NEON Program’s Post

The Bearded Worm What's the link between your home aquarium and the mysterious deep-sea vents? You might be surprised to learn that bearded worms, distant cousins of the fiery bearded worm, call these hydrothermal vents their home. These vents, located where tectonic plates meet, were once thought too dark and hot to support complex life. Yet, these worms have evolved to feast on phytoplankton, bacteria, and other organisms thriving off these vents. Isn't it fascinating how life adapts to the most extreme conditions? Comment "fish" below if you found this deep sea fact fascinating and want to enjoy 25% off on Dr. Tim's Aquatics products! #DeepSeaLife #AquariumCare #HydrothermalVents

Listen to The Beetles (That's beetles, NOT Beatles) Having decided to do a #NewYearsDay talk for a local tree group (Tottenham Trees) at #BruceCastlePark it was a perfect opportunity to summarise 3 years saproxylic beetle recording from this remarkable North London park. Famed for its 500 year old Bruce Castle Oak the urban park is actually a wood pasture/parkland remnant with another dozen 200 year old oaks, most of which inexplicably had their upper most leaders removed in the mid 20th century. It is easy to overlook such urban oasis surrounded as they are by human infrastructure dessert. However I keep finding interesting beetles in the park and beetles know #WoodPasture (or rather they wouldn't be there but for the remnant parkland landscape). We can argue about whether or not a site is remnant or lapsed but if you have good recording data for #SaproxylicBeeltes (i.e. those that live in decaying wood) then the species assemblage is pretty definitive. And the fungi agree with the beetles. Within this small site, containing only a few trees I've recorded: Hen of the Woods (Grifola frondosa), Oak Bracket (Pseudoinonotus dryadeus), Veiled Oyster (Pleurotus dryinus), Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphereus) and Giant Polypore (Meripilus giganteus). AND unusually for a London park several Brittlegill (Russula species) mycorrhizae. Recent (post 2021) beetle finds at BCP include: Synchita separanda - Nationally Scarce Phloiotrya vaudoueri - Nationally Scarce (photo below) Tillus elongatus - Nationally Scarce Phymatodes testaceus - Tanbark Borer Nalassus laevioctostriatus Prionychus ater Agrilus biguttatus - Oak Jewel Beetle Agrilus sulcicollis Dacne bipustulata Dorcus parallelipipedus - Lesser Stag Beetle Xestobium rufovillosum - Death Watch Beetle

Enter the Captivating world of carnivorous plants! These fascinating flora flip the script on the food chain, becoming the hunters themselves! From the sticky sundews ☀️ that trap insects in their glistening embrace, to the lightning-fast Venus flytraps ⚡ that snap shut in a blink, each species boasts a unique method of capturing prey 🪰. **How do they do it? ** Vivid colors and sweet nectar act as irresistible invitations , luring unsuspecting insects to their sticky demise . These ingenious plants ✨, thriving in nutrient-poor soils , have evolved complex traps 🪤 as a remarkable adaptation to secure essential nutrients ️. Carnivorous plants are a prime example of how nature constantly adapts and innovates ! #CarnivorousPlants #NatureIsMetal #PlantPower where the roles of Hunter and hunted are reversed and Flora become fearsome. Predators from the sticky, grips of sundees. To the rapid snap traps of Venus fly traps each species. Boasts a unique method to capture their prey attracted by vibrant. Colours and sweet nectar unsuspecting insects meet their end. Providing essential nutrients to these ingenious plants thriving in nutrient, poor soils, carnivorous plants have evolved these complex traps as a remarkable adaptation to secure sustenance.

As its name suggests, the stick insect resembles the twigs among which it lives, providing it with one of the most efficient natural camouflages on Earth. It and the equally inconspicuous leaf insect comprise the Phasmatodea order, of which there are approximately 3,000 species. Stick insect species, often called walking sticks, range in size from the tiny, half-inch-long Timema cristinae of North America, to the formidable 13-inch-long Phobaeticus kirbyi of Borneo. This giant measures over 21 inches with its legs outstretched, making it one of the world’s longest insects. Females are normally larger than males. Phasmids generally mimic their surroundings in color, normally green or brown, although some species are brilliantly colored and others conspicuously striped. Many stick insects have wings, some spectacularly beautiful, while others resemble little more than a stump. A number of species have spines and tubercles on their bodies. Found predominantly in the tropics and subtropics—although several species live in temperate regions—stick insects thrive in forests and grasslands, where they feed on leaves. Mainly nocturnal creatures, they spend much of their day motionless, hidden under plants.

𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘁 https://lnkd.in/gMPujzy4 The Honduran White Bat (Ectophylla alba) is a unique and fascinating creature found in the rainforests of Central America. It's known for its striking white fur, tent-making behavior, and specialized diet. ~ #Key #Characteristics: Striking appearance: Its all-white fur is a rarity in the bat world, with only six other species sharing this trait.Tent-maker: These bats create "tents" out of large leaves by cutting along the veins with their teeth. These tents provide shelter from rain, sun, and predators.Specialized diet: They primarily feed on figs, particularly one specific species (Ficus colombrine).Small size: They're one of the smallest fruit-eating bat species, weighing only about 9 grams.Social: They typically roost in groups of 2-15 individuals. ~ #Habitat: They are found exclusively in the lowland rainforests of eastern Honduras, northern Nicaragua, eastern Costa Rica, and western Panama. They rely on the presence of Heliconia plants to build their tents. ~ #Conservation #Status: The Honduran White Bat is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but deforestation and habitat loss are threats to their survival. ~ #Fun #Facts: - They are the only member of the genus Ectophylla. - They can consume up to 60 figs in a single night! - Their yellow nose and ears come from a carotenoid pigment obtained from their diet. ~ #Overall: The Honduran White Bat is a remarkable example of nature's diversity and ingenuity. Their unique adaptations and fascinating behavior make them a true wonder of the natural world. 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻 :- https://amzn.to/3LkrRIc 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 :- https://amzn.to/4czpMEe 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 :- https://amzn.to/3W1gKZR 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 :- https://amzn.to/3zCvA1r 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸! : https://amzn.to/4bLMWWN #ZKhan #Infotainment #FunFacts #HonduranWhiteBat

Bright red apples look delicious and, as in fairytales, potentially dangerous. The “bush” of mistletoe growing from the apple bough, poisonous yet sacred to ancient druids, looks mysterious. Apples and mistletoe, the yin and yang of fruiting trees and their parasites, opposing forces in the same place, define an ancient orchard. Their trees harbour all sorts of animals such as beetles whose grubs hollow out the tree trunks, and the mistletoe weevil (Ixapion variegatum), completely dependent on the mistletoe that is itself entirely sustained by the tree. Just two members of a unique community of organisms of an old traditional standard orchard. Apples and mistletoe are symbolic of natural magic as a liminal state where communion with the hidden forces of nature meets a modern understanding of science which all to often now results in a sterile wasteland augmented by herbicides and pesticides Orchards in autumn and winter are places which look desolate and dormant but where that sense of wonder is woven into an ancient awareness and appreciation of nature’s variety, enigma and mystery. This morphed into notions of religious awe for the druids and Eve and her curiosity , but then, as now, no wonder aided by cider. At Teepee Cider we try and follow a philosophy of minimal intervention to allow this rich biosphere to evolve in the orchard. Whilst we do not have the European mistletoe here in Aotearoa we have other organisms and organic orchard depends on the animals, fungi, plants and microbes that grow in it; the skills and labour of those who plant and prune and pick; the drunks, scrumpers and wassailers – a community of old life, decay and new life that inhabits a magical place in the history, culture and ecology of orchards. Wassail. #cider #orchards

#learnsomethingnew This is an especially big year for these red-eyed bugs: Brood XIX and Brood XIII — which pop up every 13 years and 17 years, respectively — are emerging at once. The last time such an event happened was the spring of 1803, when Thomas Jefferson was president. It will be hundreds of years before it happens again. While the insect explosion will be brief, it will shape forests for years to come. The binge-fest that birds enjoy during these periods supersize their families and, in turn, shift the eating and hunting patterns of many other species. These effects send ripples throughout the ecosystem. As one recent study put it, pulses of periodical cicadas can “rewire” entire forest food webs. Call it the butterfly cicada effect. https://lnkd.in/eKZxr7G2

🔍 Meet the Silverfish Insect: Lepisma saccharina 🦟 Description: The silverfish, an ametabolous insect, boasts a wingless physique adorned with silver scales. With 11 abdominal rings and distinctive appendages, including long anal horns, it's a fascinating creature of nature. 🏠 Habitat: Thriving in hot and temperate regions, including the Al-Jawf region and beyond, the silverfish calls homes, dry leaves, grass, and cultivated fields its habitats. 🍽️ Diet: In homes, it feasts on organic materials, often wreaking havoc on pictures and books by consuming glue and starchy components. In fields, it's a scavenger, dining on dead plants and organic matter. 👶 Reproduction: Metamorphosis is non-existent in this species. The young hatch resembling their mothers, growing into wingless adults within weeks. 💼 Importance: Notorious for damaging book covers, glossy pictures, and starched fabrics, the silverfish finds refuge in homes, emerging at night to feed and hiding during the day. 💪 Resistance: Combatting this pest involves regular cleaning of affected items and employing targeted pesticides to safeguard valuable collections, such as books and pictures. #Entomology #PestControl #HomeMaintenance #NatureAwareness

The bunya pine, Araucaria bidwillii, has survived since the Jurassic period at least 145 million years ago, but soil-borne plant pathogens introduced since European settlement are taking a terrible toll. If you’re an avid bush walker like me or just like to get out to some beautiful wild places on the weekend. Learn more about Phytophtora, its impacts on our Bunyas and other trees in the Sunshine Coast and how you can minimise the spread of this soil borne pathogen. https://lnkd.in/g6HJ2q55