[Imagen of A close-up photo of a cuckoo wasp, a small insect with a metallic green or blue body that shimmers in the light. The wasp has a slender body and long antennae] This iridescent bug is the cuckoo wasp, belonging to the family Chrysididae. Its glittering appearance is imparted by the many tiny, deep pits on its body surface. This wasp exhibits similar kleptoparasitic … [Read more...] about The Glittering Cuckoo Wasp: A Jewel Among Parasites
parasites
Birds Use Cigarette Butts for Chemical Warfare Against Ticks
It may come as a surprise to learn that birds have been observed lining their nests with cigarette butts. While many people view discarded cigarette butts as an unsightly litter problem, birds seem to have found a practical use for them. Researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico have been studying the behavior of urban house finches, a species that has … [Read more...] about Birds Use Cigarette Butts for Chemical Warfare Against Ticks