Neighborhood Mushrooms

I Saw these guys on the way to see the shuttle. I think they are "white morels" or "yellow morels". They were in a flower bead hidden in a corner near a bush. They are completely hollow on the inside and feel kind of rubbery. I wouldn't eat anything I find wild, but if they are indeed white morels they are edible. Fun stuff to find hidden in every corner. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

be safe!

more next week. 

Vintage Environmental Media

An awesome compilation of environmental vintage media

The Shuttle Endeavor! Flying over Santa Monica

This was amazing to see!

Final Flight of the Shuttle Endeavor

September 21, 2012

Taken from Santa Monica California

Picture of the Week - Peek A Boo

This little guy was photo shy. 

Location: Skiatook Oklahoma

August 2012

Making Connections - How Fire Ants killed the Bees

We make decisions every day. All of our actions have reactions whether directly see it or not.

In 1929 when a cargo ship accidentally imported a bunch of fire ant in Mobile, Alabama they had no idea they were starting a chain reaction that has resulted in a 70% loss of bees in America.

The fire ants caused so much damage, in 1998 they released the Phorid Fly. The Phorid fly has been linked to colony collapse disorder.

Below is diagram making the connection. Its small but you can click on it to make it bigger :)

Invasive Species - Phorid Fly

INVASIVE SPECIES OF THE WEEK:

Parasitic Phorid Fly

Apocephalus borealis

WHERE ARE THEY FROM:

All over 

They were introduced to Mobile, Alabama in 1998.

They were introduced as an experiment. They wanted to see if they could help control fire-ant populations in the South.

The first time they did the experiment it didn't work, but it was tried again and they seemed to think it would work. 

WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE:

¹⁄₆₄–¹⁄₄ in (0.5–6 mm) in length

There is hump to the thorax

They range in color from black, brown or yellowish

WHAT THEY ARE:

Phorid flies are all over the world. They like little nasty places, like open pipes that get mossy, they are found around flowers. Some species were given the common name 'coffin fly', because they can live in coffins for a long time.

The larvae breed in many places, such as poo, fungi, decaying plants.

They romp around some very nasty areas so they can transport certain disease-causing organisms to food material.

WHY THEY ARE BAD:

 These flies are a nuisance to crops and  may be the cause for Colony collapse disorder.

Colony collapse disorder is causing bees to die. Bee's are vital to our ecosystem.

WHAT CAN YOU DO:

Controlling phorid fly infestations is done by riding them of their breeding locations.

Awesome Website for information: www.flyobsession.net.

Resources:Source=Image courtesy of the USDA Agricultural Research Center

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0029639

http://www.aces.edu/dept/extcomm/newspaper/feb22a02.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/05/photogalleries/zombie-ants/

Vintage Environmental Media

Smokey the Bear

Amazing Environmental ART and Media

I love this collection of  Environmental adds.  They were created  for Earth Day, and I think they really get the point across.

 Here is the link to all the pictures designcrave.com Earth Day Graphics
They are all so beautiful here are a few:

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!!

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: mohagany wasp vs. wolf spider

PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

Taken in a Skiatook, Oklahoma barn.

August 2012

I was feeding the horses when my boyfriends parents yelled for me to check this out (they know my love of insect weirdness). I ran into the barn to find this Mahogany wasp carrying this spider across the barn floor. 

The spider is almost bigger than the wasp, so it looked really neat.  I ran as fast as I could out of the barn, across the yard, into the house and up the stairs to grab my camera and back again just in time. 

Luckily I made it just as the wasp tried to carry the spider under a bunch of cables...

Mahogany wasp vs. wolf spider

The wasp won, it carried this wolf spiders body across an entire barn to find the right spot to lay its eggs in the host spider.

A Hiking Checklist

For me hiking is essential. It helps me recharge my batteries, clear my head and connect with nature.

Luckily where I live there are several places that are not too far. If you are not sure where to find your local spot try this website: localhikes.com. Their website is a great resource. 

Now that you have your destination... it is time to plan. 

When ever you are out in nature it is important to stay safe. 

Be Aware-  remember you are not alone. 

There are many creatures about, Always RESPECT nature and nature will leave you alone.  

Here are a few things you should carry in your pack no matter how far you intend to go. Many a hiker has gone out for an innocent few hour hike, just to find out they went out longer than they should have or they wind up hurt and stuck in the woods.  

It is always better to be safe and prepared than have to smack yourself later about it. 

Try to keep your pack as light as possible, there are many things designed specifically for hikers.  If you do not want to build your own, you dont have to. There are plenty online like this one survivalsolutions /emergency hiking kit fannypack

This is a list of what you should take with you.

A Day Hikers Checklist

 Backpack 
 Batteries     
 Cell Phone   
 Compass

 Emergency kit  - Include Benadryl    
 Knife & Multi-tool

 Fishing line and hook

 Poncho & Hat

 Hand Sanitize

 Trash Bags

 Waterproof Matches

 Lighter

 Map or Trail Guide

 Duct Tape

 Extra pair of socks

 OFF - insect repellent

 Water

 Food

 First Aid Kit

 Flashlights

You can download & print the list here: 
Hiking Checklist - Downloadable

** ALWAYS CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF **

HAPPY HIKING!

Did I miss something?  If there is something you would recommend please comment!
Thanks!

Earth Friendly Tip - Banana Mask!

Oh Beautiful for smoggy skies, insecticided grain,

For strip-mined mountain's majesty above the asphalt plain.

America, America, man sheds his waste on thee,

And hides the pines with billboard signs, from sea to oily sea.

~George Carlin

Endangered Species of the Week - Eyeless Spider

ENDANGERED SPECIES 

OF THE WEEK 

Braken Bat Cave Meshweaver -  EYELESS SPIDER

Added to the federal endangered species list in year 2000

It has NO EYES!

Weird right!  

Eyeless spiders live in deep down in dark caves where their is little to no sunlight.  

Their absence of eyes is believed to be a side effect of their life in the darkness.

They are huntsman spiders, which means they hunt instead of using a web. They use their sense of smell rather than relying on their sight. 

Why did I choose this bug as my Endangered Species of the list?
Because they just found one!  September 9, 2012, it was reported that the eyeless spider was found in a 6 foot cave
after it rained in San Antonio Texas. 

Why is it important? 
Because the spider has not been seen in 30 years.
The discovery was so important that is indefinitely halted a highway construction project going on at State Highway 151 and Loop 1604.

Humans benifit from spiders because their primary diet is insects, which makes they a vital species to our ecosystem.



References:  
Rare spider halts construction on State Highway 151
http://blog.classroomfurniture.com/2012/09/10/everything-stops-for-a-spider/
Picture also from --> http://blog.classroomfurniture.com/2012/09/10/everything-stops-for-a-spider/

Earth Friendly Tip

A "pesticide" is anything used to kill pests,
while a "pest" is anything humans don't want around.
-sierra club

INVASIVE SPECIES OF THE WEEK:

FIRE ANTS

AKA (NICKNAMES): Red Imported Fire Ant (or RIFA),  Solenopsis invicta,  ginger ants, tropical fire ants, and red ants

WHERE ARE THEY FROM:

South America,  Introduced in 1929 to Mobile, Alabama.  They fire ants stowed away a cargo ship.

WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE:

• They range in size from 1/16 to 1/5 inch long.
• Their coloring is Dark reddish brown, with a darker abdomen.
• Mounds 15 inches in diameter and up to 5 feet deep.

They are very aggressive!!!

WHAT THEY ARE:
Fire ants are stinging ants with a powerful bite.  Fire ants have a sting that injects venom, as well as mandibles (Lower jab bone).
Fire ants only bite you to get a decent grip, they actually sting you from the abdomen.  The venom they inject is called solenosin a toxic alkaloid venom (comes from a poison gland).

WHY THEY ARE BAD:

Fire ants cause a whole lot of damage.

    -  $5 billion in US dollars are spent on

 medical treatment and damage

    -  $750 million in damage annually for:

crop damage and loss,

livestock loss

WHAT CAN YOU DO:

Fire Ants have no natural enemies - that is why it was so easy for them to take over.


If you find yourself with a patch of red ants, don't touch, poke, mess with or throw innocent insects into their hole. They will come after you. If you get bitten it is a pretty significant pain. 

Here are some natural ways to ward off fire ants,

• Salt
• worm castings --> effective plant fertilizer
• phorid flyies
• Lemon juice
• Cayenne pepper
• Equal parts white vinegar and water
• Orange peels pureed with water
• Corn meal
• Baking soda and vinegar

Resources:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_ant
ehow.com : http://www.ehow.com/about_5068483_natural-ways-kill-fire-ants.html

Eco Friendly Tip

Vintage Environmental Media - Woodsy the Owl

Vintage Environmental Media

Give a Hoot Don't Pollute....

How many people remember and love Woodsy!!

Labeling Genetically Modified Food

Of course we want to know what is in our food. We should have a choice what to eat and what to not eat. Corporations like Monsanto are taking things way to far. I Saw this today, I liked it so I had to share... Don't you think we deserve the right to choose what to eat?

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Photo of the Week:

Fort Gibson Lake Oklahoma

Taken 8/24/2012

My boyfriend and I recently took a road trip back to Tulsa Oklahoma to visit his family. This shot was taken at Fort Gibson lake where we did an overnight camping trip. It was a beautiful day in Oklahoma. The skies were overcast yet it was hot out with some showers and a tiny bit of sunshine poking through. The next morning we woke to the sound of light raindrops hitting the tent. We layed there enjoying the tip taps of the rain. Then noticed the drops were starting to get heavier and heavier. We decided to check out the weather radar. There was a dilly of a storm headed our way so we decided it was best to get out of there We quickly scurried around trying to pack up wet camping gear, tents, food and ourselves into the car. All in all.....it was pretty awesome.

** Camping Tip - Always scotch guard your tent! It will keep you nice and dry if you ever get stuck in the rain **

Cypress Trees at the Lake

Remembering a Hero

Just a moment to remember Steve Irwin, He was a huge hero of mine. He died on this day in 2006. It was just too soon.

Vintage Environmental Media - The crying Indian

Saving the environment has been a concern for a long time. Do you remember this commercial? The crying Indian, Sadly things have not changed much! Lets all remember to Keep America Beautiful!