Archive for January, 2008

Ever Seen Ants That Look Like “Berries” ?

leppidio January 20th, 2008

I was just updating myself with some news from the National Geographic, and there was this interesting post about mimicry of a fruit plant by parasitic worms.

For many species of insects, mimicry is one of the key to survival. However in a latest findings by an insect ecologist - mimicry caused by parasites can be life torturing for some insects such as ants.

Here’s what I mean when you see these photos:

fruit mimicry by parasite worm

This tropical ant of the species Cephalotes atratus is infected with a parasitic roundworm that makes its bulbous rear end, called a gaster, look like a juicy red berry. Researchers believe the parasites transform the gasters to trick foraging birds into eating the ants. Birds poop out parasite eggs, allowing the worms to spread to new ant colonies.

Ants that look like berries

The Cephalotes atratus ants are common in the tropical forest canopy in Central and Latin America. If knocked off a branch, they can glide toward the tree trunk, grab hold, and climb back up.

  - photos by Steve Yanoviak and National Geographic

Insect ecologist Steve Yanoviak says the finding is the first known example of fruit mimicry caused by a parasite in the world.

Such as an amazing discovery, isn’t it? Too bad for the ants, they enjoy feeding on birds’ feces which contain those worms that causes this strange life cycle to go on. Well, that’s nature!

You can read the full story here:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/photogalleries/ant-pictures/index.html

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Happy New Year 2008! And My New Year’s Resolution Is…

leppidio January 10th, 2008

Happy New Year to all our loyal readers, visitors and friends!!! It’s 2008!

Will you be visiting us this year again? Have you made any resolution this year?

One of my resolution this year is simply to CHANGE! Now, why did I say change?

Most of us are probably at the same place, same habit, same thoughts, all the time.
Some of you are probably trying to find more happiness, more freedom or a greener pasture in life. But really, what does it take to achieve that?

Let’s look back at nature and take this as an example - a caterpillar. If a caterpillar feeds itself on leaves and grows, what will it become eventually? A Butterfly!
Why? That’s because the DNA of the butterfly is already in the caterpillar. With a little motivation, it turns itself into a chrysalis, and soon emerges a butterfly.

Now, what if you take that caterpillar away from its favourite leaves, and put it somewhere far from leaves (hope no one does that).
Will the caterpillar grow and turn into a chrysalis and then a butterfly? Obviously it won’t. In the wrong environment, it will always stay a caterpillar.

I’m trying to give you motivation that there is a huge potential within us waiting to emerge. But to be able to grow to that potential, you need to start making changes. I’m not talking about physical changes, but the change one has to make in one’s MENTAL environment in order to move forward.

Has anyone ever realised, the caterpillar could not have become a butterfly IF it DID NOT make a DECISION to start spinning into a pupae or chrysalis?
And I guess somehow nature is good at convincing every caterpillar to make that decision!

The point is everyone has to make a decision in order to change or see changes in their lives. I know, it is so often not comfortable to change, but it is always possible to change. And I’m thankful, that that possibility and decision can make a difference in my life and your life. And that’s a very powerful decision!

I hope this motivates you to set new goals or resolutions this year in order to see or experience or achieve whatever your dreams are.

“Yesterday was an abandoned dream, tomorrow is always a promise, but today there’s a gift in your hands - it’s the Power to CHANGE.”

I hope you make that decision to change as I am already making changes right now! Have a great 2008 and come back here often!

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