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Orfelia Fultoni
''Orfelia fultoni'' or “dismalites” is a carnivorous species of fly larvae. It is the only bioluminescent species of dipteran fly found in North America. They produce the bluest light of any studied bioluminescent insect. Discovery ''O. fultoni'' was discovered in the early 1940s near a spring in Glenville, North Carolina by B. B. Fulton. Fulton was performing field work when he noticed ''O. fultoni''’s glowing blue light at night. He found the larvae concealed themselves in crevices during the day and crawled out at night on their webs to emit their light and feed. The O. fultoni had many similar characteristics as spiders including the use of their webs. Fulton was unable to identify the species, so he attempted to raise some of the larvae to maturity but was unsuccessful in his first attempt when his field work was discontinued and the larvae samples were exposed to heat and died. In a second attempt a year later, he found the larvae thrived when kept in a cool, moist en ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anna Ruby Falls
Anna Ruby Falls is located near Unicoi State Park in White County near Helen, Georgia. The waterfall is accessible via a half mile (800 m) paved trail from a public use area with a small admittance charge. The Anna Ruby Falls Trail is designated a National Recreation Trail in Georgia. Anna Ruby Falls is actually twin waterfalls created where two separate streams- Curtis Creek and York Creek- join at the base of the falls to form Smith Creek, which flows into Unicoi Lake. Both Curtis and York creeks begin on Tray Mountain, Georgia's sixth-highest peak: Curtis Creek drops and York Creek drops . The falls are named after Anna Ruby Nichols, the daughter of an early settler. The Anna Ruby Falls Scenic Area is a area around Anna Ruby Falls and is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, though access is only through Unicoi State Park. The U.S. Forest Service leases it to the non-profit Cradle of Forestry. The Cradle of Forestry accepts the "Golden Age" pass allowing seniors i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sandstone
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) because they are the most resistant minerals to weathering processes at the Earth's surface. Like uncemented sand, sandstone may be any color due to impurities within the minerals, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, pink, white, and black. Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other topographic features, certain colors of sandstone have been strongly identified with certain regions. Rock formations that are primarily composed of sandstone usually allow the percolation of water and other fluids and are porous enough to store large quantities, making them valuable aquifers and petroleum reservoirs. Quartz-bearing sandstone can be changed into quartzite through metamorphism, usually related to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cave Insects
Cave-dwelling insects are among the most widespread and prominent troglofauna (cave-dwelling animals), including troglobites, troglophiles, and trogloxenes. As a category of ecological adaptations, such insects are significant in many senses, ecological, evolutionary, and physiological. Introduction A cave is an unusually well-defined ecological habitat in terms of its nature, time, and place. Accordingly, it is not surprising that a number of insects permanently inhabit caves, especially at the deepest levels, and are markedly specialised for niches in some of the extreme conditions. These are the true cavernicole species; troglobites rather than troglophiles or trogloxenes. These include; spiders and insects. Cavernicolous insect species rarely are adapted to move from cave to cave, so each species or community generally will be restricted wholly to certain caves or cave systems each, and commonly will have evolved in their respective home cave systems. Exceptions commonly are th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bioluminescent Insects
Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, microorganisms including some bioluminescent bacteria, and terrestrial arthropods such as fireflies. In some animals, the light is bacteriogenic, produced by symbiotic bacteria such as those from the genus ''Vibrio''; in others, it is autogenic, produced by the animals themselves. In a general sense, the principal chemical reaction in bioluminescence involves a light-emitting molecule and an enzyme, generally called luciferin and luciferase, respectively. Because these are generic names, luciferins and luciferases are often distinguished by the species or group, e.g. firefly luciferin. In all characterized cases, the enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of the luciferin. In some species, the luciferase requires other cofactors, such as calcium or magnesium ions, and sometime ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fauna Of The Southeastern United States
Fauna is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is ''flora'', and for fungi, it is ''funga''. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively referred to as '' biota''. Zoologists and paleontologists use ''fauna'' to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess Shale fauna". Paleontologists sometimes refer to a sequence of faunal stages, which is a series of rocks all containing similar fossils. The study of animals of a particular region is called faunistics. Etymology ''Fauna'' comes from the name Fauna, a Roman goddess of earth and fertility, the Roman god Faunus, and the related forest spirits called Fauns. All three words are cognates of the name of the Greek god Pan, and ''panis'' is the Greek equivalent of fauna. ''Fauna'' is also the word for a book that catalogues the animals in such a manner. The term was first used by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diptera Of North America
Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced mechanosensory organs known as halteres, which act as high-speed sensors of rotational movement and allow dipterans to perform advanced aerobatics. Diptera is a large order containing an estimated 1,000,000 species including horse-flies, crane flies, hoverflies and others, although only about 125,000 species have been described. Flies have a mobile head, with a pair of large compound eyes, and mouthparts designed for piercing and sucking (mosquitoes, black flies and robber flies), or for lapping and sucking in the other groups. Their wing arrangement gives them great maneuverability in flight, and claws and pads on their feet enable them to cling to smooth surfaces. Flies undergo complete metamorphosis; the eggs are often laid on the la ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keroplatidae
The Keroplatidae are a family of small flies known as fungus gnats. About 950 species are described, but the true number of species is undoubtedly much higher. They are generally forest dwellers found in the damp habitats favoured by their host fungi. They can also often be found in caves. Larvae both feed on fungi and are predatory - they can spin webs by secreting acid fluids, which they use to kill smaller invertebrates and capture spores. Some of the predatory larvae cannibalize pupa of their own species. They notably include the genus ''Arachnocampa''; the larvae of which are known as "glowworms" in Australia and New Zealand. The fossil record of the family extends back into the Cretaceous, with the oldest named member, '' Lebanognoriste'' known from the Barremian aged Lebanese amber, other Cretaceous species are known from the Spanish, Burmese, Bezonnais, Taimyr and Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arachnocampa
''Arachnocampa'' is a genus of nine fungus gnat species which have a bioluminescent larval stage, akin to the larval stage of glowworm beetles. The species of ''Arachnocampa'' are endemic to Australia and New Zealand, dwelling in caves and grottos, or sheltered places in forests. A previous synonym was "''Bolitiphila''," meaning "mushroom lover," in the past. The name was changed in 1924 to ''Arachnocampa'', meaning "spider web-worm," for the way the larvae hang sticky silk threads to ensnare prey. The genus ''Arachnocampa'' belongs in the family Keroplatidae. Common features ''Arachnocampa'' species have holometabolous metamorphosis with eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. Individuals spend most of their lives as larvae. These flies live from about 6 through 12 months as larvae, depending on food availability. A larva is only about 3–5 mm long when it emerges from its egg, and can grow up to about 3 cm long. The larva spins a nest out of silk on the ceiling ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only national natural areas program that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in both public and private ownership. The program was established on May 18, 1962, by United States Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. The program aims to encourage and support voluntary preservation of sites that illustrate the geological and ecological history of the United States. It also hopes to strengthen the public's appreciation of the country's natural heritage. As of January 2021, 602 sites have been added to the National Registry of Natural Landmarks. The registry includes nationally significant geological and ecological features in 48 states, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The National Park Service administers the NNL Program and if reques ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dismals Canyon
Dismals Canyon is a sandstone Canyon, gorge near Phil Campbell, Alabama, Phil Campbell in Franklin County, Alabama. It was declared a National Natural Landmark in May 1974. Dismals Canyon is one of only a few places where insects called dismalites (''Orfelia fultoni'', a distant relative of ''Arachnocampa'') can be found. The larval forms of these flies emit a bright blue-green light to attract food and mates. They cover the canyon wall. The canyon is home to two waterfalls, Secret Falls and Rainbow Falls, and six Natural arch, natural bridges. Dismals Canyon is operated commercially as part of an nature preserve, and a fee is charged for entry. Night tours are conducted to view the Orfelia fultoni, dismalites. Camping is available in both traditional campsites and in cabins. Historical connections Chickasaw Native Americans were held captive in the canyon for two weeks before embarking on a forced journey along the Trail of Tears. In film The location was used to film a s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna. The capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond; Virginia Beach is the most-populous city, and Fairfax County is the most-populous political subdivision. The Commonwealth's population was over 8.65million, with 36% of them living in the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area. The area's history begins with several indigenous groups, including the Powhatan. In 1607, the London Company established the Colony of Virginia as the first permanent English colony in the New World. Virginia's state nickname, the Old Dominion, is a reference to this status. Slave labor and land acquired from displaced native tribes fueled the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elizabeth Gault Fisher
Elizabeth Gault Fisher (April 29, 1909 – ) was an American entomologist, bacteriologist, and bryologist. She collected thousands of examples of Maryland mosses, including the first examples of a number of species in Maryland. A moss, '' Desmatodon fisherae'', and an insect, '' Mycetophila fisherae'', were named for her. Early life Elizabeth Gault Fisher was born on April 29, 1909, in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the daughter of Anne (née Baylor) and Dr. William A. Fisher, health commissioner of Baltimore. She attended the Calvert School, St. Timothy's School, graduating in 1927, and Roland Park Country School, graduating in 1930. She studied at Cornell University beginning in 1930, and graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1934, a master's degree and a Ph.D. in entomology in 1938. Her dissertation was ''A Comparative Study of the Male Terminalia of the Mycetophilidae of Nearctic America.'' Career In 1939, Fisher went to Philadelphia to research moss. Fisher became ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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