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Entymology Thread

Edgy MD Mar 07 2012 07:57 AM

We've had enough etymology, and I think it's time for some bug science. This is simply great stuff, once you get past the reality that it's about insects the size of your hand.

metirish Mar 07 2012 08:10 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Cool story I guess, seems like a tough sell to re-introduce them to Lord Howe's island. They could have just let them be on Ball's Pyramid, they survived fine without humans.

Edgy MD Mar 07 2012 08:14 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Well, that's certainly the naturalist's temptation, but it's easy to wonder if 24 left under a single bush on a precipice is "fine."

Ceetar Mar 07 2012 08:21 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Lord Howe's island has changed though... does that even work as their home anymore? Could be other things that changed too. And what about the rats? They're common so no one cares? The bugs were there 'first' so they should be reinstated? (hmm..isn't that the argument in the Middle East?) Maybe there's a less populated rock somewhere?

Edgy MD Mar 07 2012 08:24 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Ceetar wrote: Lord Howe's island has changed though... does that even work as their home anymore? Certainly true, and they seem to leave it all an open question.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 07 2012 08:25 AM Re: Entymology Thread

If I came across one of those I'd probably piss myself running away. Nature is terrifying. We were snorkeling in Hawaii when my friend mentioned there was a turtle below. I went down to see it and was like "cool" until it turned to swim: I thought I was seeing its top but I was only looking at its side. When he came into view it was the size of a volkswagen (well, almost), and I was like "aaaaaah!" and swum the fuck away as fast as I could which to my way of thinking wasn't nearly fast enough if this guy was mad or hungry or liked to attack people (none applied). But really my friend who lives there dives those waters quite a bit and said it was the largest one he ever came across.

Ceetar Mar 07 2012 08:27 AM Re: Entymology Thread

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: If I came across one of those I'd probably piss myself running away. Nature is terrifying. We were snorkeling in Hawaii when my friend mentioned there was a turtle below. I went down to see it and was like "cool" until it turned to swim: I thought I was seeing its top but I was only looking at its side. When he came into view it was the size of a volkswagen (well, almost), and I was like "aaaaaah!" and swum the fuck away as fast as I could which to my way of thinking wasn't nearly fast enough if this guy was mad or hungry or liked to attack people (none applied). But really my friend who lives there dives those waters quite a bit and said it was the largest one he ever came across. I swam with a turtle in Hawaii. Just at a random beach in Kona. Turtle was just wandering back and forth between swimmers. Wasn't even deep water either, he was closer to shore than I was.

metirish Mar 07 2012 08:31 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Ceetar wrote: Maybe there's a less populated rock somewhere? City Field might work.....

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 07 2012 08:33 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Yeah we saw a bunch like the below ones but this one was like Gamera

Mets – Willets Point Mar 07 2012 08:38 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Enough with giant insects on a rock. It's time for an incredible number of spiders in a tree!

Benjamin Grimm Mar 07 2012 08:40 AM Re: Entymology Thread

We snorkeled in Hawaii too. I do recall seeing one turtle like that, but it was stationary. Where did you snorkel? We did it once in Maui and another time in the big famous bay (actually a volcanic crater) on Oahu, just outside of Honolulu. (Can't remember the name... lengthy Hawaiian name that started with an H.)

Edgy MD Mar 07 2012 08:45 AM Re: Entymology Thread

See, this is why the giant stick bugs went extinct (or so we thought) the first time. The damn turtles hijack everything! Please move all turtle talk to the Herpetology Thread.

Ceetar Mar 07 2012 08:48 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Edgy DC wrote: See, this is why the giant stick bugs went extinct (or so we thought) the first time. The damn turtles hijack everything! Please move all turtle talk to the Herpetology Thread. cowabunga.

Mets – Willets Point Mar 07 2012 08:49 AM Re: Entymology Thread

This is not snow, it's spider webs!!!! Aigh!

Ceetar Mar 07 2012 08:53 AM Re: Entymology Thread

my wife used to have a pet tarantula. It was blue. We used to feed her crickets. Of course, it turned out her was a him. We eventually gave it back to her spider professor and she was going to put him in a breeding program.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 07 2012 08:56 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Benjamin Grimm wrote: We snorkeled in Hawaii too. I do recall seeing one turtle like that, but it was stationary. Where did you snorkel? We did it once in Maui and another time in the big famous bay (actually a volcanic crater) on Oahu, just outside of Honolulu. (Can't remember the name... lengthy Hawaiian name that started with an H.) We were snorkeling in Oahu when we saw Gamera. Just a locals beach near where we were staying in Kahala (East of Waikiki/Honolulu). The interesting thing about that was all the old Jeep parts and stuff that's in the water there as a result of Uncle Sam digging the place up in the war. Also, did some off the Big Island near Captian Cook. Sorry for turtling up your bug post.

attgig Mar 07 2012 09:13 AM Re: Entymology Thread

that bug seems cool. and yeah, rats are FAR from being extinct, so eliminating them from that island doesn't seem like such a big deal (though, i suppose they have a right to life??? heh). i say get rid of the rats, and bring in the bugs... hopefully, no other animals that may have been introduced since then find them tasty. that's kinda the big question, what else changed since 90 years ago that may make the island not so hospitable.... dogs? felines? birds?

Edgy MD Mar 07 2012 09:15 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Well, they're stick bugs, so they have an evolutionary survival mechanism that hides them from their natural (presumably avian) predators. Rats ain't that stupid though.

Mets – Willets Point Mar 07 2012 09:25 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Well, everyone is ignoring the spider apocalypse story, so I'll go back to Edgy's link and note that this is one of the best sentences ever written: The only thing to do was to go back up after dark, with flashlights and cameras, to see if the pooper would be out taking a nighttime walk.

Edgy MD Mar 07 2012 09:36 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Oh, I'm all appreciative of you continuing to bug up my thread.

Vic Sage Mar 07 2012 10:55 AM Re: Entymology Thread Edited 2 time(s), most recently on Mar 07 2012 11:29 AM

i've written a piece of "flash fiction" (a short story -- generally in the sf/fantasy/horror genres -- of under 1000 words) called SURVIVORS IN THE DARK, about sex, cockroaches, a cocktail party and the end of the world. The lead character is an entymologist studying the reproduction and adaptation of cockroaches, who has made a startling discovery. The story has made it to the 2nd round of readings at a few places, but so far no luck on a sale. I'm actually starting to consider self-publishing as an option for my stories. while i'd prefer to have the imprimatur of a professional publication rather than resort to what is essentially a vanity press, i think things are changing and self-publishing is becoming more common. Anybody have any experience with it?

Fman99 Mar 07 2012 11:06 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Ceetar wrote: my wife used to have a pet tarantula. It was blue. We used to feed her crickets. Of course, it turned out her was a him. We eventually gave it back to her spider professor and she was going to put him in a breeding program. Sounds sweet. Put me in a breeding program.

Ceetar Mar 07 2012 11:23 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Fman99 wrote: Ceetar wrote: my wife used to have a pet tarantula. It was blue. We used to feed her crickets. Of course, it turned out her was a him. We eventually gave it back to her spider professor and she was going to put him in a breeding program. Sounds sweet. Put me in a breeding program. As I understand it, that's what college is for. Even if you eat crickets.

Vic Sage Mar 07 2012 11:30 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Regarding the topic at hand... i hate bugs. i recognize that some (not all) are essential to our eco system, and it's also scientifically useful to maintain an endangered species of anything... in a zoo, or museum, or research facility. But to reintroduce it into a populated community just, you know, because you can? And to do so at the expense of another life form currently living there? And initiate a PR campaign to make the people living there feel like its a good idea? Exactly why should that be done? I don't get it. Sure, if there was some particular and specific benefit to it (they keep some species or substance at bay that is harmful, or are a food supply for a species vital to humanity's well being or create some useful substance, or engage in some useful activity, or even if their extinction could only be prevented by such reintroduction), then fine, ok. But that doesn't seem to be the case here. We seem to be doing it just because we can, which is not always a valid reason to do something, or because we have anthropomorphized the bug, projecting onto it human qualities and emotions and seeking to nurture it for its own sake. I'd suggest in that case that there are better use of such limited resources of time, money and focus.

The Second Spitter Apr 22 2012 04:03 AM Re: Entymology Thread

Spider eating a snake As a frequent visitor to the beaches and wild rainforests of Cape York, kite surfer Ant Hadleigh thought he had seen it all. But the Cairns man was in disbelief after witnessing a golden orb spider slowly attempt to eat a brown tree snake at a mate's place in Freshwater yesterday afternoon. "I thought it was pretty incredible," Mr Hadleigh said. "A few times the snake managed to get up and attack the spider, and the spider would run back up the web. "I would have put my money on the snake for sure, especially seeing how big it was." Mr Hadleigh estimated the tree snake to be around half a metre long and was alive for "an hour or more" after being caught in the spider's web, before finally succumbing to the crafty arachnid's venom. "You could see the spider just chewing into it and the part which the spider was eating had gone all black and the insides were bubbling," he said. "It was pretty crazy." And here's one of a spider eating a bird.

Mets – Willets Point Aug 07 2012 07:05 PM Re: Entymology Thread

Covered in bees!!!!