From Caterpillar to Monarch Butterfly – Critter 18

At our yards, I always see caterpillar eat our plant leaves “happily.” I noticed they disappear after a while.

Fig 01- Caterpillar on leaves.

Since they are never in great number, hence, our leaves and plants could “survive” very well.

In case you forget, just to remind all of us, the four stages of butterfly metamorphosis are:

1- eggs

2- caterpillar or larvae

3- pupae

4- butterfly

Fig 02- Butterfly on the flowers of a plant

Fig 03- Monarch butterfly, plant insides room

I took pictures just for fun. First photo, caterpillar crawling on the leave, may complete its cycle about 10 to 14 days.

Total four stages of Monarch butterfly life cycles take about 30 days. Then, the Monarch could live for about 9 months.

This kind of butterfly is common in our state of Louisiana. We may see them fly around in the park or garden during Spring to late Summer.

Unfortunately, Monarch population is decreasing, and enlisted as endangered species by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

# Previous postings:

- Does Intermittent Fasting Affect on Insulin Resistance? - Part 2 - Diabetes 16

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May Yogurt Reduce Risk of Heart Diseases? - Part 1 – Heart 11

We all know that yogurt is good for our health. In fact, yogurt is a functional food which provides health benefit more than common foods.

Fig 01- Frozen yogurt with fruit

I consume yogurt sometimes, the consumption little bit increase, especially during hot season.

As you might know that Yogurt is a good source of:

- minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium)

- vitamins (B6 and B12)

- low calories

- protein

- heart healthy fat and probiotics

Fig 02- Meal, just for illustration

Three main minerals are calcium, potassium and magnesium. Two vitamin are B6 and B12.

Fig 03- Greek yogurt with cherry flavor

Probiotic may mean gut flora which are good bacteria in the certain foods to make our gut or digestive system healthier, and even to lower risk of several chronic diseases.

Yogurt in the market might be added by some kinds of important microbes, but at least contain two bacteria:

- Lactobacillus bulgaricus

- Streptococcus thermophilus

# To be continued to Part 2

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Snails as One of Popular Seafood – Sign 21

I believe you know about popular French dish called as “escargot.” It is an appetizer from cooked snails.

Fig 01- Yellow snails, one of popular snails

Yellow snails also called as golden snails or apple snails, there are about 120 species in the world.

Sure, there is different between Yellow (Apple) snails and French’s escargot in respect to habitats:

- Yellow (Apple) snails live in freshwater

- French’s escargot is a land snail.

Do Louisiana people consume Yellow (Apple) snails as seafood?

Fig 02- Seafood restaurant, waiting for order

Fig 03- Snails in the icebox

Yes, some people of Louisiana like Yellow (Apple) snails, especially Asian community in the state.

Back to Asian regions, snails live in the water of paddy fields, hence they are pest for rice.

Since the snails rich in protein, farmers start to consume them, then to be wisdom habits:

- delicious seafood

- pests control

Have you tried to eat snails?

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- Does Intermittent Fasting Affect on Insulin Resistance? - Part 1 - Diabetes 16

Have You Tasted Pistachio Muffins? - Part 1 – Food Variety 22

My favorite is regular banana muffins. I saw green muffin in a grocery recently. Actually, this kind of muffin is available during the Saint Patrick’s day.

Fig 01- Slices of green muffins

Its called as “Pistachio Muffins.” The price is a little bit expensive compared to regular ones.

4 counts regular sizes of muffin costs (price may varies from one grocery to other ones):

- US$ 5.18 for Pistachio muffins

- US$ 3.98 for regular (banana) muffins

Many people said Pistachio is a nut, actually its seed produced by Pistachio trees. Tall of trees could reach 33 feet (10 meters).

Fig 02- Myrtle flower, just for illustration

Fig 03- Pistachio muffin.

The tree is native to middle east or central Asia, but now, well grown in the states of:

- California, most trees grow in this state

- Arizona

- New Mexico

California is the main producer of Pistachio seed in the USA. Almost a half of 58 counties in California has grown Pistachio trees. Totally about 99% of commercial Pistachio comes from this state.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

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- What is the Meaning of Insulin Resistance? - Diabetes 15 | Tanza Erlambang

- Whale Shark is Observed after Disappearing for 100 years | Tanza Erlambang

- What Indexes should be Considered to Find Retirement Countries? - part 1

Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp in Our Neighborhood – Critter 17

I was stung by this insect when I visited a park long time ago. Unexpectedly, the insect was found on the ground (floor) near by our house recently.

Fig 01- Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp.

After searching through internet, the insect name is “Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp” with scientific name Sphecius speciosus.

Actually, the wasp comes from Eastern part of USA that why called as Eastern Wasps. They are abundant in the states such as:

- New Jersey

- Rhode Island

- Delaware

- and Connecticut

Fig 02- Wonder what happen to wasp

Fig 03- Wasp seems crawling on the floor

They migrate to Louisiana about at the end of summer (July to August). Since the insect is solitary, it is common to find this wasp fly alone.

Beneficial this predator to environment that it could control population of other insect called as cicadas.

Not because of its disturbing sound, but cicadas may cause plant damages in such ways:

- cicadas deposit their eggs, could be hundreds into weed’s or grass’s stems

- sap twigs of trees

Have you ever found this kind of wasp in nature?

# Previous postings:

- What is the Irregular Heartbeats? - Heart 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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Waking up after Sleeping for 24,000 years – Part 2

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- Waking up after Sleeping for 24,000 years – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Carnivorous plant, illustration

After waking up to live, the bdelloid rotifer is able to reproduce multiple times by asexually manner.

Interestingly, in respect to evolution, this freshwater invertebrate had avoided sex for about 80 million years.

You can see movements of several bdelloid rotifers from “Youtube” videos available through internet.

They look “very happy” after very long slept.

Fig 02- Bdelloid rotifer (a), egg (b) and c.chromosome (credit to bioRxiv).

Asexual reproduction in the bdelloid rotifer called as parthenogenesis in which there is no need fertilization.

Fig 03- The bdelloid rotifer

(credit to AccuWeather/ Soil Cryology Laboratory)

In other words that It is means without fertilization or asexual: eggs develop to embryo, then become “baby” rotifers.

The bdelloid rotifer is commonly found in the aquatic environments everywhere such as:

- rivers

- streams

- lakes

- and ponds

Finally, do you know this kind of organism?

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Two States of USA are Legal for Texting and Driving – Sign 20

I thought all 50 states of America ban or illegal to do texting and driving, but my guessed is pretty wrong.

Fig 01- Sign to “park your phone” while driving.

I just understand after searching through Google that 48 of 50 states have laws to ban text messaging and driving.

This ban also include in District of Columbia (D.C, US capital, Washington) area and other US territories:

- Guam

- the U.S. Virgin Islands

- Puerto Rico

So, we might be wonder: what are two states “allowing” texting while driving?

Fig 02- Traffic in our area

Fig 03- Road in the early morning

Two states that “allowing” texting and driving are:

- Missouri

- Montana

However, in case of Missouri, there is “prohibition” for texting and driving at certain ages: drivers at 21 years old or younger. If caught by polices, they will get US$ 200 penalty.

Hence, Montana is the only state in the USA which has no laws to ban or prohibit texting and driving

What do you think?

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