California – Kettinki

2025-05-07 @ 11.03.52 ∈ In English

A recently-discovered termite terminator is better, more targeted and won’t harm humans

UC Riverside researchers have found [a chemical preventing drywood termites from growing new exoskeletons. The chemical, bistrifluron is able to kill about 95% of a termite colony without off-target effects on mammals.]

2024-12-18 @ 16.40.26 ∈ In English

Carnivorous squirrels documented in California

Through videos, photos and direct observations at the regional park, the authors documented California ground squirrels of all ages and genders hunting, eating and competing over vole prey between June 10 and July 30.

2024-10-02 @ 16.54.14 ∈ In English

(From the ”Nature is metal” dept.)

This Mite-y Beetle Buries the Dead to Start a Family | Deep Look

Insects called burying beetles haul mouse carcasses down into the dirt and prep them to feed their future offspring. Also known as carrion beetles, they have some stiff competition … and some help from tiny traveling mites.

2024-05-10 @ 12.15.32 ∈ In English

The Curious Case of Bird Fleas Infesting a Home

Upon visiting the home, we found an abandoned bird’s nest behind a fire alarm bell in the front entryway of the residence. […] A total of 31 fleas were recovered by flagging from the front entryway of the residence, 20 were collected by the resident from indoors, and 387 were removed from the abandoned bird nest.

2024-04-26 @ 16.25.43 ∈ In English

(8:57)

Carbon Offsets Don’t Work. Here’s Why

Individuals, companies and governments “offset” carbon emissions by paying to plant trees or fund solar panels in one place, so they can emit them elsewhere. Carbon credits are exchanged in the open market with the idea that carbon prices will go up – forcing companies to emit less. Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant looks at why carbon offsets may not solve the climate crisis.

2024-02-27 @ 13.02.33 ∈ In English

Center of the Universe

I read something on the internet one recent evening that made a brief and tangential reference to a serial killer preying on Marines in Southern California in the 1970s and early ’80s. Having been stationed at Camp Pendleton, I thought, “How come I never heard about this?”

2023-11-24 @ 10.26.38 ∈ In English

Moth found in West London is a new species from Australia

In 2021 an amateur moth-er living in Ealing, West London, opened her moth trap to find something she didn’t recognise. […] Detailed analysis of the moth, including both morphology and DNA, revealed that the insect was indeed a new species to science, but one that is native to Western Australia rather than Ealing.

2023-11-06 @ 18.59.28 ∈ In English

Millions of sterile fruit flies are being dropped on LA to fight an infestation

[Last month, employees stripped dozens of citrus trees in Baldwin Hills of their fruits] as part of an all-out quarantine effort aimed at eradicating one of the most destructive pests in the world: the Mediterranean fruit fly.

2023-10-08 @ 20.11.11 ∈ In English

‘Like butter for bears’: the grizzlies who dine on 40,000 moths a day

Full of fat – some biologists call them “bear butter” – they’ve proved to be an important source of food for the region’s grizzlies. Biologists estimate about 200 bears each year feast on moths in the eastern portion of the carnivores’ range. Each gram of moth offers bears about eight calories, which means some bears will eat up to 40,000 a day.

2023-09-02 @ 16.16.39 ∈ In English

Hundreds of Tough Mudder racers infected by rugged, nasty bacterium

Hundreds of people who participated in a recent Tough Mudder event—a very muddy obstacle course race—held in Sonoma, California, have fallen ill with pustular rashes, lesions, fever, flu-like symptoms, nerve pain, and other symptoms, local health officials and media outlets report.