Tag Archives: Facts

Asian Giant Hornet

By | |
Leave a comment
Asian Giant Hornet

You’ll thank your lucky stars when you don’t aggravate an Asian giant hornet.

  • Asian giant hornets are the largest extant species of hornet, and are native to the East Asian tropics.
  • ‘Asian giant hornets’ are also known as ‘yak-killer hornets’ and ‘giant sparrow bees’.
  • The scientific name of Asian giant hornets is Vespa mandarinia and it is from the family Vespidae, a family of wasps.
  • The diet of Asian giant hornets consists primarily of beetles, as well as large insects including honey bees, as well as tree sap, honey and soft fruit, however, the adults are only able to consume liquid, though they chew solid food and feed it to their larvae.
  • Asian giant hornets reach 3.5 to 5.5 centimetres (1.4 to 2.2 inches) in length and have a wingspan of 3.5 to 7.6 centimetres (1.4 to 3 inches); and they can devastate a hive of bees in six hours or less.
Giant Asian Hornet, Trivia, Bug, Ten Random Facts, Bee, Yellow, Black, Striped, Dead
Asian Giant Hornet
Image courtesy of t-mizo/Flickr
  • Asian giant hornets have a yellow to orange coloured head with a black to brown thorax, and a striped yellow/orange and black abdomen.
  • It is common for Asian giant hornets to live and nest underground, often under large tree roots abandoned by a past animal, however the hornets can dig if need be.
  • Asian giant hornets have a 6 millimetre long stinger (0.24 inch) that can painfully inject toxins that are potentially fatal if stung in succession, and they are said to cause the deaths of 60 to 100 people across Japan and China each year, with symptoms that include cardiac arrest, organ failure and anaphylaxis.
  • Asian giant hornets communicate primarily through the expulsion and trailing of scented chemicals known as ‘pheromones’, even uniquely marking food sources including hives with such a scent.
  • Asian giant hornets have a life span of three months up to one year, depending on their gender and role in the hive; and the queen will initially lay as many as 40 eggs, however as the year progresses, she will usually lay many thousands.
Bibliography:
Asian Giant Hornets, 2016, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/asian-giant-hornet/
Asian Giant Hornets, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet
Lallanilla M, Killer Hornets Terrorize China, 2013, Live Science, http://www.livescience.com/39988-killer-hornets-terrorize-china.html
Weaver C, This Hornet Will Be the Last Thing You See Before You Die, 2013, Gawker, http://gawker.com/this-hornet-will-be-the-last-thing-you-see-before-you-d-1428724767
Vespa mandarinia, 2016, Animal Diversity Web, http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vespa_mandarinia/

Amazon:       

Sugar Apple

By | |
Leave a comment
Sugar Apple

Sugar apples are sweet delicacies with no added sugar. Amazing, right?

  • Sugar apples are a type of fruit grown on trees that have their origins in the Americas.
  • The scientific name of the plant bearing sugar apples is Annona squamosa and it is from the family Annonaceae, the family of custard apples, however many commercial varieties are hybrids of Annona squamosa and Annona cherimola, of which the fruit is sometimes known as ‘atemoya’.
  • A ‘sugar apple’ is also known as ‘ata’, ‘aati’, ‘annon’, ‘sweetsop’, ‘pineapple sugar-apple’ – which usually refers to the hybrid ‘atemoya’, ‘sweet apple’, and ‘custard apple’, although the latter term can also refer to fruit of other species in the same genus.
  • Sugar apples are a heart, conical or roundish shape, and generally reach a diameter of 5 to 15 centimetres (2 to 6 inches) or more and can weigh between 100 grams and 3 kilograms (3.5 ounces to 6.6 pounds), depending on the species or variety.
  • Sugar apples are typically bumpy in appearance, and their skin is generally a dark green colour which changes to a light green, sometimes with a yellow, blue or red tinge when ripe, and, the flesh is a white or creamy colour.

Sugar Apple, Custard Apple, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Green, Cut, Fruit, Exotic, African Pride, Trivia, Vegetation

Custard Apple
Image courtesy of Hort Innovation
  • The flesh of sugar apples is quite slippery and juicy, and has a soft texture; and depending on the variety, it may have segments.
  • Sugar apples notably have a flavour comparable to custard, and are otherwise particularly sweet, and they are usually eaten raw and sometimes made into a drink with the addition of ice-cream or milk.
  • Sugar apples are popularly cultivated in a number of regions around the world, including parts of Asia and Australia, as well as other tropical or sub-tropical areas.
  • Around 20 to 40 black seeds can be found in most sugar apple varieties, which contain a toxin and thus should not be consumed.
  • Sugar apples are extremely high in vitamin C and are a good source of vitamin B6 and fibre, and they contain many other vitamins and minerals.
Bibliography:
Sugar Apple, 2016, Purdue Agriculture, https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/sugar_apple.html
Sugar-apple, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar-apple
Australian Custard Apples, 2016, Hort Innovation, http://www.custardapple.com.au/

Hairy Portulaca

By | |
Leave a comment
Hairy Portulaca

The hairy portulaca’s way of growing is truly dependent on the climate.

  • A hairy portulaca is a flowering species of annual succulent plant, that originated in the Americas, though it is sometimes grown as a perennial.
  • ‘Hairy portulacas’ are also known as ‘hairy pigweeds’, ‘kiss-me-quicks’ and ‘akulikulis’, and they may also be called ‘moss roses’, although this title is also often used to refer to other species in the same genus.
  • The scientific name of a hairy portulaca is Portulaca pilosa and it is from the family Portulacaceae, the family of purslanes.
  • Hairy portulacas grow to be 5 to 20 centimetres (2 to 8 inches) in height and have a tendency to spread across the ground.
  • Hairy portulacas mostly bloom in the summer months, and the flowers range from 0.5 to 1.5 centimetres (0.2 to 0.6 inches) in diameter and are coloured pink, purple or red.

Hairy Portulaca, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Pink, Flower, Vegetation, Trivia, Garden, Bright

  • The growing habit of hairy portulacas depends on the climate, as warm and moist climates cause the plant to spread, while it tends to grow upwards in cooler and less moist climates.
  • Numerous white hairs sprout from the branches of hairy portulacas, and the hairs tend to be more plentiful on plants in habitats with less water.
  • Hairy portulacas are commonly used ornamentally, particularly to cover rocks or other surfaces like a mat, however in some parts of the world, including parts of Asia and Australia, the plant is considered a weed.
  • Historically, hairy portulaca plants have been used to treat fevers or used for pain relief in traditional medicine in Brazil.
  • Extract of the hairy portulaca plant is often used in some cosmetic products, and in particular, skin conditioning.
Bibliography:
Portulaca pilosa, 2013, Australian Portulaca, http://australianportulaca.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/portulaca-pilosa.html
Portulaca pilosa, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_pilosa
Portulaca pilosa, n.d, Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants, http://keys.trin.org.au/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Portulaca_pilosa.htm
Portulaca pilosa  L. 1753, 2010, Some Magnetic Island Plants, http://www.somemagneticislandplants.com.au/index.php/plants/841-portulaca-pilosa

Amazon:  

Straight Pin

By | |
Leave a comment
Straight Pin

There are so many versions of pins! So… which pin is the straight pin?

  • Straight pins are a form of pin, typically used to temporarily keep two or more pieces of material together, and they usually have a head on one end and a sharp point at the other.
  • Today, fabric or other textiles are what straight pins most commonly pin together, however, throughout most of history, most of the time these pins were only used for holding papers or clothing together.
  • ‘Straight pins’ are also known as ‘common pins’ or simply ‘pins’; as well as ‘sewing pins’, when intended for use in the making of textile objects.
  • Straight pins were originally purposed to keep clothes together, known to be in use as far back as Ancient Egypt, and they have since been prominent throughout Medieval Europe and the Renaissance.
  • Originally, bone, iron or thorns were used to make straight pins, however modern varieties are typically made of steel or brass, often with a plastic or glass head.

Straight Pins, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Sewing Pin, Assortment, Coloured, Plain, Facts, Invention

  • Straight pins were originally quite expensive and of high demand, as each pin required handcrafting and most women required one to pin their clothes and accessories together.
  • In the Middle Ages, straight pins could be used to distinguish a person of a specific social class, with nobles affording more intricate and valuable pins.
  • Modern straight pins with metal heads are made by pressing cut pieces of wire into a die or against a hard surface to form the head, and the other end is sharpened, while plastic or glass headed pins are made in a similar way, though the wire is either forced or fused into the head.
  • Straight pins utilised for pinning paper have generally been replaced with staples, while safety pins are now commonly used for pinning clothing items.
  • Many later versions of straight pins were notorious for rusting as its nickel coating flaked off, which led to the introduction of pin cushions containing emery grit to remove said rust.
Bibliography:
Henson B, Sewing Pins – Knowing the Different Types, 2016, Create For Less, http://www.createforless.com/buying-guides/sewing-and-quilting/sewing-pins-types-and-sizes.aspx
Pin, 2016, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pin
Regency Pins, 2011, The Regency Redingote, https://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/regency-pins/
Straight Pin, 2016, How Products Are Made, http://www.madehow.com/Volume-7/Straight-Pin.html

Amazon:       

Gaiola Island

By | |
Leave a comment
Gaiola Island

Do you believe in curses like those of Gaiola Island?

  • Gaiola Island is a pair of adjacent islets, found off the coast of Italy’s Naples, in Europe, and the island is surrounded by and sits above underwater ancient Roman ruins.
  • Gaiola Island is situated in a picturesque area, approximately 27 metres (90 feet) from the Italian coast, and is accessible by swimming.
  • ‘Gaiola Island’ is also known as ‘Isola della Gaiola’ in Italian and was known as ‘Euplea’ in Ancient Roman times.
  • A bridge made of stone was built across the two Gaiola Island islets, giving the connection a natural appearance.
  • A temple to the Roman goddess of love, Venus, was erected on Gaiola Island during the Roman period, but has since fell into ruin.

Gaiola Island, Ten Random Facts, Trivia, Place, Cursed, Haunted, Italy, Villa, Abandoned

Gaiola Island
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
  • It is thought that a curse has been inflicted upon Gaiola Island, as all of the island’s most recent owners and their families are said to have experienced unfortunate events, including a suicide, kidnapping, fatal illness, murder and financial ruin.
  • Gaiola Island is renowned for once being home to a hermit in the 1800s, who was considered a practitioner of magical arts and is said to have cursed the island.
  • The now abandoned villa of Gaiola Island is thought to have been built from the late 1800s or early 1900s, although it is likely that it was constructed upon an ancient pre-existing structure.
  • While the word ‘gaiola’ literally means ‘cage’ or specifically ‘bird cage’, the meaning of the word in reference to Gaiola Island is believed to be derived from the Latin words ‘cavea’ and ‘caveola’, translated as ‘little cave’.
  • Gaiola Island is in a strict nature reserve area as part of the Parco Sommerso di Gaiola (Underwater Park of Gaiola) and is, by default, now owned by the Italian region of Campania.
Bibliography:
Beautiful But Cursed Island Of Gaiola, n.d, Travelogue of An Armchair Traveller, http://armchairtravelogue.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/beautiful-but-cursed-island-of-gaiola.html
The Cursed Island of Gaiola, 2016, Amusing Planet, http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/09/the-cursed-island-of-gaiola.html
Gaiola Island, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaiola_Island
Strutner S, Isola La Gaiola Is Freakishly Cursed, But Freakishly Beautiful, 2014, The Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/isola-la-gaiola_n_5729552.html?section=australia

Amazon:        

Roseate Spoonbill

By | |
Leave a comment
Roseate Spoonbill

Roseate spoonbills are really as vivid as a rose against the lakes.

  • Roseate spoonbills are a species of bird found mostly in lake, swampy and mangrove areas of South America, but also in Central America, and southern parts of North America.
  • The scientific name of a roseate spoonbill is Platalea ajaja, and is also known as Ajaia ajaja, and is from the family Threskiornithidae, the family of spoonbills and ibises.
  • Roseate spoonbills generally grow to be 60 to 80 centimetres (23.6 to 31.5 inches) in height and have a wingspan of 110 to 130 centimetres (43 to 51 inches).
  • The plumage colour of roseate spoonbills is a combination of pinks, whites and reds, and they often have some pale green, grey and orange features.
  • Roseate spoonbills are wading birds, and as such their diet consists primarily of aquatic insects, small fish, and shrimp.
Roseate Spoonbill, Bird, Trivia, Ten Random Facts, Pink, Animal, America
Roseate Spoonbill
Image courtesy of Insu Nuzzi/Flickr
  • Female roseate spoonbills typically produce a clutch of two to five white eggs that are speckled with brown, which are laid in a nest they build, usually in a tree near water.
  • The 15 to 18 centimetres (6 to 7 inches) long, flat-ended bill of a roseate spoonbill is utilised by swinging back and forth underwater to collect food, and on it are sensors that allows the bird to know when it has come in contact with food.
  • A roseate spoonbill does not usually sit or lie down when asleep and instead stands, often on one of its long legs, while tucking its head into its plumage.
  • Roseate spoonbills have an average lifespan of ten to fifteen years; and they live in flocks, and when in flight, they are typically arranged in a pattern, often diagonally.
  • The habitat of roseate spoonbills is under threat in a number of regions; and they have been traditionally hunted for both food and for their striking feathers, however, they have since been protected for many years in some areas, and are listed as ‘least concern’.
Bibliography:
Roseate Spoonbill, 2015, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseate_spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill, 2016, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/roseate-spoonbill/
Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), 2015, Nature Works, http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/roseatespoonbill.htm
Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), n.d, Wildscreen Arkive, http://www.arkive.org/roseate-spoonbill/platalea-ajaja/

Amazon:        

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...