COCKROACH – AN AMAZING INSECT AN INSECT THAT HAS BEATEN EVOLUTION WITHOUT ANY CHANGE

COCKROACH – AN AMAZING INSECT

AN INSECT THAT HAS BEATEN EVOLUTION WITHOUT ANY CHANGE

Many a times we would have encountered this amazing animal  called COCKROACH, without realizing  that it is “more a remarkable animal” than any other animal we can see in a zoo; but yet HUMBLE , and goes about its life without bothering about any happenings around.

Cockroach is one of the WORLD’s OLDEST INHABITANT, and the history of life has passed before its small sharp simple eyes as well as compound eyes.

SYSTEMATIC POSITION:

Kingdom	Animalia
Sub-Kingdom	Invertebrata
Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Insecta (Hexapoda)
Order	Orthoptera
Family	Balattidae
Genus	Periplaneta
Species	americana

COCKROACH was there to greet the ARRIVAL OF DINOSAURS 170 MILLION YEARS AGO; he was there to bid FAREWELL TO DINOSAURS 100 MILLIONS AFTER.

COCKROACH IS AN AMAZIN ANMAL, THAT HAS LEARNT ABOUT SURVIVAL THAN HAS ANY OTHER ANIMAL IN THE WORLD.

The COCKROACH is an amazing insect in the universe.

Having a flat body they come under the classification BLATIDS. Cockroaches easily skitter away even when they are pressed hard under an elephant’s foot . They easily move away after the pressure is removed.

They can easily fit in crevices and underneath cleavages (CRYPTIC HABITAT) and walk into it with its flat body.

Cockroaches live anywhere from the hot Sahara to the cold  Arctic and Antarctic.

Cockroaches have been found in the comfort of Modern TVs, Radios &Transistors,  Balances and weighing machines in grocery shops etc, where the machine parts provide warmth and food in the form of wax, grease and other paraffin, that  are an acceptable diet for them.

It must be remembered that of the 3500 known species of COCKROACHES , hardly 1 % seek human beings, their homes and environment   as their neighbours.

Cockroach’s great survival is mainly due to its catholicity of food tastes .It can survive on ant thing from, flower buds, shoe leather, glues that hold Card boards together, paints, beer, clothes, and whatever you name. Cockroaches even eat its own cast of skin due to molting.

Cockroach’s survival is also due to its ability to fast, remain without food and water; two months on water alone, five months on dry food alone; and without any food and water for more than a month.

Most of us desist Cockroaches as filthy mainly due to their fetid odour. This odour is actually responsible for his survival as many predators of cockroaches too desist this odour and refuse to eat him. But Scorpions due the lack of scent organs relish and eat cockroaches.

Some of the forest dwelling tropical species of Cockroach are as large as small bird having 5 cm body length and a wing span of 13-14 cms.

Almost all cockroach species have wings. They fly only when all other means of escape fails.

Their main strength lies in its six long and powerful legs which takes them away from danger fast.

The most remarkable equipment that a cockroach has is its two  Antennae , which are longer than the cockroach itself. These antennae help the cockroach feel its way in the dark.

The antennae of cockroach contain olfactory cells that help in detecting food and water.

The antennae also plays a key role in reproduction as they use they use they stroke their  antennae to stimulate sexual interest in their partner.

Cockroaches are nocturnal insect (ACTIVE IN NIGHT). This habit helps the cockroach to avoid potential predators.

His three simple eyes and two compound eyes are very sensitive.

COCHROACHES ARE A PROLIFIC BREEDER. They reproduce very fast and increase their number. Some records shoe that they reproduced a record 180 offspring in about 303 days. There are reports of recovering as many as 475000 dead cockroaches from a barrack after fumigation.

The female cockroaches seem to be good mothers. Some species hatch eggs within their bodies and produce live roachlings. Most cockroaches carry a purse shaped egg sack with 12 to 40 eggs 

 These egg sacs protrude from their abdomen and are laid pastes to a corner of tree or wall. This hatch away to give white roachings that can survive about a week without food. 

But usually the mother cockroach deposits her egg sac near some food source and camouflages it.

GREAT ASTRONAUT

Cockroaches can stand 100 times the nuclear radiation that human beings can endure.

A human being blacks out at 12 times EARTH’s gravity and his body suffers structural damage at 18 times Earth’s  gravitational force.

Cockroaches can stand 100 times Earth’s gravitational pull for four hours and go about his business as usual.

USEFUL RESEARCH ANIMAL

As cockroaches are a hardy insect its use is valuable in cancer, heart diseases and nutritional research.

Many species help us by consuming dead vegetation that would otherwise clog forests.

Their anatomy has not changed from the beginning , though other animal species evolved.

The only animal (insect) whose direct ancestors have seen dinosaurs among others that is extinct today

Some SIX LEGGED INSECTS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR PEDAGOGICAL ACHIEVEMENTS..

Honey bees are known for their industry.

Grass hoppers are known for their joy of living.

COCKROACH , nothing special other than living a simple life minding its own business, that has paid of in preserving its ORIGINALITY OF CREATION DURING THE COURSE OF 350 MILLION YEARS.

EVOLUTION OF BIRDS-HOW BIRDS BEGAN?

EVOLUTION OF BIRDS-HOW BIRDS BEGAN?

GEOLOGICAL TIME SCALE:

Various views exist regarding the formation and time of origin of

earth. The available evidence indicates the age of the earth to be roughly 4500 million years or even more. But life existed on the earth for about 2700 million years. The entire life span of earth is called the ‘geological time’. By reading the fossils present in the rocks, the geologists have divided the geological times into intervals which are characterised by significant events occurred in the organisation of organisms in the past. These divisions are of different durations and of different categories. The major divisions of geological time are known as eras. These in turn are divided into periods that are further subdivided into epochs. The eras, periods, and epochs are arranged on the time scale, in an order of their age, and this arrangements is called geological time scale. It is broadly divided into six major divisions or eras in the following sequence. (i) Azoic (ii) Archeozoic   (iii) Proterozoic   (iv) Paleozoic  (v) Mesozoic (vi) Coenozoic

 AGE OF REPTILES:

MESOZOIC ERA

The duration of this era is 150 million years. This is the period of middle life. During this era, reptiles dominated and hence the era is called the “Golden age of reptiles.” The Mesozoic era is divided into three periods namely Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. In the Jurassic period strange gigantic dinosaurs roamed and ruled the land. Archaeopteryx, the fossil bird, and the connecting link made its first appearance in the Jurassic period. .  The reptilian characters are the presence of teeth, powerful legs and long tail,  The avian characters are the wings and feathers. The feathers had claws. Perhaps Archaeopteryx could have used the claws and its powerful legs to climb trees.

 The first of the flying animals

As we saw above, the age of reptiles existed for a long time in the life of earth. During that time the most common animals were the cold blooded animals covered with thick scales.

 The moved their bulky bodies almost similar to crawling motion on all four of their legs. Remember! Human beings did not appear at that time.

We come to know of these facts from fossils evidence during that time.

Fossils are defined as the preserved remains of animals, plants, or their parts found in the various layers of the earth's crust, some times in ice or amber. The word fossil (Latin Fossilium –some thing dug out) literally means anything dug out of the earth. The importance of fossils was first recognised by the Leonardo Davinci in 1800.

Experts will be able to find our many facts from fossils. They can find out how the ancient plant or animal looked like, what were their food, and also tell what changes have taken place by comparing their present relatives.

A few of the early reptiles developed wings and learnt to fly. They were called Pterodactyls ( ter-o-dak-tils). Their wings were not made up of Feathers as we see to day. But their wings were made up either membranes or skins. Hence they could not really fly; but were only gliding. Since pterodactyls did not develop feathers they died and became extinct. We know about them only in fossils.

HOW DID BIRDS EVOLVE?

Mainly FOUR STEPS COULD BE DESCRIBED on the evolution of birds THAT MUST HAVE TAKEN MIILIONS OF YEARS.

ADORE YOUR TEACHERS

ADORE YOUR TEACHERS

The WEANING PERIOD of a HUMAN CHILD is very long compared to all other animals. Most four legged animals can walk soon after birth and feed by themselves. Birds that are born on nests on land (NIDIFUGOUS) can walk and feed themselves soon after hatching. Perhaps a HUMAN CHILD is the only animal remaining helpless as a bird hatched on a nest in trees(NIDICOLOUS) and bushes. A Human child has to be fed and trained to do many things including TALKING.

The human head is the CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) for all our activities. All our senses function on the head and MAKES US ALWAYS FEEL SAFE AND ERECT ON EARTH , EVEN IF WE HANG UPSIDE DOWN LIKE A BAT.

The HEAD houses one of the GREATEST ORGANS in human body the MOUTH. The mouth is THE MOST IMPORTANT ORGAN, that help one to communicate. Inside the mouth , there is the TONGUE , like the SANCTUM SANCTORUM of a HOUSE OF PRAYER. The tongue is PROTECTED By 32 HARD TEETH. But at times, the tongue lashes and makes the teeth at RISK. W.hen you speak some thing bad and irritate the listener , you run the risk of a hard punch on your face and thereby put the teeth to risk

THE TONGUE is responsible for ones SPEECH. It is the SEAT OF THE GODDESS of SPEECH, SARASWATHY, VAK DEVI (வாக்கு தேவி, वाक् देवी ) PECHAAYI (பேச்சாயி).

The MOUTH being a SACRED ORGAN, one has to be very selective on the FOOD we EAT and DRINK only what is good for health.

NOT ONLY THAT WE MUST SPEAK only good words , without hurting others.

In order to facilitate speaking good, we chant slokas, sing Bhakthi songs, Sing in the praise of the LORD in Churches and chant Prophets words , chant Granth sahib etc.

When you say LORD , it can mean any one who is omnipotent and omnipresent. Community singing facilitates this.

ALL RELIGIONS SPEAK IN ONE VOICE and expect you to ADORE THE GREAT TEACHERS WHO FOUNDED THE FAITH.

Insist that your children too to follow this.

Do not put alcohol and tobacco in your mouth. Do not take animals when plants are available.

Remember from one seed of a plant , you can have a forest. The story of Robinson Crusoe is an example.

It is impossible to have an army of any animal starting from TWO (male and female)

Conserve animals and grow more plants.

World’s largest and strongest animals such as Whales, Elephants, Hoppos, Rhenos etc are vegetarians.

THERE NONE CALLED BAD TEACHER.

TEACHERS FORM THE STEPS YOU HAVE CLIMBED up your academic achievements and carriers.

Every single teacher who has taught you had something to contribute and facilitate your achievement.

ADORE THEM. Do NOT NEGLECT ANY STEP that is a TEACHER.

LOCATE THEM and COMFORT THEM WITH WARMTH AND AFFECTION.

TEACHERS MAY NOT EXPECT ANYTHING IN RETURN. BUT STILL DO YOUR DUTY.

Remember the number of times you have been Cheated by some one.  He/She has taught you a great lesson in life.

Anyone who facilitates your learning must be adored.

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM is a LOP SIDED ONE. It does not encourage talent and make you job ready and creates JACKS . We have get over this and encourage the TEACHERS to work with zeal.

DEVELOP GOOD HABITS and inculcate it in your kids too.

BIRDS – NESTING STYLES - NIDICOLOUS and NIDIFUGOUS BIRDS

BIRDS – NESTING STYLES

NIDICOLOUS and NIDIFUGOUS BIRDS

Birds do not live in nests all the time. In fact it does not live there except for incubating their young ones.

Being (Diurnal- active by day) they go in search of food in the day and roost in a convenient spot in the night mostly perching on a tree branch.

“BIRD’S HOUSE IS CALLED A NEST” IS A WRONG CONCEPT! Unfortunately we do not have much control on the text books that gets published. This is similar to the statement “Cauliflower is a FLOWER”, which is again is a wrong concept. If Cauliflower is a flower, should it not have the other parts of a flower, like petals, sepals, anthers etc.? Technically cauliflower is undeveloped flower buds. It does give separate  yellow coloured flower when it matures, rising from the middle portion in a long stalk.

Birds build nest only for BREEDING young ones. Nest building is more through instinct and the material used by different birds differ and the styles of nest are also different. It is possible to identify a bird by observing its nest. Some like  TAILOR BIRD (Orthotomus sutorius)  stitch  leaves. “Tailorbirds get their name from the way their nest is constructed. The edges of a large leaf are pierced and sewn together with plant fibre or spider's web to make a cradle in which the actual grass nest is built.”

When and how do birds build nest?

Most animals, even the GREGARIOUS(living in loosely organised groups and flocks includes humans too) ones, do not intentionally recognise its opposite sex except during breeding season. Emotional attachment is unique and well developed in human beings to the extent of taking care of the Chid and old. (With the abnormal increase in old age homes and crime against the aged, perhaps, we seem to be e loosing this emotional attachment. Can we afford to blame evolution?) Birds are not an exception even those that live in flocks.

BUILDING MATERIALS FOR NEST

Each bird has a specific breeding season when the male and female bird pairs. The pairing lasts at least for one season in most cases as the parents take care of building nest and caring the siblings. In some cases such as ruby-throated humming birds, the emotional relationship lasts only till mating and after that the male goes away.

Birds do not form emotional relationships like humans do, and their main drive for forming a pair bond is to produce offspring rather than for any emotional fulfilment. For all birds, the odds of producing surviving offspring are increased with a strong, healthy mate, which is why birds have different courtship rituals to find the most suitable partner.

As a RULE ,

 “Birds that build nests on trees and lay eggs, hatch to give NAKED CHICKS, and fed by parent till they grow feathers and are capable of flying.”

“Birds that build nests on ground and lay eggs , hatch to give fully grown chicks capable of walking and feeding themselves immediately after hatching”

BASED on THE NESTING SITE, BIRDS ARE CLASSIFIED AS

ü NIDICOLOUS (ni·dic·o·lous (n-dk-ls)) BIRDS   and

ü NIDIFUGOUS  BIRDS

ü NIDICOLOUS birds remain in the nest for a time after hatching. The hatchlings are born without feathers.

ü NIDIFUGOUS  birds leave the nest shortly after hatching. They are born after feathers have grown on them.

Let us know about them in detail

NIDICOLOUS BIRDS

In simple words, “the birds that are born on nests in trees are NAKED, BLIND, almost immobile and helpless. These baby birds (hatchlings) are without feathers. These are called Nidicolous birds”. Technically such birds are also called as ALTRICIAL meaning : al·tri·cial    /alˈtriSHəl/ A young bird or other animal, hatched or born in an undeveloped state and requiring care and feeding by the parents. Look at the photograph, the hatchlings are naked, blind, almost immobile and helpless. They have to be fed by their parents till feathers grow and they could fly and feed themselves. This weaning period may be about two weeks or more.   NAKED BLIND and HELP LESS - OPENS MOUTH TO FEED WHEN NEST IS SHAKEN   Usually the birds in most cases are monogamous at least for one season so that both the parents look after their young ones! They build nests using different kind of materials including threads and cobwebs. Threads are used for stitching leaves in the case of TAILOR BIRDS and cobwebs protect the nest from ants. TAILOR BIRD'S NEST SIDE VIEW and TOP VIEW PURPLE RUMPED SUN BIRD's NEST BAYA - WEAVER BIRD'S NEST REED WARBLER'S NEST The nests are meant for one season only. After the breeding and when the fledglings fly away, birds abandon the nest. In the next season, they build another one to raise their young ones with the same partner or a different partner. Then they lay the eggs and incubate for about 18 to 22 days. Then the hatchlings emerge by opening the egg using the so called egg tooth situated on their beak. In the case of Nidicolous or Altricial birds have to be fed by their parents. The chicks open their mouth (beak) wide whenever the nest is disturbed by instinct. SOME EXAMPLES OF NIDICOLOUS NEST and EEGS Their parents feed them for almost two weeks or more. They push the food, like caterpillars or other insects down their throat.   Refer to the photos for details. FEEDING YOUNG ONES NIDIFUGOUS BIRDS - ni·dif·u·gous - (n-dfy-gs): These birds’ nests are found on the ground or on water. The eggs are laid on the nest or just a cavity on the ground lined with down feathers. When the hatchlings come out they are covered with downy feathers. An interesting feature is the camouflage they use for the colour of their eggs as well as downy feathers so that it is difficult to spot them even by their predators. These chicks can run about and feed on their own with in minutes of their hatching. The wet downy feathers dry off very fast. Perhaps the mother birds eat away the egg shells to conserve calcium and to prevent ants and flies disturbing them. Birds hatched on the ground need more protection than their counterparts hatched on nest in trees or bushes. They need protection from their enemies both on the ground and air. They also run the risk of being trodden on by larger animals. Two things primarily protect these young hatchlings. Ø Their downy feathers are usually camouflaged to blend with their background so that it is difficult to see them. Ø They freeze perfectly still at the first sign of danger, instead of flying away and exposing themselves fully. When they freeze it is really difficult to find them. You may see their breathing movement if you observe carefully. Refer to the photographs of Red Watled Lap wings chicks and eggs. Young chicks are protected from their enemies through instinct. Their parents also teach them by example that some animals are dangerous for them. Some examples of NIDIFUGOUS BIRDS. Nest and eggs