View allAll Photos Tagged toxins
The fly agaric is poisonous. It is even related to the extremely poisonous green tuberous manite! There are various toxins in the hat. It is not yet known what a mushroom uses poison for. Research is still being done. If you ingest the poison, you can become very ill. If you ingest enough poison, it will kill you! In the past, fly agarics were used in rituals. After ingesting the mushroom, shamans (a type of priest) experienced hallucinations.
Mushrooms such as the fly agaric sometimes stand in a circle. The cause of this can also be found under the ground, at the mycelium. When a mycelium grows, it does so in all directions. When the nutrients are used up in the middle of the mycelium, that part dies. This creates an open space in the middle of the mycelium. Only when the mushrooms grow out, you can see the witch circle.
The fly agaric is poisonous. It is even related to the extremely poisonous green tuberous manite! There are various toxins in the hat. It is not yet known what a mushroom uses poison for. Research is still being done. If you ingest the poison, you can become very ill. If you ingest enough poison, it will kill you! In the past, fly agarics were used in rituals. After ingesting the mushroom, shamans (a type of priest) experienced hallucinations.
Mushrooms such as the fly agaric sometimes stand in a circle. The cause of this can also be found under the ground, at the mycelium. When a mycelium grows, it does so in all directions. When the nutrients are used up in the middle of the mycelium, that part dies. This creates an open space in the middle of the mycelium. Only when the mushrooms grow out, you can see the witch circle.
トリカブト、鳥兜
A mountain flower having a strong toxin
Taken in the Komagane-Kogen, approximately 1,000m above sea level
At last I have finally got a Jumping Spider Macro shot, so now I can start to feel like a real photographer. After being rudely awakened by the DPD delivery guy too early this morning, I was on my balcony and inspecting the plants when I spied this little fella, now I have to say, this species of Spider are the greatest physical contradiction in terms one could ever witness, how can something so hopelessly cute be a predator in a manner we would find so grotesque?!
A parasitizing toxin utilising, eight legged predator, that feeds off bugs by excreting digestive enzymes and then sucking up the remains, yummy! But hey, they're so cute though!
Still, thrilled I finally got one.
I hope everyone is well and so as always, thank you! :)
PS: Zoom in, false eye lashes! ;)
taken from a bird hide in Kafue National Park, Zambia
Geophagia or geophagy is the practice of intentionally eating soil or clay. It occurs in different animal species and is best known from images of large numbers of parrots at clay licks in the Amazon.
The common explanation has been that clay is a natural detox treatment i.e. the intake of clay helps in protecting the birds from toxins when the ideal food sources are not readily available.
Recent publications based on years of studying clay licks in Peru show that protection from toxins is not a key driver. Instead the study shows that higher needs of sodium in the breeding season are a key reason for this behavior.
Also called Brown Parrot, this medium-sized parrot is a resident and nomad in savanna and broad-leafed woodland. Most of the time they move in flocks.
poicephalus meyeri
Meyers papegaai
perroquet brun ou perroquet de Meyer
Goldbugpapegei
Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.
All rights reserved. ButsFons©2017
Vultures are of great value as scavengers, especially in hot regions. Vulture stomach acid is exceptionally corrosive (pH=1.0), allowing them to safely digest putrid carcasses infected with botulinum toxin & hog cholera bacteria that would be lethal to any other scavengers and they remove these bacteria from the environment ensuring other scavengers are not affected. #flickrheroes #hss
The rice paper butterfly, also called the paper kite butterfly, wood nymph, or tree nymph (Idea leuconoe) is a distinctive black and white butterfly. The wingspan is 95-110mm across.
The larval wood nymphs are similar to monarch caterpillars in that they feed on plants in the Apocenaceae (dogbane) and Asclepiadaceae (milkweed) families. Also like the monarchs, giant wood nymphs are distasteful to predators, and they derive this protection from the toxins produced by their host plants.
Wings of the Tropics, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
In contrast to mimicry, where an individual tries to go unnoticed, the opposite strategy is called aposematism, from apos, far away, and sema, sign.
It is about being visible, with bright colours that denote toxicity, in this case the toxin is taken from its nutrient plant, Euphorbia sp.
It is a "species-level" defence. A "novice" predator will try to eat it but will give up because of the discomfort it will cause, perhaps simply because of the bad taste.
The predator has learned, and may pass on this lesson. The caterpillar "at the individual level" will have died, but "its sacrifice" will help the rest of its species to survive because the "taught predator" will not try again.
********************
Al contrario que el mimetismo, donde un individuo intenta pasar desapercibido, la estrategia contraria se denomina aposematismo, de apos, lejos, y sema, señal.
Se trata de mostrarse visible, con colores vivos que denotan toxicidad, en este caso la toxina la toman de su planta nutricia, la Euphorbia sp.
Es una defensa "a nivel de especie". Un depredador "novato" intentará comérsela pero desistirá debido a las molestias que le producirá, quizá simplemente el mal sabor.
El depredador ha aprendido, y quizá transmita esta enseñanza. La oruga "a nivel de individuo" habrá muerto, pero "su sacrificio" servirá para que el resto de su especie sobreviva ya que el "depredador enseñado" no lo volverá a intentar.
ミヤマトリカブト、深山鳥兜
A mountain flower having a strong toxin only in Japan
Taken on the Mt, Nyukasa, approximately 1,800m above sea level
Ordinarily a carbon steel or cast iron wok is best used over high heat. To do this properly, the empty wok is heated until it starts to emit smoke. The fire is then turned off and immediately a high smoke-point oil is spread around the entire inner surface. This will ensure a nonstick cooking surface but will not let the oil burn and emit toxins. Turn the heat back on to high and you are ready to cook. Usually proteins first and then vegetables second. Sometimes garlic and ginger will go in first but it is then critical that these are not allowed to burn.
Marsh marigolds are aptly named as I only find them growing in wet marshy areas. Old-timers called them cowslips as cows would surely slip and slide while trying to graze in wet pastures where marsh marigolds would grow. I doubt that cows ever ate cowslips though since they are in the buttercup family and contain some nasty toxins. Some people claim that marsh marigold flowers, buds and leaves are edible but I have never tried them and don't ever plan too.
Muchas gracias a todos por el apoyo a mi trabajo.
Thank you all so much for supporting my work.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mariposa Transparente. Fascinante mariposa Greta oto de alas transparentes conocida popularmente como "mariposa de cristal". El tejido entre las venas de sus alas, que parece de vidrio, la convierte en una de las mariposas mas particulares de nuestro planeta.
Su envergadura es de entre 5,5 y 6 cm. El tejido entre las venas de sus alas parece de vidrio al carecer de escalas de color. El borde de sus alas es de color marrón oscuro, a veces teñidas de rojos o naranja y su cuerpo de color oscuro.
Se puede encontrar en América Central, los adultos realizan migraciones de México a Panamá. También se pueden encontrar en Colombia y Venezuela.
Se alimenta del néctar de una variedad de flores tropicales comunes como la lantana pero prefiere poner sus huevos en las plantas solanáceas del género tropical Cestrum. Las orugas verdes se alimentan de estás plantas tóxicas y almacenan toxinas en sus tejidos, lo que las vuelve tóxicas para sus depredadores, en especial para las hormigas Paraponera clavata. Los adultos también son tóxicos pero su toxicidad se debe principalmente a que los machos se alimentan de las flores cuyo néctar contiene alcaloides, por ejemplo, de la familia Asteraceae. Estos mismos alcaloides se convierten en feromonas con las que los machos atraen a las hembras.
Der Schopf-Tintling kommt an Wegrändern und auf Wiesen vor. Im Lebensraum Stadt ist er einer der charakteristischsten Pilze, der oft in großen Gruppen auf gedüngten Rasenflächen mitten in Wohnsiedlungen wächst. Die Art lebt saprotroph und nematophag, kann also kleine Fadenwürmer (Nematoden) erbeuten und verdauen. Hierzu bildet der Schopf-Tintling an seinem im Boden lebenden Myzel Fangorgane aus, kleine kugelige Strukturen mit dornigen Auswüchsen, mit deren Hilfe er ein Toxin ausscheidet, das Nematoden unbeweglich macht. Die Nematoden werden schließlich von Hyphen des Schopf-Tintlings besiedelt und innerhalb weniger Tage verdaut.
トリカブト、鳥兜
A mountain flower having a strong toxin
Taken on the Mt, Nyukasa, approximately 1,800m above sea level
... fly agaric / Fliege + Pilz = Fliegenpilz. Roter Fliegenpilz.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Amanita Muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a poisonous and psychoactive mushroom. This mushroom was and is used in some cultures as a narcotic. For thousands of years, the shamans of some Siberian peoples gathered for him because of his ecstasy-inducing property. Where does the name come from? The toxin Iboetic acid used to be used for fly defense. Small mushroom pieces were placed in milk and than placed in the cowshed. This was to kill the flies that drank of the milk. The fly agaric is also one of the most popular symbols of happiness ;-)
///
Amanita Muscaria, allgemein bekannt als Fliegenpilz, ist ein giftiger Pilz und eine Psychodroge. Dieser Pilz wurde und wird in manchen Kulturen als Rauschmittel verwendet. Seit Jahrtausenden sammeln ihn die Schamanen einiger sibirischer Völker wegen seiner ekstase-auslösenden Eigenschaft. Woher kommt der Name? Den Giftstoff Ibotensäure verwendete man früher zur Fliegenabwehr. Kleine Pilzstücke wurden in Milch eingelegt und dann im Kuhstall aufgestellt. Damit sollten die Fliegen getötet werden, die von der Milch tranken. Der Fliegenpilz zählt auch zu den beliebtesten Glückssymbolen ;-)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
#7DWF / Sundays #Fauna
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nikon Micro-Nikkor-P / 1:3.5 / 55 mm
An Eastern Red-Spotted Newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, taken at Lake Loree at the Sunny Hill Resort and Golf Course in Greenville, New York, in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. These amphibians secrete a poisonous toxin that warns potential predators to get their lunch somewhere else. Red juveniles like this one, called "efts," are 1-3 inches long, while the greenish colored adults range from 3-5 inches long. I'm sure this little guy liked the warmth of my hand.
Good to know: Sunflowers absorb toxins such as lead and uranium from the soil, and scientists are planting them, with some success, to clean up some of the world's biggest environmental disasters.....
Cette espèce est souvent confondue avec les palmiers ou les fougères, mais elle appartient au groupe des Gymnospermes (plantes à graines non contenues dans un fruit). Ce Cycas est originaire du japon.
Étymologie
Cycas est un terme d'origine grecque (kykas) qui désigne une « sorte de palmier » (par Théophraste). Revoluta se traduit par « enroulée vers l'arrière », allusion aux marges de ses folioles.
Description et période de floraison
Malgré son aspect général, le cycas n'est ni une fougère ni un palmier : il appartient au groupe des Gymnospermes (plantes à graines non contenues dans un fruit) comme les Conifères et le Ginkgo.
Au sommet du stipe (tige robuste ressemblant à un tronc) écailleux, pouvant atteindre 4 m. Les feuilles sont disposées en couronne. Elles sont pennées et composées de nombreuses folioles, comme celles d'un palmier. Elles sont coriaces, persistantes, vert foncé et mesurent de 50 cm à 2 m.
L'espèce est dioïque : il existe des pieds mâles et des pieds femelles distincts. Les pieds mâles produisent, parmi les feuilles terminales, quelques cônes fusiformes, de 60cm de long. Les écailles du cône libèrent du pollen qui est dispersé par les insectes et le vent. Chez les femelles, au cœur de la couronne feuillue, sont produites des feuilles particulières, réduites et couvertes d'un velours beige, qui portent à leur base de gros ovules ovoïdes. L'ovule fécondé par le pollen donne une graine volumineuse et aplatie, protégée uniquement par son enveloppe charnue et rouge.
Exigences écologiques
L'espèce a besoin d'un sol frais et bien drainé, d'une exposition ensoleillée et d'un climat chaud à tempéré (les feuilles s'abîment à partir de -3°C et la plante meurt à partir de -10°C).
Utilisations:
-Ornementale.
-Religion : Dans les Antilles françaises, les feuilles du Cycas revoluta remplacent parfois les palmes et les buis lors du dimanche des rameaux, fête catholique, d'où son surnom de « petit rameau ».
-Alimentaire : Toutes les parties de la plante sont toxiques. Cependant, au Japon, à partir des stipes, riches en amidon, on obtient une farine appelée faux sagou. Pour être consommée, la farine doit être longuement lavée puis cuite afin d'éliminer les toxines.
Remarques
La plante est extrêmement toxique et peut être mortelle pour l'homme et les animaux. Elle contient une toxine appelée cycasine qui cause des irritations gastro-intestinales et des défaillances hépatiques, et d'autres toxines, comme la bêta-N-méthylamino-L-alanine, un acide aminé neurotoxique.
Un grand merci pour vos favoris, commentaires et encouragements toujours très appréciés.
Many thanks for your much appreciated favorites and comments.
It probably wouldn't kill you but it would make you feel "curiouser and curiouser" as it contains some psychoactive toxins
Shore Acres State Park, Oregon USA
The rice paper butterfly, also called the paper kite butterfly, wood nymph, or tree nymph (Idea leuconoe) is a distinctive black and white butterfly. The wingspan is 95-110mm across.
The larval wood nymphs are similar to monarch caterpillars in that they feed on plants in the Apocenaceae (dogbane) and Asclepiadaceae (milkweed) families. Also like the monarchs, giant wood nymphs are distasteful to predators, and they derive this protection from the toxins produced by their host plants.
Wings of the Tropics, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Adenium obesum, more commonly known as a desert rose, is a poisonous species of flowering plant belonging to the tribe Nerieae of the subfamily Apocynoideae of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It is native to the Sahel regions south of the Sahara (from Mauritania and Senegal to Sudan), tropical and subtropical eastern and southern Africa and also the Arabian Peninsula. Other names for the flower include Sabi star, kudu, mock azalea, and impala lily. Adenium obesum is a popular houseplant and bonsai in temperate regions.
Adenium obesum produces a sap in its roots and stems that contains cardiac glycosides. This sap is used as arrow poison for hunting large game throughout much of Africa and as a fish toxin. 34606
According to Wikipedia, Ricinus communis, the castor bean or castor oil plant, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus, Ricinus, and subtribe, Ricininae. The evolution of castor and its relation to other species are currently being studied using modern genetic tools.It reproduces with a mixed pollination system which favors selfing by geitonogamy but at the same time can be an out-crosser by anemophily (wind pollination) or entomophily (insect pollination).
...
Castor seed is the source of castor oil, which has a wide variety of uses. The seeds contain between 40% and 60% oil that is rich in triglycerides, mainly ricinolein. The seed also contains ricin, a water-soluble toxin, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout the plant.
Monday morning got off to a bad start at work when we got a call in the office about a bald eagle sitting in the road ditch next to Chipera Prairie. Luckily, I got the easy job of photographing the capture while one of my brave co-workers had the tough task of tackling those sharp talons and beak. It is now in the hands of some talented raptor rehabilitators here in Iowa. This bird did not appear to have any physical injuries such as a broken wing or leg, but instead acted lethargic. That is typical behavior for eagles that have lead poisoning. Unfortunately, this is just one of several bald eagles that we have rescued here in Winneshiek County this year that were suffering from lead poisoning. It is very difficult for these birds to survive when that lead toxin gets into their system. Hundreds of eagles and hawks die from lead poisoning here in Midwest every year because the sporting goods industry is too stubborn to switch to non-toxic ammunition for hunters and non-toxic fishing tackle for anglers. Call your representatives in Congress and tell them it is time for a change.
トリカブト、鳥兜
A mountain flower having a strong toxin
Taken on the Mt, Nyukasa, approximately 1,800m above sea level
Urania boisduvalii is a day-flying moth of the family Uraniidae. It was first described by Félix Édouard Guérin-Méneville in 1829. Urania boisduvalii is found in Cuba. Unlike Urania poeyi, which is found only in the eastern part of Cuba, this species is found throughout the island. It has been proposed that U. bosiduvalii is a migratory species. Computer generated migratory routes predict that migratory groups fly mainly along the western and eastern coast lines, because of plant distributions.
Usually, U. bosiduvalii lay individual eggs on separate leaves, but they have been known to lay egg clutches too. The specialist larvae of this species feed on Omphalea hypoleuca and Omphalea trichotoma. The larvae will feed on the leaves, but prefer the fruit of O. trichotoma. The leaves of Omaphalea spp. contain compounds that are toxic to most herbivores, but U. boisduvalli caterpillars can tolerate and metabolize the toxins. As adults, the toxins are protection against predators, like birds.
Mitrophore Hybride. Moins recherché et moins apprécié que la Morille car moins charnu et moins savoureux (D'où son nom vernaculaire Morillon), ce Champignon n'en demeure pas moins un bon comestible.
Il apparait à la même saison que les Morilles et pousse souvent en groupe (Parfois, en très grande quantité).
Il est conseillé de le consommer assez rapidement car il ne se conserve que peu de temps lorsqu'il est frais.
Comme les Morilles, il ne se mange que bien cuit.
En cas de grande récolte, vous pouvez envisager d'utiliser la dessiccation comme moyen de conservation d'autant que le séchage élimine la toxine contenue dans ce Champignon à l'état frais.
Comestibilité :
toutes les morilles sont de très bons comestibles, toxiques crues , à faire cuire longuement.
D'après diapositive. Proche du cirque de Gavarnie.
This all white mushroom, known as the Destroying Angel (Amanita sp.), contains a potent toxin (amatoxin) and is extremely poisonous if consumed.
The mushroom is widespread in East North America. It forms a network that is intricately associated with the roots of certain trees and facilitates the uptake of essential nutrients, such as phosphates and nitrogen compounds that would otherwise be unavailable to the host plant ( known as an ectomycorrhizal association).
For more information see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroying_angel
Photo taken September 2017. Mixed deciduous/coniferous forest, West Quebec, Canada
Camera: Olympus EM5 MkII
Lens: Meyer Optik Görlitz Oreston 50/1.8 (early zebra: M42)
P8200183
Did you know?
Pasque flower (Pulsatilla) is highly toxic, and produces cardiogenic toxins and oxytoxins which slow the heart in humans. It has been used as a herbal medicine for centuries.
The North American Mycological Association has stated that there were "no reliably documented cases of death from toxins in these mushrooms in the past 100 years".
Black swallowtail caterpillar. This caterpillar absorbs toxins from the host plants, and therefore tastes poor to bird predators.
There are lots of ripe berries out in the forests and open fields around here now, and these white baneberries are one of my favorites to find - but not to eat! These delightful "doll's eyes" on their bright red stems are in fact very dangerous to ingest as the berries contain toxins that slow down human heart muscles and quickly cause cardiac arrest - otherwise called death.
Poison Dart Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is native to tropical Central and South America. Poison dart frogs often have brightly colored bodies that correlate with their toxicity. Most measuring only an inch in size, these toxic little amphibians are considered one of the most poisonous species on the planet. A single drop of the toxin coating the skin of a female golden dart frog can stop a human heart. They have an average life span of 3 to 15 years and mostly dine on small insects. (Best in Large)
Thank you very much for your visit and taking the time to comment! Really appreciated!
White snakeroot contains the toxin tremetol; when the plants are consumed by cattle, the meat and milk become contaminated with the toxin. When milk or meat containing the toxin is consumed, the poison is passed on to humans. If consumed in large enough quantities, it can cause tremetol poisoning in humans. The poisoning is also called milk sickness, as humans often ingested the toxin by drinking the milk of cows that had eaten snakeroot.
During the early 19th century, when large numbers of European Americans from the East, who were unfamiliar with snakeroot, began settling in the plant's habitat of the Midwest and Upper South, many thousands were killed by milk sickness. Notably, milk sickness was possibly the cause of death in 1818 of Nancy Hanks Lincoln, mother of Abraham Lincoln.[8]
It was some decades before European Americans traced the cause to snakeroot, although today Dr. Anna Pierce Hobbs Bixby is credited with identifying the plant in the 1830s.
In addition to cattle, the plants are also poisonous to horses, goats, and sheep.
Source: Wikipedia
Macro Mondays 26/9/16 theme Handle With Care
For this week theme I choose poison but with a Grimm brothers twist using the story of Snow White and the poison apple.
The scene was set up using Two small bottles (the largest being just over an inch tall) filled with a fluorescent liquid and Two very small crab apples,I first used a normal apple but it was just way to big for what I needed.The scene was the lit from above using a LED lamp and a black light was used to give the liquid that lovely toxic glow that poisons and toxins always seem to have in the movies ; )
I've been avoiding woodlands lately since I don't like giving away a pint of blood to thirsty mosquitoes but I had to find some shade today and so after dousing myself with DEET ventured off into one of the forests here at Lake Meyer Park where I found this fantastic robber fly. This huge guy looks just about like a bumble bee which not only helps it avoid predation but allows it to get very close to real bumble bees since they assume it is one of their bumble bee friends. However, bumble bees are one of this robber fly's favorite foods. They snatch a foraging bumble bee with those spiny legs and then stab it with a stiletto beak that immediately injects immobilizing toxins. They don't eat the bumble bee proper but instead suck out the nutritious liquid insides just like we drink a milkshake!
Full credit to Toxin for the capture and fun shoot! Photo collaboration: photo by Toxin and editing by me! <3 Can't wait to collaborate some more. I always love working with you. <3 Thank you my talented friend!
Becoming - Zero Theorem
I love the delicate, dynamic patterns of Mother Nature! The camera allows us to focus on edges or middles, on patterns or movements.
The rice paper butterfly, also called the paper kite butterfly, wood nymph, or tree nymph (Idea leuconoe) is a distinctive black and white butterfly. The wingspan is 95-110mm across.
The larval wood nymphs are similar to monarch caterpillars in that they feed on plants in the Apocenaceae (dogbane) and Asclepiadaceae (milkweed) families. Also like the monarchs, giant wood nymphs are distasteful to predators, and they derive this protection from the toxins produced by their host plants.
Wings of the Tropics, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
Though many mushrooms are excellent eating, there are a few bad fungal actors out there that spoil the fun for potential mushroom foragers. This deadly galerina is one of the most toxic mushrooms known, and there is no magic cure once the mistake has been made to eat them. People don't even know they've been poisoned for about three to four days, when the mushroom's powerful chemical toxins have finally destroyed most of the liver's cells. Beware of all LBMs - little brown mushrooms! Deadly galerina mushrooms have a brown spore print and fruit in clusters from rotting wood.
The Common Crow (Euploea core) is found in Asia and Australia. As caterpillars they feed on Milkweed and Oleander, both of which have toxins that protect the caterpillars and butterflies from predators. It's only as butterflies they show their uncommon talent in the field of photography and as hair dressers.
Wentwood Forest, Gwent.
Although these mushrooms are mildly poisonous, some people eat these after some processing, I personally leave all Amanitas well alone, too much to go wrong if you ask me.
location: North America, Europe
edibility: Poisonous/Suspect
fungus colour: Red or reddish or pink, Brown
normal size: 5-15cm
cap type: Convex to shield shaped
stem type: Ring on stem, Volva on stem, Bulbous base of stem
flesh: Flesh discolours when cut, bruised or damaged
spore colour: White, cream or yellowish
habitat: Grows in woods, Grows on the ground
Amanita rubescens ([Pers.] Fr.) S. F. Gray Blusher, Amanite rougissante, Golmotte, perlpilz Cap 5–15cm across, rosy brown to flesh colour, sometimes with a yellowish flush covered with white or slightly reddish patches. Stem 60–140´10–25mm, white, strongly flushed with cap colour, white above the striated membranous ring, becoming reddish near the bulbous base which occasionally has scattered scaly patches of volva. Flesh white, gradually becoming pink when bruised or exposed to air, especially in the stem. Taste mild at first then faintly acrid, smell not distinctive. Gills free, white, becoming spotted with red where damaged. Spore print white. Spores ovate, amyloid, 8–9 x 5–5.5µ. Habitat in coniferous and deciduous woodland. Season summer to autumn. Very common. Edible when cooked but poisonous if eaten raw; the water it is cooked in should be discarded, best to avoid it altogether as it does contain dangerous toxins. Distribution, America and Europe.
info by Roger Phillips:
Tis the season for red milkweed beetles to be out and about on common milkweed plants. Since these beetles eat milkweed leaves, they are full of milkweed toxins and wear the universal red and black warning colors that tell predators to stay away. Female red milkweed beetles are bigger than males, and when females are in short supply the males will fight over the chance to mate with them. In this case, the old saying "two's company, three's a crowd" probably holds true😁
“The genus Amanitaceae contains some of the world's most toxic fungi, and it is responsible for over half of all cases of mushroom poisoning. There are several toxins present in amanita species including amanatins, phalloidins, hemolytic compounds, and ibotenic acid. The majority of amanita species are gilled mushrooms with a central stem - in other words, they look like most people's idea of a stereotypical mushroom.”
This is one of the most interesting and beautiful caterpillars I have ever seen. It is about two inches long.
Thanks to Albertaleps, i found out that this is the caterpillar of the "Smeared Dagger Moth" I did some google searches and found out that this is one of the most poisonous caterpillars in North America. The spines have a toxin that can cause severe pain and swelling, as well as an allergic reaction in humans.
I think the bright colours and wicked spines are a good warning to possible predators not to touch it.
I posted a link below if anyone wants to see the less flamboyant adult stage.
Murray Marsh. Sturgeon County, Alberta.
........ the red and black coloring of these beetles is a warning to their predators; indicating that they have ingested milkweed and therefore carry the toxins from the plant in their body. Not only does this make them foul tasting it can also render them deadly as a food source.
Phytolacca americana (Phytolaccaceae), also known as American Pokeweed, Pokeweed, Poke Sallet, Dragonberries is a poisonous, herbaceous perennial plant. Berries ripen through red to purple to almost black and are a food source for songbirds such as gray catbird, northern mockingbird, northern cardinal, and brown thrasher, as well as other birds and some small animals (i.e., to species that are unaffected by its mammalian toxins). (Wikipedia)
TWY Butterfly Garden, Denton, Texas
For the little angels of Annecy - Alpes - Rhône Alpes - France - Europe
La signification de l'iris noir prend sa source dans des temps très reculés, dans la mythologie grecque plus précisément. Iris était la messagère de la déesse Héra, qui n'apportait que de bonnes nouvelles. Un iris sombre, de par sa teinte intense, est un message qui exprime des sentiments également très forts.
Les significations de l’iris noir incluent l’élégance, l’indépendance, la sagesse, le mystère et la rébellion. La présence d’iris noirs dans un jardin peut apporter un contraste éclairant aux fleurs plus flashy. Un cadeau d’iris noirs est un merveilleux hommage à quelqu’un dans votre vie qui est la « vraie affaire » – une personne authentique et une vieille âme qui vous a éclairé d’une manière importante.
Noblesse
Longtemps associé à la royauté, l’iris incarne la noblesse dans sa forme idéale. Ces qualités comprennent le fait de donner l’exemple et de servir au lieu de la peur. Ainsi, les fleurs d’iris sont des cadeaux idéaux pour les personnes que vous admirez et qui vous ont inspiré d’une manière ou d’une autre.
Chevalerie
L’iris est aussi un symbole de chevalerie. Dans notre monde moderne, certains peuvent penser que la chevalerie tient la porte ouverte à une autre personne. Cependant, cela signifie beaucoup plus. Dans les temps anciens, la chevalerie englobait le code de conduite chevaleresque. Cela comprenait la bravoure, l’héroïsme, la justice, l’honneur et la volonté d’aider les faibles. Ainsi, l’iris a été gravé sur de nombreuses armoiries, certaines sous la forme d’un symbole de fleur de lis.
Sagesse
Tout comme certaines fleurs représentent l’innocence, l’iris symbolise la sagesse et l’expérience. Ces fleurs complexes incarnent le genre de beauté qui s’améliore avec l’âge, ainsi que le type de connaissance qui ne peut être acquise que par l’expérience de la vie.
Messages
La signification de la fleur d’iris comprend également des messages. Dans l’Angleterre victorienne, donner un iris à quelqu’un signifiait que vous aviez un message spécial pour lui. Et sur le plan spirituel, comme le mot papillon ou le colibri, l’iris est associé aux messages de vos anges.
Foi et espérance
L’iris est aussi un symbole de foi et d’espérance. Donc, si vous marchez et voyez des iris le long de votre chemin, c’est un signe que vous devriez trouver de l’espoir et croire en de bons résultats, même si vous vous sentez pessimiste ou déprimé.
Pureté
Comme leur nom l’indique, les iris d’eau sont des espèces semi-aquatiques de la fleur qui poussent dans l’eau et les environnements marécageux. Ils sont spéciaux en ce sens qu’ils éliminent les toxines de l’environnement. En fait, les iris drapeau jaune peuvent être utilisés dans le traitement des eaux usées en raison de cette qualité particulière.
Pour cette raison, l’iris est également un symbole de pureté. Comme pour la fleur de lotus ou la fleur de lys, l’iris peut pousser dans des environnements troubles ou boueux, tout en fleurissant en une belle fleur. Toutes ces fleurs symbolisent la capacité de transformer nos vies pour le mieux.
-------------------
The meaning of the black iris has its source in very remote times, in Greek mythology more precisely. Iris was the messenger of the goddess Hera, who brought only good news. A dark iris, with its intense hue, is a message that also expresses very strong feelings.
Black iris meanings include elegance, independence, wisdom, mystery, and rebellion. The presence of black irises in a garden can provide an illuminating contrast to flashier flowers. A gift of black irises is a wonderful tribute to someone in your life who is the "real deal" - a genuine person and an old soul who has enlightened you in an important way.
Nobility
Long associated with royalty, the iris embodies nobility in its ideal form. These qualities include leading by example and serving instead of being afraid. So, iris flowers are ideal gifts for people you admire and who have inspired you in some way.
Chivalry
The iris is also a symbol of chivalry. In our modern world, some may think that chivalry holds the door open for another person. However, it means much more. In ancient times, chivalry encompassed the chivalrous code of conduct. This included bravery, heroism, justice, honor and willingness to help the weak. Thus, the iris has been engraved on many coats of arms, some in the form of a fleur-de-lis symbol.
Wisdom
Just as some flowers represent innocence, the iris symbolizes wisdom and experience. These intricate flowers embody the kind of beauty that improves with age, as well as the kind of knowledge that can only be gained through life experience.
Posts
The meaning of the iris flower also includes messages. In Victorian England, giving someone an iris meant you had a special message for them. And on a spiritual level, like the word butterfly or hummingbird, the iris is associated with messages from your angels.
faith and hope
The iris is also a symbol of faith and hope. So, if you are walking and seeing irises along your path, it is a sign that you should find hope and believe in good results, even if you feel pessimistic or depressed.
Purity
As their name suggests, water irises are semi-aquatic species of the flower that grow in water and marshy environments. They are special in that they remove toxins from the environment. In fact, yellow flag irises can be used in wastewater treatment because of this particular quality.
For this reason, the iris is also a symbol of purity. Like the lotus flower or the lily flower, the iris can grow in murky or muddy environments, while still blooming into a beautiful flower. All of these flowers symbolize the ability to transform our lives for the better.
------------
In the late 18th and early 19th century, thousands of Americans (including perhaps Abraham Lincoln’s mother) were dying of “milk sickness”. It was Dr. Anna Hobbs who showed that this pretty woodland plant was the cause after being told so by an elderly Shawnee woman. It’s toxin, tremetol, passes into the milk of cows that ingest it. After Dr. Hobbs’ demonstration of its nature, pasturelands were cleared of Snakeroot, and the scourge of milk sickness abated. No credit accrued to Hobbs in those times for her lifesaving work. White snakeroot is not uncommon, innocently blooming in partial shade along woodland paths I walk here in Northern New York.