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#10I left fussy owl.
Thanks for that tip CinJ - will it work with Sambucus Nigra - I have a rather rampant one in garden & had to trim it a bit last week (composted leaves of course.....)?
2013 photos & vids here
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Clue: Though I belong to a big family, there is only one bird for me.
Congratulations to all of you who guessed Swift lousefly (Crataerina pallida). First a bit about the clues! First clue: I left a fussy owl. This is, as many of you have correctly pointed out, quite simply an anagram of Swift lousefly. The second clue: Though I belong to a big family, there is only one bird for me. The Swift lousefly belongs to the Hippoboscidae ‘lousefly’ family of which there are many members. The Swift lousefly as their name suggests are commonly found on Swifts (Apus apus). In fact this lousefly spends its whole lifecycle associated with Swifts. These louseflies are readily passed from its parent host to their offspring. Whilst of concern, research has shown that this lousefly has no impact on nestling growth or fledging success.
A picture of a Swift lousefly is found here.
Did you know that: Swift louseflies consume about 25mg of blood every 5 days.
Keep an eye out for next week’s mystery quiz!
Take care,
Claire
Not exactly pretty is it Mrs T??
I guess to other swift louseflies it is, but i take your point :)
Looks like something out of an alien film - it is enough to give you nightmares, Mrs T.
"Birds are, quite simply, little miracles - and as such they require care and consideration."
Magnus Ullman
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