Lifelong learning: what did you learn this week?

Nature Talk
162

TIL that male scorpions have a PP measuring contest (PediPalps) for mating access!

163

Im not as strong on scorpions as I am other arachnids, but I do find trimorphism in several of NZs harvestmens interesting. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2023/06/27/arachnid-males.html Im not in the right island for the species mentioned in the article, but one species which I see it in quite extremes is Forsteropsalis Fabulosa https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?taxon_id=494538&user_id=sebastiandoak&verifiable=any

I do also find it interesting in some harvestmen lineages its the chelicera which are modified into claws. But in others like the stygnids its the palps which are modified. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?verifiable=any&taxon_id=336045&user_id=sebastiandoak

164

Sounds like me, I can’t stand warm weather. :joy:

165

There is a class of plants called metallophytes that thrive in soils contaminated with lead, zinc, and other metals.

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/ecosystem-of-pansies-thrives-on-soil-contaminated-by-lead-mining-turning-it-into-clean-organic-compounds/

166

You wouldn’t like Arkansas!! It’s consistently 90Âș here since May, and very humid!