One way, two directions

The Unusual Thorn-bug ... Or Is It Actually A Thorn?

2012-01-27T12:31:00.005Z

Thorn-bugs are a type of Tree-hoppers that have interested many people due to their unusual appearance. There is something like 3200 known species of Tree-hoppers spread in all continents, except Antarctica.

As you can see from the above image, these unique bugs have pointed covers (pronotum) over their bodies which resemble the shape of a thorn (that may grow on a rose bush) and apparently aid in perfect camouflage. In some of the other species the pronotum grows to a hornlike extension, even more out of the ordinary and hard to be explained forms can be found.

One cannot tell the difference between the male and female other than looking at the male genitalia. Tree-hoppers generally live for no more than a few months, but they do however belong to an ancestry that is no less than 40 million years old.

Source from wikipedia

Incredible Image Of Curious Polar Bear

2012-01-27T11:07:00.008Z

As I was sifting through the internet I came across a site called pixdaus.com where I came across the image of this incredibly beautiful Polar Bear, it is truly awesome! This enormous creature seems to be quite curious as to what is going on inside the boat, or is it, according to pixadaus.com undoubtedly just looking for a chocolate :)

If you want to read more about Polar bears go to
The Largest Land Carnivore....
Children Swimming Next To Polar Bears....
Defenders Of Wildlife - Free Polar Bear Wallpaper...

Cats And Their Pizza Boxes

2012-01-27T09:57:00.006Z

My cat (Pantufa) not only loves to sleep on pizza boxes, but also on any type of box! After I had a look at these incredibly cute images of “cats that love pizza boxes” I reached the conclusion that Panufa had many cat friends with the same habit! Apparently for cats, boxes offer a wonderful combination of two of their most wanted things: boxes and warmth … For many more cute images go to Damn Cool Pictures!

Meet The Oceans Ruthless Killer !!!

2012-01-26T20:25:00.005Z

Source of great white image

The Great white shark which is currently known as the largest "predatory shark" in the world has unfortunately gained itself quite a bad reputation - many people call it the ruthless killer!!!

When a great white attacks, it usually takes its prey by surprise from below, delivering a lightning-fast bite before pulling back. Once the prey has been rendered helpless, it returns to shear off chunks with its serrated and triangular teeth (they have about 300 teeth arranged in several rows). Smaller prey may be taken whole.

Attacks on humans may occur because the shark mistakes swimmers for its natural food of sea lions, seals, small toothed whales or sea turtles and carrion (in reality, humans are not the preferred prey of the great white shark).

Subsequent to a large meal, the shark may not feed again for several weeks. Wide-ranging and usually solitary, the great white breeds at about 15 years of age, producing live young after a gestation of about 11 months. Maximum life span is believed to be more than 30 years. These extremely powerful creatures can be found in cool coastal surface waters throughout the world. There is no reliable data on the great white's population. However, scientists agree that their numbers are decreasing due to accidental catching in gill nets and overfishing, amongst other factors.

Can You Tell The Difference Between A Moth And A Butterfly?

2012-01-22T17:52:00.008Z

Butterfly or Moth (source of image)

Have you ever had this scenario where you see what you think is a butterfly, but you can’t be sure if it’s a butterfly though because sometimes moths can look a lot like butterflies? Complicated, isn’t it? However there are some general rules that can easily tell the two apart, so let’s have a look at them:

The best way to identify a butterfly from a moth is to look at its antenna. Butterflies have a knob on the end of their feelers. Moths may have needle-like antennae with no knob, or they may be feather-like.

Most butterflies rest with their wings together over their bodies whereas most moths rest with their wings outspread.

Typically butterflies have brighter and gaudier colored wings and moths have more subtly to dull colored wings. (On the other hand, there are many exceptions to this rule, as many moths that fly during the day are brightly colored, and there are several types of butterflies that are darkish brown).

Many moth pupae spin cocoons, whereas butterfly pupae have chrysalids or "silken shelters."

Most moths have tiny hook or bristle hooking the fore-wings and hind wings together. Butterflies do not have this hook.

Most butterflies fly during the day, and most moths fly during the night.

Most Moths have a fat abdomen and furry bodies whereas most butterflies have slender, hairless bodies.

So, in general, to determine if what you are seeing is a moth or butterfly, first explore the antennae and then use the other defining characteristics to see if they fit … Now have a look at the above image and tell me what you see?

The Largest Moth In The World - (Find Out Why They Do Not Eat During Their Adult Form)

2012-01-22T15:52:00.008Z

(Source of image)

The Atlas moths (Attacus alas) of the subtropical forests of Southeast Asia are the largest moths in the world. The females have bigger and heavier bodies than males and larger wingspans too, ranging from a staggering 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 inches) across. (However, there are some species of moth with longer wings, but the Atlas moth has, on average, the largest wingspan in terms of area). These extremely beautiful moths are so big, that they are often mistaken for a small bird when they are flying!

Despite their huge size, Atlas moths do not eat anything once they hatch from their cocoons. Neither sex possesses fully-formed mouth parts and cannot eat; they rely on the sustenance they build up as caterpillars, for stored energy. Atlas moths only live in their adult form for two to three weeks. These unique moths have extremely intricate colorings and patterns on their back, the tips of the top wings resemble the head of a snake and will frighten away most attackers.

The Atlas moths are quite rare and the reason for this is because they were once caught by the thousand, only to become specimens in the collections of Lepidoperists (collectors of moths and butterflies).

Did you know?

Atlas moths and other giant silkworm moths have the hairiest bodies and legs of any type of moth.

Atlas moths are cultivated for their silk in a non-commercial capacity. This wool-like silk is known as "fagara"

Prescription Savings - Only At Walgreens

2012-01-22T00:00:00.001Z

This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am sure that just about all of you have shopped at Walgreens pharmacy before because no matter how old or young we are, we all need medicine at some stage of our lives. So if Walgreens is indeed your pharmacy of choice, then you will want to know that Walgreens is no longer part of the Express Script pharmacy provider network. Negotiations between the two companies were unsuccessful and as a result their contract expired as of December 31 2011, making it necessary for customers to seek out alternatives for their prescriptions.

I am fortunate to say that I was not affected personally, but I cannot say the same about thousands of American families, including some friends and relatives of mine that live in the New York City area. However, if you have been Walgreens customer for years, there is no need for you to be concerned because Walgreens is doing something to help minimize the unfortunate disruption so they are offering a special discount on their annual membership for the Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens. During the month of January you can join an annual program for $5 per person or for $10 for a family which covers everyone in your immediate family (including a spouse, dependents under 22 and pets - "wow your pets too, this is fabulous!"). After January the prices will change, nevertheless taking into consideration the savings it's still well worth the cost. By joining you will receive discount prices on your prescriptions. You get savings on more than 8,000 brand-name and all generic medications, discount on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies, bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services.

If you are interested in finding out more about Walgreens make sure you follow Walgreens on Twitter and like Walgreens on Facebook. I have become a follower of Walgreens, not because it affects me directly, but because it affects thousands of people, especially those whom I care for.

10 Amazzzzing Bee Facts

2012-01-21T13:06:00.006Z

[Source: Today I found out]

The most Dangerous Insect In The World

2012-01-15T13:09:00.008Z

Source of image

Even though Killer Bees, Stinging Wasps, and Horse Flies might give extremely painful stings and bites, Mosquitoes are by far the most dangerous insects in the world. Mosquitoes are little flies and their name means just that in Portuguese and Spanish.

Typically both male and female Mosquitoes feed on plant juices and nectar from flowers. The female mosquito is solely responsible for biting - the females of most species need to obtain nutrients from a blood meal to make their eggs. They not only bite people, but also obtain blood from birds, reptiles, mammals or amphibians

Mosquitoes pierce the skin with a sharp, needle-like mouth and inject a little bit of saliva which serves as an anticoagulant. The saliva consists of tiny micro-organisms and viruses that cause diseases. Mosquito bites can spread many illnesses such as Malaria, Yellow Fever, and West Nile Virus. Some scientists estimate that Malaria alone affects between 500 and 700 million people each year, making it one of the world’s most dangerous diseases.

Do you know?

In most species Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water; some lay eggs near the water's edges; others attach their eggs to aquatic plants.

The eggs hatch into babies called Larvae - these look like little tiny caterpillars.

The Larvae breath through a trumpet-shaped tube at the end of the body.

Meet the Incredibly Cute And Intelligent Meerkats

2012-01-07T12:03:00.007Z

Source of image

The Meerkat (also known as Suricate) is an incredibly cute mammal belonging to the mongoose family. They live in large bands in the dry, open country in southern Africa, especially in the semi-desert regions of Namibia, southwestern Angola, Botswana and in South Africa. Meerkat groups utilize large underground burrows with multiple entrances, tunnels and rooms. Living underground keeps them safe from predators and out of harsh African heat.

Meerkats merely go outside during the daytime. Every morning, as the sun rises, the gang comes into sight and starts searching for their preferred food, which includes small reptiles, birds, eggs, insects and fruit. These amazing creatures live in highly organized societies. While looking for food, one or more Meerkats, called a sentry keeps a look-out for danger. For example, if a sentry senses that a bird of prey, such as a Hawk or an Eagle is approaching, it will let out a high-pitched squeal, sending the gang rushing for cover. Back at the burrow, babysitters stay behind to watch over newborn pups. This duty alternates to different members of the gang, and a sitter may frequently go all day with no food.

Females give birth to two to four young every year in one of the group's burrows. Fathers and siblings help to raise Meerkat young, teaching them to play and scavenge and alerting them to the ever present danger from above. Young Meerkats are so afraid of predatory birds that even airplanes will send them diving for cover.

Extraordinary Features About The Musk Duck

2012-01-06T21:07:00.006Z

Source of Image

The Musk Duck (Biziura lobata) of Australia is a bulky and unusual-looking member of the stiff-tailed duck group. Its large webbed feet are situated well back on the body and its unique tail has a collection of long, stiff feathers which can be held in fan-shaped. The most striking feature is the distinctive large, leathery lobe of skin under the bill of the mature male, this sac increases in size during the breeding season. The female has a much-reduced lobe under the bill which is only visible at a short distance. Another oddity is that during breeding season, the plumage of the male is usually oily and gives off a strong musky odour – hence the species common name! This oil can even be observed on the surface of the water during the exhausting and noisy displays as the males tries to attract a coterie of females.

McCruelty - The More I Look Inside The Box The More I´m Hatin It

2011-12-29T12:42:00.007Z

Readers, please do not look inside the box if you are sensitive! Chickens killed for McDonald´s are slaughtered using an outdated method that results in extreme suffering. As one of the biggest sellers of chicken meat, McDonald's has the responsibility—and the ability—to reduce this abuse by demanding that its U.S. and Canadian suppliers use a less cruel slaughter method ... Learn more. (info from PETA)

McCruelty: I'm Hatin' It--Learn More.

The Global Warming Phenomenon

2011-12-23T12:43:00.005Z

We are all aware that Global warming is an urgent and serious problem! There are however numerous ways to reduce this problem, some are very simple whilst others necessitate a more focused approach. We can all help by at least doing the simple ones, which will with no doubt make a big difference in this planet of ours. Here is a list of a few simple things that we can all do in order to fight against and reduce the Global Warming phenomenon:

Protect and conserve forest worldwide

Be sure you’re recycling at home

Recycle your organic waste

Make your city clean

Reuse your shopping bags

Plant a tree

Adapt car pooling with your coworkers or classmates

Do not waste fuel and drive carefully

Keep your car tuned up

Avoid air travel

Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb

Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner regularly

Always switch off appliances, don´t leave them on standby

Defrost old fridges and freezers on regular intervals

Move your fridge and freezer to the right place, where it consumes less energy

Adapt energy efficient appliances

Cover your pans while cooking

Eat organic food and eat less meat

Use the washing machine or dishwasher only when they are full

Take a shower instead of a bath

Use less hot water

Spread the word

There are lots of other things that we can do that are not on this list…
What are YOU doing to help reduce global warming?

Image: biowaves

Touched By A Wild Mountain Gorilla

2011-12-23T11:04:00.005Z

Take a look at this video of an amazing chance encounter with a troop of Wild Mountain Gorillas near Bwindi National Park, Uganda. It must have been an awe-inspiring experience for this guy to be able to sit with Wild Gorillas and actually spend some time with them …

Merry Christmas !!!

2011-12-22T20:33:00.007Z

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all visitors and readers of this blog a very Merry Christmas - may your world be filled with warmth and good cheer this Holy season, and throughout the year !!!

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - (Rock Version) Artist Michael Bolton

If Everyone Cared

2011-12-22T19:46:00.003Z

As I was sifting through a blog called "You are a perfect spirit", I came across a song called If Everyone Cared (artist Nickelback). I decided to post it on my blog because I found the video clip truly awesome ... Check it out for yourself!

Birds Shown To Be Capable Of Using Tools

2011-12-12T20:51:00.006Z

Image from www.zoo.cam.ac.uk (crow using tool)

Several species of birds have been recognized as tool-users in the animal kingdom. Perhaps the most renowned avian tool-user is the Woodpecker Finch of the Galapagos Islands, which uses a cactus spine or wooden splinter to obtain hidden insects out of holes in the wood. This bird is clever enough not only to use a tool, but also to “manufacture” its instrument if not available! Egyptian Vultures use stones as tools to crack an ostrich egg, while Macaws have been shown to utilize rope to fetch items that would normally be difficult to reach. The Green Heron has one of the most remarkable tool-using techniques. The heron will cast bait such as insects, berries twigs and even feathers into the water, then crouch down and wait for the curious or hungry fish that comes to the surface for a meal. Many other species such as Parrots, the extraordinary Corvids and a range of Passerines, have also been noted as tool-users. If you happen to identify a feeding bird, take the time to observe it and notice its extraordinary behavior… They are truly spectacular!

The Dolphin With A Prosthetic Tale

2011-12-10T18:36:00.007Z

Image from dailymail

Winter, who turned 6 in October is a dolphin that was rescued from entangled ropes of a crab trap when she was only two months old (December 17, 2005). After being spotted and caught by a small fishing boat and a Sea World Team, Winter was immediately rushed to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a marine Hospital. Winter managed to survive the dreadful incident, but unfortunately her tail had to be amputated. At first Winter would have to learn to swim without a tail, forcing her to swim more like a fish (side to side body motion) than a dolphin (up and down body motion), but this unusual movement would damage her spine.

Image from dailymail

Kevin Carroll and a team of experts from Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics, who had previously designed prosthetics for others animals (including dogs, a duck and an ostrich) volunteered to help Winter by designing a special prosthetic tail for her. It took about a year and a half designing and testing a tail for her, but the months of work were worth it. Today Winter is thriving and is using her new tail with great command.

Winter's fame has spread far and wide. Crowds of visitors are traveling to Clearwater to visit the dolphin that has become an inspiration to adults and children alike, especially to children who are amputees themselves. More and more people will definitely visit her after seeing the beautiful movie that was inspired on Winter’s story, titled "Dolphin Tale" (released on September 23, 2011). I have already seen it and I really loved it - Winter plays herself in the movie (see below trailer).

The tale doesn’t end here… Lessons learned from Winter´s prosthetic tail is now being used to make prosthetic limbs more comfortable for human – and animal – amputees. I have attached a touching true story about a lovely young girl called Megan McKoen that went through a terrible experience when she was just 5 months old. Megan experienced difficulties adjusting to her disability, until she met Winter and was fit with a Wintersgel liner. Read more…

The Great Auk Extinction - Today They Can Only Be Seen In Museums

2011-12-08T17:36:00.004Z

Image from wikipedia

The flightless Great Auk was a northern seabird which stood about 75 to 85 cm high and weighed round about 5 kg, making it the largest member of the alcidae family. It nested in large colonies, which made it easy for people to hunt for its meat, fat, oil, eggs and down feathers. As birds became scarcer, specimen collecting became the proximate cause of their extinction. The last breeding pair was killed on the island of Eldey, off Iceland in 1844, and the last live bird was seen off the Newfoundland Banks in 1852. Today, a number of stuffed Great Auk specimens exist in museums. Words cannot describe how sad I feel whenever I learn about species that are extinct or face extinction due to human actions…

One Of The Rarest Penguins On Earth

2011-12-08T15:25:00.003Z

Image from wikipedia

Named for its bright yellow eyes, this penguin has a bright yellow band running from its eyes around the back of its head and a stout reddish purple bill. The Yellow Eyed penguin is considered one of the world’s rarest penguins, with an estimated population of round about 4000. The main threats include habitat loss, habitat degradation and natural predators. In August 2010 the yellow-eyed penguin was granted protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Found only in New Zealand, the Yellow Eyed Penguin is the most retiring of the penguins, each pair nesting well away from other birds. Unlike some other northern penguins, it does not breed in burrows, but uses the cover of forests and other dense vegetation to keep out of the sun. The Yellow Eyed Penguins generally lays two eggs which are incubated by both parents who may spend several days on the nesting at a time. These adorable creatures may live up to 24 years.

Find Out Why Seahorses Are Unusual In The Animal Kingdom

2011-12-07T21:12:00.007Z

Cartoon by Catherine Pain

The reason why Seahorses are unusual in the animal kingdom is because the males actually carry and deliver the babies? When mating, the female seahorse deposits eggs into the male’s pouch. The eggs eventually hatch and fully-developed miniature seahorses emerge into the water. Once the babies are released into the water, the male’s role is complete and he offers no future care … amazing, don’t you agree!

The Lizard That Was Once Entirely Extinct

2011-12-07T18:43:00.006Z

Hierro Giant Lizard's were once believed to be entirely extinct but rediscovered in the mid 1970’s. This giant lizard has at present only a small population of about 300 to 400 individuals (including re-introduced populations) living on the island of El Hierro in the Canary Islands (Spain). Unfortunately, it is classified as Europe’s most endangered reptile. The Hierro Giant Lizard's major threat is predation by feral cats, and possibly also by dogs and rats.

The Hierro Giant Lizard is omnivorous and feeds almost exclusively on only two types of plants, Kleinia neriifolia and Lavandula abrotanoides. It also feeds on insects. It is a large, stocky lizard with a broad head and pronounced jowl. Its underside is generally brown, but has an orange to red coloration towards the middle. Adults are dark grey to brown in color with two rows of pale orange patches running along the sides. As the Hierro Giant Lizard grows older it tends to turn black with some grey. They are round about 60 cm long, although most of that is tail - males are known to grow larger than females.

Source: iucnredlist.org

Bird With The Largest And Smallest Wingspan

2011-12-03T22:07:00.005Z

The largest flying bird ever was an extinct species called Argentavis magnificens, which existed more than 6 million years ago and had an estimated wingspan of up to 8 meters. Today, the absolute record is held by the Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans), which has extremely long wingspans averaging from 2.51 to 3.5 meters. On land, the title is held jointly by the Andean Condor and the Marabou Stork which have a wingspan of about 3 meters. At the other end of the scale, the Bee Humming Bird of Cuba (Mellisuga helenae) has a tiny wingspan of just about 3.25 cm – by far smaller than many insects.

more...

Red Dog - The Movie

2011-12-02T21:17:00.003Z

Red Dog

I just came back from seeing Red Dog at the movies and all that I can say is that anyone who has ever had a close relationship with a dog will love this beautiful, warm and touching film that is based on a true story of a stray dog call Red Dog that traveled around Western Australia in the 1970's and helped create a sense of community in the mining town of Dampier in North Western Australia. Although Red Dog had many friends, he was loyal to only one man - John Stazzonelli who took ownership before dying in a motorcycle accident. Red Dog, not knowing that John had died, went looking for him all across Western Australia's Pilbara region ...

The film was produced by Nelson Woss and Julie Ryan, and stars US actor Josh Lucas, Rachel Taylor and Luke Ford.

Kemp´s Ridley Turtles - Among The Smallest Marine Turtles In The World

2011-12-02T16:49:00.009Z

Image National Park Service

The Atlantic or Kemp’s Ridley Turtle is amongst the smallest marine turtle in the world with an average length of approximately 2 ft (65 cm). Unfortunately it is also the rarest sea turtle and is critically endangered due to Marine Environment Threats (commercial fisheries, oil and gas exploration, marine debris), and Nesting Threats (increased human presence, human interference, poaching, beach erosion, artificial lighting, predators and so forth. read more…

Today the Kemp's Ridley population appears to be in the early stages of recovery thanks to human intervention and conservation efforts lead by USA and Mexico – Kemp´s Ridley turtles may be removed from the endangered species list in the not too distant future…

On average every two year cycles, females come ashore to lay several clutches of eggs each season. The males spend their entire lives at sea once they have hatched. Highly migratory animals, they often travel hundreds of kilometers (miles) to reach their nesting beach, which is usually the same beach where they were born. Kemp's Ridley are the only turtles which nest in the daytime.

Kemp's Ridley turtles feed on crabs, jellyfish, fish, squid, snails, starfish and a variety of other marine invertebrates, as well as some seaweed. The Kemp's Ridley have distinctive heart-shaped shells that range in color from gray to olive to black. Their bellies are white (juveniles) to yellowish (adults).

Kemp's Ridley live in large estuaries, lagoons, bays and shallow coastal areas in the Gulf of Mexico, but immature turtles, probably carried by the currents, often appear along the Atlantic coast, as far north as Nova Scotia and New England.