Gondang termite (Bulbitermes neopusillus)

Rayap gondang or gondang termite (Bulbitermes neopusillus) is a species of animal in the Termitidae, soldiers having a slightly pear-shaped head, very constricted behind the antenna socket. The posterior margin protrudes weakly in the center. The dorsal line is almost straight in profile. Mandible with short apical processes. Antenna with 13 segments.

The head including the nasus is 1.45-1.60 mm long. The head was measured to the base of the mandible 0.90-0.93 mm. Nasus 0.55-0.62 mm. Nasal index 0.62-0.67 mm. Maximum head width posteriorly 0.85-0.87 mm.

Maximum head height excluding postmentum 0.60-0.63 mm. The length of the pronotum is 0.15-0.18 mm. Pronotum width 0.50-0.55 mm.

Workers have whitish yellow antennae and 14 internodes. Left mandible with apical teeth shorter than first marginal tooth, third marginal tooth slightly protruding from the cutting edge, fourth marginal tooth hidden behind molar prominence.

Right mandible with posterior edge of second marginal tooth nearly straight. the inner lining of the molars is underdeveloped and the indentation at the proximal end of the molar plate is weakly developed.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Blattodea
Superfamily: Blattoidea
Epifamily: Termitoidae
Family: Termitidae
Subfamily: Nasutitermitinae
Genus: Bulbitermes
Species: Bulbitermes neopusillus

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 ...

Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar (Amanita javanica)

OPINION - Javan mocca or Javan slender caesar ( Amanita javanica ) is a mysterious fungus species and has been enigmatic since it was first reported by Boedijn in 1951 and after that no explanation or reporting of specimens is believed to be the same as expected. Boedijn (1951) described A. javanica which grew on Java island as having the characteristics covered in the Amanita genus. Corner and Bas in 1962 tried to describe Javan mocca and all species in Amanita based on specimens in Singapore. Over time some reports say that they have found A. javanica specimens in other Southeast Asia including also China, Japan, India and Nepal. But there is no definitive knowledge and many doubt whether the specimen is the same as described by Boedijn (1951). I was fortunate to have seen this species one afternoon and soon I took out a camera for some shots. In fact, I've only met this mushroom species once. Javan mocca is an endangered species and I have never seen in my experience in...

Asian palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer)

Asian palmyra palm ( Borassus flabellifer ) is a species of Arecaceae, palm, sturdy, single-stemmed, cylindrical shape, growing 15-30 meters tall and with a trunk diameter of about 60 cm. The leaves are clustered at the tip of the trunk, forming a rounded crown. The leaf blade resembles a round fan, up to 1.5 meters in diameter. The leaflets are 5-7 cm wide, and the underside is whitish with a waxy coating. The leaf stalk is up to 1 meter long, with a broad, black midrib at the top and a row of two-pointed spines. The inflorescence is borne on a cob, 20-30 cm long, and the stalk is about 50 cm long. The fruits are clustered in clusters of about 20, round, 7-20 cm in diameter, with a brownish-black outer skin and yellow flesh on the inside. The fruit has three seeds in a thick, hard shell. Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Tracheophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Liliopsida Order: Arecales Family: Arecaceae Subfamily: Coryphoideae Tribe: Borasseae Subtribe: Lataniinae Genus: Borassus Speci...

Dlium