We Have Seen Jumping Worms in Louisiana – Critter 7

As you might read or watch or listen about “jumping worms” in many mainstream medias that this invasive worm has spread to 34 states or more in the USA.

Fig 01- Jumping worm in the garden.

You probably know, the scary things of the worms that they could:

- consume soil, then turn the soil into ground coffee like

- exhausting soil nutrients

- making soil can’t hold water

If there are plenty of jumping worms, can you imagine what happen to your farms or garden?

Fig 02- We could find the worms in this kind of place

Fig 03- The worm in our area

The worms are believed come from East Asia, probably Japan and Korea. Worms came to America around 1900’s.

Yes, we have found this worm in our state, Louisiana. Worms invade other states as well, they include:

- Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin.

- Missouri, Illinois, Kansas.

- Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa.

- Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Indiana.

Have you seen this worm in your state or country?

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Social Range in the Bird of Guinean Cock of the Rock

You may read the bird called Guianan cock of the Rock at previous post (Part 1):

- Strange Looking Bird Called Guianan Cock of the Rock – Part 1

Fig 01- Male of Andean Cock of the Rock (credit to eBird)

Guinean birds have social rank, the higher rank males are favored by females for mating.

Quite unique that higher rank males have learners (apprentices) from lower rank and younger males.

This is a kind of process to get opportunity to find mates.

Females usually have two eggs for one breeding season. The eggs need around 28 days for incubation.

Fig 02- Female of Andean Cock of the Rock (credit to Flickr)

Fig 03- Chinese tallow tree, illustration

What are source food of this bird? Some are:

- fruits include berries

- insects

- small reptiles.

Luckily, this bird is not considered as endangered species. It is mean that population is stable.

Hope, there is no illegal or legal huntings, hence the population in nature will consistent in the long term.

Have you seen this bird in nature or in the zoo at your places or countries?

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High Occupancy Vehicle Parking Only - Sign 10

 At previous post, we talked about parking for Low Emission Vehicles:

- Special Parking for Low Emission Vehicles - Sign 3

Just couple days ago, I saw another interesting parking sign: High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Parking Only.

What its mean?

Fig 01- Sign for special parking only.

It is a sign which is plotted for vehicles with more than one passenger such as: - big cars

- buses (transit buses)

- big vans.

Two type of HOV parking signs:

1) HOV 2+

- means for 1 driver, and at least one passenger.

2) HOV 3+

- means for 1 driver, and at least two passengers, usually more.

Fig 02- Sky in the city corner, just for illustration

In addition to parking signs, there are also High Occupancy Vehicle lanes in roads and Highways.

Fig 03- Empty parking lot

Not all states uses HOV lanes in the USA. There are 21 states using this kind of lanes. Here they are:

- 1) Arizona; 2) California; 3) Colorado

- 4) Connecticut; 5) Florida; 6) Georgia

- 7) Hawaii; 8) Kansas; 9) Maryland

- 10) Massachusetts; 11) Minnesota; 12) New Jersey

- 13) New York; 14) North Carolina; 15) Ohio; 16) Pennsylvania; 17) Tennesse

-18) Texas; 19) Utah; 20) Virginia; 21) Washington

How about with your places or states or your countries?

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Green Lizard on the Window Screen – Critter 6

During spring and summer, we always see the green lizards on the our window or door screens.

They seem catch insects fly nearby or crawling on the screens.

Fig 01- Green lizard shedding its skin

We didn’t know where the lizard come from. After observing quite a while, the lizards are living in our backyard.

Our state, Louisiana, has two species of green lizard, they are Green anole and Brown anole:

1) Green anole

- live in tree, able to climb trunks and branches

- we may found on the leaves of flowers.

Fig 02- Garden in the city

Fig 03- Little green lizard on a leaf of the plant

2) Brown anole

- live on the ground

- we never seen this species in our yard.

So far, we found Green anole only in our yards. The lizard also called as false chameleons due to their less able to camouflage.

The size is different between male and female of green lizard (Phil Purser, April 10, 2014: Green Anole Care Sheet):

- maximum size of male is 8 inches (20 cm)

- female could reach 5 inches (13 cm)

Have you seen green lizard in your garden?

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Free Meal Register for Students in Our City – Sign 9

We found a sign from an organization, or a company called as “Focus Foods” in side of our daily walking path. The sign is about:
- Register for Free Meals

Fig 01- A sign of Register for Free Meals.

After searching through internet that “Focus Foods” provide retail, catering and delivery services to:

- students (18 years old or younger)

- senior or elderly people.

In case of students, then, our city school system contracted “Focus Foods” to provide and deliver foods to eligible students to all schools under its administration in the city.

Fig 02- Cute dog on the street

Fig 03- Just for illustration

Fig 04- Some foods delivered by Focus Foods to students home

Free meals program to ensure all students get nutritious meals and quality snacks. The students include:

- elementary schools

- middle schools

- high schools

The students who choose to study online, “Focus Foods” will deliver frozen meals to students home. Weekly delivery include:

- seven breakfasts, lunches and dinners

- snacks, milk and juice

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Increasing of Suicide Rate in America

It is surprisingly that suicide rate is increasing in recent years and a 30-year high in the USA.

Fig 01- Just for illustration (credit to Harvard Health)

In term of number, the suicide is 29,199 persons in 1999, and almost double (42,773 people) in 2014. Trending is continue until recently.

It is equal to 13 people in 100 thousand population. As reported by Tavernise (2016: U.S. Suicide Rate Surges to a 30-Year High. The New York Times) that increasing of suicide rate occurs in almost:

- all age groups (25 to 64 years old)

- racial (ethnic group)

- and sexes (both male and female).

Fig 02- Blooming in the spring

Quite surprising that suicide rate among the teenage girls (10 to 14 years old) had been three time higher in 2014 than 1999.

Fig 03- Crowd people, illustration only

Other facts that marriage rate is declining, but divorce rate is increasing. Especially for lower education people. It is believed that divorce may lead to suicide.

Fig 04 – Hibiscus in blooming

Many factors that may cause suicide among others are:

- less education (lower than high school)

- less economic well-being

- hopelessness

- distress due to job lost and financial trouble

Health problems may lead to suicide as well. Several of these problems may include:

- drug overdoses and alcohol poisoning

- liver diseases

- or in-curable chronic diseases.

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Have you Tasted Alligator Meat? - Part 2 – Sgn 7

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Have you Tasted Alligator Meat? - Part 1 - Sign 7 | Tanza Erlambang Update 

Fig 01- Alligator filet, sold by Cajun Grocer, Louisiana

Alligator skin is made of keratin, a kind of durable leather. Then the skin is used for exclusive and expensive products such as:

- luggage

- handbags

- shoes

- belts

Fig 02- Seafood market in our city

Habitats of alligators have been attractive sites for ecotourism industry. We may see alligator in areas such as:

- ponds

- lakes

- canals

- rivers

- swamps

- bayous

Fig 03- Sausages sold in the seafood market

You might surprise that alligator meats are sold in the market:

- frozen meat sold in groceries include Walmart

- fresh meat could be found in seafood markets

- I believe you may find frozen meat through online stores

I saw the price for fresh alligator meat in one of seafood market called as Tony’s Seafood:

- tail meat is US$ 10.99 per pound

- whole meat is US$ 6.99 per pound.

Have you Tasted Alligator Meat?

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