My zoology

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Zoology

Zoologist

Duties and Tasks

investigate the inter-relationships between animals and their environment by studying animals in their natural surroundings, in captivity and in laboratories

study and perform experiments to identify species and gather data on growth, nutrition, reproduction, prey and predators

study the development and functions of animals

devise methods of population control, especially of vermin and pests

develop programs to increase or manage the population of wild animals and animals in captivity

undertake surveys of fauna and prepare reports for management agencies

prepare or supervise the preparation of laboratory reports and scientific papers

supervise and coordinate the work of technical officers and technicians

lecture at universities and TAFE institutes

participate in wildlife awareness programs for the public.

Specialisations

Zoologists may perform the following tasks:

Zoologists usually specialise in one aspect of study such as entomology (insects), parasitology (internal and external parasites), ecology (environment of animals), ethology (animal behaviour), ichthyology (fish), mammalogy (mammals), ornithology (birds), herpetology (reptiles) or physiology (functions of animals).

Personal Requirements

a keen interest in research and the study of living organisms
good observation skills
able to work accurately
a logical approach to problem-solving
good oral and written communication skills
able to work independently or as part of a team.

Earnings

View text version of earnings

2012-08-17T18:58:00.001-07:00

Yellow jacket ground nut

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Subfamily: Vespinae
Genus: Vespula or Dolichovespula

Yellow jacket is the common name in North America for predatory wasps of thegenera Vespula and Dolichovespula. Members of these genera are known simply as "wasps" in other English-speaking countries. Most of these are black and yellow; some are black and white (such as the bald-faced hornet, Dolichovespula maculata), while others may have the abdomen background color red instead of black. They can be identified by their distinctive markings, small size (similar to a honey bee), their occurrence only in colonies, and a characteristic, rapid, side to side flight pattern prior to landing. All females are capable of stinging. Despite having drawn the loathing of humans, yellow jackets are in fact important predators of pest insects.

Yellow jackets, often called "bees" as they are similar in size and appearance and both sting, are actually wasps. A typical yellow jacket worker is about 12 mm (0.5 in) long, with alternating bands on the abdomen; the queen is larger, about 19 mm (0.75 in) long (the different patterns on their abdomens help separate various species). Workers are sometimes confused with honey bees, especially when flying in and out of their nests. Yellow jackets, in contrast to honey bees, are not covered with tan-brown dense hair on their bodies, they do not carry pollen, and do not have the flattened hairy hind legs used to carry it.

These species have a lance-like stinger with small barbs, and typically sting repeatedly,^[1]though occasionally the stinger becomes lodged and pulls free of the wasp's body; the venom, like most bee and wasp venoms, is primarily only dangerous to humans if allergic, unless a victim is stung many times. All species have yellow or white on the face. Mouthparts are well-developed with strong mandibles for capturing and chewing insects, with a proboscis for sucking nectar, fruit, and other juices. Yellow jackets build nests in trees, shrubs, or in protected places such as inside man-made structures (attics, hollow walls or flooring, in sheds, under porches, under home siding and eaves of houses), or in soil cavities, mouse burrows, etc. They build them from wood fiber they chew into a paper-like pulp.

Many other insects exhibit protective mimicry of aggressive, stinging yellow jackets; in addition to numerous bees and wasps (Müllerian mimicry), the list includes some flies, moths, and beetles (Batesian mimicry).

Yellow jackets' closest relatives, the hornets, closely resemble them, but have much bigger heads, seen especially in the large distance from the eyes to the back of the head.^[1]

Nesting of yellow jacket