Wildlife things you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask

[nightshade]

First off no one is expected to know anything about wildlife on this site,no one is going to think you are daft.The site is to teach and encourage.Those that know (or like me think they know) will pass on knowledge to help and encourage, just ask

[Tinkerbell]

I'll start the ball rolling, nightshade, with this query. Every summer we collect water in various containers in readiness for watering the garden. As the weeks pass, hundreds of odd little beings - similar to small tadpoles - inhabit this water. What are they? How developed is this being? What, if any, is its purpose in nature - if this is a requirement for living?

[fbcpmike]

Are they very small thin and convulsivley wriggling like a letter C turning itself inside out ?, if so they are Mosquito larvae, you might want to cover the containers to prevent you getting clouds of them.

[Tinkerbell]

Yes, your description sounds about right Mike so I'll take your advice and cover them when they appear again.

Tink

[nightshade]

Hi tinkerbell,if you cover up there will be less gnats, midges, mossies etc. for the bats, birds, and dragonflys If the are not bothering you a great deal leave em be

[henrya]

Quote
if you cover up there will be less gnats, midges, mossies etc. for the bats, birds, and dragonflys If the are not bothering you a great deal leave em be
Endquote

Hear hear!

henrya

[Tinkerbell]

Job done - as you say fellas they are not exactly doing me any harm, so until the bugs bite I'll leave well alone.

[wildone]

Why, when I park the car under certain trees , in the summer, the car has spots of something on it which takes a lot of getting off?

[henrya]

Pretty certainly it's 'honeydew' - the excretions of certain aphids. Sugary, and therefore sticky, and if you leave it too long various moulds attack the spots and can etch marks on the paintwork.

Sorry, but the only answers are

1) don't park under trees

or

2) stop caring about those sticky marks and claim your car as a nature reserve in miniature for those moulds!

Lime trees are often the worst culprits.

Those who have cars may be able to recommend good cleaning solutions.

henrya

[nightshade]

Sounds like lime trees there is an aphid that secretes a honeydew like substance as a byproduct of feeding this is what covers your car causing the stickyness,apparently it only likes the european lime tree!

[wildone]

Thank you both Henrya and Nightshade. Will have to watch which trees I park under in future.

[pheonix]

ive discovered sycamore is a bad tree to park under, and a good warm soapy wash normally does the trick

[Tinkerbell]

New question - How come berries and fungus which would be deadly to humans if eaten, may be ingested by birds or other wildlife to no ill effect?

[henrya]

They must have different enzymes in their digestive systems that can cope with stuff that's normally toxic to humans. It works the other way sometimes, of course - chocolate is toxic to dogs. (Some would say it's not good for humans but hey, I like to live dangerously!)

henrya

[wildone]

Sorry,can we go back to the honeydew. Is that the stuff that ants 'milk' aphids for?

[nightshade]

Yes honeydew is what ants prize,the stuff that really damages paintwork is a
mould that grows on the honeydew turning it black if left,this can etch the paintwork

[Kayleigh]

Why is it thought that frogs only return to the pond where they were spawned to breed.
I know Toads return to same pond to breed but do newts return to same pond to breed.

I have a new pond (1 year old) what can I expect to breed in my pond in the near future

[wildone]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Yes honeydew is what ants prize,the stuff that really damages paintwork is a
mould that grows on the honeydew turning it black if left,this can etch the paintwork

I don't think I'll worry about anything etching my paintwork on the car. Lucky to find some paint.

[nightshade]

RE: poisons,as henrya says,it could be enzymes, the length of time in a digestive tract,the fruit is a come-on but the plant needs the seed to be voided in order to start a new plant on fresh ground
Some plant poisons may mellow with time to ensure the seeds are fully ripe before they are eaten or even not eaten at all as with fungi which if eaten would lose all its spores (seeds) all seed is an energy investment for the plant
so it does the best it can to survive

[Wild-Woman]

How does a garden spider get its first slik threads of it's web in place? Some webs are so wide, do they walk to each place or sort of lassoo it?

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by henrya

They must have different enzymes in their digestive systems that can cope with stuff that's normally toxic to humans. It works the other way sometimes, of course - chocolate is toxic to dogs. (Some would say it's not good for humans but hey, I like to live dangerously!)

henrya

Chocolate is toxic to dogs and dogs don't like sugar. Cats don't like sugar either. But sugar is actually not too good for human consumption as it is wasted calories. But never make a cup of tea for your dog and put sugar in it, as your dog will probably not have it. Your cat definitely won't.

The worst common product for humans is milk and many allergies and illnesses can be put down to milk consumption. Personally I love it and don't feel it has done me any harm.

[Boddie]

Where do snakes go to hibernate?

[RobF]

Our dogs (all 9 of them) drink tea with 2 sugars in it. Dark chocolate and cooking chocolate are bad for dogs, but I often give mine half a mars bar when they're working hard.

My question I'm afraid to ask is: why aren't plants that are unpalatable to herbivores more widespread and common?

Rob

[Boddie]

9 dogs. What make are they?

[RobF]

3 Pointers (English)
3 English Springer Spaniels
2 German Wire Haired Pointers
1 English Setter

The pointy and setty ones are used for Black and Red Grouse counts, the spaniels used for beating on local shoots.

Rob