomologist and I've unfortunately never gotten to see one of these guys irl (they're native to Mexico and Guatemala and i live very far away from both of them) so i could be wrong. Either way I think they're pretty neat.

Honorable mentions of Cool Moths That I Also Really Like: giant peacock moths, comet moths, any moth that has bushy legs (theres multiple and im ot gonna list all of em i just think those are kinda funny), cinnabar moths and atlas moths.

#thank you for enabling me to talk abt moths!! im always happy to answer asks abt them #also i hope the image id is at least somewhat comperhensible i tried my best but idk how good i am at writing those #bug tag #bugs cw #ask tag #asks #ask #roseflower.txt

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jonnysinsectcatalogue · 6 months

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Autumn Meadowhawk - Sympetrum vicinum

If these pictures would've been uploaded the day I took them, I'd absolutely say that autumn had arrived. At the time of upload though, though there's the occasional bright sunny day, the days are getting colder and leaves are falling. If you're an insect that can't tolerate the cold like a Bumblebee can, you need to work quickly to stay fed and active while the sun is strong. While others scramble, this specie of Skimmer Dragonfly has autumn all to itself to catch prey in the gardens and wilderness of Ontario. Though Sympetrum spp. are difficult to distinguish without a closer look at their nether-region plates, the Autumn Meadowhawk is a safe bet for identification given that it's a smaller Dragonfly that's active between late summer to December. Furthermore, the individual here is relatively plain in appearance with no extraneous wing-banding or ornate striping along the body, though there are back patches leading towards the tip of this beauty's abdomen. Compared to the earlier (many, many years ago at the beginning of this blog's journey) post that featured bright-red male specimens, this individual in the garden is a female!

As evidenced both by a brown coloration and the size & orientation of her cerci, she's indeed a female S. vicinum. Like her male counterparts, she too enjoys her time in the direct sunlight, but wasn't hot enough to enter the Obelisk position. When taking photos, she was slow-moving and not skittish to retreat like so many summer specimens have been for me this year. It must have really needed the chance to increase body temperature, but it may also have landed on our plants to use them as a hunting perch. This specie has been reported to make use of perches from leaves, branches and even stones. With its small size, it may be the best hunting strategy to avoid tiring out with sustained flight. Using its large compound eyes, it has a great view of the surrounding area and moves to pursue the second it spots prey! Though leaves are falling at creating litter on the ground for insects to use, sadly the Autumn Meadowhawk doesn't use them to overwinter (but maybe there's a hypothetical one-in-a-million chance of camouflage) the way a Woolly Bear would, but she may benefit from all the additional free branch perches. No, the only overwintering that occurs is from the eggs laid in the water that will create Dragonfly nymphs for the coming spring.

Pictures were taken on September 19, 2023 with a Google Pixel 4. Next week, a very special post...and maybe more. Enjoy the autumn sunshine.

#jonny’s insect catalogue #ontario insect #dragonfly #autumn meadowhawk #skimmer dragonfly #odonata #insect #toronto #september2023 #2023 #nature #entomology #invertebrates

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apex-pest-control · 9 months

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Controlling Bees

All Types of Bees: Can Pest Control Get Rid of Them?

Would you say that swarms of bees have suddenly landed on your house? If this is the case, taking action to eliminate them is crucial. It can seem like an easy solution to simply swat the bugs away, but this won't last. Some of the most prevalent bee pests will be covered, along with removal methods. Knowing the correct procedures to use is crucial because getting rid of bees from your home is a severe issue.

How Effective Is Bee Elimination?

Utilise the free inspections that the majority of reputable pest control businesses give to ensure you are aware of the type of bees causing the issue. However, if you're intrigued, you may distinguish between wild bees and farmed bees by their behaviour, appearance, and hive placement.

Pest control firms like Apex Pest Management, Orkin, and Terminix go to great lengths to protect pollinators including honey bees, tree bees, bumble bees, and other insects. The widespread extinction of these species has resulted in threats to our ecosystems.

There was a chance to save certain threatened species. Many areas have protections in place, while others expressly restrict the use of pesticides that are necessary by law. However, it's probable that there are some regions where killing bees is permissible. This group includes mining bees and worker bees.

Bees are necessary for both your garden and the world's food supply, despite the fact that they can be a pain. If you are allergic to bee stings, you should be worried. Until you are confident that what you are seeing is a carpenter bee, you shouldn't approach them.

Wood bees can harm buildings over time by drilling holes in the wood for nests. Both structures and birdhouses fall under this.

Honey Bees

When compared to bumble bees, honeybees, which range in size from 20 to 52 mm, are noticeably smaller. Tree holes, hollowed-out logs, and fence posts are frequent abodes for them. When compared to bumble bee colonies, honey bee hives may house far more bees (up to 80,000).

Honeybees have a stinger for self-defense. Their barbed stingers often remain embedded in the skin long after they have been stung. If it is not rescued in the next few minutes, the honey bee will die.

Bumble Bees

The maximum wing span of one of these birds is around an inch. Their large, fluffy bodies are black and white in alternating stripes. Nests are commonly constructed on or near the ground, sometimes beneath or on low objects like wood piles or compost heaps.

They may get by just fine by constructing their nests in old rat runs. Colonies of bumble bees may contain hundreds of individuals.

While females have stingers, men do not. Only when they feel threatened will females sting. Bumble bees, unlike honey bees, may sting repeatedly before their stingers wear out.

Carpenter Bees

When compared to bumble bees, carpenter bees' abdomens are smooth and hairless. These bugs may be found just about anywhere, from backyards and gardens to parks and even barns. In order to make several "galleries" in wood in which to deposit their eggs, carpenter bees drill, as opposed to the swarming method used by bumble bees and honey bees. Neither a colony resident nor a sociable animal.

How Do You Prevent Bees from Returning?

When people hear bees buzzing inside, their first thought is usually that someone has left a window or door open. If you keep spotting bees in the same spot, they may have discovered a way inside your house. Bees typically enter a house through the following:

Unmanaged or common holes

Bees of all sizes can squeeze through a hole that is only a quarter inch wide. Because of this, you shouldn't let even the smallest opening in your porch's railing go unattended. By caulking any gaps around windows and changing any damaged screens, you can keep bees and wasps out of your house.

Chimneys

It's possible to see bees entering a house through a chimney through skylights or when inside a room with a fireplace. Bee removal from a chimney poses risks that call for expert help.

To check if the bees have moved in, sit quietly near the chimney without playing any music or making any other noises. If not, there ought to be a buzzing noise.

Ventilation systems for the kitchen, bathroom and utility room

A colony of bees may have decided to make their home in the lint trap or vent of your dryer. If a beehive is suspected to be located in the wall next to the air vent, special care should be taken.

If you want to keep bees from entering your home through the vents, you should call a bee removal service.

Gutters and attics

Wall voids can develop due to a lack of maintenance. If attic windows aren't properly insulated, they can cause similar problems. If you are in an area where bees could be a problem, you should consult a professional on how to protect yourself against being stung.

When do you know it's time to call in the beekeeper?

There are numerous more species of bees, but honeybees and bumblebees seem to get all the press.

Bees Are Far Too Numerous

An infestation may be indicated by a lot of bees within your home. Bees can bring in a variety of illnesses from the outside, which is unfortunate and unpleasant. A beehive colony is present in the house, as evidenced by the numerous entry sites.

An active nest

You can determine whether bees are present in your home by locating a nest, which may be indoors or outdoors. Nests that have been triggered may enter your home through gaps in the foundation, the garage, or even the attic.

If you think bees have entered your property but haven't spotted a nest, keep an eye on the entrance and exit points. Do they commute and carry pollen on a regular basis? That information will help you locate a nest.

Some areas of the walls or ceiling have discolouration

Your ceiling or walls may have blackened due to damage from honeybees. Yes, the honey in your cabinets was produced by bees who built a nest in the gaps or crevices in your walls.

It has been reported that the honey from these hives stains walls and ceilings. The abundance of honeybees near your property is another sign that there is an infestation.

How much do services for bee eradication cost?

The cost of your professional pest control services will be significantly influenced by the extent of the infestation. Because of this, pre-treatment inspections should never be skipped. Professionals will have everything they need to handle the nest, no matter how large it is.

Because it is impossible to ignore such a huge swarm of insects around your home, the average cost of an infestation is less than £800. However, the intricacy of some circumstances dramatically raises the cost of others. Even though I have encountered a few of these circumstances, the costs associated were too minimal for me to factor them into my average overall.

Preventative steps like sealing holes around your property may cost anywhere between £100 to £5000+, depending on the severity of the damage and the amount of cleaning required. Either take on the task yourself or hire a pro. Additionally, it makes sense to invest money in programmes that deter smokers.

Honeybees are cautious insects that construct their hives in inaccessible locations in order to protect their young from predators. The cost of removing a nest increases with its depth.

Outdoors

Bee removal normally doesn't cost more than £500 in the wild. Eradication of honey bee nests is typically included in the price of an extermination service. The expense of removing a beehive depends more on its location than on its size. To receive a price in your area, contact a pest control business.

Attic

The cost of treating wall hives is significantly higher than that of attic bee removal. Beekeepers can move the bees for free to establish a new colony, but hiring a professional to do it can run between £350 and £550. This can only function if these bees produce honey.

Walls

Typically, it costs more to remove bees from walls than it does from other locations. The cost could be more if the issue is especially severe; the typical range is £600 to £1,000.

The overall cost of hiring a professional to remove bees from your property might range from £350 to £1,000, depending on how well the beehive is hidden. If demolition services are not necessary, the cost will be reduced. The average cost of these commonly necessary exams is between $800 and $1,000.

Am I Able to Get Rid of Bees on My Own?

It is obvious that is not the case. If you are not an experienced beekeeper, hiring a professional beekeeper to handle bee control for you is unquestionably better. Bees may act violently if they feel a threat. This is particularly true during that particular season of the year when they are nesting or hatching their eggs. It's likely that the untrained eye doesn't always make accurate judgements about bee activity.

If you want to get rid of bees and their nests, it is preferable to seek professional advice. Those who are allergic to bee stings run the risk of going into a potentially fatal anaphylactic shock.

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singinawajunglelodge · 1 year

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A new form

After spending an hour gazing at the night sky, we started walking back to the main building. The path back to the building is a narrow trail, with bushes of Rakatbera [Murraya Paniculata] on both sides. It’s a short path and these bushes are filled with interesting insects. On our route we came across a small nest of the Weaver Ants, marching about on the outer layer. Next, we came across two very interesting spiders, an Orb Weaving Spider cleaning and redoing its web and a Leaf Curling Spider crawling inside a dried leaf in which it takes cover to be undetectable by its clueless prey. As we reached the end of the path, I noticed a green insect perched on the underside a leaf.

It was a Green Katydid!

The Green Katydid [Ducetia Japonica], belongs to the family Tettigoniidae. They have a triangular head with extremely long antennae, usually held erect in front of the head when at rest. The Prothorax is large and covers most of the thorax from the dorsal side, the wings are long and broad, which are kept folded over abdomen when at rest. They have a weak flight and in the nymphs wing buds can be seen between the thorax and the abdomen. The Abdomen is oval shaped, the females have a large ovipositor at the tip of the abdomen.

I’ve seen the Katydid before, but this time there was something different, it had a lot of spots throughout its body and it looked like it was feeding on something. As we examined it further, we realized that there was a flaky white shell-like object stuck to the underside of the leaf adjacent to the insect and it was shaped identical to the Katydid, it was the exoskeleton the of the insect. The insect emerged out of its molted skin as an adult now. The Katydids go through an incomplete metamorphosis as it transforms from its nymph stage to its adult stage. Once it emerges out of the exoskeleton and takes a new form, it needs to feed. The closest and the most nutritious option that the insect has is the molted remains, which contains protein and other nutrients that gives them sufficient energy to start their life again in a new form. We were lucky to come across it when it had just begun feeding on the exoskeleton.

This was just one of the many wonders of the night that we come across.

Ratik Sharma , Naturalist Singinawa Jungle Lodge

#junglesafari #kanha tiger reserve #travel #wildlife

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lucidtrust · 2 years

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Orange vs angry giant

ORANGE VS ANGRY GIANT SKIN

Mating can take several hours and it only very rarely happens that the male will be cannabalized by the female.Top Nine Most Dangerous Insects in the… Key Points: The mantids will mate when the time is right, and usually you will not even see this happening because it is a night. When you group house these mantids, you don’t need to do anything to ensure mating. Make sure that the female is well fed before introducing the male. From around L4 (fourth instar) a keen eye can distinqish the sexes easily.Īpproximately 2 to 4 weeks after the last molt, a mating attempt should be made. The sex difference can also be spotted when looking at the antennae the base of the antennae of the male is wider and antennae are also longer in lenght. Already in the nymph instars you can see this difference. The females of this species are slightly larger and broader than the males. You need to focus on good environmental conditions.įirst you need to find a male and a female of around the same age. This species can be allowed to breed by most insect enthousiasts. Sometimes they can hardly be spotted because of its perfect camouflage! Dead leaves in beautiful autumn colors as decorations in the terrarium fit the looks of this mantis perfectly. A nice size for a terrarium would be 20 x 20 x 30 cm, so there is space for lots of fake plants and perches. For an adult this means is at least 15 cm in height and 10 cm in width. The enclosure of this species of mantis should be at least 3 times the length of the animal in high, and at least 2x the length of the animal in width. This can be achieved by spraying with water about 5 times a week for the average enclosure. The RV (relative humidity) should be approximately 60 to 90%. This species prefers a relatively high humidity. The temperatures can be allowed to drop, but should at least be 18 ° C. The ideal temperature for the Ghost mantis is around 26 ° C, but a temperature between 20 ° C and 30 ° C is also okay. Environmental conditions for this mantis species An adult female can eat adult crickets without a problem, but I prefer to feed them smaller crickets or flies. This species is not as strong as some other species, making it less fit to catch very large prey items. The size of its prey should be approximately the size of the head of the mantis. But this species of mantis also feeds well on crickets, small grasshoppers and other insects. Therefore it should be preffered to feed flies instead of crickets to Ghost mantids. In nature, Phyllocrania paradoxa mainly eats flying prey such as flies. Ghost mantis adult female Food for a Ghost Mantis When this happens during feeding, just wait fifteen minutes and try again. Also large tweezers or the hand of the owner can make this mantis refuse its prey. Especially the adult males can run away from large prey instead of attacking. Sometimes this kind of praying mantis is a little scared and easily intimidated by its prey. paradoxa will rarely actively chase its prey, it will rather wait for an opportune moment to strike. Before the prey realizes it, he is already firmly stuck between the claws of this predator. Once she sees her prey, she will attack very fast. Relying on her camouflage it waits patiently until an unsuspecting prey comes along. The Ghost mantis is a quiet kind of praying mantis. paradoxaĪdult female ghost mantis Behavior of the Ghost mantis The difference between the sexes can also be seen when still in the nymph stadium, because males have a more indented extension on the head. They also have a wider prothorax and their wings extend to just the end of the abdomen. The females are bigger and heavier than the males. The males are thinner with wings that reach past the abdomen. Phyllocrania paradoxa is about 5 cm long when adult, with little difference in size between the sexes.

ORANGE VS ANGRY GIANT SKIN

The color of the skin is determined by the environment, a more humid environment provides a greener individual. The most common color for this praying mantis species is dark brown, but sometimes you can find light brown or even green specimens. They can remain unseen by predator such as insect-eating birds while waiting for its own prey. In this way it is camouflaged among the fallen leaves in its natural habitat the forest of Madagascar and Africa. On its head it has a striking asymmetrical cone that helps to distort its body outline to look more like a leaf. The Ghost mantis Phyllocrania paradoxa mimics withered leaves by its dark body covered in leaf-like decorations. This is the head of a male Ghost mantis – Phyllocrania paradoxa Appearance of the Ghost Mantis

#Orange vs angry giant

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urbanpestspecialists · 2 years

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Four Important Aspects of Residential Pest Control

If you've been searching for residential pest control, you've probably heard of cockroaches and mice. But what about Termites and Rats? And what about uncontrollable factors? This article discusses the most important aspects of residential pest control. Read on to find out more! Listed below are four important types of pests to be aware of and how to prevent their infestations. After reading this article, you'll be well on your way to pest-free living!

Termites

When it comes to residential pest control, termites are a problem that many homeowners do not even know exists. Subterranean termites build mud tubes that connect the wood in your home with the soil around it. These tubes are about the width of a pencil. The presence of termite swarmers near the foundation is also a sign of infestation. You can also spot small oval pellets on the floor or walls of your home.

While most termite companies treat a building for termites, you should compare the warranty and treatment methods. Many will guarantee their work, but some will only treat damaged areas. You may have to pay for repairs because it is difficult to determine when termites first started to damage your property. Additionally, some companies will not give a warranty if certain structures aren't accessible. For example, drainage systems, wells, and sub-slab heat ducts may make it impossible to properly treat the home.

Cockroaches

If you notice the presence of cockroaches in your home, then it may be time to seek professional cockroach control services. Cockroaches are an omnivorous pest that can thrive in any home. They live outdoors in garbage cans, watermeters, and sewers. During the day, they hide in dark areas and avoid light. However, cockroaches will emerge from their hiding spots during the night to look for food and water sources.

Adult male cockroaches are capable of flying when disturbed or exposed to higher temperatures. Female cockroaches lay light brown egg cases, measuring about 1/4 inch long, and incubate them for several weeks before hatching. Large deposits of egg cases may be glued together. One female cockroach can lay as many as 600 cockroaches in a year. Adult cockroaches have light-colored bands on their pronotum, wings, and abdomen. They also have two black stripes on the pronotum and one black stripe between their eyes.

Mice

Mice are a common nuisance in homes, but there are some ways to keep them out. By blocking their entry points, you can eliminate their feeding spots, and you can even get your pets to help by catching mice before they build nests. Mice like dark, secure locations to nest and leave droppings. Despite being a nuisance, mice can be dangerous because they can carry diseases, such as Hantavirus and Lyme disease.

One way to keep mice out is to install a mouse-proof screen door. These screens can prevent mice from entering and causing damage. Mice are particularly prone to entering homes when temperatures drop. You can also seal small gaps with steel wool to prevent airflow and entry. Mice also hate essential oils, like peppermint, cayenne, and cloves. Essential oils are easily obtained from a health food store, and you can place a cotton ball in these areas to repel mice. Another effective way to keep mice out of homes is to spray them with toothpaste. Likewise, vinegar and bleach can also help kill mice.

Rats

If you're facing a rat infestation, you've probably noticed a number of different signs of their presence. Not only do they ruin food and contaminate water, but they can also spread disease. A rat infestation is no small matter, but there are a few ways to prevent it and reduce the damage they can cause. Start by removing any clutter from your home and inspecting all areas where rats may hide. Attics and lofts are often unoccupied and contain many hidden corners and other resources that rats like to feed on.

After removing the food, you must sanitize the area. This means taking out garbage, keeping landscapes weed-free, and lifting wood piles about 18 inches off the ground. You may also hire a professional to tackle the problem. If the infestation is widespread, a professional can employ several methods to eradicate the rat population. You can also learn more about the best ways to control rats in your home by browsing through these tips.

#Residential Pest Control

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menucook5 · 2 years

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Fun and Unusual Animals

If you love exotic animals and want to learn more about them, here are a few fun and unusual animals to try. These animals are not only interesting but also incredibly adorable. Check out the Flightless Cormorant, Frill-necked lizard, and the Leafy Seadragon. You might even find one that you'd like to keep as a pet. Read on to find out more! Listed below are fun and unusual animals. The Flightless Cormorant If you love birds, then the Flightless Cormorant is for you. Although its wings aren't large, it's a strong diver and does well in the Galapagos Islands. The flightless cormorant uses its slender wings to balance and jump from rock to rock. Unlike many birds, the flightless cormorant does not produce much oil, which makes its feathers waterproof. The Pink Fairy armadillo The population of the pink fairy armadillo has been decreasing due to the pet trade. The species has a very low survival rate, and is also at risk from climate change, which could wipe out its entire population. The pink fairy armadillo lives a solitary life and gives birth to one young per mating cycle. Its soft shell will harden as it grows. The Frill-necked lizard Known as the "frilly agama," this lizard is most often found in forested areas. oh mon dieu It spends most of its time in trees and only comes down to the ground to feed on insects, spiders, and other invertebrates. While it does occasionally eat small mammals, it is rarely seen in the wild. While it is an ambush predator, this lizard has few enemies, including humans. The Leafy Seadragon This fascinating creature ranges in size from twenty centimeters to thirty centimetres. They are green and yellow in color, with black patches. Leafy seadragons feed mainly on plankton and shrimp larvae, and have a snout that makes them appear like leafy branches. In addition to their leafy bodies, they have armor under their greenery. The Angora moth This fascinating creature is quite beautiful, with wings spotted with black and blue dots. Its wingspan is about three inches. Like its wing patterns, the moth's abdomen is colorful, too. The top side of its abdomen is blue with orange markings, and the underside is white with solid black dots. Its legs are black and white, and the male moth has a yellow band along its side. Female moths grow about half the size of male moths. The Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat Originally found throughout Australia, the northern hairy-nosed wombat is now restricted to three locations. Their former habitat is open eucalypt woodland and it is threatened by competition from livestock and rabbits. Dingoes prey on them, and they have also been persecuted by European colonists and are threatened by habitat destruction. Fortunately, there are several conservation efforts taking place in order to save this fun and unique animal.

#oh mon dieu

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aresrambles · 3 years

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Hiya! Could I please request a movie night with Hawks that quickly turns into something spicy? I understand if you can't take the request but can't hurt to ask right?

Fast and Furious

hawks x female!reader - explicit nsfw, strictly 18+, married!reader, degradation, creampie, fluff (1306 words)

a/n: hi anon <3 so sorry this took fucking forever. i also went w fem!reader bc it wasn’t specified so i hope that’s ok and took some creative liberties. i hope u enjoy~

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Huddled together in a fleet of cushions and blankets, you and Keigo stare idly at the large flat-screen TV that illuminates your shared living room. Truth be told, the film had long ago become boring to you- the only thing on your mind were the soft circles that your husband had been drawing on the space above your hips.

You look over to your right and watch his focused expression, eyes filled with the colorful reflection of the TV light. Keigo was so beautiful. Although he hadn’t shaved in a while due to working overtime, and his eyebags had looked better, he was still insanely attractive. He could pull off anything, really.

“What’cha looking at, Birdie?” Keigo catches you in the corner of his eye and turns to smile, the circles on your hips creeping up further and further toward your waistband.

“I’m looking at the guy that won’t stop trying to turn me on.” Hawks pauses for a moment before bursting out into a fit of laughter. “Alright, alright- you caught me. This movie sucks and I’m horny.” You can’t help but smile upon hearing his remark and lean forward into a kiss. When you pull away, Keigo’s eyes look different. There’s an intensity to them as he looks back at you, mouth still relaxed in an upward curve and fingers still playing around with your waistband. “D’you wanna forget about the movie? And, well… Do you wanna…”

“Go on, Number 2 Hero.” You chuckle, mockingly tossing your head back and batting your lashes at him. Keigo feels his dick jump at the light-hearted term and wastes no time in pulling your sweatpants down, before taking his own off and settling down between your legs.

"Look at your fuckin' panties..." He murmurs, dragging his slender finger along the drenched fabric clinging to your folds. You hadn’t realised how wet he had made you throughout the film until now. Keigo could see everything and you hadn't even taken them off yet. The sight makes his abdomen twitch. "Maybe you should keep these on for a while." He says softly before pushing them to side and pressing his mouth onto your clit. "S'kinda sexy."

The vibrations of his voice made you want to close your legs on instinct but Keigo's grip is firm, already anticipating that delicious reaction of yours. Instead, his fingers pinch at the flesh of your thighs whilst he begins to lap away at your sweet spot, all wet and all warm and all his. Keigo had always been good at eating pussy- it was something that he genuinely enjoys. He gets off to it. The shy gasps when he sucks on your clit after tongue-fucking you, the long, firm licks from top to bottom. Everything about it is too much and somehow you can never get enough.

You look down at him and meet your husbands eyes as he eagerly eats you out. Reaching down to stroke his hair, your arm is suddenly stopped in its place. Keigo moves his lips away from your pussy and instead drags his tongue along your fingers, never once tearing his gaze away from yours. Your body temperature rises with the warm, wet sensation of your fingers enveloped in his mouth. He sucks on them like he's starving, eyes hungry and half-lidded like a puppy drunk on milk.

At the same time, he brings his other hand back to your pussy, toying with it teasingly. He presses your folds together and rubs alongside the middle before letting go again, repeating that action a few more times before you inevitably begin buck your hips up and whine. "Dude, just fuck me already."

Keigo only smirks before pressing that same hand that had been teasing your pussy into your mouth. "Louder, sweetheart. I don't think I got that."

You wait for him to remove his hand from your mouth, but upon realising that wasn't going to happen you attempt to speak up again.

"Fuck. Me.”

“Look at that, you said it all muffled and now you’re drooling all over my hand like some kinda bitch in heat." Keigo leans down until your faces are centimeters apart. "Well, are you? Are you my bitch, Y/N?” He asks softly, tilting your head up to look at him properly.

The dull ache inside of you is what propels you to nod your head. Keigo chuckles as he palms a dick a few times, lining it up with your entrance.

“If you’re gonna be my bitch then I wanna hear you pant like one.”

The end of his sentence is almost lost in a deep groan as he slides inside of you, face twisted with pleasure. “That’s it, sweetheart.” He exhales, pumping in and out of you with shaky arms holding his body above yours. The room feels so much heavier and you weakly push away the blankets that surround the two of you. Keigo’s dick felt like it was burning you up from the inside out, so anything other than his body was an unneeded addition of warmth.

Keigo's lazy thrusts became faster and rhythmic, reaching deep inside of you. The soft grip he previously had on your thighs was now trembling and sweaty, almost as though your flesh was about to slip out of his grasp. The sheer strength of his grip made your thighs hurt but the sensation was nothing in comparison to the one deep in your belly. "Keep going." You pant, in a trance. The only thing that matters is that he keeps going; that he keeps pushing himself inside till that ache in your core dissipates. "Keep going, keep going, keep going-"

Your chanting does not fall unto deaf ears, however your husband has other plans. Keigo leans down until you can feel his hot breath fanning over ear as he begins to slow down. "What did you say?" He taunts, inbetween his own gasping breaths. "What do you want from me?"

He was insatiable in his need to make you beg for it. To beg for that release that he knows you so desperately crave despite the fact that you were both reaching your limit. “I said, ah, keep going. Please.” You whine, rolling your hips up to meet his movements. “Whatever you want, beautiful.” Keigo huffs, eyes gleaming. He speeds up again and doesn’t withhold his own moans and shaky mewls that echo throughout the living room. You begin to feel the familiar build up of a climax in your insides as Keigo whines about his own oncoming orgasm. “Cum with me. Cum with me, baby.” He pleads. Keigo’s arm slipped as he crashed down on top of you, never once stopping his frantic thrusting. You take the opportunity to bite into his shoulder as your own orgasm rolls over your body, taking it captive in a frenzied hot flush.

“I’m gonna- I’m-I’m-“ Keigo can only babble incoherently as he fucks you through his climax, thick, ropey cum spilling inside of you. Your pussy clenches around his dick; the overstimulation milking him for everything he has. “That’s it, baby. Give it all to me.” You coo in his ear, embracing your lover as he became limp on top of you.

You both take a while to come back around, Keigo’s head resting upon your chest. As you play with his hair, you feel his wings twitch with satisfaction.

“Now that was a good movie night.” He mumbles, nuzzling further into you. Although he should, he doesn’t pull out for a while. The idea of keeping his cum stuffed inside of you was an exciting thought, and it was too hot to start moving again. You guys could always clean yourselves up again later, until the cool running water of the shower. And perhaps have room for a round 2.

#hawks x reader #hawks #fluff #bnha #takami keigo #hawks headcanons #hawks x y/n #pro hero hawks #mha hawks #shigaraki tomura #mha #x reader #keigo imagine #keigo x reader #keigo x y/n #dabi

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sourholland · 3 years

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A Royal Convenience || Tom Holland

| Series Masterlist |

Part Seven

Summary → When an alliance is made between England and France, you are sent away to marry the crown prince and heir to the British throne. Except both you and Prince Thomas despise each other at all odds, subjected to the hand of the monarchy and unable to stand each other.

AN → So this chapter could potentially be a bit triggering for some people, it is pretty descriptive into the beheading of someone. I would like to preface this in saying that I do not support capital punishment, nor do I support the death penalty. This is merely a work of fiction, and I am only trying to bring to life history. Anyways, this chapter is something else. Let me know what you guys think, I’m sure you’ll have some thoughts.

Pairing(s) → Prince!Tom x Princess!Reader

Warnings → Angst, Beheading - Descriptive, Blood, Vomit - Descriptive, Light Smut, Choking Kink, Alcohol, Language, Intended Oral Sex - Female Receiving, Knife Play

Word Count → 4.5k

“I want to leave, please just let me go home,” you pleaded.

It was only you and Tom at the heart of the throne room. After the whole shooting ordeal, he’d rushed you back and demanded the audience of the King.

You were both waiting, still suffering from the shakes, you could only beg and pray that he would let you go. Tears stung the backs of your eyes, cheeks hot and feverish. Tom had sent all of the guards away, not caring that it wasn’t proper for you both to be alone without a chaperone.

“Please, Tom,” you almost whispered.

“You can’t go home, Y/N,” he replied simply, peering over at you from his spot parallel to where you stood.

“I was just shot at! What more could you people want to see in order to let me go home? I miss my mother, I wish to see my mother,” you shouted at him.

“I couldn’t let you go even if I wanted to.”

“But you do want to?”

Silence. Tom said nothing. He only straightened his posture a bit, looking away from you and back to the door. The King had still not come, there had been an attempted assassination and the King of England could not be bothered to grace his own son with his presence.

“This is why I told them to take you back to your chambers,” he murmured to himself.

“You can hardly look at me!” You marched up to him, taking a free hand and pressing it to his chest in anger and frustration. “Look at me, Thomas.”

His eyes slowly lifted from the ground to your eyes, your breath staggering from the rage and sudden proximity. There was an intimacy in the way you both seemed to get yourselves into these situations. It was a change for you to initiate something like this, especially since anyone could come through those large double doors at any point.

“Please,” you begged.

“You don’t get it do you?” He asked, eyes falling to the dip of your lips, parting at the curve of your Cupid’s bow. “You and I, we haven’t got a way out of this. It’s for life, Y/N. There is no running, not really. Don’t you think I’m tired? This life is exhausting, but it’s bigger than both of us. There’s no out, no going home. The sooner you accept that, the sooner this’ll all become a lot easier for you.”

“I hope you’re saying that when our heads, or God forbid, the heads of our children—”

The doors opened and King Dominic and his entourage came through, there was hardly any urgency in the way he walked. You and Tom quickly stepped away from each other, he stood taller, bowing as his father sat. You gave a quick and anxious curtsy.

“You’ve clearly been quite busy, I didn’t expect an act of high treason to pull you away from whatever important engagement you were wasting your time with,” Tom scowled.

“Do watch yourself, Thomas,” the King responded.

“Did you not hear about the man who attempted to put a bullet through my skull?” He question, tone raising.

“From what I’ve heard, the bullet was directed towards Princess Y/N, meaning this was hardly even an attack on the Crown.”

“She is the Crown! We’re to be wed in less than three weeks, she’s practically the Princess of Wales already!”

You stood in silence, wondering whether or not you should step in. Tom told you to go back to your wing of Buckingham Palace when you’d both come back, but you refused. He was shifting uncomfortably under his father’s intense gaze.

“Maybe so, but not yet. I’ll have the bastard’s head, hell, you can even watch if you’d like. I won’t cause an uproar within the country, this is far from the first attempted assassination of the Crown, nor will it be the last,” the King boomed.

“What if that bullet had landed between my eyes, my head blown apart within seconds? What would you have done then?” Tom asked him, brows furrowed.

“You have three brothers, one of which would probably do the job better than you,” he responded, coughing into the handkerchief he pulled from his pocket.

You took in a sharp breath, wondering how any decent person could say such a thing. Tom stiffened, his lips forming a fine line. There was something lacking between the two men, you hadn’t seen it before, but now it was clear as day. There was absolutely no love, no compassion. You were staring at a King and his successor.

“That’s an awful thing to say,” you finally said.

“Don’t, Y/N,” Tom leaned over to you.

King Dominic’s eyes scanned over you, eyes flickering from you to Tom. The room was almost silent, the ruffling of your dress pooling at your feet filling the air.

“You are quite a pretty little thing,” he mused. “Shame, you know? That you have no clue when to keep that mouth shut.”

“And why is that?” You asked him, stepping forward.

“If you hadn’t been brought here from France, I’m not sure you’d have been very popular among suitors.”

“Then it’s a good thing that I don’t exist to cater to anyone’s domestic pursuits, isn’t it?”

Your gaze did not falter, King Dominic’s eyes piercing your own. He was dressed in fine satin, but this did not distract you from the fact that there were deep purple crescent shapes, littered in purple and indigo underneath his eyes. The King’s sallow skin was discolored against his sunken in eyes, and downturned mouth.

“She’ll bear witness to the beheading,” King Dominic remarked, pushing up against his throne to stand.

“What?” Tom asked very suddenly, stepping in front of his father. “She’s eighteen, practically a child! You cannot expect her to watch something like that!” He shouted, waiting for his father to let go of his pride.

“If she can stand before me—acting as if she is King, and not I, she can watch the man you ordered to die be executed.”

Tom went to argue, but was met with his father’s hand held high in his wake. He slumped back in defeat, sighing as the King turned in front of him. There was hardly anything you thought he could say, and nearly nothing he could do.

You let out a shaky breath, holding your abdomen with a free hand. There was nothing you wanted more than to be in your mother’s arms, or to sleep in your old bed. Yet, you stood in the throne room of Buckingham Palace, having just been shot at and conspired against.

“The Tower of London. Tomorrow.”

This was all he said, turning his back to both of you and walking off. Tom said nothing, not until a man came in after his father had left and leaned into his ear, an unreadable expression passing over his face.

“He was Danish?” He asked the unfamiliar man.

“Yes, sir. I am sure of it, it is all we were able to get out of him.”

“Leave us,” Tom motioned towards the door.

As the man left, he turned to you with a look as set as stone. He was upset, yet somber at the same time. Something about the way he was staring at you left the hairs at the nape of your neck standing up. You couldn’t help but step forward, feeling the need to steady yourself.

“Do you remember when the Prince from Denmark and I had a row?”

“I would hardly classify that as a row, you are still battered from hitting him so hard. When I saw him today, his face looked worse than it had that night,” you said.

“Y/N, you have no reason to listen to me, or to trust anything I say, but please heed my words, do not engage with Nikolai again. I cannot stress—”

“Is this what you do now? Tell me whom I can and cannot see. I have nothing, Tom! My life has been seized from me, and now I cannot even dictate who I see?”

Tom’s hand just barely brushed your own, his head bent to look directly into your eyes. There was an urgency in them, something telling you that this was bigger than both of you. You remembered the way he had held you down when those shots were fired, and the way he held your hand.

“You’re right—about all of it. I am asking you, Y/N, not as the Prince of Wales, or even as Thomas. I’m asking you as your husband, as the man you have been dealt in the most unfortunate of circumstances. Please, just stay away from him until I can be sure of something. This is all I ask of you, and even then, I deserve nothing from you. So in this moment, right now, you and I are not the next King and Queen of England. We are simply a man and a woman, nothing else.”

His words came out pleadingly, his fingers curling around your wrist. The pad of his thumb dipped underneath your glove. The skin on skin contact made you shiver, wondering whether or not Tom was being serious in his words. Nonetheless, you nodded feverishly, feeling him let out a deep breath of relief.

The carriage ride and walk into the large and extremely ancient looking castle, seemed to blur together. You were dressed darkly, a short veil covering your face in an almost sheer material.

Tom was beside you, his hand lightly cupping your elbow as the both of you entered the large room at what felt like the heart of the Tower of London. Prince Harry and Prince Sam followed closely behind the both of you, the King in front.

Everyone parted as you all made your way through the crowd of Nobles. You learned that the man’s name was Sir Alfred, and his title was the reason he was to be executed in such a manner. It also contributed to the fact that his beheading was occurring in such a prestigious place. Many famous executions took place in the same location, you had heard of many of the people who had lost their heads in the same position.

At the front of the room there was a high block on top of a sort of wooden stage, an executioner standing off to the side with an axe in his right hand. You couldn’t fathom the idea of having to do what he was only minutes away from doing himself.

Tom looked like he wished to say something, but in the end stayed completely silent. You were all completely sectioned away from everyone else, standing to witness the man about to die for his crimes.

In he walked a moment later, he wore a baggy black tunic and a cross around his neck. His head was down, eyes on the floor. When he came through the archway and into the large room, you couldn’t help but feel a lurch in your stomach. He denied the man who asked if he wished to say anything before he placed his head at the high block.

You felt your hands begin to clam up, wringing them against your dress. The man stood in prayer for a moment, a single tear falling from his eye. He mouthed a few words and took his place, bringing to cross to his chapped lips, and placing a single kiss upon it.

“Help me, God.”

His words were enough to make you sick, watching as he bent forward on his knees. His head sat firmly on the block, the man holding the axe waiting patiently. Someone said something in the distance, but your ears were pounding.

The moment the blade raised, you fought the urge to squeeze your eyes shut. It came down in a thud, a loud noise coming from the mouth of the man. A splatter of blood came soon after, his head was still intact. The blade raised again, and it struck once more. This continued another time, until at last, Alfred’s limp body had fallen.

You tasted acid, biting your tongue as you pushed through the cluster of people and looked for any exit. There was a single stone passage leading to a bit of land outside, you had no clue how you had gotten there. In a fleeting moment, you felt yourself hunch over and begin to empty the contents of your stomach onto the ground.

You felt a pair of hands grasp at the bit of hair falling into your face as you heaved, holding your chest firmly. You willed yourself to stop, but bent once more. Your throat burned, tears prickling the backs of your eyes.

“Are you—”

“No, no—I am absolutely not alright,” you just barely got out. “I’ll be in the carriage.”

You spent both of the following days in your quarters, claiming ill to all of those who asked. Dinner had been brought to you each night, and every other meal left for you as well. You couldn’t decipher whether you were doing it out of spite, or pure hatred for the establishment you were marrying into in less than three weeks.

A small portion of it may have also been out of fear, the thought of even being out and about sent a shockwave up your spine. Every time someone rapped on your chamber door, you couldn’t help but flinch.

On the morning of the second day you’d isolated yourself, the Queen sent word that the ball she’d arranged was still to be attended. You couldn’t help but groan at the man she’d sent to deliver the message. You had absolutely no desire to make an appearance at a dance, especially after the past few days.

It was only hours later when Anne pushed through the double doors to your room, sending all of the other servants away in a simple hand motion. You furrowed your brows at her, holding onto the bedpost, corset left loose and undone. She looked as if she had seen a ghost, clutching the underside of her dress.

“Your grace,” she curtsied quickly.

“Anne, is everything alright?”

There was a pause, she brought a small brown bag out from under the cloth of her brown dress. She undid the clasp gently and pulled out a dagger, extending her hand to give it to you. With it came a sheath and what looked like two leather bound straps.

“I have reason to believe someone is dangerous, ma’am. I—well, I wanted to be sure you would be able to defend yourself, should something present itself tonight,” she said shakily.

“Oh, Anne. Where did you get this?” You asked, placing a hand on the blade.

“A stable boy offered it to me at a fair price, I just wanted to be sure you’d have some sort of defense. If you don’t want it—”

“No, no! I’m terribly grateful, I just haven’t a clue how to properly handle something like this.”

There had been very little swordplay taught when you were being instructed to be the ruler of a country, and even less as you grew into a young Princess. You handled horseback riding, language study, arithmetic, and learning the duties of a sovereign.

Anne took a few moments to show you how to hold the knife, and then flipped up your undergarments to have access to your thigh. She strapped the leather bindings to it gently, the sheath sticking to you as she slid in the dagger. You felt nervous, knowing you were armed underneath all of the layers. Yet, something about it made you feel safer.

A while later, she brought all of the servants back in and they began to dress you. By the time you had finished, you stared into the full length mirror at the entirety of the velvety looking gown. It was a deep red color, with a dipping neckline that left your shoulders and collarbones exposed underneath the candlelight.

You opted for a more bold choice in tiara, ditching your family heirloom and going for a fringed tiara that dated farther back than you could guess within the British royal family. It was littered in diamonds and went well with the dress, watching as the material swished at your feet.

“I must say, this is one of my favorite dresses you’ve worn so far,” one of the lady servants murmured.

“His Royal Highness, Prince Thomas of Wales,” announced a man, almost out of nowhere.

You watched as the doors opened, the guard member stiff and standing tall. Tom rolled his eyes, wishing his entrance had not just been broadcasted so generously. Though, he was far too used to it by now to say a thing. It really had been quite unnecessary, but it was clear that the young man was quite new.

“Princess,” he greeted.

You turned, meeting his eyes and watching as he swallowed hard, eyes dipping to the curve of your bosom, and curl of your gloved hands. He was dressed in his usual formal ball attire, blinking a few times and noticing the way you moved to sit.

A diamond necklace laid untouched, sitting prettily on your vanity. He sent a nod to each of the women crowding you, watching as they fled the room. You peered over your shoulder, almost immediately seeing him lift up the heavily studded jewel. It was cold against your bare skin, but his hands were warm as he fiddled with the clasp at the back of your neck.

You gazed into the mirror, watching his determined eyes work their way around your shoulders and spine. Just as you felt the necklace sit comfortably, his fingers lingered for a moment, the brush of a knuckle against the divot of the arch of your neck.

“There,” he said. “Now—we should probably be going.”

His words came out breathlessly, turning around quickly and looking away. You couldn’t help but let out the wisp of a breath yourself, feeling the heat flush to your face. The trace of his touch remained on your skin, the thud of your heart quickening as soon as you took his arm.

The short walk to the ballroom was mostly silent, only breaking when you would make a mindless comment, making him reply with a crude remark. You felt a pull in your gut, like you wanted to despise him more than anything. Most of the time you were together, that was all it was, disdain. Though, in passing moments, you couldn’t help letting your guard down.

These thoughts rapidly halted when you both entered the large familiar room. You both made your rounds, greeting the guests and embracing family, his family. Soon after, you watched Tom step to the side and reach for a bottle of what you could only guess was brandy.

“A dance?”

This was a phrase you heard dozens of times throughout the night, men after men swinging and swishing you around the floor. Some of which left you drowning in your own boredom, others capable of making you smile and laugh. There was no sign of Nikolai, this was odd to you.

Tom sat at the edge of the room, elbows sat on his knees while he drank himself to death. His cheeks were flushed a deep red, curls falling into his eyes. The most peculiar thing was the way he watched you, the way he would be able to speak and converse, yet still make sure to flicker his gaze back to you.

The dagger at your thigh made you feel a bit less helpless, like you had a bit of leverage. Though, the night quickly faded and everything was turning out to be incredibly mundane. Nothing was seemingly out of the ordinary, and when you took your out, a feeling of relief washed over you.

Your soft steps sounded as you made your way back to your chambers. It was easy for you to find the right moment to claim you were tired, and needed to retire to your bed for the night. Tom had left you for the entirety of the night, keeping to himself for the most part.

You grasped the brass handle, pulling it open to reveal a room full of servants meant to help you undress. You bid them all a goodnight and promised you could do it on your own, wishing to be alone. When the last of them departed, you lifted the tiara from your hair, unclasping the necklace and placing both of the priceless items on the wood of the table.

You heard the rattle of the door a second later, asking who was there. No response. You felt your pulse quicken, lifting up the skirts of your dress and pulling at the handle of the knife. You took a few paces backwards, jumping when you realized it was only Tom. His back faced you as he closed the door quietly, throwing his hands up when he turned to see you, dagger in hand.

“Y/N—put down the knife,” he said cautiously.

You hadn’t a clue why you were still holding it in a position like you planned to stab someone. The adrenaline, perhaps. Tom approached you slowly, making your head swim with thoughts. Some part of you was wondering why you hadn’t dropped your hand, and the other was telling you to stay just as you were. He was just as bad as any other man you’d encountered, wasn’t he?

“Give me the knife,” he held a hand out. “Just let me see it.”

“You’re drunk,” you muttered, smelling the alcohol on him.

“You truly do know how to sober a man up, though, don’t you?” He laughed.

There was something mocking about his words, like he knew you wouldn’t do anything. This set something off inside of you, that feeling in your chest only grew when you took the opportunity to step forward and act as if you were going to pass the dagger off to him. When he extended his palm, you pulled his wrist forward and did your best to slam his back against the nearest wall. Your right hand, firmly grasping the hilt of the blade, rapidly meeting his neck. You pressed it into his exposed skin, watching his pupils dilate.

“Feeling sober?” You asked, masking any bit of anxiety.

“Like you wouldn’t believe.”

You felt the beat of his heart through his shirt, pressing deeper. This earned a shocked wince, making you take in a deep breath yourself. His expression was surprisingly calm compared to your own, making it even more difficult to grasp when he flipped the both of you very out of the blue. His significantly larger hand had flawlessly brought the dagger from your white knuckled fingers, and into his own.

You felt the cold blade against your hot skin, his breath fanning over the sensitive spot below your ear. Your chest constricted, never having been this close to him before. You could smell the mix of brandy and whisky on him, wondering if he could sense how fast your heart was beating.

“Quick. Just not quick enough,” he teased lowly.

Something about this position made you almost melt, just now noticing how dry your mouth had become. Tom’s head turned to look into your eyes, making you practically jump. There was something so intimate in the way he was looking at you, something so personal.

“God, you truly have no clue about the things you do to me,” his drunken words seemed to spill out.

“Don’t I?” You asked, feeling his free fingers slide against the skin of your jaw. “You despise me, hate me even.”

“I wish I hated you.”

These were the last words spoken between the two of you before the space between both of you was filled. Firm, but warm lips were being pressed onto your own. With hardly a second to react, you felt your hand slide up the fabric of his clothed shoulder and to the nape of his neck. Your fingers threaded themselves into his hair, tugging harshly as he kissed you harder.

You arched your back against the hard surface you were pressed at, listening to the clatter of the knife against the floor in the night. His now freed hand found your neck, gently curling around it and squeezing. The euphoric feeling sent a wave of pleasure down your back, a single whimper passing between your conjoined lips.

“Tell me you hate me,” he whispered to you, breaking away for only a moment.

“I hate you,” you kissed him. “I hate you,” you kissed him again. “God, I hate you right now.”

One of his hands remained around your neck, the other sliding down to your waist and flipping you around. His nimble fingers played with the buttons at the back of your dress, pressing sloppy kissed against your neck and throat. Once the dress fell to your ankles, he pulled several layers over your head. Before you could even get to unlacing the corset, his heavily ringed hands twisted into it, ripping it straight down the back.

You were left in almost nothing, a thin article of clothing covering you. His hand brought itself to your breast, kneading at the almost completely exposed skin. You let out a repressed moan as he cupped the swelling of your chest.

“Is this okay?” He asked between wet kisses, trailing generously down your collarbone.

“Yes,” you hardly got out.

He nodded against you, lips brushing the skin above the neck of your underdress. It slid down, exposing the tops of your breasts. His head dipped, tongue trailing behind, leaving goosebumps along your feverish chest. He bit gently, leaving you to pant as you felt his hand slide up your calf and onto your thigh, he undid the holster, listening to it fall to the floor.

Before you could even truly think, you were being placed on top of one of the wooden surfaces of your bedroom. Tom was on his knees, pulling your ankle to him lips and pressing a kiss to the skin. This continued up to your knee, nearing closer and closer to your aching core. His touch was like fire, spreading through your whole body.

Movement outside of your chambers made you stiffen, Tom sat up immediately. The sound repeated itself and you were both scrambling to get away from each other. Your discarded clothes littered the floor, corset ripped down the middle. Tom was clearly disheveled, but mostly dressed. You began to realize the extent of what you both had done.

You grabbed at a few of the pieces of fabric, finally looking up and meeting his eyes. You both stared at each other for a moment, and without a word, Tom slipped out the door and into the night.

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