Scotland's "Wreck"

 Living history-- Worlds 6th mass extinction? As the world turns more and more species are declining.

Read all about--

Death by storm--Puffins, Guillemots, and razorbills--Auk family washed up ashore--the fate of these birds "puffin wreck" was recorded more than a decade ago-- Occurred again this mating season--2013.  

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/uk-scotland-21953898

Are these spring/summer visitors to the islands--just to continue next generation life--facing decline--

What do think?  Read the Guardian 2004-- and check out the site above--


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Name that bird...

BBC News announces ....

Largest bird in history so far--- Great timing...... for Easter--- Madaeggratite any one..

Referenced to as  Attenborough's Giant Egg.  Said to be auctioned 3/24/13 at Christie's---


** 'Largest egg ever laid' auctioned **
A rare giant elephant bird egg is being auctioned at Christie's auction house in London
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/entertainment-arts-21960778 >



Check it out!  

Technology can reveal---

This week in the NY times health/science section article "Garbled texting as a sign of stroke" reveals 1st stroke symptoms through incoherent messages-- When the texter was asked if the text made sense they responded--yes or could not remember the text.   

Doctors are now naming texting slur dystextia, which is similar to speech slur that strokes causes. 


Many times people do not feel or know when they had a mild stroke-- that later can impair them. Sometimes, not knowing when a stroke began can put patients and doctors in a decision dilemma- to treat it {stroke} as an acute or chronic illness. Many times small mild stroke can occurs one after the other---until a big one comes. 

The sooner a stroke can be detected the better the prognosis when treated properly.

Keep aware of your texts messages---you never know when someone may be having a mild stroke----

My bug story

Have you ever wondered about the invaders of the non-native species? They're not from around here. They travel long distances, sometimes as a cast away. 

This winter a little invader invaded my home.   It makes a buzzing sound similar to that of bees and flies. These buggers find their way into a warm place to hibernate during the winter. So, I began my research on the little bugger to name it. I found out that to defend its self it releases an odor--In this case the cilantro odor of the Halyomorpha halys aka- brown marmorated stink bug--family Pentatomidae. If you kill it by smashing it -- you will definitely smell the odorous cilantro for awhile.You can use a vacuum, but it will stink, too. 

Our native stink bug is the Acrosternum hilare aka- green soldier bug: and its odor is like bitter almonds. However, most people do not know of it because it is kept in check by its predator.  

Native to Japan and China - this stink bug hitched an uninvited ride and invaded the US in the late 1990's in Pennsylvania. As all stink bugs it damages crops (fruits and vegetables).

Most poisons won't kill the Halyomorpha halys. You can use garlic as a repellent. I just love garlic and cilantro--don't you. 

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are currently researching how it will affect our environment if it was to release the predator of  the Asian stink bug: Trissolcus halyomorphae aka- parasitoid wasp: family of  Scelionidae. This wasp can very well get rid of our native stink bug---not a good idea.

I' ve learned living with brown stinker (that's what I called him) as soon as he got comfortable in my home it became be a bit territorial and aggressive. Although, it's harmless--it is a nuisance. After 5 weeks he moved in brown stinker started to buzz and land on me. He seemed to like company after his hibernated sleep. So, I tossed him out the window. Next thing I know he's back again. Every where I went he followed. He would not leave me alone.One day I found him drowned in the toilet. so I flush it. One week to the day of the death of brown stinker I was sitting near my window and heard a buzzing sound. I saw an other brown mamorated looking for a place to stay right before our 2nd nor' eastern. I immediately got rid of it. I wondered how did it know to come to my home. I know that the late brown stinker was male; for he had a raised armor-- a good marker for male stinkers. Maybe, this new one was a female.   

Best way to prevent these brown buggers is to chalk any cracks around  door ways and windows. If you find them in your garden use a trap light. More than 2 then its a  nest brood--call your local pest control. It is known that stink bugs population fluctuates from year to year-- same as other species, such as the Vanessa atalanta aka- Red admiral butterfly that was seen in abundance in 2012--due to the warm weather the year before. 

So, natives beware--especially if you have a fruit or veggie garden.You can go on you tube to learn how to make simple traps.