mr. BeetLe

Small but terrible! The bombardier beetle, though less than an inch in length is noted for its unique defense mechanism. When threatened, the insect sprays boiling, foul-smelling liquid and steam from its posterior, warding off spiders, birds, and even frogs. The beetle is equipped with "a pair of glands which open at the tip of its abdomen." Each of these has a reservoir that stores an acidic compound and hydrogen peroxide as well as a reaction chamber filled with enzymes dissolved in water. To protect itself, the insect can squeeze the solution from the reservoirs into the reaction chambers to trigger a chemical reaction. The result? Noxious chemicals, water, and steam- at a temperature of about 212 degrees fahrenheit are sprayed onto an attacker.

Researchers have studied the bombardier beetle to learn how to develop more effective and ecologically-sound mist systems. Engineers hope to use spray technology based on the bombardier beetle in car engines and fire extinguishers, as well as in medical drug-delivery devices such as inhalers.

So friends, never underestimate these beautiful tiny creatures. Hmmm... by the way, are you thinking what I'm thinking? Humans have their own defense mechanism too, actually they have two. That's the KK power and the ut0t LOL! PEACE!!!

The poLLinators

Pollen are the dust of life. Either you find pollen as a curse rather than a blessing, still this unique dust has an important role to play, of course with the help of those busy pollinators. Let's meet some of them.

Flies and Beetles
These are some of the unsung heroes of pollination. If you enjoy chocolate, you can thank a tiny fly that does the job of pollinating the flowers of the cacao tree.

Butterflies and Moths
These attractive insects depends largely on nectar for food, picking up pollen as they fly from one flower to another. Some beautiful orchids depend entirely on moths for successful pollination.

Sunbirds and Hummingbirds
These colorful birds constantly flit from flower to flower, sipping nectar. Pollen gets deposited on the feathers of the birds' forehead and breast.

Bees and Wasps
The hairy bodies of bees pick up pollen as readily as a pair of spectacles picks up dust, making bees ideal pollinators. Just one bumblebee can carry as many as 15,000 grains of pollen. The honeybee is the world's most important pollinator. It usually concentrates on only one type of flower abundant near its hive. It is calculated that as much as 30% of all human food is directly or indirectly dependent on pollination by bees. Crops such as almonds, apples, cherries and plums need pollination by bees. Farmers pay beekeepers for the service each hive provides.

Thanks to you busy pollinators, for distributing the "dust of life."

sPider siLk

It is lighter than cotton, yet ounce for ounce it is stronger than steel. For decades scientists have studied the silk produced by orb-weaving spiders. Dragline silk-the strongest of the seven silks these spiders can spin-has attracted the most attention. It is tougher and more waterproof than silkworm strands, which are commonly used in clothing. The manufacturer of industrial fibers such as Kevlar requires high temperatures and the use of organic solvents. In contrast, spiders produce silk at room temperature, using water as a solvent. Furthermore, the dragline is also tougher than Kevlar. If enlarged to the size of a football field, a web of dragline silk could stop a jumbo jet in flight!

Not surprisingly, researchers are intrigued by the toughness of dragline silk. Scientists would like to exploit that property in items ranging from bulletproof vests to suspension cables for bridges. But replicating dragline silk is not easy, for the material is made inside the spider's body and the process is not yet fully understood.

Isn't it humbling to realize that a lot of smart people are trying to replicate what these tiny, little creatures in our basements can do naturally!


full article in awake magazine

aN expErt gArdEner

Among the many kinds of ants, the South American leaf-cutting ant amazes biologist with its sophisticated gardening techniques. To provide food, this tiny insects cuts leaf fragments and gathers debris from the forest floor and brings these back to its underground nest. The ant then grinds these bits into a mash to feed its fungus garden. This leaf cutter instinctively knows how to keep its crop at an ideal temperature and humidity level to obtain the best results. To create new allotments, it will transfer cuttings from established crops to newer leaf beds. The leaf-cutting ant has even mastered the art of pruning to maximize fungal growth. Researchers have observed that this skillful horticulturist (art and science of cultivating plants) adjust its efforts according to the food needs of the nest, thus conserving time and energy.

Gardening involves hard work, and the leaf-cutting ant is astounding in this regard. As a certain proverb said, "Go to the ant you lazy one, see its ways and become wise. Although it has no commander, officer or ruler, it prepares its food even in the summer, it has gathered its food supplies even in the harvest." Truely, they are beautiful tiny creatures, created for humans like us to learn from.

pERfect ligHt

Have you ever touched an electric light bulb that has been on for a while, you know that it can get very hot. The heat produced by the bulb results from wasted energy. A typical light bulb gives off only 10 percent of its energy as light, while 90 percent is wasted as heat. In comparison, the tiny-producing insect called the firefly is nearly 100 percent efficient.

Fireflies waste so little energy as heat that the light they produce has been termed "Perfect Light." How do they do it? The abdomen of a firefly contains an organic substance known as luciferin. When oxygen is drawn into the abdomen through a tube called the abdominal trachea, it mixes with luciferin, and the resulting chemical reaction gives off a pale-yellow to reddish-green glow. The cells that produce the firefly's light also contain uric-acid crystals, which help to reflect the light away from the insect's abdomen. Scientists say that fireflies use their light to attract mates and that different species of fireflies flash different patterns and rhythms.

I've always been fascinated with the beauty of fireflies or anniniput, isn't it obvious..LOL! Though their just so tiny, but they can leave us all in owe everytime we see even just a single firefly. Oh I love to hold one someday...*sigh*

source: AWAKE!