Almost every corner of the globe is home to a wide array of different organisms. But despite this diversity, there are groups of animals that share the most unlikely of similarities. Sticking to the UK, each week for 12 weeks I will test your skills in identifying 12 different organisms that share one characteristic. They can be a plant or a fungi, a bird or a mammal, a fish or an insect!MAGICAL MYSTERY QUIZ#7Clue: Heavy dragoons caused problems at military bases.
Germain got it before me - perhaps without knowing why!
Congratulations to all of you who guessed Common bed bug (Cimex lectularius). First a bit about the clues! First clue: Heavy dragoons caused problems at military bases. Amongst a plethora of other names, the bed bug is also known as the ‘heavy dragoon’. During World War II, troops in military bases were plagued by bed bug infestations. In fact during both World wars beg bugs infested not just soldiers’ barracks, but submarines and battleships as well. During the 1940’s bed bugs were considered as common as cockroaches. The second clue: I might hog all the duvet. A duvet may provide a nice warm habitat for bed bugs to thrive. Sleep tight. Bed bugs get their name from the places they like to inhabit.
Mainly nocturnal, bed bugs occur throughout the world and the Common bed bug is the best adapted to human occupation. Partial to blood, their bites can cause a whole host of complaints. It takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes for a bed bug to become engorged with blood. Bed bug infestations can be detected by the smell of rotting raspberries.
A picture of a bed bug is found here.
Did you know that: according to Pliny’s publication of 77 AD ‘Natural History’, bed bugs were used in the treatment of snake bites and ear infections. The belief in their medicinal properties unwittingly persisted well into the 18th century.
Keep an eye out for next week’s mystery quiz!
Take care,
Claire
P.S If you are not scratching an itch after reading this, I’m impressed!!!