What Critters are Consumed by Carnivorous Plants in Louisiana? - Science 25

We have talked about carnivorous plants in Louisiana, you may read the previous post: What is the Reason Specific Plants to Trap Animals? – Science 18

Image 1- Louisiana carnivorous plants

Actually, carnivorous plants, especially smaller ones, favor to consume trapped microorganisms like protozoa or bacteria.

Surprisingly, the plants may digest animals such as:

- reptiles
- small mammals
- small fish
- and crustaceans

Image 2- Bee is one of critters digested by carnivorous plants

# Other previous postings:

- The Amphibians Near Extinct due to Fungus Disease – Science 5
- Why Passion Flowers could Attract Butterfly? – Science 13
- Overdosing Epidemic Caused 100,000 Died in the USA – Science 9
- Can Succulents Improve Room Humidity? - Science 6

Image 3- Another insect consumed by carnivorous plants

However, the most common critters to be eaten by this carnivorous are variety of insects.

Image 4- Other carnivorous plants

The insects, off course small in term of size and coexist with carnivorous plants, they may include:

- bees
- beetles
- ants
- mosquitoes, and their larvae
- flies
- moths and gnats

Have you seen any animals trapped by carinivorous plants in nature?

# Previous postings:

- Hurricane Ida Hit Our Neighborhood – Nature 11
- Will Wild Horses Able to Ride Out Hurricane? - Part 1 – Nature 12
- The Prodigy Kid - Marla Olmstead’s Paintings – Part 1 - Art 3
- Will Wild Horses Able to Ride Out Hurricane? - Part 2 – Nature 12

A Young Red Tail Hawk Caught a Squirrel – Science – 24

I have posted A Red Tail Hawk in Our Neighborhood; you may read the previous post: A Red Tail Hawk in Our Neighborhood – Science – 20

Image 1 – Red tail hawk caught squirrels.

We could see hawk eat a squirrel on the ground at previous post. Now, you see the hawk hold the “victim” and fly to secure places (Images 1 and 2) somewhere on the branch of tree.

A Red Tail Hawk will perch in a tree, usually a big and old tree, waiting for the perfect opportunity to grab a squirrel and other small animals.

The predator will poke out the eyes so the victim can't run. I know it's nature but We may don't want to see the cruelty.

Image 2- Hawk flying with victim

My neighbors believe that Red Tail Hawk together with other predators are able to control rat population in our neighborhood.

Image 3- A predator sitting on the tree

Some other small critters consumed by Red Tail Hawk in our near by areas, just for examples are:

- reptiles, include snakes
- rabbits
- voles
- frogs and toads

Have you seen this predator in nature?

# Previous postings:

- Grass in Our Yard during Hot Summer
- Green Bean and Papaya Delight – Food 4
- Mental Awareness and Vaccination – Healthy Life 10
- A Bouquet from Combinations of Flowers and Vegetables

Using of Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer for Killing Virus - Part 2 – Science 21

You may read previous part (Part 1):

- Using of Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer for Killing Virus - Part 1 – Science 21

Image 1- Cordless sprayer, sold by Amazon 

Hotels have promised to sanitize their rooms and areas to make sure free from SARS-CoV-2.

Much more hotels sanitized their rooms nowadays. Since the pandemic, these hotels include:

- Westin
- Renaissance
- Sheraton
- the Ritz-Carlton

Image 2- Room at Westin Hotel, New Orlean, Pleasant Holidays

Price depends on brand, weight, size and easiness to use. I saw at Amazon price of Cordless sprayer are:

- the cheapest price was US$ 27.88
- medium price US$ 59.95
- the most expensive was US$ 149.98

Image 3- A cat, illustration only

In term of price, the medium price US$ 59.95 was favorite one for customers. It may due to its reasonable price and quality.

They use this machine with standard disinfectants ruled by “the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” (CDC) and “the World Health Organization.” (WHO).

If you are planning to travel in the near future, hope, you will feel safe to stay in hotels.

# Previous Postings:

- Do You Know a Sign of Bipolar Disorder? - Healthy Life 8
- Oyster is One of Favorite Seafood in Louisiana – Food 2
- Is Strawberry Greek Yogurt Good For Health? - Healthy Life 9
- Do You Know about Golden Kiwis Fruit? - Food 3

Canadian Geese Live Permanently in Neighborhood – Part 1- Science 23

Yes, a Canadian goose is one of migratory birds, they visit our city when freezing temperature happen in the North of America, include Canada.

Fig 01- A Lonely Canadian geese

However, at least, since 10 years ago, I saw several of them stay all seasons, hence, it could be mean that these geese live “permanently.”

We find this critter in the lakes, especially urban lakes of our state or cities, and even at our neighborhood.

I just wonder that why some geese have chosen to live in the southern states such as Louisiana, Alabama Texas or Florida?

Image 2- Canadian geese hang out at our neighborhood

Image 3- Ducklings feel comfort

Temporary answer that they might be able to adjust to warmer temperature or other reasons.

As reported by “digbr” (2016), some reasonable reasons are:

- availability of food
- decent habitats
- many lakes and ponds are available for nesting during breeding seasons.
- less predators
- migration makes geese stress.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Can Six Dolar Drug Kill Covid 19 Virus? - Healthy Life 3
- Hot Summer in the USA – Temperature above 40 Celsius degree – Nature 6
- Which One Has Vitamin C more - Red Bell Pepper or Orange? - Healthy Life 4
- Alligator in the Nearby Neighborhood - Nature 7

Blue Crab Turns Red Crab – Science 22

Fish, shrimp and crawfish are our favorite items when we buy seafood in the market. They mainly harvest from our state waters.

Image 1- Raw and fresh blue crab

At least two kinds of crabs are sold in our areas, blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and Dungeness (Metacarcinus sp). The Dungeness crab has been posted previously:

- Dungeness Crabs from Gulf of Mexico – Science 19

I believe you know that all crab and lobster will turn red when cooked by boiling or steaming it.

The question then: Why?

Image 2- Dungeness crabs sold in the market

Image 3- Crab turns red when we cook it.

As you might know, the process of crab, prawn, lobster or crustaceans turns red when cooked:

- first, heat due to grilling or boiling will destroy protein called crustacyanin.
- second, releasing of astaxanthin
- finally, shell turns red (bright red).

Many people love to consume crustaceans, but few people don’t like them because of many reasons.

Some of my friends have allergic if they eat crustaceans.

How about you? Do you like to eat lobster, crab or shrimp?

# Previous postings:

- Important of Microorganisms in Food Industry – Healthy Life 1
- I Got a Covid 19 Vaccine Shot Recently – Part 2
- Wild Flowers in the Backyards – Nature 1
- Wreaths for Mardi Gras in Louisiana

Using of Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer for Killing Virus - Part 1 – Science 21

Many companies have developed new technologies to spray disinfectant easily, one of them called as “Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer.”

Image 1- One of high-tech disinfecting machines (credit to EvaClean).

This is a machine with an electric charge which is able to spray to most kind of surfaces, then “coat and wrap” them evenly.

We may fill the Electrostatic Sprayer tank with specific substances (chemical liquid) such as:

- mold preventives
- disinfectants
- sanitizers
- and other safe chemical liquid available in the commercial markets

Image 2- Bags, just for illustration

There are many brands in the market. The number of companies (brands) is increasing day by day, since this kind of spray is popular during Covid 19 pandemic.

Image 3- Purple flowers of Myrtle, illustration

Few reasons to use this Electrostatic Sprayer:

- effective compared to regular spray
- affordable price

Image 4- A store at supermarket, illustration

Some companies (brand names) produce Cordless disinfecting machines, just for examples are:

- Protexus
- Victory Innovations
- Emist
- Brulin
- and Otarius

# To be continued to part 2

## Previous postings:

- I Got a Covid 19 Vaccine Shot Recently – Part 2
- I Got a Covid 19 Vaccine Shot Recently – Part 1
- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 2
- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 1

30 September 2022

A Red Tail Hawk in Our Neighborhood – Science – 20

We have noticed that a lot of hawks visits our neighborhood areas in the last several years.

Image 1- A young red tail hawk.

We believe that at least two species of hawks comes and goes to search foods in our yards.

The two species might be:

- red tail hawk with scientific name: Buteo jamaicensis.
- cooper hawk (Accipiter cooperii).

In addition to physical appearances, the different between red tail hawk and cooper hawk is based on referring to their food preferences.

Image 2- Trees, the place we may see hawks

Image 3- A red tail hawk catches a squirrel.

The significant different between red tail hawk and cooper hawk in term of food consumption are:

- red tail hawk consume squirrels and other small animals
- cooper hawk consume birds (smaller birds) only

So, the two photos (Image 1 and 3) of this posting are photos of “red tail hawk,” not cooper hawk, since they eat squirrel.

My neighbors said that they could be “young stage” of red tail hawk. That why they are not “really” like adult red tail hawk.

What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- Lantana for Summer Project in My Backyard – Nature 34
- Declining of Golden Swamp Warblers Population – Nature 35
- Why does Gum Disease cause Alzheimer's?- Part 1 - Alzheimer's 8
- Higher Temperature due to Heat Island Effect – Science 15

Dungeness Crabs from Gulf of Mexico – Science 19

We visit seafood markets to have a look what might be interest us or to buy cooked foods, ready to consume seafood, just for sometimes.

Image 1- Dungeness Crabs in the market

We found Dungeness Crabs (Metacarcinus sp) in Asian Grocery, section of seafood recently. It was surprising for us.

Why?

As we knew Dungeness Crabs are living a lot in Alaska, then the question is: how they reach thousands km from Alaska to seafood market in our city, Baton Rouge, LA?

Another surprising that crabs still live in the market. They were crawling swimming in the tank.

Image 2- White flowers, illustration only

Image 3- Several Dungeness Crabs in the sea water tank.

No, the crabs are not transport from thousands of kilometers distance or from Northern state, Alaska to Southern state, our city, Baton Rouge, but they were caught from nearby area.

Our state has area called as Gulf of Mexico. Yes, Dungeness Crabs come from this ocean. Since not far away, the carbs are fresh.

Distribution of Dungeness Crabs is quite widespread. We may find in several states include: California, Oregon, and Mississippi. The crabs are also identified in Mexico.

Have you seen Dungeness Crabs

# Previous postings:

- I Got a Covid 19 Vaccine Shot Recently – Part 2
- Is Rising Price due to Greedflation?
- Factors Causing the Late Onset Alzheimer's Diseases – Part 2 - Alzheimer’s 7
- Cooked Snail is One of Favorite Foods in France - Food 19