Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Deadly Encounters
Good morning,
Fight to the death
In the animal kingdom, certain animals are deadly enemies upon an encounter. One of the well known pair is the cobra and the mongoose. Looking at the pair it is very difficult to guess the outcome of such a deadly duel. The cobra has fangs and its bite is fatal. The mongoose is an agile viverrine, with a curious and playful disposition. A mortal match between these two never look as serious as their individual intent. The mongoose appears to be playing with the cobra, peering at it closely and ducking away casually as the cobra strikes. The cobra will raise its head as high as it could with its hood spread out, intimidatingly, more defensive than ready to attack. A fight like this usually takes quite a while, with intermittent bouts of peering, lunging, ducking and more staring at each other. The cobra's strike is swift, swifter than its recoil. The mongoose's agility is much superior, both in ducking and reaction, and one bite at the cobra's head is all it needs. This will render the snake defenceless as it is unable to coil around the mongoose like the python does to strangle its victim. And this explains why the mongoose is known as the cobra killer, a gentle playful looking adversary, full of agility, outwitting a terrifying puffing serpent with fangs that can inject deadly venom .
There is another pair which is not as well known, the tarantula and the wasp. The tarantula's bite is deadly while the wasp sting is paralyzing. The skinny wasp is nowhere in size compared to the spider, yet it is it that seeks the spider. Its attack at the tarantula's back is easily foiled because so many legs can come up at once. The fight is akin to a kamikaze airplane attacking an aircraft carrier; it is difficult to figure out the why and how of the wasp attempts. But the attacks can be ferocious, with flurries of wings and hairy legs and tumbling. At times it looks like the wasp would not be able to sustain its own efforts, going under the spider and squirming away from the clutches of the legs, with sand and dust flying about. It is a small fight but nevertheless a very long and fierce one. Why would the wasp risk its life going under the tarantula. Well, if there is no risk there could be no gain. The wasp seeks to sting the belly of the spider, its vulnerable spot. And stinging its belly would render the spider comatose. And like other fights between different kinds of animals, the wasp naturally emerges the victor with a few stings there.
The wasp will not kill the tarantula. This is a purpose, as the wasp's job is not done yet.
After this the wasp will dig a hole in the ground and dragged the spider into it. It will then lay an egg on the spider. Having done that it will seal the opening of the hole. And with that its job is complete. When the egg hatches, the young wasp will feed itself on the comatose tarantula, and by the time its food runs out it will emerge from the hole, a fully grown wasp, ready to fly like its mother. This wasp is also known as a tarantula hawk.
Is not nature fascinating ?
Have a nice day.
Ronald
Fight to the death
In the animal kingdom, certain animals are deadly enemies upon an encounter. One of the well known pair is the cobra and the mongoose. Looking at the pair it is very difficult to guess the outcome of such a deadly duel. The cobra has fangs and its bite is fatal. The mongoose is an agile viverrine, with a curious and playful disposition. A mortal match between these two never look as serious as their individual intent. The mongoose appears to be playing with the cobra, peering at it closely and ducking away casually as the cobra strikes. The cobra will raise its head as high as it could with its hood spread out, intimidatingly, more defensive than ready to attack. A fight like this usually takes quite a while, with intermittent bouts of peering, lunging, ducking and more staring at each other. The cobra's strike is swift, swifter than its recoil. The mongoose's agility is much superior, both in ducking and reaction, and one bite at the cobra's head is all it needs. This will render the snake defenceless as it is unable to coil around the mongoose like the python does to strangle its victim. And this explains why the mongoose is known as the cobra killer, a gentle playful looking adversary, full of agility, outwitting a terrifying puffing serpent with fangs that can inject deadly venom .
There is another pair which is not as well known, the tarantula and the wasp. The tarantula's bite is deadly while the wasp sting is paralyzing. The skinny wasp is nowhere in size compared to the spider, yet it is it that seeks the spider. Its attack at the tarantula's back is easily foiled because so many legs can come up at once. The fight is akin to a kamikaze airplane attacking an aircraft carrier; it is difficult to figure out the why and how of the wasp attempts. But the attacks can be ferocious, with flurries of wings and hairy legs and tumbling. At times it looks like the wasp would not be able to sustain its own efforts, going under the spider and squirming away from the clutches of the legs, with sand and dust flying about. It is a small fight but nevertheless a very long and fierce one. Why would the wasp risk its life going under the tarantula. Well, if there is no risk there could be no gain. The wasp seeks to sting the belly of the spider, its vulnerable spot. And stinging its belly would render the spider comatose. And like other fights between different kinds of animals, the wasp naturally emerges the victor with a few stings there.
The wasp will not kill the tarantula. This is a purpose, as the wasp's job is not done yet.
After this the wasp will dig a hole in the ground and dragged the spider into it. It will then lay an egg on the spider. Having done that it will seal the opening of the hole. And with that its job is complete. When the egg hatches, the young wasp will feed itself on the comatose tarantula, and by the time its food runs out it will emerge from the hole, a fully grown wasp, ready to fly like its mother. This wasp is also known as a tarantula hawk.
Is not nature fascinating ?
Have a nice day.
Ronald
# posted by chunmu @ 5:58 PM 
