Marigold (Tagetes erecta)

Ades or Randa kencana or marigold (Tagetes erecta) are plants in the family Compositae (Asteraceae), as one of the ornamental herbs commonly used as hedgerows and are commercially cut flowers which have unique flowers and striking colors.

T. erecta is an annual plant, grows on soil with a neutral pH in hot areas, lots of sunlight and good drainage. The height of this plant ranges from 30 cm to 120 cm. The stem grows erect and branched, greenish white if the shoots are young and green if they are grown.

In all stems grow a compound with pointed ends and jagged edges. The outermost layer is the stem epidermis. Single leaves, pinnate resembling compound leaves, elongated shape to narrow lanceolate with round glandular spots on the edges and green.

Marigolds have flowers measuring 7.5 - 10 cm with double crown arrangements, bright colors with orange and golden yellow. Flowers have a complete organ including pistils and stamens, shaped like a hump, single or collected in panicles and surrounded by protective leaves.

Traditional medicine uses marigolds to cure respiratory infections, anti-inflammation, thinning phlegm, overcoming coughs and medication for wounds. Marigold flowers by the Filipino people are also used as a cure for anemia and rheumatism.

Plants contain essential oils, natural fungicides and anti-nematodes. Marigold flowers in the social are used as sow flowers and ceremonial facilities for the Hindu community in Bali. This plant is also used as a natural food coloring and chicken feed supplement to produce yellow in the egg.

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Tagetes
Species: T. erecta

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Sweetpotato bug (Physomerus grossipes)

Kutu ketela or sweetpotato bug ( Physomerus grossipes ) is an insect species in Coreidae, brown with black legs, adults growing about 2 cm long, oval shaped, segmented antennas, heavily veined membranes, metathoracic odor glands and enlarged rear tibia. P. grossipes generally live in Leguminosae and Convolvulaceae especially sweet potato ( Physomerus grossipes ), pink morning glory ( Ipomoea carnea ), purple beans ( Vigna unguiculata ), Asian pigeonwings ( Clitoria ternatea ) and common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). Sweetpotato bugs suck liquid from the stem which causes plants to wither and disrupt fruit production. P. grossipes places eggs at the bottom of the leaves or stems or grass around them. Females are very protective of their children, keeping eggs and nymphs from predators as the most famous example of maternal care in Coreidae. Even so, about 20% of eggs are eaten by predators such as ants and 13% are lost by parasitoid predation by chalcid wasps which lay eggs in egg...

Yellow potter wasp (Delta campaniforme)

Yellow potter wasp ( Delta campaniforme ) is a species of animal in Vespidae, solitary wasp, shiny yellow, shiny black, dull black and brown with a yellow striped belly, a long and narrow waist, a nest built using mud and a circle attached to a cliff. D. campaniforme has a black head with a yellow plot in the center and two transverse plots on the right and left. A pair of black eyes. A pair of antennas, long, yellow with a black base and tip. The back is yellow and black. A large black plot semicircle at the top of the front. The two plots form a circular line at the top of the back. A pair of wings is brownish black and transparent. The stomach has the shape of a water droplet, pointed tip, black with yellow and black segments, alternating to form stripes. Linear folds on the sides. The underside of the front is brown and large. The middle section has alternating yellow and black segments that form stripes. The stomach and back are connected by a long, narrow, downward curved pipe...

Dlium