Glorious Weird Insect Deaths

After yesterday's Zombie Snails, I couldn't help posting this:



Some of the most gloriously weird insect deaths caught on film.

The Fearless Salamander Hunters

Before we went to the Smoky Mountains, the boys did some "research" (namely, having their 'rents read books to them about the national park). They were stoked: the Smokies are supposedly the "salamander capital of the world".

All I heard from Max for two weeks leading up to the trip was that salamanders were shy. Heck yeah, they're shy. Most are tiny-wee critters who have to be near moisture at all times. To top that off, they're nocturnal. I'm not (not anymore...back in college, maybe).

We did find some on our hikes, picking up rocks at the edge of streams and reconnoitering all around damp areas. Our best find was at Grotto Falls, of course it was an uphill hike to get there...granted, only 1.4 miles one way, but Max is only three. Guess who carried him? C'mon, guess.

Anywho, the fearless salamander hunters (aka Owen and Max) found some of the slimy little guys.

Not all that scary, being that the biggest was about three inches long. Now these critters from Japan...terrifying (in the right context, of course...like 400 of them showing up in your swimming pool).

We saw some other oddities, too, such as the mating ritual of the ultra-rare synchronous fireflies. These strange wee beasties (the males flash almost in unison) only exist in two places on the planet: in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and in Malaysia. Who knew?

Now that we're home, I'm ready to put some words on digital paper.

Weird Friday

If this doesn't make you scratch your head...



You might be dead.