In fact, they have been known to reach lengths of over 10 feet and weights of more than 100 pounds. These snakes will eat almost anything including small mammals, birds, fish, frogs, lizards, and even other snakes. However, their diet consists mostly of rodents and reptiles.

Let’s understand more about the Albino Granite Burmese Pythons in depth in this article.

What Does An Albino Granite Burmese Python Look Like

The Albino Granite Burmese Python looks like any other normal python except for the lack of coloration on its body. Its skin is usually yellowish-white with black spots. Some individuals may be completely white while others may only have black spots. They are normally found in groups of five or six. Their eyes are dark brown and they have a round head.

Both albino and granite mutations can be seen in Albino Granite Burmese Pythons. They resemble albinos in that they have red eyes, and they resemble granite pythons in that they have patternless bellies; in essence, they are variations of the granite mutation that occur in red, yellow, and white. As time passes, the markings begin to vanish, and eventually, the snakes are virtually just white and yellow in color.

The Albino Mutation

In the early 1980s, the first albino Burmese pythons were discovered. A Burmese python breeder named Bob Clark was able to acquire one of these animals and produce the first-ever captive-bred albino Burmese Python in 1986.

They are commonly referred to as albino snakes, however, they are actually amelanism or lack of pigmentation. These snakes aren’t real albinos because they still have yellow and red pigments; the only thing missing is black. White with yellow and red patterns cover the body of a young albino Burmese python. These markings fade as they get older.

The Granite Mutation

In late 1995, a new Burmese python mutation was discovered in the wild. The coloration and pattern of these snakes were conventional, yet they were unusually patterned. The novel mutant was dubbed “granite” because of the small, irregular black blotches on the animal’s dorsal and lateral sides; it has also been found to be a recessive mutation. Granite Burmese pythons have a patternless belly, indistinct head markings, and a dark spot in the center of each of their light-colored dorsal scales in addition to their irregular dark spots.

History of the Albino Granite Burmese Pythons

The history of the Albino Granites Burmese Pythons is a fascinating story, which has been unfolding for over 100 years. It started with a single specimen that was found in Burma by an Englishman named John White in 1883.

The specimen was sent to England where it was exhibited at the Crystal Palace Zoo. This was the first time anyone had ever seen a white snake. In fact, no one knew what they were looking at! Over time, more specimens were discovered, and eventually, the name “Albino” was given to them. A few years later, the first Albino Python was born. Today there are hundreds of these snakes living all around the world.

What Are Some Of The Different Types Of Albino Granite Burma Pythons?

There are three different types of Albino Granite Burmese Pythons. Each type comes in two colors.

• Red-bellied Albino Granite Pythons come in red and yellow. Their coloration changes as they age.
• Yellow-bellied Albino Granite Pythons come in yellow and black. Their coloration changes over time.
• Black-banded Albino Granite Python comes in black and white. Their coloration changes slightly over time.

Distribution of Albino Granite Burmese Pythons

Today, the Albino Granite Pythons can be found in Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, South America and North America. They have also made their way into our backyard. There are now Albino Pythons living in Florida, Texas, California, New Mexico and even Hawaii.

They can also be found in many zoos throughout the United States. Some of the most well-known include: San Diego Zoo, San Francisco Zoo, Denver Zoological Gardens, Chicago Zoological Society, Philadelphia Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo, Indianapolis Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Long Island Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, Tampa Bay Zoo, Kansas City Zoo, Minnesota Zoo, Omaha Zoo, Oklahoma City Zoo, Seattle Zoo, Dallas Safari Park, Los Angeles Zoo, Phoenix Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, and SeaWorld Orlando.

Understanding the Habitat of Albino Granite Burmese Pythons

This species lives in tropical regions of Asia. Its preferred habitats include swamps, marshes, rivers, lakes, ponds, and rice fields. These snakes prefer to stay near water.

This species is most active from April through November. During the summer months, they spend most of their time basking in the sun. In winter, they hibernate under logs or rocks.

The distributed habitat of the Albino Granita Burmese Pythons consists of grasslands, savannahs, swamps, marshes, riversides, lakes, ponds, springs, streams, ditches, drains, culverts, irrigation channels, septic tanks, stormwater pipes, and any other type of wetland or body of water. These areas provide excellent hiding places for the Albino Granite Python. They like to live in shallow waters such as those found in puddles, mangrove swamps, rice paddies, and small creeks.

In some cases, Albino Pythons will actually hide under bridges and in tunnels. They do this because they feel safer from predators when they are underground. They tend to stay away from large bodies of water because they don’t want to get caught on the surface. If you see one swimming near the shoreline, it’s probably not going to make it very far before being eaten.

Diet of Albino Granite Burmese Pythons

These snakes feed mainly on fish, frogs, crabs, lizards, mice and birds. They also like to eat some invertebrates such as earthworms.

They are not very picky eaters; however, they do tend to favor certain types of foods. Snakes living in warmer climates tend to eat more amphibians because they can easily hunt them down. Snakes in colder areas tend to eat more rodents.

These reptiles feed primarily on fish, frogs, crayfish, lizards, mice, birds, rats, and occasionally small mammals. Their diet varies depending on location. For example, if they are located in a swampy area, then they may eat mostly amphibians. However, if they are in a dryer climate, then they might prefer to eat rodents instead.

Breeding Behavior of Albino Granite Python

When breeding season arrives, the female Albino Granite Python looks for a suitable place to lay her eggs. She does this by digging a nest hole about 3 feet deep. Once she digs the hole, she covers it up with vegetation so that it blends right in with the rest of the environment. She lays between 8 and 20 eggs per clutch. She usually only breeds once every two years.

When the eggs hatch, the babies begin to look for food immediately. Their eyes open after three days. By five weeks old, they are able to swim. At this point, they start eating worms and insects. As they grow older, they begin to eat smaller prey items. Eventually, they will learn how to catch their own meals.

As they mature, they continue to grow bigger and stronger. In fact, the average size of an Albino Granite Python is around 6 feet long. When they reach sexual maturity at about 4 years old, they become aggressive towards each other. This is when they start fighting over territory. The males will bite off chunks of flesh until they find a mate. After mating, the females will lay approximately 10 clutches of eggs during her lifetime.

Albino Granite Python Care

If you decide to keep an Albino Granite python in your home, there are several things you need to know first. You must understand that these snakes are extremely territorial. They will attack anything unfamiliar, even another snake. So, if you have more than one, you should separate them into different rooms. Also, keep all food out of sight. Make sure that no one enters the room where the snake is kept without wearing shoes.

You also need to be careful to avoid getting bitten. If you accidentally touch one of these snakes, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Then apply antiseptic cream or antibiotic ointment. If you notice swelling or redness, contact your doctor immediately.

If you’re planning to release your Albino Granite Python back into its natural habitat, remember to follow the same guidelines that you used when keeping it captive. Be sure to give it plenty of space. It needs to be able to roam freely without having to worry about other animals attacking it.

The Albino Granite Python has been known to live for as long as 30 years.

How to Keep Your Albino Granite Python Healthy?

It is important to provide your Albino Granite Pyhton with a healthy diet. A balanced diet includes small amounts of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fats, and calcium.

Your Albino Granite Python may require additional nutrients and supplements. Check with your veterinarian for recommendations.

Some people who keep Albino Granite Pythons say that they enjoy feeding them live crickets. However, this practice is discouraged by many experts. Crickets contain high levels of chitin which can cause intestinal blockages. Therefore, it is best to only feed your pet insects that have already died naturally.

How to Recognize Albino Granite Pythons?

Albino Granite Pythons are usually found in pairs. The male will often display his bright yellow coloration around his neck and head. Females are usually brownish-gray in color. Their bellies are white or light gray.

Because Albino Granite Pythons look so different from other snakes, it is easy to confuse them with other poisonous snakes. To help prevent accidental bites, check out our page on how to tell if an animal is venomous.

One way to distinguish between these two species is by looking at their tails. Albino Granite Pythons have short tails while Red-Bellied Pythons have longer tails.

If you think that you have caught an Albino Granite Python, contact your local wildlife rehabilitator immediately. You should never handle an Albino Granite python yourself unless you know exactly what you are doing.

Can You Pet An Albino Granite Burmese Python?

So, can you keep a Burmese python as a pet? Yes, but there are some things that you need to consider before bringing home your new pet. Albino Granite Burmese Pythons are friendly, docile creatures. They do not pose any danger to humans. However, they are still wild animals, and therefore, they must be treated like such.

Housing An Albino Granite Burmese Python

You should house your pet in a large enclosure. This means that you should provide your pet with room to move around and stretch out. Make sure that your enclosure is well ventilated. Also, try to avoid placing your pet’s cage near any heat sources such as radiators or heating vents. Heat can stress your pet out.

Feeding Your Burmese Python

Most people recommend providing your pet with a varied diet. This means that you must offer your pet a wide array of food items. Some of the most common types of food include:

Small rodents such as mice and rats

• Fish
• Frogs
• Live crickets
• Insect larvae
• Meat
• Eggs
• Milk
• Cheese
• Breads, crackers, and cereal
• Nuts and seeds
• Grains
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Bones
• Dead insects

Heat and Light Exposure

Burmese Pythons are nocturnal animals. Therefore, they prefer to be housed during the nighttime hours. If possible, place your pet inside during the day. Try to avoid exposing your pet to direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can damage your pet’s skin and eyes.

Breeding Albino Granite Pythones

It is important to remember that breeding Albino Granite Pythons is illegal in several states. In addition, many people believe that breeding Albino Granites causes them to become aggressive towards humans.

However, there are ways to breed Albino Granite Pythongs safely. One method involves using a female Albino Granite Python and a male Red-Bellied Python. The males will mate with the females. After mating has occurred, the female will lay eggs. These eggs will hatch into baby pythons.

The babies will grow up to be adults. Once the babies reach adulthood, they will continue to produce offspring.

Common Health Problems

The inclusion body disease virus is one of the most common health problems for Burmese Pythons in captivity. This disease affects the kidneys and liver. It also results in death within 3 months.

Another problem that can occur in captive Burmese Pythons is constipation. This condition occurs when a snake does not eat enough fiber. As a result, it becomes difficult for the snake to pass waste through its digestive system.

Other Common Diseases

Infectious diseases are another common problem for Burmese Pythons. Many of these infections are caused by parasites. For example, the roundworm parasite can cause severe intestinal blockages. Other parasitic worms can infect the brain causing neurological disorders.

Some of the more common parasites that affect Burmese Pythons include:

• Roundworms

• Hookworms

• Tapeworms

• Flukes, etc.

How Much Do Albino Granite Burmese Pythons Cost?

Albino Granite Burmese Pythons cost anywhere from $50-$100. They require lots of care and attention. Because of this, they are usually quite expensive pets. However, if you want an exotic pet, then you may be willing to pay more money for one.

These snakes are usually sold at reptile stores. Most of the time, you will have to buy them from a breeder.

Read More

Black and White Snakes (With Strips and Spots)

There are two bees that do not sting. The first, as the name suggests, is the stingless bee. The second is male bees. Both male bees and stingless bees do not have stingers. However, the female stingless bees do have stingers but they are too weak to cause any serious pain upon being stung.

Let’s look at both these bees in detail:

Stingless Bees

The bees that do not sting are known as stingless bees. Stingless bee species have been around for millions of years and they have adapted to a variety of habitats. They can be found in the tropical rainforests of South America, Africa, and Asia. There are over 1,000 different species of stingless bees in the world. Some of these species have only one or two queens per colony while others have more than 100.

These bees live in colonies with multiple queens and workers. In some cases, the queen is fertilized by another female worker bee. While this may seem like a strange way to reproduce, it actually works well for them because it allows the queen to lay eggs throughout her life without being stung.

Where Do Stingless Bees Live?

Stingless Bees live in many different places including:

Tropical Rainforest: Stingless bees live in the tropics where temperatures range from 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit (27-38 degrees Celsius). This is also where you will find most of the plants and flowers that they use for food.

Deserts: Many stingless bees live in deserts and semi-desert areas. Temperatures here can reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius) during the day but drop down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) at night.

Grasslands: Stingless bees live on grasslands and savannas. They prefer dry environments with lots of sunlight.

Rocky Mountains: You might think that a mountain would be too cold for stingless bees to survive, but they actually thrive in high elevations. Here, temperatures can vary between -40 and +80 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 and +26 degrees Celsius).

How Do Stingless Bees Reproduce?

Stingless bees reproduce using a process called swarming. When a swarm settles into a new location, the bees build a nest out of leaves and other plant material. Each hive has a single queen who lays eggs all through her life. She does not need to mate with any males. Instead, she mates with other female members of the colony. After mating, the queen dies and is replaced by a new queen. As long as the colony survives, its population continues to grow.

What Parts Of The World Are Stingless Bees Found?

Stingless bees are found in many parts of the world including :

• Australia: Stingless bees were first discovered in Australia in 1884. Today, there are about 12 different species of stingless bee living in Australia.
• Brazil: Stingless bees have been found in Brazil since the 1800s. Today, there are more than 30 different species of stingless honeybees living there.
• China: Stingless bees have lived in China for thousands of years. Today, there are 13 different species of stingless wasps living there.
• India: Stingless bees have existed in India for hundreds of years. There are currently about 20 different species of stingless bumblebee living there.
• Indonesia: Stingless bees have inhabited Indonesia for hundreds of years. Today, scientists estimate that there are about 50 different species of stingless drones living there.
• Japan: Stingless bees have thrived in Japan for thousands of years. Scientists believe that there are about 10 different species of stingless drone bees living there today.
• Malaysia: Stingless bees have occupied Malaysia for thousands of years. There are now about 15 different species of stingless hornets living there.
• Mexico: Stingless bees have flourished in Mexico for thousands of years. Currently, there are about 25 different species of stingless ants living there.
• New Zealand: Stingless bees have evolved in New Zealand for about 2 million years. Scientists believe that they have about 17 different species of stingless flies living there today.

In addition to their native habitats, stingless bees are also found throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America.

What Are The Different Types Of Stingless Bees?

The most common type of stingless bee is called Melipona rufiventris. This bee lives in Brazil and Paraguay. It’s also known as the red-faced meliponary. Other types include:

• Melipona bicolor – This bee lives in Mexico and Central America.
• Melipona quadrifasciata – This bee lives in Australia and New Guinea.
• Melipona scutellaris – This bee lives in India and Southeast Asia.
• Melipona subnitida – This bee lives in Indonesia and Malaysia.
• Melipona capensis – This bee lives in southern Africa.

What Do Stingless Bees Look Like?

Most stingless bees look similar to honeybees. They have large bodies and long legs. Their heads are small and round. Their eyes are located near the top of their head. Most stingless bees have black or brown hair. They also have four wings. Each wing has six segments. The first three segments are longer than the last three segments. All bees have eight legs. The front pair of legs are larger than the back pair. They also have a pair of antennae at the end of their body. The antennae are usually dark-colored.

How To Find And Identify Stingless Bees

There are several ways you can find and identify stingless bees. You can use your hands, a magnifying glass, a microscope, or binoculars. Here are some tips on how to find and identify stingless bee nests:

Use Your Hands

If you want to see what kind of nest a bee has made, then you should try using your hands. First, gently shake the tree trunk where the nest is located. Next, carefully move your hand around the area until you feel the nest.

Using a Magnifying Glass

A magnifying glass will allow you to get a closer view of the nest. You can use this tool to examine the nest more closely.

Using Binoculars

Binoculars are helpful when you need to take a close look at the nest. With binoculars, you can see details that you cannot see with your naked eye.

What Is The Role Of Stingless Bees?

Stingless bees are also very beneficial to humans. They pollinate plants and provide honey and wax. Honey from stingless bees has a milder flavor than honey from other types of bees. It also contains less water and sugar. This makes it ideal for people who prefer their food to taste sweeter. Stingless bees are also important for agriculture because they help control pests such as aphids and grasshoppers.

Stingless bees have many uses. However, they aren’t just used for human purposes. They are also used for animal feed. For example, they are often fed to cattle to increase milk production. Many farmers use them to keep down the number of flies on their farms. Farmers also use them to keep away from birds and rodents.

The pollination process is important for plants. Without it, most plants would not survive. Many people use stingless bees for pollination. They collect pollen from flowers on trees and bushes and place it on the backs of the bees. Once the bees return to the hive, the pollen gets mixed up with the nectar. This makes it easier for the bees to feed their young.

Male Bees

Male bees are another type of bees that do not sting. Male bees don’t have stings. Instead, they have two pairs of appendages that can be seen under their abdomen. These appendages are called “stinger clubs.” Male bees use these clubs to fight off other male bees. Male bees do not have stings because they are not aggressive. They only attack if they think that they are being attacked. If a male bee does not fight back, he may be killed by his opponent.

What Do Drones/Male Bees Look Like?

Male bees or drones look like females but they have different features. Male bees have smaller abdomens and shorter legs. Males also have an extra set of appendages called “stinger club” which they use to defend themselves against other males. The stinger club is covered in hair-like structures.

What Is The Role Of Male Bees?

So, you must be wondering, what is the role of male bees in a colony? Male bees are responsible for collecting pollen and carrying it back to the queen. They also guard the entrance of the hive so that no one enters without permission. Other roles include helping to build new cells and protecting the queen from predators.

While the female bee collects pollen and builds cells, the drone collects pollen and carries it back to the queen’s chamber. He then deposits it into her stomach. When the queen needs more pollen, she asks him to go out and gather some. After that, he returns to the hive and tells everyone about the good news.

In addition, drones are also responsible for guarding the entrance of the hive. This means that they are always ready to protect the hive from intruders. They also patrol the area around the hive looking for any threats.

Following are the three roles played by the male bees:

Guard Bees

As we discussed earlier, male bees are used to guard the entrances of the hive. They are stationed at the front of the hive. They keep watch over the area and make sure that there aren’t any intruders. They also help the workers when they need to move something heavy.

Honey Production

As we learned earlier, drones are used to produce honey for the colony. They collect pollen and carry it back to the queen’s chamber. Once there, the queen eats the pollen and stores it in her body. She uses this stored food as energy for egg production.

Mating Queens

When a queen wants to mate with a drone, she sends him out to find a suitable partner. Once he finds a potential queen, he brings her back to the hive. Then, he mates with her. After mating, the drone leaves the queen alone. He goes back to the hive and reports on how successful the mating was.

Which Bees Have The Most Painful Sting?

While in the first section of the article, we talked about the bees that don’t sting, now we will talk about which bees have the most painful sting! Female bees have the most painful stings since they have long hairs on them. In fact, they have such long hair that it takes up almost half of their bodies. On the other hand, male bees have very short hair. As a result, they have less pain than female bees.

Female bees also have longer stinging hairs than male bees. So, male bees have fewer stinging hairs than female bees. Because of this, male bees are less likely to get hurt during fights with other male bees. Amongst female bees, paper wasp and the warrior wasp have the most painful sting among all insects.

It can cause extreme pain if it gets stuck inside your skin. If you happen to get stung by a paper wasp, you should immediately remove it. Otherwise, you might end up getting infected. Paper wasps have sharp teeth that allow them to eat through wood or paper.

Read More

1. What Kinds of Bees Live in the Ground?
2. How to Identify a Queen Wasp?
3. Natural Predators of Wasps

You can distinguish harmless snakes from coral snakes by looking at their eyes: Coral snakes have vertical pupils that look like slits, while the eyes of nonvenomous snakes are round.

On the other hand, harmless, black and red banded snakes have horizontal pupils that look like circles. The coloration of the black and red-banded snake varies with its age and sex. Young snakes tend to have more vibrant colors than adults. Adult males tend to have brighter bands than females.

“If red touches yellow, it kills a fellow. If red touches black, it’s a friend of Jack”. The common, age-old rhyme supposedly helps to distinguish between the deadly coral snake and several of its harmless lookalikes.
Below, we have listed a handful of ways you can identify black and red banded snakes:

Kingsnakes

Kingsnakes are found throughout North America. They are large, nonvenomous constrictors that prey primarily on rodents and small reptiles. Kingsnakes are typically brownish-gray with dark bands running down their backs. These bands may be broken into smaller stripes. Kingsnakes are not usually aggressive toward humans. However, if they feel threatened, they will strike at people.

Since their red bands do not touch their yellow bands, it is safe to conclude that these snakes are non-venomous snakes.

Coral Snake

The coral snake is one of the largest and deadliest snakes in North America. Coral snakes are found throughout the southeastern United States. They are characterized by a bright orange head and body with a distinctive black ring around their neck. The coral snake is the only black and red-banded snake that has its yellow bands touching the red bands, denoting that its venomous, even deadly.

Their venom contains neurotoxins that cause paralysis and death within minutes. Coral snakes are not usually aggressive toward people but will bite when provoked. If bitten, seek medical attention immediately.

Eastern Massasauga

The eastern massasauga is a nonvenomous pit viper native to the Appalachian Mountains. It has a light gray body with two distinct rows of darker spots along its back. Its tail is covered with dark blotches. Eastern massasaugas are relatively docile and do not pose much threat to humans.

Rattlesnake

Rattlesnakes are among the most dangerous snakes in the world. There are over 200 different species of rattlesnakes worldwide. Most are harmless to humans. Rattlesnakes are characterized by having a rattle located near the tip of their tails. This rattle helps them warn predators away from their nests and young. Rattlesnakes use this warning system to protect themselves from attack.

There are three main types of rattlesnakes: ground rattlers, water rattlesnakes, and pit vipers. Ground rattlers are the smallest type of rattlesnake. They live in dry areas where they hunt for insects and lizards. Pit vipers are the second-largest type of rattlesnakes. They prefer moist environments like swamps and ponds.

Corn Snakes

Corn snakes are quite common in the Southeast. They are nonvenomous constricting snakes that feed mainly on frogs and toads. Corn snakes are characterized by a long, slender body with a pointed snout. Since their yellow bands do not touch the red bands, it is easy to tell that they are not venomous in nature. They are usually greenish-yellow or tan colored with a white belly. Corn snakes are not normally aggressive toward people but will defend themselves if attacked.

Milksnakes

Milksnakes are nonvenomous snakes that eat mice, rats, and shrews. Milksnakes are characterized by a short, cylindrical body with a rounded head. They are usually olive-green or brownish in color with a white belly with their yellow bands not touching their red bands. Milksnakes generally avoid contact with humans.

If you see any of these snakes, it’s important to remember that they are wild animals and should never be handled. Also, make sure to stay out of their habitats. If you encounter an animal while hiking, camping, fishing, or hunting, please report your sighting to local authorities.

How To Identify Dangerous Snakes From Harmless Ones?

When you go out looking for wildlife, you need to know how to identify the difference between a poisonous snake and a harmless one. You don’t want to get bit or even worse, killed by a deadly snake! Here’s what you need to know about identifying dangerous snakes from harmless ones.

Although there is no universal criteria for determining whether a snake is safe or dangerous, here are some things to look for when trying to determine if a snake is poisonous or not.

Size

Snakes tend to grow larger as they age. The average size of a snake is typically around four feet (1.2 meters) long. However, some snakes can reach up to 10 feet (3 meters). When you’re dealing with a large snake, it’s best to assume that it could be dangerous until proven otherwise.

Coloration

Color is also something to consider when deciding if a snake is dangerous. Some snakes have bright colors while others are more camouflaged. For example, black snakes are often considered to be very dangerous because they blend into their surroundings so well. On the other hand, harmless snakes may appear to be harmless because they are dull in color.

Behavior

Another thing to keep in mind when deciding if a snake might be dangerous is its behavior. Some snakes are known to be active at night while others are active during the day. It’s important to note that most poisonous snakes are active during the daytime. So, if you spot a snake during the day, it’s probably harmless.

Head Shape

The shape of a snake’s head can help you decide whether it’s poisonous or not. Most snakes have round heads, but some species have triangular or diamond-shaped heads. Poisonous snakes have elongated heads that are wider than they are tall. If you notice a snake with an unusual head shape, you should still take caution. Remember that all snakes are potentially dangerous and it’s better to err on the side of caution.

Body Size

The length of a snake’s body can also tell you if it’s dangerous or not. Large snakes are more likely to be dangerous than small ones. In fact, some snakes can grow up to 30 feet (9 meters) long. Smaller snakes are less likely to pose a threat to humans.

Habitat

Snakes live in different environments depending on where they’re found. Some snakes prefer dry areas, while others prefer wetter conditions. This means that you’ll find them near water sources, such as rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and oceans. These types of snakes are usually harmless.

You can learn a lot about snakes just by observing them. Knowing what to look for will help you avoid getting bitten or killed by a venomous snake.

Read More

1. Black and White Snakes (With Strips and Spots)
2. How to Identify a Queen Wasp?

A Little About Ground-Nesting Bees

The bees that live in the ground are known as ground-nesting bees. Ground nesting bees include bumblebees, carpenter bees, digger bees, leafcutter bees, sweat bees, and mason bees.

Ground nesting bees construct nests underground, usually in loose soil, sand, or gravel, or under stones or logs. Some species excavate tunnels through soft soil, while others use preexisting holes or cracks. The entrance hole may be covered with mud, clay, or leaves. A few species make nests directly out of wood, stone, or plant material.

Ground nesting bees are generally smaller than other types of bees. Bumblebee queens weigh about 2 grams and lay eggs weighing 1 gram. Carpenter bees and digger bees are slightly larger, with queens averaging 3–4 grams and laying eggs weighing about 0.5 grams. Leafcutter bees are among the smallest of all bees, with queens averaging less than 1 gram and laying eggs weighing only 0.2 gram.

Most ground-nesting bees nest alone, although some species build large colonies. Most bumblebees nest singly; however, some species form small groups. Digger bees and leafcutter bees often nest together in aggregations. Mason bees tend to nest in groups, sometimes numbering in the hundreds.

Most ground-nesting bees feed on nectar and pollen gathered from flowers. They also eat insects, including aphids, caterpillars, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, spiders, and wasps.

Bumblebees (Bombus)

Bumblebees have long been used by humans for their ability to pollinate fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Bumblebees are social insects, meaning they live in colonies consisting of several thousand individuals. Queens mate with multiple males during mating flights. After mating, the queen lays eggs in an aggregation of wax cells, called a “nest.” She then dies after the larvae hatch. Workers emerge from the nest and begin collecting pollen and nectar.

Bumblebees are commonly found in gardens, parks, and meadows. Although most gardeners don’t notice them because they’re so busy enjoying their own blooms, bumblebees can play an important role in pollinating flowering plants. Gardeners should encourage native bumblebees to visit their gardens by planting attractive bee-attracting plants near their homes. These plants will attract both solitary and social bees.

Common Bumblebees:

• Bombus impatiens
• Bombus terrestris

Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa)

Carpenter bees are common throughout North America. They are mostly active at night and spend the day in sheltered areas, where they collect pollen and nectar. Because they prefer to nest in cavities, they are often found inside walls, beneath eaves, or in hollowed-out tree trunks.

Carpenter bees are very useful pollinators. Like many other bees, they gather pollen and nectar from flowers and carry it back to their nests. However, unlike honeybees, they do not store this food in honeycombs but instead leave it in conspicuous piles around their nests. This allows carpenter bees to easily find their way home when returning from feeding trips.

Carpenter bees differ from other bees in that they are almost completely dependent upon animal prey for protein. Adult workers consume up to 10% of their body weight each day. The rest is provided by larval food. To survive, adult females must be able to locate suitable sources of protein.

The best known carpenter bee is Xylocopa virginica, the eastern carpenter bee. It has a distinctive orange abdomen and black head. Other carpenter bees include Xylocopa auguralis, Xylocopa pyrrhoptera, Xylocopa latipes, Xylocopa ocularia, Xylocopa erythrocephala, Xylocopa rufa, Xylocopa cinctella, Xylocopa brunnea, Xylocopa californica, etc.

Leafcutting Bees (Megachile)

Leafcutting bees are tiny bees that cut leaves into pieces and use these as building materials. Leafcutting bees are among the smallest bees in North America. Their bodies are about 1/16 inch long. They are usually brownish yellow in color.

Leafcutter bees are generally solitary bees, although some species form small colonies. Most leafcutters are generalists, visiting a variety of different types of plants. Some species specialize in particular plant families, such as Asteraceae (sunflowers), Fabaceae (peas), Lamiaceae (mint family), Rosaceae (rose family), Solanaceae (nightshades), Urticaceae (honeysuckle family), or Zygophyllaceae (spurges).

Many leafcutter bees are insectivorous. They feed on caterpillars, aphids, scale insects, mites, and even spiders. In addition, some species eat pollen and nectar.

Some leafcutter bees construct nests out of fresh leaves. Others build nests out of dried leaves. Leafcutter bees also make mud nests and live in burrows.

Leafcutters have been observed carrying pollen between plants. When they return to their nests with pollen, they may deposit it directly onto the brood cells or place it in special structures called pollen baskets.

Leafcutters are beneficial pollinators. They tend to visit early morning blossoms before any other type of bee. As a result, they can contribute significantly to the reproduction of certain plants. For example, the western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) depends heavily on the presence of leafcutter bees for successful seed set.

Leafcutting bees are important pollinators of fruit trees. Many fruits depend upon them for fertilization. These include apples, apricots, cherries, plums, peaches, sweet cherries, strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries.

Mason bees (Osmia)

Mason bees are social bees. They nest underground and raise their young communally. Mason bees are often confused with bumblebees because both groups share similar nesting habits. But there are several differences:

• Bumblebees do not build large, communal nests. Instead, they create individual nests in soil excavated by themselves.

• Mason bees are much smaller than bumblebees. A worker mason bee is only about 3/8 inch long.

• The queen of a mason bee colony is larger than the workers. She is about 2 inches long.

• Masons are more likely to be found in dry areas where they can find shelter from rain and wind.

Mason bees are very common throughout most of North America. They are especially abundant in warm regions like California and Florida.
There are many kinds of mason bees. Some species are solitary; others live in colonies. All mason bees are carnivores. They feed mainly on larvae of beetles, grasshoppers, ants, wasps, and flies.

Most mason bees are native to North America. However, one group of European mason bees has become established in parts of Canada and the United States. This group is known as the “European mason bees” because they were first discovered in Europe.
Mason bees do not sting. Their stings contain an enzyme that causes the skin to break down. If you get stung by a mason bee, your body will absorb the enzymes through your skin.

Mason bees collect pollen and carry it back to the hive. They use this pollen to feed the developing eggs and larvae.

Mason bees are good pollinators of flowers. They visit blooming plants at night when other types of bees are sleeping.

Mason bees help control pests. They attack the larvae of certain moth and butterfly species. They also prey upon adult butterflies and moths.

Mason bees play an important role in the ecosystem. They consume harmful insects that would otherwise harm crops and livestock. In addition, they prevent the spread of diseases among plants.

Mason bees provide honey for human consumption. Honey made from mason bees is considered superior to honey produced by other types of bees. It contains less water and more nutrients than honey harvested by other types of bees and does not spoil easily.

Yellow Jackets

Yellow Jackets are small-bodied bees. They have short legs and long abdomens. They are related to bumblebees and sweat bees. Yellow jackets are found across North America.
They are aggressive hunters who defend their territory against intruders. They may chase away birds or mammals that come too close to their nests.

They eat mostly caterpillars, but also eat some aphids and spiders. Yellow jackets make nests in hollow logs, rocks, tree trunks, and even abandoned buildings.
They are active during spring and summer months. They hibernate over winter in protected places such as caves and mines.

Yellow jackets are beneficial to humans. They protect our gardens and fields from unwanted insect predators. They also keep populations of destructive insects under control.

Sweat Bees

Sweat bees also live in the ground. However, they are solitary bees. Like yellow jackets, they are native to North America.

Their name comes from their ability to secrete a waxy liquid called “sweat” when disturbed. Sweat bees use this secretion to repel predators. Sweat bees are known to be good at finding flowers. They tend to favor blue and purple blooms.

They are most active during spring and summer. During fall and winter, they enter a state of dormancy. Sweat bees build nests out of grasses and leaves. Their nests are usually located near bodies of water.

Sweat bees carry pollen and nectar back to their nests. They also store extra food in special storage structures. Sweat bees are excellent pollinators. They visit many different types of flowers throughout the year.

They help to ensure flower production by visiting blooming plants before other insects arrive. Sweat bees do not sting unless provoked. You can easily remove them from your yard by sweeping or vacuuming.

What Is The Importance Of Bees?

Bees are insects that belong to the order Hymenoptera. The term honey bee is often used as a synonym for all members of the genus Apis, but other genera within the tribe Apini also produce honey. Honey bees are social insects with a sophisticated division of labor.

Bees can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Their distribution is not limited by latitude, but rather by temperature and precipitation. Because of their importance to agriculture, humans have domesticated several species of honey bee, including the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana), and the stingless honey bee (Apis dorsata).

The honey bee has been kept since ancient times and was one of the earliest animal cultures to develop written records. It is mentioned in Egyptian hieroglyphics dating back to 3000 BC. Ancient Egyptians called the honey bee ka-peruw (“the giver of life”), while the Greeks called it melipona. In China, India, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, the honey bee was revered as a symbol of good fortune and longevity.

Honey bees are important pollinators of many crops, such as apples, blueberries, cucumbers, grapes, peaches, plums, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes, and watermelon. However, honey bees are not essential to these plants’ reproduction, and therefore do not provide a direct benefit to human consumption. Many wild plants depend upon insect pollination, and honey bees are responsible for much of this activity. For example, honey bees contribute to the pollination of 80% of the world’s commercial fruit trees.

In addition to being an important source of food, honey bees play a role in the ecosystem by helping control pests and diseases. Honey bees are natural enemies of mites, aphids, beetles, and other plant-eating insects. They also protect plants against pathogens. Honey bees are very effective at controlling the growth of weeds.

Honey bees also protect plants by producing a substance called propolis. Propolis is made up of resins, waxes, and other substances secreted by glands in the abdomen of honey bees. This sticky substance protects the hive from intruders and helps to seal cracks and holes in the hive.

Propolis contains antimicrobial compounds that kill bacteria and fungi. These chemicals may account for some of the health benefits attributed to honey. Some studies suggest that propolis may reduce inflammation, inhibit cancer cell growth, and prevent infection.

A study published in 2013 showed that propolis could be used to treat wounds. A mixture of propolis and silver sulfadiazine cream healed infected diabetic foot ulcers more quickly than either treatment alone. Another study suggested that propolis might help fight infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

Read More

1. How to Identify a Queen Wasp?
2. Natural Predators of Wasps
3. Is There a Kind of Bee That Doesn’t Sting?

Elephants have one of the most powerful brains among land mammals. They can weigh up to 1,200 lbs (544 kg). Their brains are about the same size as ours, at around 3 lb (1.4 kg) when it comes to comparison with the body weight.

A dolphin has a brain that is only slightly larger than ours. A whale’s brain is even bigger.
A shark’s brain is also very large but not nearly as big as a mammal’s. Its brain is about 2/3rds the size of a human’s.

But some fish have really huge brains. Some species of catfish have brains that weigh as much as 4 pounds which can be considered gargantuan, given their body weight.
Although the major measurement of a brain and coining it as big or small is done on the basis of the brain size in comparison to the bodyweight, let’s have a look at the animals that have the biggest brains, regardless of the bodyweight vs. brain size comparison.

1. Sperm Whale

A sperm whale has the largest brain of all living creatures. It weighs about 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg), making its brain about 7 times heavier than an average human being.
It has a brain volume of about 6,500 cubic feet (180 m³). That is almost two-and-a-half times the size of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet!

A sperm whale’s brain weighs about 10% of its total mass. In humans, this ratio is closer to 20%.

This means that if we were to compare the sizes of a human brain and a sperm whale brain, we would find that the latter is about five times smaller.
However, the fact remains that the biggest brain belongs to a whale, all because of their huge body size and weight.

2. Dolphins

Dolphins come next on our list of animals with the biggest brain. Dolphins belong to the order Cetacea.

Dolphin brains are comparatively very large compared to their body size. This is because they have evolved to hunt by sight rather than smell.
The average brain size of a bottlenose dolphin is between 0.5 and 0.8 lb (0.23–0.35 kg).
Like killer whales, dolphins have three sections to their brains. However, unlike killer whales, dolphin brains are not separated by lobes. Instead, they are connected via a single lobe. This connection allows for more efficient communication between different areas of the brain.

The largest dolphin brain found so far belonged to a female Atlantic spotted dolphin. Its brain weighed in at 0.84 lb (0.39 kg). This made it 1/3 larger than the previous record holder. The brain of this dolphin was about 17% bigger than the average dolphin brain. That said, the average brain size of a dolphin is much lower than what you might expect.

3. Elephants

Elephants are one of the animals that have the biggest brain. Their brain is about the same size as a human head.

An elephant’s brain can weigh up to 2.5 kg (5.5 lb). The average brain size of an adult Asian elephant is around 1.4 kg (3 lb). However, the brain size varies depending on the age of the individual. A baby calf’s brain is only half the size of an adult’s brain.

An elephant’s brain is divided into three parts: the cerebrum, the diencephalon, and the telencephalon. These three sections make up the forebrain. Elephants have a massive cerebral cortex. This region of the brain has many folds. Each fold contains thousands of neurons. These neurons allow elephants to think creatively and solve problems.

The cerebrum contains most of the gray matter. It also has two lobes. The left lobe controls the right side of the body, while the right lobe controls the left side of the body.
The diencephalon is located above the cerebellum. It consists of four major structures: the thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, and tectum.

The telencephalon is located below the cerebellum. There are two main divisions within the telencephalon: the olfactory bulb and the cerebral cortex.

The olfactory bulb is responsible for processing smells. It is where the sense of smell originates.

The cerebral cortex is responsible for higher-order functions such as memory and thinking.

4. Bats

Bats are one of the animals with the biggest brain relative to its body size.
A bat’s brain weighs about 0.1 oz (3 g) or less. Bats are nocturnal creatures. As such, they spend the majority of their time sleeping.

This means that bats don’t need to eat as frequently as other species. Because of this, bats can store fat reserves in their bodies.

This allows them to survive long periods without food. When they do get hungry, they go out looking for insects.

They use sonar to find their prey. Sonar works by sending out high frequency sounds. These waves bounce off objects in front of the bat. The echoes return to the bat’s ears. By analyzing these returns, the bat can determine the distance to the object.
In addition to using sonar, bats also use echolocation. Echolocation involves emitting low-frequency sounds. These waves reflect off objects in front of them. The returning echo helps the bat locate its prey.

Unlike humans who use both eyes and ears to see and hear things, bats use just their ears. They have large ear flaps that act like wings. These flaps help the bat control how sound travels through the air.

5. Humans

Humans have one the biggest brains among all living beings. Our brain weighs between 1.2 – 1.5 lbs (500 – 660 grams), making us the heaviest land animal.

Our brain accounts for about 2/3rds of our total body weight.

Our brain is made up of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and pons. The cerebrum makes up the largest part of our brain. It is responsible for controlling motor skills, sensory perception, speech, and thought processes.

The cerebellum is a small structure at the base of the brain. It coordinates movement and balance.

The pons is a bridge connecting the cerebrum and medulla oblongata. This area is involved in hearing, balance, and coordination.

6. Killer Whale

Killer whales are also known to have the biggest brain relative to their body size. Their brain weighs around 3.4 lbs (1.5 kg).

Their brain is divided into three parts: the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. The forebrain is responsible for emotions, personality, and language. The midbrain controls vision, balance, and hearing. The hindbrain controls reflexes, sleep, breathing, and heart rate.

Does Having Bigger Brains Mean Smarter Species?

No brain size is not related to smartness. There are many factors that affect intelligence.
However, there are some studies that suggest having a bigger brain does make you more intelligent.

There are two main theories on why larger brains might be better. One theory suggests that having a larger brain increases your ability to learn new information.
Another theory suggests that having a bigger brain allows you to process information faster.

However, this has been disputed because it doesn’t explain why smaller species such as mice have big brains. It is believed that smartness or intellectualism is mainly measured by the evolution of the prefrontal cortex.

This region of the brain is associated with higher-order cognitive functions including planning, reasoning, decision-making, impulse control, self-awareness, empathy, and social behavior.

A study published in 2013 found that the size of the human prefrontal cortex increased over time. Other research has shown that the size of the prefrontal cortex correlates with IQ scores. A study conducted in 2010 showed that the size of the frontal lobe was positively correlated with verbal IQ.

A study published in 2011 found that the size of a person’s prefrontal cortex was negatively correlated with their performance on tests measuring spatial attention and working memory.

Therefore, the biggest of brains do not mean the smartest of animals. Therefore, if you were wondering if the sperm whale, having the biggest brain is smarter than humans, then you can stop wondering.

Which Primate Species Are The Smartest?

Following is a list of the smartest primate species:

Gorilla

Gorillas are native to Africa and are often regarded as symbols of power and strength. These mighty beasts of nature are capable of lifting over 300 times their weight without difficulty. Due to this strong muscle mass, their brains are relatively larger than that of humans.

Gorillas are members of the great apes—they are closely related to us, therefore they are similar enough to understand how we think, feel, and perceive the world. They are also smarter than gorillas, having a larger neocortex—the part of the brain responsible for thought processes.

Baboon

Baboons are known to be quite clever. Researchers have found baboons to be able to remember images after a brief period of time. Also, they have been observed to plan ahead and understand what others will do next.

Like humans, baboons travel in complex societies, where they communicate using both vocal and non-verbal cues. So being social animals, it’s no surprise that their frontal lobes are much bigger than what we might expect.

Orangutan

Orangutans are considered to be close relatives of gorillas and chimpanzees. Despite being so different in appearance, they share much of the same behavior. A study suggests that they communicate using facial expressions, gestures, and vocalizations, like laughing calls. Orangutans live in small family groups, and females generally become mothers between the ages of 4 and 7 years old.

Orangutans are known as the happy ape, particularly due to their playful personalities. On the inside though, their braincases are proportionately larger than our own. This is due to the increased cerebral cortex area and sensory perception, allowing them to thrive in their environment.

Chimpanzee

Chimps are probably the best-studied primates in human history. They have been taught sign language, had electrodes attached to their brains, and have even been trained to respond to sounds from specific notes played in music.

Chimps are well known for being highly intelligent, getting into mischief, and sometimes forming groups. We’ve observed that they remember faces, recognize familiar people, and even empathize with others. With such a strong memory and cognitive capacity they probably don’t forget anything either, so perhaps they should be classified as supernatural beings.

Bonobo

Bonobos are a subspecies of chimpanzees that reside apart from the Congo River Basin. While they are believed to share 98% of the same DNA with chimps, bonobos have adapted to living alongside people and therefore differ in how they behave in society.

Human

Humans obviously take the crown as the smartest life form on Earth. Not only do we have the biggest brains but we also lead unique lives as opposed to any other species across the planet. Humans not only enjoy leisure time but also get creative enough to invent things that help them cope with daily life.

Here is a quick overview of the IQ of the smartest primate species:

• Human: IQ 100
• Chimpanzee: IQ 80
• Bonobo: IQ 70
• Gorilla: IQ 60
• Orangutan: IQ 50
• Rhesus monkey: IQ 40
• Cynomolgus monkey: IQ 30
• Marmoset: IQ 20
• Macaque: IQ 10
• Pig-tailed macaque: IQ 5

FAQs

How Much Brains Do Dolphins Have?

Dolphins are another group of intelligent marine mammals. They have been known to live for over 60 years, and their brains are quite large compared to other marine life. A dolphin’s brain is about 0.7 pounds (0.33 kg) in weight.

What About Birds And Reptiles?

Birds and reptiles are the next two groups of animals on the list. Both of these groups have much smaller brains than mammals or primates. However, birds still have significantly larger brains than reptiles. For example, a chicken has a brain that weighs just 0.2 ounces (6 grams). That is less than half of what a lizard brain weighs.

Which Mammals Have The Smallest Brains?

Mammals come last on the list when it comes to brain size. We are followed by bats, rodents, and lagomorphs. Bats have the smallest brains out of all mammals, weighing between 0.05 and 0.15 ounces (1.5 and 4 grams). Rodents have brains that range from 0.3 to 0.9 ounces (10 to 25 g). Lagomorphs have brains that weigh between 0.2 and 0.55 ounces (6 and 16 g).

How Many Brains Does An Octopus Have?

Octopi are invertebrates that belong to the phylum Chordata. They are related to vertebrates like sharks, frogs, and lizards. Like other chordates, octopi have eight arms, a tail, and a head. Unlike vertebrates, however, they don’t have bones. Instead, they have soft tissue called chitin.

Octopuses have four hearts, two lungs, and two kidneys. They also have two sets of eyes. Each eye contains three lenses, while each lens consists of five layers. There are also two types of neurons in their nervous system.

How Many Branches Does A Human Brain Have?

The human brain is made up of billions of cells. Each cell is connected to hundreds of others through tiny threads called dendrites. Dendrites receive signals from other cells and pass them along to the cell body. The cell body then sends the signal back to other cells. This process continues until the message reaches the nerve endings.

At this point, the signal travels down the axon to the synapse where it can be sent to the next neuron.

The number of branches in your brain depends on how you were born. If you were born prematurely, your brain will not have as many branches as if you were born at full term. In fact, premature babies’ brains may only have one branch per neuron.

Read More

1. What Do Jellyfish Eat? (and How Do They Eat?)
2. 11 Animals Without a Brain (and How They Function)
3. 4 Animals That Never Sleep
4. 10 Animals With Colorful Blood (White, Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow)
5. 8 Animal With Best Memory
6. Which Mammals Can Fly?
7. Animals With Multiple Stomachs

In this post, we’ll discuss their diet, behavior, predators, and a lot more, but most importantly, we’ll also talk about getting rid of them for good.

General Appearance

Also known as furniture beetles, varied carpet beetles, or black carpet beetles, these bugs are rather small in size- between 2-5 mm in length. They may appear to be black or dark brown. Even though there are different kinds of carpet beetles, they generally share some common features, such as being oval and having distinctly short antennae that are clubbed together. 

Furniture and Varied Carpet Beetles

Furniture carpet beetles are easily identified based on the distinctive patterns of white and yellow scales that cover their body and thorax region.

Down their midline, you can see orange and red scales. 

To identify varied carpet beetles, you need to look out for the irregular patterns of yellow, white, and brown scales. The younger beetles will have a more saturated appearance which fades with age. 

Diet

Carpet beetles feed on a variety of different types of food products which includes animal products like skin, fur, feather, wool, and dead insects, other than feeding on cotton. Since synthetics are indigestible, carpet beetles don’t consume them in their larvae stage. 

They can also be found sometimes feeding on grain-based food and different types of dried dairy products. They can also feed on plant-based food materials like flowers. 

Behavior

Carpet beetles are considered one of the common destructive bugs around the world. They can survive in different environments as they can feed on a wide variety of food items like fibers, plants, and animal-based food. 

A carpet beetle has to go through several molting stages between larvae and adults. In the larvae stage, they are attracted to dark and warm environments, whereas in their adult stage, they are drawn to the light. 

Habitat

Carpet beetles can easily survive in both outdoor and indoor conditions, but the females generally prefer to lay eggs where there is sufficient food supply for the larvae to feed on. These parts mostly enter a house through doors, windows, or any other small openings.

They also inhabit nests of other birds or animals. They can be found in walls and chimneys where they feed on dead insects and animals.

Are Carpet Beetles Dangerous?

Carpet beetles do not pose any actual threat to human beings besides being a constant source of annoyance. Both the adults as well as larvae tend to leave holes in the carpets, leather, silk, and feather garments. Furthermore, they tend to shed small bristle-like hairs that can irritate sensitive skin, as can their dead skins, which can even lead to dermatitis. 

If you tend to spot any adult carpet beetle, you can be sure that the larvae are around as well. It might just be time to call pest control.

Predators of Carpet Beetles 

While most predators prey upon a variety of small bugs and beetles, larvae tend to be more susceptible than the adult carpet beetles to these predators. Some species of ants, spiders, etc., feed on carpet beetles and their larvae. The larvae, however, tend to have a few tricks up their sleeve and hide in crevices to avoid being caught. 

Some of them are covered in dense hair coatings that render them inedible. So if you are thinking about hunting them down using their natural predators, it might not be the best idea. The problem is that most of the natural predators of carpet beetles are pests as well. 

How to Get Rid of Carpet Beetles?

Getting rid of carpet beetles by yourself can be quite tricky as you need to focus on removing the adult larvae and eggs with much effort. It would be a pretty good idea to call in pest control as professional exterminators, and some of the following steps might not be as effective in getting rid of the eggs as they are with the adult beetles and larvae. 

Insecticides for Indoors

You will be able to source these locally, and they should be sprayed carefully into crevices, around baseboards, and in and around sinks to make sure you get the eggs as well. Do not spray this onto clothing or furniture or directly on carpets. 

Vinegar 

Dirt and food residues can be removed easily using vinegar sprays. You can use a combination of white or apple cider vinegar with water to make the spray or wipe the surface clean. Use it on shelves, curtains, cupboards, hangers, etc. 

Boric Acid

Dust boric acid in powder forms on carpets and furniture, and this acts as a mild insecticide. Leave the dust in place for up to 2-3 hours before vacuuming away the residue. 

Thorough Laundry 

Wash all your clothes, towels, pillow covers, and linen using hot water and strong detergent. Wrap up the clothes that you plan to dispose of on account of them being too damaged in plastic bags and throw them into sealed garbage cans. 

Vacuuming and Steaming

To start with, vacuum the areas thoroughly whether you have spotted the adult beetles there or not. Furniture, carpets, rugs- cover all the surfaces. Following this, steam clean the place to ensure you get rid of embedded eggs and larvae. 

5 Most Commonly Occurring Beetles in the household 

It will not be surprising to note that beetles comprise a significantly large population among insects, and they can be found in plenty in and around households. Some families of beetles are more populous than others and can be found in almost every household- be it on the carpets, woodwork, or gardens. However, they are all distinctly identifiable from one another and have very characteristic physical traits. 

The Lady Beetle or Ladybug 

Identifiable easily by the beautiful red and black patterns, this beetle can turn out to be quite useful in getting rid of pests that destroy crops, including aphids. 

Carpet Beetles

Not very harmful but notorious for leaving irregular holes in clothing and carpets, the larvae of these beetles can also lead to skin conditions like dermatitis in some people.

Ground Beetles

Ground beetles are commonly found in gardens and help get rid of pests that destroy your well-maintained gardens. 

Powderpost Beetles 

These furniture beetles are notoriously popular for eating through wooden furniture, and you can identify them through their clubbed antenna. 

Drugstore Beetle 

You are likely to find these beetles in stored products, and they can be found in the kitchen and pantry areas in plenty. 

FAQS

What’re the signs of a carpet beetle infestation?

Here is how you can determine if you have been infested by carpet beetles:

• Damaged woolen clothes, blankets that have holes.
• Larvae skins are shredded in discrete areas around the house.
• Varying thickness in rugs or carpets. 
• Dead or live bugs on the windowsills.

How did I get carpet beetles into my household?

It is most likely that they were brought along with an infested garment or material such as furniture or fur. They might have also entered through open doors or windows. 

What other bugs look like carpet beetles?

Bedbugs often resemble varied carpet beetles and are equally common household pets. Spider beetles and bat bugs might also cause similar confusion.

Read More

How to Identify a Queen Wasp?

Ligers vs. Tigons – The Difference

Below we’ll look at the differences between tigons and ligers based on multiple factors.

How they are bred

Liger:

By definition, a liger is the hybrid produced by the mating of a MALE lion and a FEMALE tiger. We’re sure the names are confusing enough, so one easy way to understand how ligers are bred is by keeping in mind the gender of the parents. 

In the case of many hybrids, the nomenclature is done on the basis of placing the male parent’s name (the first part of the name) first, followed by the female parent’s name (last part of the name.

The same is applicable to ligers, and since the male parent here is the lion, and the female parent a tiger, we have the name Liger (‘Li’ from Lion and ‘Ger’ from Tiger). 

Ligers get the best of both parents and are considered to be one of the biggest cats in the world, growing to about 11 meters on average. With golden or sandy colors inherited by the lion and faint stripes that are a distinct feature of the tigers, ligers tend to be social animals.

Tigon:

A tigon is the offspring of a MALE tiger and a FEMALE lion and is often characterized by a light golden coat with a short mane around their neck that seems to be a ruff. 

They show faint stripes similar to a tiger and are comparatively more or less the same height as that of a tiger. Tigons aren’t as gargantuan as ligers are, owing to the growth-inhibitory gene passed onto the offspring by the mother, i.e., the female lion. 

Tigons follow the same nomenclature as ligers, with the male parent’s name forming the first part of the offspring’s name (Tig) and the female parent’s name forming the last part of the offspring’s name (on).

Physical Appearance (Colour, Appearance, Weight)

Liger:

Ligers are huge and majestic cats; they inherit characters from both their lion and tiger parents. The ligers have spotted bellies and striped backs on their body with an orangish/golden color coat. Mane is not a significant physical feature – a liger may or may not have a mane. Some male ligers have a prominent mane development, while some are mane-less. 

In order to lighten the color of the ligers to a very light golden color, white tigers are bred with lions. The male hybrid offspring have a leonine mane and facial ruff of a tiger, but it is not as large and defined as a lion’s mane. The Liger has great strength and massive size, which they have got from both of its parents. 

The ligers can achieve a maximum speed of 50-60 miles per hour. The heads of the ligers are as broad as a human shoulder, their head is twice the size of a tigon’s head, and their big-sized head gives them a great biting force of 900 pounds. The ligers roar like both its parents, but their roar sounds more like a lion’s roar. 

Due to their big size, the ligers require a lot of food; although they are capable of consuming more than 100 pounds of meat, they are provided with only 30 pounds of meat which keeps them in shape and prevents them from being fat. The massive body size and strong build of the ligers make them weigh around 900 pounds, while the tigers have a maximum weight of 600 pounds, and the lions can reach up to 500 pounds only. 

The biggest Liger ever recorded was Hercules, and it weighed around 921 pounds. Hercules was rewarded as the biggest cat on planet earth by the Guinness Book of World Records.

The mating process in ligers is easier because the tigress’s womb can easily carry the hybrid fetus.

Tigon:

The tigons also exhibit the visible characteristics of both parents; they have the spots and markings from their mother (lion) and the stripes that they inherited from their father. The stripes on the fur of tigons are much darker than the stripes on a liger.

The male tigons have manes that appear short and less noticeable than that of a lion’s mane. They can roar like both a lion and a tiger. The overall appearance of the tigons is similar to a liger, including their fur color, mane, roar, and other characteristics. 

The size of their head is similar to a lion or tiger, and their biting force is 450 pounds. They weigh around 400-500 pounds on average, while the tiger and the lions weigh around 400-600 pounds. 

Their size and appearance depend on the subspecies that are being bred together. In some cases, the cubs may be stillborn, prematurely born, or unable to survive because of the small size of the mother. 

The size of a mother’s womb is small in which it’s difficult for the cubs to develop and grow further. The premature cubs are prone to health issues like cancer and are unable to survive longer in most cases. The lifespan of most hybrids is less than that of the original species.

Lifespan:

Ligers:

Panthera hybrids are highly vulnerable to injuries and certain disorders and diseases, especially neurological ones. Thus, unfortunately, ligers have a shorter lifespan than both their parents. The average life expectancy of ligers is between 13 to 18 years. 

The decreased lifespan (although not universal) is owing to hybrid breeding risks that come along, such as cancer, deficits in the neurological system, arthritis, organ failure, etc. 

There are instances where ligers have entered into their 20s, such as the ligress (female Liger) named Shasta died at the age of 24 in the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. A liger named Hobbs lived for 15 years in Nevada before succumbing to organ failure. Nook, a male liger, died at the age of 21, and Hercules, the tallest cat hybrid (or cat, in general) is 20, and still alive.

Tigons:

Although not much data is available about a tigon’s lifespan, they are said to live an average of 15 years. Similar to ligers, tigons face multiple health risks during their lifetimes, such as organ failure, cancer, neurological vulnerabilities, and sterility. 

Height

Tigon:

The key difference between tigons and ligers is the height. Tigons are not as heighted as ligers, owing to the growth-inhibiting genes of the lioness. When it comes to reproduction in lions (not cross-breeding), the male lion has the genes that intend to maximize the growth of his offspring.

This is because the offspring needs to reign the territory in the future, ward off competition, etc. The genes of the female lions, on the other hand, have evolved to dampen the effect of the male lion’s gene on growth so that lions remain in a limited size range.

This is why, when a tiger is mated with a lioness, the growth-dampening genes stunt the growth of the offspring, i.e., the tigons. The reason why people are not interested in breeding tigons is that they don’t reach an impressive size, and breeding is not that easy.

The average body length of the tigons is 5-6 feet, and while standing on all four legs, they are 3-4 feet high to the shoulder. 

Liger:

Tigresses, unlike lionesses, do not have growth-inhibiting genes, which is why when they are mated with a lion (all of which have growth-maximizing genes), the offsprings, i.e., the ligers when reaching adulthood, are tall and much more heighted than most other cats in the world.

The average length of a liger standing on its hind legs is 12 feet, and they are considered the tallest cats among all big cats.

Occurrence and Population

Liger:

Ligers are moderately populated and are found in a few countries of the world, which include the United States, China, Russia, Germany, South Korea, Italy, India, and Taiwan. The main purpose why ligers are bred in most countries is for the financial and research basis, while there are certain countries where breeding ligers is banned. 

The United States of America is one of the leading breeders of ligers, and it has the maximum number of ligers of any other country in the world. Breeding of Ligers is legal in the United States of America, and the population can significantly increase up to 50 ligers in the USA. 

Closely followed by the U.S. is China, where ligers are bred moderately. It was during 2002 when the first liger cub was born in China, but in a report, it was found that in 2010 China has more than 20 ligers. China also holds a world record when one of the tigresses gave birth to 12 ligers in China. 

The country following China in terms of hybrid breeding is Germany. There are a total number of 9 ligers in zoos and captivity in Germany. 

And lastly, India, which is believed to be the place of origin of both tigons and ligers, has a few ligers too. 

Tigon:

Tigons can be found in almost more than nine countries of the world, and they are owned by the zoos, menageries, animal sanctuaries, and circuses of these countries. According to the sources, although the USA has more ligers than tigons, it has more tigon zoos than any other country. 

The reason why the USA is more interested in the breeding of the ligers is their huge size. While there are countries like the United States of America (USA), China, Russia, Iran, India, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Argentina, and the Czech Republic where tigons are bred, Taiwan is the only country where tigon breeding is banned.

History

Liger:

In India, the lion-tiger hybrid has been known to breed since the early 19th century. A color plate of the lion-tiger hybrid was made by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1772–1844) in the year 1798. 

There were two liger cubs born in 1937, who were later exhibited to King William IV and to his successor Queen Victoria. Carl Hagenbeck wrote about the ligers born at Hagenbeck’s Tierpark in Hamburg in 1897 to the zoologist James Cossar Ewart stating all the details of the ligers with their photograph. In 1935, four ligers were born in the Zoological Gardens of Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Although today the number of ligers around the world is more than that of tigons, ligers were regarded to be a rarer hybrid than the tigon back in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Tigon:

The place of origin of tigons is still a debatable question, but the safest bet is that Tigons, like Ligers, emerged from India. The origin and history of tigons date back to the 1920s when the Tigons were gifted to English royalty – the British Royal Highness by Indian officials. 

Once they were transported to England, we found multiple instances of stories and publications on Tigons in several English newspapers. One of the publications dates back to 1924, in ‘The Illustrated London News’ (the oldest archive found on Tigons from an English newspaper). There were other publications that date back to the 1930s and 1940s, which was the time when there were tigons residing in two of England’s most famous zoos – The Manchester Zoo and the London Zoo.

A tigon named Maude that lived for 13 years between 1936 to 1949 has its body preserved in England’s Manchester Museum.

Ti-Tigons and Li-Ligers 

A Ti-Tigon is the second-generation hybrid offspring of a FEMALE tigon and a MALE tiger. 

Similarly, a Li-Liger is the second generation hybrid offspring of a FEMALE liger and a MALE lion.

There are second-generation hybrids between tigons and lions, as well as ligers and tigers too.

A Li-Tigon is the offspring of a MALE lion and a FEMALE tigon. On the other hand, a Ti-Liger is the offspring of a MALE tiger and a FEMALE liger.

All second-generation hybrids are rare, but there have been a few instances of second-generation hybrids being bred in captivity.

For a long time, tigons and ligers were thought to be sterile, but it turned out that it is only the male hybrids that are sterile, but the female hybrids are not. Although there have been multiple occasions where the female hybrids have turned out to be infertile, too, it is consequently the male hybrids that are incapable of reproduction. 

The fertility of the female Tigons and Ligers was first proved in 1943 when a 15-year-old female tigon/liger (unconfirmed whether it was a liger or a tigon) was mated with a lion, which successfully led to the reproduction of a second-generation hybrid.

In 2012, a female liger and a male lion were mated, and the offspring was a Li-Liger female cub that was named Kiara.

Are Tigons and Ligers found in the wild?

No, as of so far, we have not come across any instances of liger or tigon offspring that have been bred naturally in the wild. Tigons and Ligers do not exist in the wild and have only ever been bred in captivity in zoos across the world in Germany, France, China, etc.

The primary reason behind this is the fact that, although there is a chance of natural breeding between tigers and lions, they are separated by geography, and their habitats and ecosystems do not overlap. 

Other big cat hybrids:

Now that you know the portmanteau conventions and the most common hybrids of the Panthera order (the Tigons and Ligers), here is a quick list of other big cat hybrids.

• Jaglion: A jaglion is the hybrid produced by cross-breeding of a MALE jaguar and a FEMALE lion. With the powerful and robust muscular structure of a jaguar and the colors of a lion in the background, a jaglion is a truly mesmerizing hybrid. Although they are not a species, they for sure are endangered and not so commonly bred as a liger or a tigon. There are only 2 jaglions known so far. There is a possibility that there may be more jaglions, those that exist in the wild; however, it would be safe to say that since a jaguar and a lion’s habitats don’t overlap, jaglions in the wild may not exist at all.
• Jagger: A Jagger is the offspring of a MALE jaguar and a FEMALE tiger. Jaggers are not as common as jaglions; in fact, it is believed that no successful mating of a jaguar and a tigress is achieved so far, which means we do not have much information available on how a jagger would look. They are a possible Panthera hybrid and have been named according to the portmanteau conventions.
• Jagupard: A jagupard is the result of cross-breeding between the Panthera species of Jaguars and Leopards. In the case of Jagupards, the MALE parent is the Jaguar, and the FEMALE parent is a leopard. Again, a jagupard is not a common hybrid, and there is only one instance of a jagupard hybrid, where the offspring was a result of captive breeding in Austria at a zoo named Hellbrunn Zoo at Salzburg.
• Leopon: Leopons have successfully been bred in countries such as Germany, Japan, and Italy. A leopon is the offspring of a MALE leopard and a FEMALE lion. However, the leopon bred in Italy is the reverse offspring, i.e., the father was a lion, and the mother was a leopard. Leopons have a mane of medium length around their neck which makes their bust similar to a lion. The rest of the body resembles that of a leopard with spots all over the body. Leopons do not have a very long lifespan; in fact, leopons live shorter than both parents, with a life expectancy of about 13 years. If raised well, they may live as long as 20 years in captivity. As for most other hybrids, leopons don’t occur in the wild and are bred in captivity.
• Leguar: A leguar, also known as a lepjag is the result of cross-breeding between a MALE leopard and a FEMALE jaguar. Leguars are not as common a hybrid as leopons. The offspring is likely to be fertile, but not much is known about these Panthera hybrids.
• Leoger: A leoger is an offspring of a MALE leopard and a FEMALE tiger. Leogers have a sad history, and we do not have much on their habitat, life expectancy, diet, and social behavior, since there has been no successful breeding so far. Any leoger that has ever been attempted to be bred in captivity is stillborn. They are estimated to closely resemble tigards. 
• Liguar: A liguar is the offspring of a MALE lion and a FEMALE jaguar (also known as a jaguaress). Liguars are the most common lion and jaguar hybrids. The liguars can be considered as contrary hybrids of jaglions that share a MALE jaguar parent and a female LION parent.
• Lipard: A lipard, also commonly known as a liar, is the hybrid offspring of a MALE lion and a FEMALE leopard. Needless to say, they are contrary hybrids of leopons.
• Tiguar: A tiguar is the offspring of a MALE tiger and a FEMALE jaguar or jaguaress. A tiguar gets the best of both parents and shares similarities to both a tiger and a jaguar (obviously). For a long time, it was believed that no tiguars exist, and they are only a possible   Panthera hybrid. However, some sources say that successful tiguar breeding has been done in Altiplano Zoo in Mexico.
• Tigard: A Tigard is a result of captive breeding (since natural breeding doesn’t occur within the parent species) between a MALE tiger and a FEMALE leopard. Unfortunately, the only Tigard ever attempted to be bred was in 1990 that was still born. The stillborn shared the mixed characteristics of both the parents on the body with stripes, rosettes and spots.
• Pumpard: A pumpard, interestingly, is the hybrid of a MALE cougar or a puma and a FEMALE leopard. There have been three successful breedings of pumpards by Carl Hagenbeck. Although most of these hybrids died before reaching adulthood, they tended to be dwarf and shorter than both parents in terms of height. Pumpards have a muzzle similar to the puma and dark solid blotches that resemble the leopard.

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What is a Queen Wasp?

What exactly is a queen wasp? We figured we’d give you a head start because ‘she’ is going to be the center of discussion of the post, anyway. A queen-wasp is the leader of the wasp nest, whose main role is to lay eggs and continue her lineage through her workers and by giving birth to the next row of queen-wasps. 

More vividly colored than the workers, a queen wasp has bright yellow and black stripes. The journey of a queen wasp starts when she emerges out of hibernation in spring and then goes on to forage for a suitable place for nesting.

Once she has established a nest, she lays eggs in it, which hatch into sterile female workers. These female workers help expand the nest while feeding the queen. The queen keeps laying eggs for the rest of her life, but these eggs are no more sterile but fertile males and females. 

Now, how does the queen continue her lineage? From amongst the fertile females who will mate with the fertile males or drones, the queen wasp selects a candidate best suited for the throne right next to her. She trains her, and this trained candidate then leaves the nest to prepare for hibernation. Later, this female wasp elected to be the queen emerges from hibernation and forages for a place to nest and lay eggs. And the cycle continues.

How to Identify a Queen Wasp?

Identifying a queen wasp from the workers may seem like a daunting task, but if you know what to look for, it’s a walk over the brook.

So, to make the walk breezier, here we go… 

Dance-like Wing Movement of Queen

The queen shows an apparent dance-like movement when she has found an appropriate nesting place. The dance-like movement is the queen’s way of expressing and marking her territory. 

The queen flies frontwards and backward in front of the place where she has recently laid her nest, hovering slowly and repeating the movements until it’s far from the hole. She makes the figure ‘8’ sideways when flying high and flies in a straight line later in order to mark landmarks to instantly recognize where her nest is when she ventures away too far.

She’s the Largest in the Colony

As obvious as it can get, the queen wasp is the largest in her colony, reaching a size larger than both the adult female and male worker wasps. A worker wasp, either male or female, grows to an average size of about 1.2-1.7 cm (depending on the species), but the queen wasp easily measures in the range of 2-2.5 cm.

You can also differentiate the queen wasp from the male wasps or drones by the stinger, which is absent in the drones. However, it’s not just the queen that has a stinger, but all female wasps do, so to identify the queen out of both male wasps and the female workers, check for the stinger and the size of the wasp. If she has a stinger and is bigger than other wasps (with or without a stinger), she is a queen wasp.

In yellow jackets, the queen is about 0.25 inches longer than the worker wasps. However, talking in general, the large size of the queen is because she is fed special meals by the worker wasps, which gives her a boost in terms of growth. This boost is provided by the hormones she acquires by feeding on the superior quality of food. 

The trend of the largest female being the queen is not exclusively seen in wasps but also in other advanced social insects such as honeybees and ants.

Apart from the distinction by size, a queen wasp will also have a narrow waist, narrower than all other wasps in her colony, and a triangular-shaped head.

The Colours Say it All

A queen is more vividly colored than her workers residing in the colony. So, if you’re seeing multiple wasps at once, and one of them seems to stand out with bright colors, it is highly probable it’s the queen wasp.

You can also differentiate between hornets and a queen wasp by analyzing the color. Hornets, precisely the European hornets, have a black and yellow abdomen with typically black or reddish-brown legs and thorax. Wasps, on the other hand, have black and yellow striped bodies, which include the thorax and the legs. Asian hornets are mostly dark-colored, tending towards black, and no wasps are completely black.

Surrounded by Guard Wasps

The queen wasp is looked after by the young wasps, and good care is taken of her. The queen wasps don’t move around the colonies of the wasps in general. They stay in their own cells of the nests, where the workers feed them. While feeding the queen, some worker wasps can be seen moving back and forth of a given area of the nest. 

The queen is surrounded by the young wasps and will provide security and stay with the queen for motherly care. The queens may remain in their cells for their entire life, while the workers would feed her and protect her.

Only Queens Live Through the Winter

If you ever spot a solitary wasp during winters, it is highly possible it is the queen wasp. It is so because only queens live through winters while the workers die. The queen (the new one) sets out of the nest to prepare for hibernation while the old queen and the workers die, leaving their legacy to be lived by the newly chosen queen.

The queen wasp you spot in winters will usually be residing in the crevices of a wall, the old tree trunk, or some other place such as your garden shed that can protect it from the cold and predators.

If you notice a solo wasp lying in a spot with her wings wrapped around her body, it is probably a queen wasp in a state of dormancy (who can still sting) overwintering so as to precede the old queen. As spring comes, she has to forage for a nesting place.

A New Colony Begins in Spring

A New Colony begins in spring; it is during the late spring when the new queen that was previously fertilized emerges from hibernation. Initially, the new queen begins with a small nest in which the first eggs laid are sterile female workers that hatch in 3-4 weeks. The new workers take over foraging and look after the queen from the early beginning of spring to the end of May. 

Mating Occurs in Autumn

The queen produces worker wasps to enlarge its colony throughout the summer. During the last summer, the last eggs that are yet to hatch would be the new queens and drones. 

The virgin queen wasps can be easily identified by their size; they move around meadow flowers eating and keep gaining fat until flying off to mate with drones from other hives in the fall. When mating is over, the drone dies with the old queen and her colony of workers in the cold temperature of winter that arrives.

How to identify a Wasp from a Bee?

So, we do know how to identify a queen wasp, but how do you identify between wasps and bees, in general? Here’s how:

Appearance:

Bees:

Bees have fat legs that are long, with wings that are brightly colored. The wings lay flat and unfolded on the top of their abdomen when the bee is static. The abdomen of a bee is characteristically golden brown with thin black stripes. 

The whole body has a fuzzy appearance, but the thorax, in particular, is covered with branched hairs. 

Each of their hind legs has flattened parts to be able to collect pollen from flowers.

Wasps:

Wasps are half an inch longer than wasps, with narrower waists than bees do. Wasps do not have a fuzzy appearance, and they are generally brown with yellowish markings. 

Their wings dangle between their legs while they are flying. Wasps also do not have parts of hind legs flattened since they do not collect pollen.

Aggressiveness

Wasps:

The wasps get easily provoked, and they tend to be more aggressive by nature than the bees. They capture and kill their prey with their sting; they can sting a target multiple times because their stinger is smooth and easily slips out of its target- it does not detach and embed in the skin.

The wasps may also sting while you are trying to brush them away. They mark targets that harm them, threaten them, or if they sense danger to it or the nest. They generally show aggregation very often towards the predators. 

Bees:

Bees are known to be less aggressive as compared to wasps. They use their stingers mainly in defense, and most of the honeybees die after stinging a predator or any other threatening being. 

The bees die after stinging because their stingers are barbed and stay in the target or the person’s skin- the stinger is ripped from the thorax of the bee. The loss of their stinger causes bodily injury, which mostly kills them. 

In an attempt to protect their hives or themselves, the bees use their poison in the stingers against anyone who disturb their hives. The sting of a honey bee stinger is nastier than a sweet bee because the stinger stays in the target with a venom sac attached.

Foods of Choice

Bees:

Bees are vegetarian, and they don’t consume or kill other insects. They are pollinators who sip nectar from flowers and bring water to clean their hives and for drinking as well. Bees feed only on nectar (carbohydrates) and pollen (protein) from flowers. Apart from honey, they also produce royal jelly, which is rich in protein and carbohydrates. In fact, it is the Royal Jelly that must be consumed by the queen bee in order to reign the throne.

Wasps:

Wasps are involved in mass killing and hunting of prey, mostly including caterpillars and flies. Other than feeding on different types of insects, they also sip on nectar too. They are found buzzing around sugary beverages like overripe fruit, honeydew, and juices; they are attracted to human food mainly. Like bees, they also make a kind of honey that they feed to their larvae, but it has much less output than bee honey.

Home

Bees:

There are different species of bees, and they build different types of nests. The honeycomb hives of the bees are a mathematically intricate structure of hexagonal cells. The complete structure is densely packed and made of beeswax.

The cells are used for storing food and the laying of next generations’ eggs, larvae, and pupae. And the stingless bees build bag-like homes without precise structure. The honey bees don’t hibernate during the winter like the wasps. But other than the queen who may live for three years, the other members of the bee workers die when winter comes.

Wasps:

There are some species of wasps that are social and live in colonies, while there are other species that are solitary and live on their own. Their nests aren’t made of any kind of wax because they don’t have any wax-producing glands. 

Instead of wax, their homes or wax are made of undigested wood pulp, which is a paper-like structure. The solitary wasps mostly build a small mud-like nest, which is attached to a surface that is the base of the operation. The structure of these mud nests is more like a vase with multiple small cells.

Social Structure

Bees:

Among all other differences between bees and wasps, social structure and life is an important difference. Bees live in a colony or nest which has approximately 75,000 members in it. They are highly social creatures, and the whole colony is supported by the single queen bee. The female workers also support and take good care of their queen. 

Wasps:

Wasps are also social creatures which the size of their nests basically states. The queen starts constructing its nest, and when it reaches the size of a walnut, the sterile daughters of the queen carry forward the construction. Their colony can have approximately 10,000 members with at least one queen.

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2. What are little black bugs with white stripes?
3. Natural Predators of Wasps
4. What Kinds of Bees Live in the Ground?
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6. Is There a Kind of Bee That Doesn’t Sting?

Read Which Mammals can fly here.

But, we don’t happen to stumble across them over the sidewalks, or in the garden, or even in the park. So, where do they live? This is what we’ll discuss in this post, but before we jump straight to it, let’s have a ‘textual” look at what Draco lizards look like.

What does a Draco Flying Lizard generally look like?

Draco Lizards, also referred to as flying lizards, flying dragons, or gliding lizards are the lizards that are capable of gliding with their extended membrane, which acts as wings, and this membrane is actually their enlarged set of ribs. This set of wings is located on either side of their body, supported by elongated ribs. 

These lizards also have a gular flap located under their head. They have a depressed, elongated, and flat body, which also aids in flight. Sexual dimorphism is common in these lizards; the males are slightly smaller in length than the females. Draco Lizards generally grow about 8 inches long in length, including the tail. They have a long slender tail, and a row of rectangular brown spots on top, and black spots on the bottom of their wing membrane, which helps their identification. 

The gular flap, called a dewlap, is long, pointed, and bright yellow in colors in the males and in females; the dewlap is small and bluish-gray colored. The underside of the Draco Lizard’s wings is blue in males and yellow in females.

Habitat of different species of Flying Draco Lizards

Flying Draco Lizards share a commonality in habitat, and they are found only in tropical rainforests. They are usually found in densely wooded areas and are populated across the range of SouthEast Asia, Southern India, and tropical forests of the Philippines and Borneo.

However, different species of Draco Lizards occupy different tropical forests; for example, the giant gliding lizards mark their territories near rivers, the black-bearded gliding lizards live at low elevations in tropical forests, and so on. 

Below we’ll discuss the habitat and the range of 7 different species of Flying Draco Lizards out of the 40 species known so far.

Sumatran Gliding Lizard

Sumatran Gliding Lizards are found in tropical montane forests and are endemic to Southeast Asia, commonly found in Southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, and Singapore. Apart from these ranges, the Sumatran Gliding Lizards are also found in the adjacent Philippine island of Palawan. 

Since most of Sumatran tropical forests are now regarded as natural parks, the Sumatran Gliding Lizard can often be encountered in man-made habitats or disturbed habitats, rather than the densely wooded forest, in the shade of primary or secondary forests. 

Sumatran Gliding Lizards prefer habitats near the forest edge, easily encountered in parks, gardens, wayside trees, and other similar habitats. Since Singapore houses a wide array of reptiles, Sumatran Gliding Lizards are densely populated from Singapore to Sumatra. 

Lasell’s Flying Dragon

Lasell’s Flying Dragon, also known as Draco biaro, is a species of flying lizards endemic to Indonesia. WEven in Indonesia, the Lasell’s Flying Dragons can only be found on the Sangihe Islands in North Sulawesi of Indonesia. Draco biaro prefers the lowland rainforests of Biaro Island and the complete Sangihe Archipelago. 

The ecoregion of the Lasell’s Flying Dragon’s habit includes the lowlands of Sulawesi that is characterized by tropical moist lowland forests with areas of freshwater swamp and peat swamps. The habitat of these flying lizards can be described as lowland rainforests that are evergreen, with main plant communities being evergreen or semi-evergreen.

Two-spotted Flying Lizard

The Two-spotted Flying Lizard, also known as Draco maculatus, is endemic to Southeast Asia and a few parts of India. In India, the Two-spotted Flying Lizards are spread across the Eastern Himalayas to Assam’s four-layered rainforests that are rich with exotic orchids and bromeliads, ferns, arums, climbers, etc. Rich in biodiversity, Assamese rainforests are home to 47 reptile species, including Draco maculatus.

Besides Indian tropical rainforests, Two-spotted Flying Lizards are also found in the Southern parts of China, including Hainan, Yunnan, Tibet, and Guangxi. In Bangladesh, this lizard species is endemic to Satchari National Park, Sylhet. Besides China, India, and Bangladesh, the Two-spotted Flying Lizards are found in tropical rainforests of Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and West Malaysia. 

Blanford’s Flying Dragon

Blandford’s Flying Dragon, named after English geologist William Thomas Blanford, is a species of Flying Draco Lizards occurring in habitats of cloud forests and montane forests, both of which are tropical rainforests commonly found in Bangladesh, China (SW Yunnan), India, Thailand (East), Vietnam, Malaysia (West), and Myanmar. 

Blanford’s Flying Dragons live in montane forests that consist of both coniferous and broadleaf forests where they fly, or rather glide, from tree to tree and are rarely found on the ground. These forests, including the cloud forests, exhibit mossy dominance, with moss covering plants and vegetation in these forests.

In Yunnan, Blanford’s Flying Dragon is commonly found in Xishuangbanna, which has biodiversity hotspots and over 5000 species of vascular plants. 

Indian Flying Lizard

Indian Flying Lizard or Draco dussumieri, as the name suggests, is endemic to the tropical rainforests of India. The range of Indian Flying Lizards spreads across the Western Ghats of India, principally occurring in Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, and other southern parts of India such as Kerala. 

Although not as densely populated in the Eastern Ghats as it is in the Western Ghats, the Indian Flying Lizard is sometimes spotted in certain wooded areas of Talakona and to the north of Trivandrum.

This species prefers living on coconut trees and near forests with betel-nut plantations. Its habitat is characterized by palm plantations in hill forests where it glides from tree to tree in forage of insects and other food.

Indochinese Flying Lizard

Native to southeastern Cambodia, southern Vietnam, and eastern Cambodia, Indochinese Flying Lizards prefer higher altitudes in tropical evergreen rainforests. Indochinese lizards are hardly ever seen on the ground, and they glide from tree to tree, marking their territory, mating, and looking for food – primarily ants and small insects.

These lizards are found at an elevation of at least 500 meters; the habitat is distinctly characterized by multi-layered open structured, tall forests. The climate in these forests is humid, with the recorded average annual rainfall ranging between 1200 to 2200 mm. The ecoregion of the habitat of these lizards has a significant proportion of deciduous canopy trees with waterlogged areas in the southern slopes of the mountains.

Do Draco ‘Flying’ Lizards really fly?

Although the Draco Lizards are called flying dragons or flying lizards, they don’t actually fly, but they glide. They are one of the best-known gliding vertebrates, and they have different kinds of adaptations that help them in generating lift an airfoil in order to move from one tree to another tree in their habitats. 

They aren’t capable of powdered flights. Thus, the unpowered flight is limited to gliding from one tree to the other. Flying Draco Lizards can glide as long as 60m and 10m in height.

Adaptations for flight in Draco Lizard:

Elongated ribs are one of their important adaptations – there is a fold of skin in between their ribs that rest flat against their body and acts as wings when unfurled and helps them to catch the wind and glide. 

Their long and slender tail helps them to steer themselves while gliding. The patagial membrane supported by the elongated ribs helps them to generate lift forces that help them to travel long distances and be in the air for a longer period of time. 

Flying Draco Lizards use gliding as a primary means of moving in their habitats and to escape predators. They jump and descend their headfirst at the beginning of a flight and keep the lower side of their body parallel to the ground. 

The long streamlined hind limbs and the aerodynamic scaling help them to get to an excellent gliding speed of 5-8 meters per second. In the landing process, the Draco Lizards glide horizontally, and the forelimbs release the patagium and land with their forefeet first, followed by the hind feet. 

The shape of their patagium is highly conserved and scaled allometrically.

Yak fiber can be defined as the fiber made out of yak wool that is produced from the downs or the undercoats of Himalayan bovines, named Yak. Yak fiber is a luxury item because yaks are super rare, only inhabiting the Himalayan region, the plateaus of Tibet, Myanmar, Yunnan, and a few areas in Mongolia and Central Asia. 

The other thing that makes yak fiber more luxurious than other kinds of wool is its sheer softness. 

But why is yak fiber so soft? We have done extensive research on the same to bring a complete breakdown of all the reasons that contribute to the yak fiber’s softness.

The Different Yak Coats:

Yaks are to Himalayan people, what bison are to Americans – important. They have a bulky body frame, extremely dense and long fun, as well yas horns of dark colors. 

Every yak can produce some amount of fiber, whether it is wild or domestic. The quantity, however, depends on the age, breed, sex, and genetic makeup of the yak.

Although yaks look like they have rough fur, and it would be impossible to make fiber out of them that is even remotely soft, what would take you by surprise is the fact that they have three different coats. 

Each coat has its own texture, and all of them vary greatly in appearance, characteristics, and even usage. 

The coarse coat: The coarse coat is the outermost layer of hair, which can be considered the long and dense fur of the yak. This protects the yak from the extremities of the arctic environment. 

It is mostly used by nomads and the people domesticating the yaks in tent-making. As the name suggests, the fur is coarse and has a micron range of 79-90, which is considered thick.

The mid-type: The mid-type in the middle to the outer layer of the yak coat with a diameter of 20-50 microns. It is used to make ropes and tents. However, it is not as strong as the coarse outer coat and neither as fine and soft as the down-coat.

The down fiber: This is the coat of the yak that is ‘the talk of the post.’ The innermost layer of hair that is naturally shed by yaks during the late spring to early summer, the yak down is the softest layer of the three coats.

It is used in the textile industry for the production of yak fiber, which, as we know, gives tough competition to the fabled cashmere, both in terms of softness and price.

Reason why Yak Fiber is soft

Yak fiber has an average diameter of 16-20 microns which, in the textile industry, is considered fine; in fact, yak fiber is one of the finest in the world, and therefore also soft. Here is where the article picks thrust as we throw light on the multiple reasons why yak fiber is so soft, beginning with the very simple yet very important reason – adaptation to cold environments.

Yaks have a double coat of hair.

The primary reason behind the softness of yak down boils down to more or less a physiological adaptation. Yaks live at extremely high altitudes in the Himalayas and the associated regions where the temperatures can drop below 30 degrees which is why they need some sort of protection against the harsh extremities of their habitat. 

This protection comes in the form of a double coat (with a mid-coat) that protects the yaks against cold. The outer coat of the yak is rough and long, which primarily serves the purpose of repelling rain, frequent snow, and precipitation of ice. 

The undercoat or the down serves as an insulatory coat, which is short and fluffy and traps a layer of air so that the yak could maintain a certain body temperature to survive the cold. Since the undercoat is protected from the elements of nature such as rain, snow, dust, etc., by the rough outer coat, it stays soft and fluffy all the time.

Since the yak down or the undercoat is only required during the winters to insulate yaks from cold, they start shedding it naturally in spring. This down can easily be combed down off the yak once the yak has been sheared off the outer coat. Later, the down is spun into a yarn that is used to craft some of the finest and softest fabrics in the world – the yak fabric.

Most luxury fibers are soft, the major reason being environmental adaptation similar to yaks. For example, the vicuña is an animal inhabiting the Andean highlands where it has to face environmental extremities such as cold, snow, and rain. This is why it has a double coat, with the undercoat being super soft, fluffy, and super warm.

The microns count

Micron count is a good way to get the approximation for softness; the smaller the micron, the thinner the fiber. An average human hair measures around 60-70 microns in diameter, and the down of a yearling yak measures 15-17 microns and 18-20 microns in the adult yaks, which makes yak fiber ultra-soft. 

Micron measure is important when you are looking at wool or any other fiber. 

When buying yarn online, you don’t get to feel the yarn and can barely estimate the softness of the yarn. It is not a good idea to buy yarn based on customer reviews because the meaning of softness is different for different people. Words like “super soft” in the reviews don’t help you to understand how soft the yarn really is. But whenever there is a micron measurement given, for example, 15-micron yak, it helps a lot, mostly for people who have been looking at micron count for a whole. 

There are other natural fibers of animals like musk ox and vicuna, with a small diameter. But these animals are wild, and if their down is not gathered by hand, they might shed down while wandering in the vegetation. Whereas in the case of yaks, their down can be simply combed off the animal.

Yak Down is Scaly

There are a number of different factors which make yak a brilliant quality soft fiber. One of the many reasons is the surface texture of yak down. Each hair from a yak down, when examined under an electron microscope, appears to be scaly and tightly fitted against the surface of the hair shaft. This not only makes the texture of yak down smooth but also soft.

Yak Fiber has Crimps

Crimps of the yak down also make the texture of the fiber soft and springy to touch. In terms of textile, the bends and folds in fiber are called crimps. The crimps of the yak down appear like a coiled spring that has been mashed flat. The crimp in wool fiber makes it soft and spongy; it also traps a large volume of air between fibers which gives it an insulating property.

The crimp provides three qualities to a fiber – bounce, loft, and insulating property. The strands of the yak down bounce back to their initial position when you stretch them apart and release them. Compress the strands, the coil gets closer, and when pressure is released, they spring apart again.

That’s the loft. When the fiber is mixed with other fibers, it meshes up and creates micro pockets of insulating air. All these qualities come together with yak fiber and make it one of the softest, lightest, fluffiest and luxurious fabrics in the world of textile. 

Why is Yak Fiber Considered a Luxury?

It’s a known fact that yak fiber is considered a luxury – but if you think it’s only because of the softness that yak fiber is characterized with, you’re not looking at the complete equation. Here are eight reasons, including the ultimate and obvious softness associated with yak fiber that make people go nuts over it.

1.Rarity is Luxury

There are about 20,000 yaks in the world, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society, which clearly proves how rare they are. Most of the yaks live in the Tibetan plateau because of its super-high elevation, far away from the heat. 

However, Tibetan Plateau is also a victim of climate change, and it is sad for the yaks because the environment of the Tibetan plateau is excellent for them. Therefore, the fact that luxury fiber is rare and limited is clear from the above. And there is no fast way to recover the number of yaks because we can’t plant animals like we do flax or cotton.

2.Yak Fiber is super Warm and Cozy

It was during 1980 when the exceptional warm quality of the yak wool was first discovered. The wool is capable of maintaining insulation even if the wool is wet and readily maintains the normal body temperature. It was found during various experiments on yaks that they could survive extreme cold, thus, explaining the adaptation of yaks to the harsh climate.

3.The Softness is Unmatched

The fiber is unbelievably soft and so delicate that one can hardly distinguish between scoured yak down from scoured goat cashmere. The reason why the yak fiber makes a perfectly balanced product is that it’s soft, strong, and durable. It’s easy on the skin and keeps you warm during the cold winter.

4.Breathable and Antibacterial

Yak down is a breathable fiber, and the products that are made of yak fiber have the ability to absorb and release moisture. 

One of the unique features of the yak down is that it’s antibacterial, which means that it’s impossible for the bacteria to breed from sweat and dirt in clothes. The antibacterial property is perfect for making underwear, socks, and sweaters.

5.Static resistant and Absorbs No Odour

The yak fiber is a natural fiber, and like all other natural fibers, has an anti-static quality, and it does not electrify. It is even way better than cashmere, and it doesn’t stick to the skin.

Say NO to sticky!

The yak fiber doesn’t absorb odors, which is one of the important qualities of yak fiber. The products made of yak fiber don’t require frequent wash, which results in extended durability.

6.Renewable, Cruelty-Free Resource

Yak fiber is a cruelty-free resource; it doesn’t require any electrical or manual clippers as the yak down shed each spring. A yak weighing around 750-1,300 lbs can easily shed over two pounds of yak fiber annually, and the same amount of fiber is produced by a tiny German angora rabbit weighing about 6-10 pounds. This also states why yak fibers are limited and therefore luxurious.

7.Kinder to the Planet

Yaks in the semi-wild areas are allowed to graze freely, and it is an important positive contribution towards a critical ecological niche to the environment. 

Yaks are a great alternative to cashmere, as the cashmere turns grasslands into the desert by overgrazing sheep that contribute to the hyped cashmere fiber. 

8.Warmer Than Wool, Softer Than Cashmere

Yaks are one of those highest-dwelling mammals in the world that live between 9,800-15,500 feet above sea level. The yaks can survive in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit with the help of their warm and cozy thick coats. The yak down is 10-15% warmer than Merino wool and softer than cashmere.

The idea is to say that yaks are sheared carefully.