Category Insects

Is the Indian red scorpion to be feared?

The Indian red scorpion does not go after people, but it certainly needs to be feared. It is considered the most lethal scorpion in the world, and it will sting to defend itself. This can be dangerous, especially to little children.

These scorpions appear to prefer humid tropical and subtropical habitats, and are found in India, Pakistan, and Nepal etc. 2 to 3-1/2 inches long, they can be coloured from bright reddish orange to dull brown. They have small pincers, a thick tail and of course a large stinger.

The Indian red scorpion is a night hunter, which subdues prey using its chelae (claws) and stinger. It usually preys on small invertebrates like cockroaches, but sometimes will go for small vertebrates, too, like lizards and rodents.

Even though fearsome, the toxin of the Indian red scorpion has many uses in medicine.

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Where can we see funnel-web spiders?

The funnel-web spiders get their name from their webs which are shaped like a funnel. The funnel’s mouth opens wide, and the spider sits patiently in the narrow part. When an insect prey touches the web, the spider rushes out to capture it. At least 40 species have been identified among these spiders, several of them carrying highly toxic venom. Especially dangerous is the male of Atrax robustus, or the Sydney funnel-web spider, which has caused many deaths. It has become part of Sydney’s folklore. An antivenom for its toxin was introduced in 1981.

Funnel-web spiders mainly live in eastern Australia, in the moist forest regions and highlands. They can be from 1 cm to 5 cm in body length, with the females more heavily built than the males. The front part of their body is covered with a carapace which is sparsely haired and glossy, and the colour of the body can vary from black to brown.

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Which insect is named after Greta Thunberg?

Did you know a beetle species in 2019 was named after Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg in recognition of her contribution towards creating awareness about climate change? Called Nelloptodes gretae the tiny beetle belongs to the Ptiliidae family of beetles. The beetle is less than 1 millimeter long. They have no eyes or wings and are a pale yellow and gold color. . Nelloptodes gretae belongs to a group of some of the smallest known free-living animals, London’s Natural History Museum said Friday.

The species is fitting for the Swedish 16-year-old. “Many people say that Sweden is just a small country and it doesn’t matter what we do,” Thunberg once said. “But I’ve learned that you are never too small to make a difference.” Not to mention the beetle’s antennae, which resemble Thunberg’s signature pigtail braids.

Michael Darby, a scientific associate at the museum who found the insect during his studies of the museum’s vast collection, chose the name to honor Thunberg’s contribution to saving the planet.

Nelloptodes gretae was first discovered in Kenya in the 1960s by entomologist William Block, who donated the samples to the museum, where they have stayed ever since. Thunberg has become known worldwide for her weekly climate strikes, which she started on her own in 2018. Since then, the teenager has inspired millions of people to spend their Fridays urging their governments to take action against climate change.  Her movement has resulted in the largest climate protests in history.

Credit : CBS news

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