Notices by kho (kho@shitposter.club), page 15
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Sunday, 20-Aug-2023 17:58:13 JST 
kho
With its iconic orange and black markings, the monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable species in North America. Monarchs are particularly remarkable because they migrate each year, flying from as far as Canada and across the United States to congregate at a few forested overwintering sites in the mountains of central Mexico and coastal California. These sites are an amazing phenomenon: thousands of monarchs cluster in the trees in California, and millions of monarchs drape large swathes of forest in Mexico.
This butterfly is notorious for the beauty of its orange, white and black wings, its long migration, and its toxicity. The butterfly lays its eggs almost exclusively on milkweed plants, which are poisonous. As the caterpillar eats the leaves of the plant, it collects toxins called cardiac glycosides which persist mostly in the wings and the abdomen of the adult. Some clever predators seem to know this and avoid those parts of the butterfly. A monarch butterfly that feeds from butterfly weed, which is a popular plant people put in their gardens to attract butterflies also collects toxins. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Sunday, 20-Aug-2023 17:58:12 JST
kho
Epimeria rubrieques sp. n., belonging to the cold water family Paramphithoidae, occurred relatively often in Agassiz and bottom trawls taken during several German Antarctic Expeditions into the eastern Weddell Sea since 1983. Although this species is very conspicuous because of its long mid-dorsal teeth, bright pink-red colour and large size (up to 70 mm), it has only been recorded in the Weddell Sea. The new species is compared to its closest relatives Epimeria macrodonta and E. similis, and an updated key to the 14 species of Antarctic Epimeria is provided. Observations on the general and feeding behaviour of living specimens of Epimeria rubrieques sp. n. in aquaria showed the species to be an ambush predator and a weakly motile epibenthic walker, which swims only rarely. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Sunday, 20-Aug-2023 17:58:11 JST
kho
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF YESTERDAY 🚨
Scyllarides latus, the Mediterranean slipper lobster, is a species of slipper lobster found in the Mediterranean Sea and in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. It is edible and highly regarded as food, but is now rare over much of its range due to overfishing. Adults may grow to 1 foot (30 cm) long, are camouflaged, and have no claws.
They are nocturnal, emerging from caves and other shelters during the night to feed on molluscs. As well as being eaten by humans, S. latus is also preyed upon by a variety of bony fish. Its closest relative is S. herklotsii, which occurs off the Atlantic coast of West Africa; other species of Scyllarides occur in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific. The larvae and young animals are largely unknown.
When confronted with a predator, S. latus has no claws or spines to repel the predator, and instead either clings to the substrate, or swims away with powerful flexion of the abdomen, or "tail-flips". Larger lobsters can exert a stronger grip than smaller ones, with a force of up to 150 newtons (equivalent to a weight of 15 kilograms or 33 pounds) required to dislodge the largest individuals. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Sunday, 20-Aug-2023 17:58:11 JST
kho
Forgot to post it here again, but here is the arthropod of yesterday:
The robber fly is a predator of almost all flying insects. It injects a fluid into its victims that breaks down the muscle tissue. A few species of the genus Promachus are serious pests of apiaries because they feed on bees. Each species has a characteristic habitat—e.g., tree trunk, foliage, grass, low plant, dead twig, gravel, or beach sand.
Adults lay eggs in the soil or in plants. Eggs hatch into slender, shiny, white, legless larvae that develop through several stages before pupating. The life cycle usually requires more than one year to complete.
Adults have piercing-sucking mouthparts. Adult robber flies perch on stems of low plants or other objects and attack prey in the air. They feed on bees, beetles, dragonflies, other flies, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, wasps, and other insects. Larvae live in the soil, in wood and other habitats, feeding on organic matter, other arthropods such as white grubs, beetle pupae and grasshopper egg masses, and they may be carnivorous. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Sunday, 20-Aug-2023 17:58:10 JST
kho
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨
Railroad worms – A species of glowworm beetle, the railroad beetle gets its name from the bioluminescence “windows” it has on its body. Female railroad worms have sections of their bodies, when they light up, are similar to train windows. Often the males of these species won’t be in larvae form, instead are adult beetles. The males have very elaborate, antennae, which they use to detect and follow the pheromones produced by the female.
Ironically, the insect they are mistaken for is the same insect they prefer to eat, the millipede. To no surprise, these insects are welcomed into gardens because they help eat all of the garden pests. It is believed, their luminescence is used to deter nocturnal predators from eating them. A sign that they are unpalatable. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Sunday, 20-Aug-2023 17:58:08 JST
kho
Wow I missed posting this here yesterday too!! I post them for my discord friends every day because they hold me accountable, but I forget to do it here I guess. Here is yesterday's arthropod:
Adult fruit flies have the typical fly body plan — they’re just much smaller than many other fly species. The average adult is 0.12 inches long and 0.08 inches wide.
Fruit flies undergo a complete metamorphosis throughout their life cycle. The stages of their life cycle include:
Eggs — these are most often laid on fruit
Larvae — also called maggots, they’re about 0.25 inches long and lack legs and functional eyes
Adults
Individual insects only live for a maximum of three to four months.
Fruit flies at all stages of development survive off of fruits. Adults also eat rotting plants. Freshly hatched larvae survive exclusively off of the food that they’re laid on. This is one of the main reasons they’re considered a common household pest.
Fruit flies originated in certain parts of the tropics. Human activity has spread them to every continent except Antarctica. They prefer temperate climates where they can access plenty of water. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Sunday, 20-Aug-2023 17:58:08 JST
kho
and the arthropod of today:
Dermatobia hominis, commonly known as the human botfly, is a species of fly found in Central and South America. The genus name, Dermatobia, is derived from the Greek words derma, meaning "skin," and bios, meaning "life," referring to the fly's habit of laying its eggs on the skin of its host. The species name, hominis, is Latin for "human," referring to the fly's primary host species.
It is a large fly, measuring up to 8 mm in length, with a yellowish-brown body and a black head. It is distinguished by its long, curved proboscis and its two pairs of wings. It is a parasite, laying its eggs on the skin of mammals, such as cattle, horses, and humans. The eggs hatch into larvae, which feed on the host's tissue. The larvae can live up to two months before dropping off the host and pupating in the soil. The adult fly lives for up to two weeks. The current population of Dermatobia hominis is unknown, but it is believed to be widespread in its range.
After the eggs are laid by the female botfly, the larvae hatch after about six days, and rapidly penetrate the skin, even when the skin is intact and healthy. They can cause some symptoms such as:
Formation of wounds on the skin, with redness and slight swelling on the region;
Release of a yellowish or bloody fluid from the sores on the skin;
Sensation of something stirring under the skin;
Pain or intense itching at the wound site.
https://youtu.be/NzwV7wvJVrc?t=52 -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Sunday, 20-Aug-2023 17:58:06 JST
kho
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨
Even though their name implies that these little guys are bugs, they're not actually insects, but crustaceans. They're in the isopod (meaning same pod or foot) family and have seven pairs of legs that are all similar in size and shape. Roly-poly bugs also have three main body parts – head, thorax and abdomen – as well as simple eyes, uropods, a pair of prominent antennae, gills and lunglike adaptations. As terrestrial creatures related to marine animals, they need moisture to survive but cannot live submerged in water.
Roly-poly bugs have many unique adaptations. They have an exoskeleton with plates. They may not be able to bite or sting, but many are able to roll up into a ball for protection and also use odor as a defense. Roly-polies have even shown social behaviors such as fighting over food and communicating by tapping with their antennae. They absorb water with food, through mouth parts or by capillary action through their uropods. These cold-blooded critters react strongly to humidity levels, light and temperature changes. They like dark, moist areas, and if left out in the sun, they perish. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Sunday, 20-Aug-2023 17:58:06 JST
kho
Today's arthropod:
The giant isopod is one of the largest isopods in the world, and it can be any one of the 20 species of big isopods. These creatures are in the cold and deep waters in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans. Giant isopods are closely related to decapods such as crabs and shrimps, which are found in the Bathynomus genus.
It is the largest crustaceans and members of the isopod family. They are terrestrial crustaceans, much like the pill bugs. The resemblance is uncanny. These isopods are the ocean’s clean-up crew, and their large size is the result of the sea gigantism phenomenon.
Giant isopods are different than your typical isopod because they grow quite large. Their size is the result of abyssal gigantism which makes them grow between 6.7 to 19.7 inches in size for super-giant isopods, and the giant isopods reach 6 inches in size. The Bathynomus giganteus is the largest of the species, reaching nearly 30 inches in size. The morphology resembles the woodlouse and pill bug. They have calcareous exoskeletons made of overlapping segments.
They have large compound eyes that contain 4,000 facets and is separated on their head. The giant isopod has two pairs of antennae, and their first shell segments are fused to the head, which allows them to curl up into a ball that leaves their shell exposed as a form of protection against predators. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Wednesday, 09-Aug-2023 02:55:00 JST
kho
Arthropod of yesterday I forgot to post it here:
The western pygmy blue (Brephidium exilis or Brephidium exile) is one of the smallest butterflies in the world and the smallest in North America. It has reached Hawaii, as well as the Persian Gulf, including eastern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Males establish a territory in which they look for receptive females to mate with. After mating, females lay eggs on all parts of the host plant, oftenmost on the uppersides of leaves. The caterpillars eat all parts of the plant; host species include Pigweed (Chenopodium album), saltbush species (Atriplex), and others in the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae). Adult imagos appear in July–September in the north, while it appears year round in South Texas. Adults feed on nectar only. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Wednesday, 09-Aug-2023 02:54:59 JST
kho
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨
House crickets are distantly related to grasshoppers and were most likely introduced to the U.S. between 1950 and 2000 when they became the standard feeder insect for the pet and research industries. They are known for their loud chirping which is caused when males rub their front wings together to attract females.
House crickets are omnivores. In nature, house crickets eat rotting leaves, rotting fruit, vegetables and insects. Once inside a home or other building, house crickets will feed on a variety of fabrics and wallpaper glue. House crickets prefer fabrics made of natural fibers like wool and silk. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Wednesday, 09-Aug-2023 02:54:59 JST
kho
Today's arthropod:
At over 6 inches long, the Titan Beetle is the largest beetle in the world, and one of the largest insects that we know of. They have strong mandibles and sharp spines to help them defend themselves. While they are large and imposing, these beetles are not aggressive and only act in defense when threatened.
Even though they are very large, adult Titan Beetles do not eat anything. They can fly but only do so for short bursts to conserve energy.
They have curved mandibles at the front of their head, used to snap and bite. These mandibles are sharp and strong enough to bite people when they feel threatened. They aren’t naturally aggressive but do possess plenty of defensive mechanisms, including their bite, that they can use if they are threatened. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Wednesday, 09-Aug-2023 02:54:58 JST
kho
Phymateus viridipes Stal, aka Green Milkweed Locust or African Bush Grasshopper, belonging to the family Pyrgomorphidae (Gaudy Grasshoppers), is an African locust about 70 millimetres (2.8 in) long at maturity and capable of long migratory flights. Its body and forewings are green in colour while the hindwings are bright red and blue, presenting a striking appearance in flight. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Wednesday, 09-Aug-2023 02:54:57 JST
kho
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨
The ghost crab is aptly named due to its nocturnal activity and sandy colouration, making the crab perfectly camouflaged into the beach backdrop. These crabs are found on sandy beaches and live in burrows. The narrower and shorter the burrow the smaller the crab. Their burrows serve a number of purposes: protection from predation, storage of their food, protection from drying out and other extreme weather conditions as well as a place to mate (although not all ghost crabs mate in burrows).
Young crabs and female crabs create burrows with sand scattered everywhere, with young crabs preferring to create burrows nearer to the water, whilst male crabs have burrows with a neat mound of sand outside – the larger the crab the larger the mound. Males produce mating sounds, squeaking noises, in a variety of ways; by rubbing their right claw on their leg, by rubbing their legs together, or by using their gill chambers, which they keep moist with saltwater.
After mating the females store thousands of eggs inside an abdominal flap. She will then venture into the sea when the eggs are ready to hatch. Since ghost crabs cannot swim the female will float upside down in the water allowing the eggs in her abdomen to breathe. Upon contact with saltwater the larvae are released and after two months return to land.
The exoskeleton of a ghost crab is water tight, which prevents the crab from drying out in the arid and salty conditions on the beach. All ghost crabs have eye stalks with the males additionally having horns. These eyestalks enable the crab to see in any direction and can be stored in groves on their shells. The ghost crab’s eye sight is so good that they are able to catch insects’ mid-flight. They also have a well-developed sense of smell. They are very agile, capable of moving at 10mph, which makes them the fastest of all crustaceans. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Thursday, 03-Aug-2023 07:20:11 JST
kho
@coolboymew the bunny ear ones live in Equador in rainforests :nttwomanbunnyears: -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Thursday, 03-Aug-2023 07:05:05 JST
kho
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨
"Murder hornets"
V. mandarinia is the largest hornet in the world. A female worker may grow to a length of nearly four centimeters (an inch and a half), and the insect has large biting mouthparts that enable it to decapitate its victims. Hornets are usually solitary hunters. But between late summer and fall, V. mandarinia workers may band together to conduct mass attacks on nests of other social insects, notably honeybees. This behavior even has a name: the slaughter and occupation phase. U.S. beekeepers supply billions of honeybees each year to help pollinate at least 90 agricultural crops.
This gigantic, voracious predator has a quarter-inch stinger (6.35mm)! People are usually not the Japanese giant hornet's prey, but those who have felt its sting describe the pain as excruciating and very painful. Masato Ono, an entomologist at Tamagawa University, near Tokyo, said it's "like a hot nail through my leg." -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Thursday, 03-Aug-2023 07:05:04 JST
kho
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨
With eight spindly yellow legs holding up what appears to be a big black dog’s head, the bunny harvestman is both terrifying and oddly cute.
Although the bunny harvestman spider has eight legs as any spider would, it actually belongs to a different order of animals known as Opiliones — or as they’re commonly referred to, daddy longlegs.
So while this creature looks like a spider and falls in the same Arachnida family, it is technically not a spider (though it’s widely referred to as such) and is instead a daddy longlegs. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Thursday, 03-Aug-2023 07:05:04 JST
kho
The Picasso bug measures only 8 millimeters in length. And like everything in nature, the intricate patterns on the tiny insect’s shell are not there by chance, but are a warning to its predators; anyone who ventures to disturb these insects will smell the consequences. When they feel threatened, they emit a noxious odor that helps scare off predators.
The Picasso bug lives mainly in tropical and subtropical Africa, so it can be found in countries such as Nigeria, Sudan, and Ethiopia, to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful insects in the world, revealing how intricate nature can be, regardless of its small size.
This insect also goes by the alternate common name of the Zulu Hud Bug. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Monday, 31-Jul-2023 12:23:16 JST
kho
Remipede venom is odd compared to that of other arthropods. While some spiders, for example, use venom consisting of tiny neurotoxic proteins, the remipede’s toxic cocktail is dominated by larger enzymes that break down the exoskeletons of their prey and destroy proteins in their bodies, softening their defenses and making their insides more easily digestible. In its makeup, the researchers say, remipede’s venom is more like that of vipers than any of its arthropod cousins. There is one familial similarity, though: a neurotoxin that paralyzes the remipede’s victims and is nearly identical to one found in spiders.
With so many crustaceans out there, why is the remipede the only one to become venomous? The researchers think that because the group has such varied diets—some are filter feeders, some are scavengers—none of them really needed a potent weapon for taking down large prey. While remipedes have also been seen filtering small bits of food from the water, their environment and lifestyle pressured them into going toxic. -
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kho (kho@shitposter.club)'s status on Monday, 31-Jul-2023 12:23:16 JST
kho
Giant Wetas are a group of twelve large, flightless insects endemic to New Zealand. They belong to the genus Deinacrida, with individual species displaying varying sizes and appearances.
The Giant Wetas are among the heaviest insects in the world. The heaviest-known individual weighed around 70 grams (2.47 oz).
Wetas are primarily nocturnal and herbivorous, feeding on leaves, fruit, and other plant material, although they may occasionally consume other invertebrates.
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