Welp. Time to move to Mars
In this interesting (and slightly terrifying) photo we see a huge hornet nest atop a statue that has a striking resemblance to a turban. You can also see a large number of hornets covering other parts of the statue so be sure to observe this nest from afar. For me, the photo is close enough.
The photo was submitted earlier this month to reddit where it reached the front page and the top of /r/mildlyinteresting
In an interesting experiment, biology student Mattia Menchetti gives colored construction paper to wasps and photographs the results
In an interesting experiment, biology student Mattia Menchetti—who is currently pursuing his Masters in Science at the University of Florence—left a stack of colored construction paper for a group of European Paper Wasps and photographed the resulting nest they created.
Menchetti posted the series of close-up photos on his blog, Notula Zoologica, and the rainbow-colored results are quite fascinating.
For more, you can check Mattia’s official website and blog and also find him on Twitter and Facebook.
Chemical ecologist Troy Alexander recently returned to the US after a 3-month volunteer position for the Macaw Project. The project was based out of the Tambopata Research Center (a joint research center/tourist lodge run by Rainforest Expeditions), one of the most remote Amazon Rainforest lodges in South America.
It was here that Troy discovered a strange structure on the trunk of a tree (and a subsequent one on a tarp). It appears to be some kind of egg tower surrounded by a protective barrier (2 cm in diameter) that eerily resembles a white picket fence.
What’s so fascinating is that nobody knows who is responsible! After going viral on Reddit, Wired, io9, Colossal and countless blogs (e.g., here and here), the mystery remains unsolved.
Entomologists, mycologists, University professors and museum directors have all seen the images but nobody has been able to provide definite confirmation of what created this. It’s possible that Troy has discovered a new species!
– Photography by Troy Alexander
– Rainforest Expeditions on Facebook
– r/whatsthisbug: Seriously, who makes egg cases like this? Just under 2cm across, Southern Peruvian Amazon
– Wired: WTF Is This Weird Web-Tower Thing? We Asked Around. No One Knows
– io9: We have absolutely no clue what built this crazy-complex structure
– Colossal: Unknown Artistic Insect Builds a White Picket Fence to Protect its Nest of Eggs
– Tambopata Research Center
Sociable Weavers (Philetairus socius) are a species of bird endemic to Southern Africa. They are best known for their gigantic communal nests, which are not only a rarity, but also the largest built by any bird. The nests, designed for year-round usage, can house up to 100 families, totaling 300-400 birds. Some nests have even remained occupied for over 100 years!
Not unlike a bee’s honeycomb, the communal nest consists of different chambers, entrances and tunnels. They are made of various materials like twigs, dry grasses, straw and soft plant material. The sociable weavers build these massive communal nests for a variety of reasons:
– Deserts have extreme temperature changes. During the day it keeps the chambers cool and at night it insulates
– The communal nests also attract other birds like the pygmy falcon, pied barbet, familiar chat, red-headed finch, ashy tit and even vultures, owls and eagles may roost on the nests’ broad roof. More residents = more eyes watching out for danger from predators like snakes
– With so many families in a communal setting, new chicks receive help from multiple sources and even juvenile weavers will provide food for younger siblings
In a series entitled Assimilation, photographer Dillon Marsh spent three days in the Kalahari Desert near the South African town of Upington to photograph these gigantic communal nests. You can find the entire 12-picture gallery on his website as well as Behance.
[via Neatorama]
– San Diego Zoo: Sociable Weavers
– Wikipedia: Sociable Weavers
– BBC Wildlife: Social weaver birds nest in a tree in Africa – David Attenborough
– Scientific American: Why Sociable Weavers Nest Together
– Huffington Post: World’s Largest Bird Nests – Photographer Dillon Marsh Snaps Social Weaver Homes In South Africa
– First spotted on: Neatorama
