vicmillen

[vicmillen]

[vicmillen]

somatic symptoms of anxiety are so fucked. what do you mean I got so scared my body decided that it needed to add nausea and headache and dizzy to the situation. how is it helping

[vicmillen]

Pill Scarab Beetles: these beetles are covered in plates that perfectly interlock when the beetle folds its limbs, lowers its head, and curls itself into a ball

Above: Eusphaeropeltis sp. (top/bottom left) and Ceratocanthus aeneus (bottom right), two different species of pill scarab beetle

Beetles of the Ceratocanthinae subfamily (also known as pill scarab beetles) rely on a unique form of conglobation to conceal themselves. As the beetle tucks its head down and folds its legs up against its belly, the plates on its head, thorax, abdomen, and legs all come together to form a solid shield; the plates on its legs even have grooves and corresponding ridges that allow them to neatly interlock.

As this blog post explains:

Adult Ceratocanthinae are best known for their ability to conglobate: rolling into a nearly perfect ball. The elytra, pronotum, head, and all six tibiae interlock with each other by means of grooves and corresponding ridges, forming a tightly connected external surface. Many beetles take the form of a tight compact structure when threatened, however in Ceratocanthinae the tibiae of all six legs participate in forming the external hard surface of the sphere, unlike in other beetles.

Above: Ceratocanthus sp.

The Ceratocanthinae subfamily contains many different genera/species, and they are all collectively known as pill scarabs. Many of them have a colorful, metallic appearance; they may be green, red, blue, brown, black, or multicolor.

Above: Germarostes globosus

Sources & More Info:

Gil Wizen: Transformers (Ceratocanthinae Beetles)

Communications Biology: The Evolution of Conglobation in Ceratocanthinae

Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny: Rolling into a Ball: phylogeny of the Ceratocanthinae

ZooKeys: The Ceratocanthinae of Ulu Gombak

Pavel Krásenský Photography: Scarabaeidae (this site is written in Czech)

[vicmillen]

I think it's a common misconception that domesticating animals is somewhat like enslaving them. It really is more of a symbiotic relationship. No wild animal would have willingly put up with early humans if they didn't get something out of it. Wolves wouldn't have stayed with us and become dogs if they weren't getting food and safety out of it. Many large herbivores that are now domesticated could and would have easily trampled their early human captors or broken their enclosures open if they didn't have a reason to stay. Sometimes individual animals still do if we don't give them what they need.

The animals that have stayed with us for thousands of years have evolved to cooperate with us better. Dogs have additional facial muscles around their eyes that wolves lack in order to mimic human facial expressions. Sheep grow their wool perpetually while their wild counterparts don't because a bigger fleece means they're more likely to be allowed to breed and be kept around. Domestic dairy cows produce much more milk than wild bovine species and domestic hens lay more eggs. Do you know how energy costly producing eggs or milk is for an animal? It's pretty intense! They wouldn't be able to do that if we hadn't given them the food and safety from predators and the elements to.

And we really need to show these animals respect and gratitude for what they give us by taking excellent care of them. They gave up a lot to be with us, often including the means to take care of themselves in the wild. That's a huge reason why I'm not against using animal products, but I hate factory farming. They are still living, breathing creatures with needs and feelings. They deserve a comfortable life and, when the time comes, a humane death.

[vicmillen]

one of the funniest bruce wayne moments of all time. to me. "tim, i would never endanger a child. unless he was really cool and i was super sure he wouldn't die. ignore the mannequin wearing my dead son's combat uniform in the basement btw."

[vicmillen]

dogs might look like their owners but cat people always have a cat with the same mental illness as them

[vicmillen]

I wanna talk how legally weird it must've been for Dr. Doof to be allowed visitation rights by his bio family considering he's legally an Ocelot.

Because this means that A) his bio parents came back for him at some point to get custody, just to abuse and neglect him. And B) His adoptive Mom got the paperwork done and legally adopted him. Not just by taking him in alone, but LEGALLY. (And minor C) his Mom actually took him to get plates and silverware for the meat she hunted for him, which is just adorable actually)

We know some humans are just fully aware that animals in this universe just 100% understand everything and are basically just smaller people with fur/scales/feathers. And more than a few are probably with the government.

So Dr. Doof's Mom probably found him as a baby/younger kid and took him in, went to a government facility that can communicate with animals/knows about this, went through the process of adoption by proving she and her bio kids were a good family for Dr. D, and making it all official.

I can only imagine why Dr. D's bio parents bothered with getting him back (actually he'd probably be way more normal in universe if he'd exclusively been raised by his Mom) but they did. And probably robbed his mom of visitation rights in court or by simply saying they couldn't visit. I mean Dr. D was literally a gnome for a year??

I'm just so curious about the legality of this.

[vicmillen]

Nightwing (2016-): Fear State

[vicmillen]

a lot of things get on my nerves. im constantly annoyed. and i also have a deep love of humanity and the world but everything is really annoying

[vicmillen]

how to get close to people for beginners

getting close to people strategies

first time getting close to people walkthrough

techniques for getting close to people

[vicmillen]

Cursed Creature here

[vicmillen]

BITING. "Well in Linked Universe" "Well in the LU fandom" Shut up! Stop! Its a *fan comic*. Its a Good fancomic, but its not canon and its not mine either! Get off me! Legend of zelda is almost 40 years old and has so much stuff please just LOOK at it! Im Tired!

[vicmillen]

We need to bring back free the nipple

[vicmillen]

i’m obsessed with how every single person can be stupid in their own special way and infinitely smart in another. simultaneously

[vicmillen]

i’m obsessed with how every single person can be stupid in their own special way and infinitely smart in another. simultaneously

[vicmillen]

hate an x reader fic do not put me in a situation