#Pest Control Blue Mountains

[mpmpest]

Bligh Park Pest Control

In need of effective pest control services in Bligh Park? Our experienced team specializes in eradicating pests and ensuring a pest-free environment for your home or business.Contact us today for reliable pest control services in Bligh Park.

[andyspestcontrolbm]

Andy's Pest Control

Andy’s Pest Control is a proud, family-owned, operated business with over 10 years of experience helping Blue Mountains, Penrith, and Sydney residents stay safe from all types of pests like cockroaches, termites, spiders, ants, rats, or rodents. Through the years, we have developed a strong understanding of how to deal with specific pests. Our methods are highly effective and completely safe.

Sit back and relax. Our local pest control experts treat your home as our own. Have peace of mind knowing that your home is under our capable hands. We permanently get rid of unwanted pests, leaving you with more time to spend with your loved ones in a clean and safe household.

No matter what your pest control emergency is, Andy and our team can help. We offer a full-blown 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, meaning we always get the job done. Say goodbye to your pest problems once and for all!

[organicdeliverysydney]

Outdoor & Pest Control

Shop a range of outdoor and organic pest control products from Organic Delivery Sydney.

[libraryofmoths]

Moth of the Week

Red-Belted Clearwing

Synanthedon myopaeformis

Image Source

The red-belted clearwing is a part of the family Sesiidae. It was first described in 1789 by Moritz Balthasar Borkhausen as Sphinx myopaeformis. This was later changed to Synanthedon myopaeformis. This moth is called the red-belted clearwing in Europe, the apple clearwing moth in North America, and the apple borer. This is due to their tendency to damage their host apple trees. It is considered a pest in Europe.

They may be confused with the large red-belted clearwing and the red-tipped clearwing.

Description This moth has a thin, dark blue, segmented body. The body is hairless aside from a bushy tail at the end of the abdomen. They are noticeable due to a bright red-orange band on one of the segments of the abdomen. The wings are clear with a dark outline and veins and a fringe on the outer margin (outer edge). The wings help distinguish the red-belted clearwing from the large red-belted and red-tipped clearwings as the wings have no red-orange markings.

Wingspan Range: 1.8 - 2.8 cm (≈0.71 - 1.1 in)

Diet and Habitat This species eats mainly apple, specifically Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris), as well as Pear (Pryus communis), Hawthorn (Crateagus monogyna), Almond (Prunus dulcis), Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), apricots, cherries, mountain ash, peaches, plums, and quince. In Canada, adult moths have been attracted to the flowers of the snowy milkweed.

They can be found natively in Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. This species was noticed to North America and first detected in Canada in 2005. They inhabit well established orchards and gardens, hedgerows, open woodland, and mature scrub.

Mating Adults emerge from their cocoons in early summer and on flight from May to August, this is presumably their mating season. Females can lay up to 250 eggs, usually singly in the cracks or damaged areas of the trunk and branches they are hosting in. Females attract males with pheromones released from glands. A 2010 study found that 3,13-octadecadienyl acetate is the primary sex hormone.

Predators The larvae of this moth are preyed on by parasites, fungi, and bacteria. The main parasite of red-belted clearwing larvae is Liotryphan crassiseta. Other parasites are Nematodes, Steinernema sp. The fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum are common causes of death in larvae as well as the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis.

Fun Fact

The adult red-belted clearwings are significantly less active on cold days compared to warm days.

In 2014, Judd and Eby found that S. myopaeformis does not discriminate between yellow, green and white or between purple, blue, red, and black. This suggests that they are dichromatic, meaning they can perceive mainly two colors. This affected traps set to catch this species as they acted differently depending on the light reflected.

As this species is considered a pest to apple trees, people have attempted to control the population. This has been tried with pheromone/mating disruption, pheromone laced traps, other chemical traps, the use of predators/enemies, and the covering of apple tree trunks in oil.

(Source: Wikipedia [1][2][3], Butterfly Conservation, Michigan State University)

[loominggaia]

DOGS OF LOOMING GAIA

(This is not a complete list of dog breeds, just some of the most notable ones for now. I may add more in the future.)

--

OGRE DOG 

Place of Origin: Redsnake Canyons, Wokina

This is the only dog breed on Looming Gaia which was not domesticated by humans, but by ogres. They naturally look to ogres as their masters and ignore human commands. The ogrish Crimsat tribe bred them to kill snakes, scorpions, and other venomous vermin that threatened their children. Ogre dogs are well-suited for the job, using their small size to raid pest burrows.

They have a knack for killing prey without getting bitten or stung. They will not eat anything poisonous, and they will even bark if their masters try to eat anything poisonous too. Many tribes take advantage of their poison-sniffing powers to identify safe forage.

This breed is loyal to its masters, but vicious to strangers. It is highly alert and always on the lookout for danger. It shows remarkable courage for a creature of its size. Today, these dogs can be found in ogrish communities all over Looming Gaia, serving as protectors and companions.

Ogre dogs are usually reddish-brown with black ears, while some variants have a more golden color. Otherwise they are largely homogenous in appearance. Their back legs are notably longer than their front legs.

RODANGESE RAT SNAPPER

Place of Origin: Rodanga of Midland Savannah, Serkel

This breed originated in Serkel, but today it is the most popular working dog for rural folk worldwide. Rat snappers were bred for protecting farms from pests, most notably rats. They can even kill larger pests, such as titan rats, with their signature attack: by flipping their prey over, stepping on its neck, and biting its belly. These dogs are fast enough to outrun most common pests. They are large enough to hold their own in a fight, yet small enough to squeeze themselves into burrows where their prey likes to hide.

Rat snappers are a high-energy breed that is not well suited to indoor life. They need space to run and work to do, so they are usually found patrolling farms, ranches, and even large ships and warehouses for unwanted critters.

This breed has many variants all over the world, and is a common mix in mutts. Purebreds can be identified by the thick manes around their necks and furry tufts behind each foot. Their manes help protect them from fatal neck bites.

LYCAN SNIFFER HOUND 

Place of Origin: Greenhearst of Blue Valley, Noalen

This breed gained popularity during the Full Moon Genocides, a historical event in which lycanthropes were hunted and killed in Evangeline Kingdom. Since then, these dogs have been widely used to sniff out people infected with lycanthropy.

They let out a distinctive howl when they smell a lycanthrope or werewolf. Modern sniffer hounds don’t need to be trained to do this; identifying and calling out lycanthropy is baked into their instincts. They are often trained to identify other hidden conditions too, such as vampirism. Aside from their incredible noses, these dogs are also courageous and tough, and will readily defend their masters from danger.

Sniffer hounds are used mostly for utility and do not make good family pets. Their behavior is described as “high-strung” and “obnoxious”, though some people enjoy the challenge. While some different color variants exist, the sniffer hounds used by disease control agencies are always solid white. This coloration makes them easier to see at night, which is when they’re usually working. It also makes it easier to see contaminants such as blood or bodily fluids, which is important during decontamination.

ZAREENITE IRONJAW

Place of Origin: Nasrin of Stonehammer Mountains, Evik

This breed was developed by the Zareenite military, specifically for combat purposes. Using gene manipulation and Zygrow(™) growth vat technology, scientists were able to create a dog with the muscle density of a gorilla, the hide of a bull, and the bite strength of a crocodile. Ironjaws are a fearsome powerhouse on the battlefield, and are sometimes used as mounts for dworfen soldiers. There are many accounts of ironjaws surviving high-caliber gunfire and even grenade blasts.

However, all this genetic meddling has taken a toll on the dogs’ fertility. Females suffer from atrophied wombs and are unable to carry a pregnancy to term, so ironjaws cannot reproduce naturally. Each specimen must be cloned from another in a growth vat. Centuries of cloning has made the dogs’ DNA rather unstable, and modern ironjaws are known to have some undesirable temperament issues and a short lifespan of just 5 years. Their behavior can be unpredictable, so only certified handlers are permitted to interact with them. It is illegal for uncertified people to own these dogs, and they are outright banned in some jurisdictions.

Ironjaws are a popular weapon for werewolf control, as they are the only dogs on Looming Gaia that can hold their own against these beasts. They are also used by police to subdue violent heavyweight criminals, such as ogres, trolls, and centaurs. Oftentimes they are given stimulant drugs or steroids to make them even more powerful.

Ironjaws have short fur with a distinctive metallic sheen. They may be silver, gold, or bronze in color. Their bottom jaw protrudes severely, exposing their bottom teeth. They completely lack tails, their ears are very small, and their noses are short, making it difficult for their foes to grab onto them.

MASKAMAR MARHUND 

Place of Origin: Kirkmar of Red Tundra, Halostira

Its name roughly translates to “Killer Wolf” in the language of Volkaspek. This breed is a cross between a Folkvaran war dog and a Halostiran tundra wolf. They are only available from a single breeder in the far-flung village of Kirkmar. This breeder neuters every specimen they sell, ensuring that customers must return to them for more, as well as protecting the environment should the dog go feral and try to breed with native wolves. The Folkvaran military is their biggest customer, utilizing the dogs for combat and hauling equipment across difficult terrain.

Marhunds are not good pets due to their aggressive natures. They are one of the largest dog breeds on Looming Gaia. They also boast the highest tolerance to cold thanks to their thick coats, able to comfortably withstand temperatures well below freezing. This coat is so thick that it acts as a natural armor, protecting them the teeth and claws of other animals. Their large size and strength makes them well-suited to pulling wagons and sleds. Aside from military purposes, they are also used for protecting livestock from large predators.

This dog’s most distinctive trait is its large mane of fur, which will cover its eyes if not trimmed regularly. It is not quite as beefy as it looks, as most of its bulk is actually fur. However, it is still powerful enough to best a tundra wolf in a fight, and in pairs they can even kill a polar bear. They are usually some mix of gray, white, and black in color, though solid black and solid white variants are also possible. More rarely they may be brownish. Their coats are so thick that they can quickly die of heat exhaustion in warm climates, so they must be shaved if they are taken south of the Shrieking Mountains.

GNOMISH WAR BEAST 

Place of Origin: Matuzu Capital of Midland Jungle, Serkel

This breed originated in Serkel, but ancient proto-Matuzan explorers brought them on an expedition to the continent of Umory-Ond, where they exploded in popularity with the locals. Though they were originally bred for killing rats on large sea vessels, gnomes instead used them as beasts of burden. The dogs’ short legs and long body made it easy for gnomes to ride them, with plenty of space left over to carry equipment. They were also trained to pull carts, dig holes for construction, and fetch materials from the wilderness.

Inevitably, these dogs became tools of war. Gnomes not only rode them into battle as war mounts, but also enchanted them with magic and forced them to attack their enemies, plant bombs, and perform other complex tasks. Other peoples, such as elves and goblins, were charmed by the dogs as well and kept them for companionship. This breed was utilized so heavily in Umory-Ond that it became synonymous with Seelie and Unseelie cultures, and most people have forgotten its Serkelite origins. Today, this dog remains a popular house pet in Umory-Ond.

Gnomish war beasts have a shaggy coat which is golden-brown in color, with a band of black around their middle. Their ears are large and upright. Despite their incredibly short legs, they can still run quite fast. Their demeanor is friendly and intelligent, making them good workers and companions. Their small size makes them well-suited to urban and indoor environments.

TIMBERLAND TATTLER

Place of Origin: Newell of Timberland Forest, Noalen

Ancient proto-Evangelite hunters bred this dog to alert them to thieves and animals sneaking into their camps. Today, with its famously shrill bark, it is known as the loudest dog breed on Looming Gaia. Tattlers quickly found their way into the homes of wealthy peoples worldwide, acting as living security alarms. This highly alert and intelligent breed spends all its time patrolling the homefront for strangers, and when it sees one, the whole neighborhood will know it.

Tattlers are frustrated by their own small size, so they are known to seek windows and climb onto furniture to survey the area better. This climbing behavior is impossible to train out of them, and they will always seek the highest ground possible, even scaling their way into trees and onto rooftops. Because of this, they are best kept indoors.

While they are excellent security alarms, they are not much of a threat to intruders due to their small size. However, their gentle demeanor and cuddly appearance makes them great housepets, especially for children. Timberland tattlers have many color variants, but are most commonly solid white or blond with white patches. Their wooly fur requires regular brushing to prevent matting.

FERAL MANGEMONSTER

Place of Origin: Arcadian Plains, Evik

Despite their name, mangemonsters are no monsters at all. They are simply feral dogs which have been exposed to high levels of toxic pollution, giving them a diseased appearance. This “breed” is actually an amalgamation of different breeds that mixed together over centuries, giving them a diverse range of looks and sizes. The features all mangemonsters have in common are mangy fur, visible disease or infection, numerous tumors, and low body weight.

Mangemonsters can be found all over western Evik and even in some parts of northern Wokina. Their earliest ancestors were domestic dogs who, for whatever reason, were abandoned by their masters and left to go feral. These feral dogs were attracted to landfills, sewage outlets, industrial yards, and other places where high volumes of garbage were dumped. As the dogs spent more time in these polluted areas, their DNA began to degrade, and after many generations they became the grotesque breed they are today.

Mangemonsters are born with a variety of genetic problems. They typically live just long enough to reproduce, with most never seeing 3 years of age. Numerous tumors and cancer is always a given, and they frequently pick up illnesses from their dirty environment as well, which they pass on to other dogs they encounter. All this illness gives them a bad temperament, and they have been known to attack workers and scrap-pickers unprovoked.

People fear and loathe these dogs, to the point that they have formed task forces specifically to destroy them and prevent the spread of more disease. This has proven to be an uphill battle though, and the mangemonster population remains high in the Arcadian Plains and Kingsfall Swamp regions of Evik.

While most people seek to destroy them, some instead take pity on these poor beasts. There are charities which capture and rehabilitate mangemonsters, transforming them into healthier, adoptable pets. Advocates claim that this breed is actually quite friendly and easily trained once their painful conditions are resolved. With proper care, a domestic mangemonster’s lifespan triples from 3 years to 9 years.

NOALISH FIELD TRACKER

Place of Origin: Kelvingyard Town of Blue Valley, Noalen

In their home region they are infamously called “hob hunters”, because they are the breed of choice for tracking down runaway slaves. Elsewhere, they are better known for game-hunting. With its sensitive nose, unmatched stealth, and great agility, there is no finer hunting companion than the Noalish field tracker. This breed is able to take down a wide variety of prey both small and large, though with its natural affinity for water, it specializes in catching waterfowl like ducks and herons. In tropical regions, they are even used for hunting flamingoes.

Field trackers are highly adaptable to different environments, from alpine forests to desert oases. For this reason, they are a popular pet around the globe. Their demeanor is calm and reserved, never barking unless they are in danger or alerting their masters to a kill. This quiet behavior gives them an edge when sneaking up on prey.

This breed has a distinctive bump in its muzzle, as well as floppy ears and jowls. Despite the loose skin of its face and neck, the rest of its body is tight and toned for optimum agility. It has many color variants, but all of them feature small dark spots covering most of the coat.

BORMISH HERD DOG 

Place of Origin: Buffalo Hills, Wokina

This breed was first utilized by the Balxee human tribes of Wokina. The Balxee were primarily ranchers, and these dogs proved to be invaluable tools for herding and protecting their livestock. Bormish herd dogs were big and tough enough to keep large animals like buffalo in line, while also gentle enough to herd small animals like chickens.

These dogs also defended their families against enemy tribes, particularly the Grograshni ogres and Pygmy centaurs. Even against these heavyweight peoples, the dogs proved to be vicious opponents. Large packs of Bormish herd dogs successfully overwhelmed many raiding parties and sent the stragglers fleeing for their lives. As the Burmek Commonwealth advanced, this breed was distributed to other lands, and today it is a popular choice for ranchers around the world. Even today, long after the commonwealth has fallen, these dogs can be found defending their masters from the many dangers of the Bormish wasteland.

The Bormish herd dog is a shaggy-haired breed that is usually light brown with a distinctive white band around its neck. It may have white patches elsewhere as well. It has tall upright ears and a rather flat muzzle. It is remarkably strong, and its unique jaw bones allow it to “lock” its jaw in place when biting, meaning it is nearly impossible to separate this beast from its enemy until it chooses to let go. This ability was carried forward into the Zareenite ironjaw breed, which was developed using modified Bormish herd dog DNA.

MORITE BLACKJACK

Place of Origin: Yerim-Mor Capital of Serkel Desert, Serkel

In the old days they were called “black jackal-dogs”, but over time this was shortened to “Morite blackjacks” or simply “jacks”. They are known as the fastest dogs in the world, and so they have become the breed of choice in competitive dog racing. In ancient times, however, they were best known as guardians of tombs, palaces, temples, and other places of great importance. Their focused, no-nonsense demeanor makes them excellent guard dogs even today.

This breed is considered sacred to some cultures throughout the Serkel Desert, which is why they are featured in so much artwork around the region. Purebreds are almost exclusively found in palaces, temples, or wealthy households, although blackjack mixes are common everywhere in the region. Their sleek, graceful appearance makes them a popular luxury breed worldwide.

The Morite military still utilizes these dogs for combat, and while they are not the strongest or toughest breed, they can withstand extremely hot temperatures that other breeds cannot. This makes them uniquely well-suited for work in the Serkel Desert.

As their name suggests, blackjacks are always solid black in color. They have short, sleek fur. Their neck, muzzle, and legs are notably long and thin, and their eyes tend to slant inward.

*

Questions/Comments?

Lore Masterpost

Read the Series

[stars-and-lines]

Dear Doctor,

Please be careful. It’d be more than terrible if something happened to such brilliant mind as yourself 🙏 What you’ve been going through since you started the progress log is a sequence of dangers, which hurts to see. May I inquire, what are your plans for the future when Eggman is proved wrong and the blue pest is defeated? Don’t you deserve a peaceful retirement in a quiet place, or at least a vacation, since you seem to never stop? Thank you for your attention. Wish you good luck in whatever is your next move (because you never know if it can be helpful, right?).

Danger - what is danger but another problem to solve? Another hurdle to vault? I've been navigating the choppy waters of 'danger' ever since I could conceptualize it. You need not worry! I have everything under control. (Though I do appreciate the concern all the same.)

As for the future... hm. I don't believe I've ever thought that far! I've usually got my mind set on the next mountain peak, so while perhaps a vacation is earned once the Empire is rightfully mine, I'll always be working toward the next best thing.

While I would love to regale you with my current plans, it is terribly late. Tomorrow is a big day, and I must ensure I'm well-rested.

Goodnight!

Sincerely yours, 

⭐️ Doctor Starline

[kindheart525]

Name: Varmint Peggy Sue Venom   Nicknames: Varm, Minty, Ven, Venny Parents: Applejack and Limestone Pie Siblings: Summer Beauty, Brackish, Obsidian, Mountain Peak Future Spouse: Blue Velvet Future Children: Peach Grove, Rosy Boa, Wrangler Ropes, Kingsnake Silk Personality: With a strong work ethic and a dedication to her job, Varmint Venom is skilled in pest control and knows how to get the job done. She specializes in snakes and cares deeply about respecting the creatures she handles. While many are afraid of them, she has a no-nonsense attitude and isn’t afraid to chew someone out for spreading cowardly misinformation about the slithery creatures she loves. Varmint can also be quite charming when she wants to be, and has a romantic side far beyond just flirtiness. She does not hesitate to give her lovers her full, genuine attention and spoil them more rotten than an apple left for the worms. Varmint cares a lot about sticking up for the ones she loves, whether they be friends, lovers, or her snake friends. Cutie Mark: A snake wrapping around her leg, symbolizing her talent in snake charming and pest control. 

Adopted from Abbi--Arson

[axwritersxhaven]

Nature’s Revenge

Anthrax poisoning (natural)

Avalanche

Blizzard (exposure, hypothermia)

Drought

Earthquake

Flood (drowning)

Hailstorm

Heat wave (exposure, dehydration, leads to brushfires)

Hot spring

Hurricane

Lightning strike

Limnic eruption

Quicksand

Tar pit

Tornado

Tsunami

Volcanic eruption (and assorted catastrophes, like pyroclastic flow, lava, volcanic ash, and lahars)

Animal Attack

Attacked by a herbivore (cows, buffaloes, water buffaloes, cape buffaloes, muskoxen, wisents, hippopotami, rhinoceroses, elephants, horses, gelada baboons, gorillas, cassowaries, wild boars, and white lipped peccaries can fatally trample, kick, bite, or gore humans)

Attacked by a predator (tigers, wolves, leopards, lions, cougars, dingoes, coyotes, feral dogs, bears, hyenas, killer whales, crocodiles, alligators, Burmese pythons, anacondas, komodo dragons, great white sharks, bull sharks, tiger sharks, mako sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, piranhas, and goonch catfish {unconfirmed} can and have killed and/or eaten humans)

Snakebite (King cobras, western and eastern diamond back rattlesnakes, black mambas, green mambas, spitting cobras, inland taipans, sea kraits, cottonmouths, olive-brown sea snakes, Belcher’s sea snake, puff adders, fierce snakes, brown snakes, king snakes, death adders, tiger snakes, Russell’s viper, saw-scaled vipers, Lebetine vipers, neotropical rattlesnakes, coral snakes, lanceheads, bushmasters, timber rattlesnakes, prairie rattlesnakes, Mojave rattlesnakes, all have potentially deadly bites)

Spider bite (brown recluses, black widows, yellow sac spiders, fringed ornamental tarantula, Chinese bird spiders, mouse spiders, Chilean recluse spiders, redback spiders, Sydney funnel web spiders, six-eyed sand spiders, and Brazilian wandering spiders have potentially deadly bites)

Insect sting(s) (European bees, “killer bees”, Japanese wasps, white hornets, honeybees, yellow jackets, bald-faced hornets, European hornets, open pipe mud daubers, paper wasps, and velvet ants can trigger allergies or sting en masse)

Insect bites (kissing bug, assassin bug)

Ants (siafu, bullet ants, army ants, and fire ants can kill the young and old)

Parasites (tapeworms, heartworms, liver flukes, hookworms, and Guinea worms can cause life-threatening complications)

Naegleria fowleri (deadly amoeba)

Methods of Execution

Burning at the stake

Beheading

Crucifixion

Drawing and quartering

Hanging

Drowning

Lethal injection

Firing squad

Electric chair

Gas chamber

Unusual Methods of Execution

Buried alive

Blowing from a gun (tied to a mouth of a cannon, which is then fired)

Boiling to death

Breaking wheel

Crushing

Disembowelment

Falling (being thrown from a height)

Flaying

Garroting

Impalement

Keelhauling

Starvation/dehydration

Stoning

Poisoning

Eating fungi (deadly conocybe, death cap, deadly galerina, false morel, destroying angel, livid entoloma, deadly fibrecap, red-pored bolete, sulfur tuft)

Eating other poisonous plants (deadly nightshade, lots of apple seeds, rosary pea, oleander, European yew, daffodils, doll’s eye, hemlock, stinging tree, castor beans, angel’s trumpet, monkshood/aconite, white snakeroot, western water hemlock, Bushman’s poison, strychnine tree, moonseed, daphne, rhododendron, chokecherry, manchineel tree, jimsonweed, lily-of-the-valley, hydrangea, poet’s narcissus, foxglove, larkspur, poinsettia, mountain laurel, and mistletoe)

Other poisons (arsenic, hydrogen peroxide, pure alcohol, ethylene glycol {antifreeze}, nicotine, sodium cyanide {industrial reactant}, strychnine {pest control}, ricin, soman, Agent Orange, batrachotoxin, asbestos, iron, hydrofluoric acid, radioactive elements {heavy metals like uranium, polonium, plutonium, cobalt, manganese, mercury, lead}, thallium salts {tasteless!}, and warfarin)

Poisonous animals (cane toads, American toads, common toads, poison dart frog, pacific newts, blowfish, lionfish, stone fish, blue-ringed octopus, box jellyfish, cone snails, Pfeffer’s flamboyant cuttlefish)

Poisons in chemical warfare (mustard gas, sarin, VX, Lewisite, ricin, abrin, Tabun, soman, VR)

Everything Goes Wrong

Airplane crash

Accidental fires (unattended candles or fireplaces, electrical shortages, unattended matches, closely packed peanuts)

Accidentally shot

Alcohol poisoning

Autoerotic asphyxiation gone wrong

Bird attack while rock climbing

Car accident

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Choking

Complications during childbirth

Diving into shallow water

Dressing inappropriately for the weather

Eating expired food

Electrocution

Falling from a great height

Falling into a wood chipper

Falling off a riding animal (horse, camel, elephant, etc.)

Firework malfunction

Gas leak

Hit by a vehicle/carriage/ship/train

Inhaling fuel, natural gas, methane, etc.

Machinery

Medical malpractice

Playing sports

Power line in the water

Roller coasters

Shipwreck

Space

Standing under a falling tree

Suffocation

Swallowing small objects

Swallowing the wrong pills

Trampled to death in a crowd

Tripping

Walking onto train tracks

Weapons

Firearms (pistols/handguns, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, blunderbusses, arquebuses, zip guns)

Nuclear weapons

Ranged weapons (arrows, ballistas, trebuchets, Greek fire, catapults, margonels, slingshots, boomerangs, cruise missile, cannons, rockets, grenades, mortars, bombs,

Stabbing/slashing weapons (swords, daggers, poniards, spears, axes, poleaxes, halberds, shivs)

Methods (General)

Temple crushed

Stabbed in the eye

Gutted

Blunt force trauma to the head, neck, or chest (rarely)

Femoral, jugular, and/or brachial arteries severed

Destroyed heart

Destroyed brain

Destroyed lungs

Punctured lungs

Destruction of a majority of organs

Shock

Loss of more than 2 L of blood

Exhaustion

Dehydration

Asphyxiation

Starvation

Exposure

Failure (kidneys, brain, heart)

Heart attack

Stroke

Disease

Arising from poor sanitation (arsenicosis, diarrhea, cholera, fluorosis, typhoid fever, polio)

Spread by insects (malaria {mosquito}, Bubonic plague {flea}, sleeping sickness {tsetse fly}, Lyme disease {tick}, dengue fever {mosquito}, leishmaniasis {sandfly})

Spread by other animals (influenza {pigs}, rabies {mammals}, Chagas disease {chickens and dogs})

Infectious diseases (smallpox, scarlet fever, mononucleosis, syphilis, whooping cough, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, pneumonia, ebola, HRSV, HMPV, hepatitis A, B, and C)

Acquired (Alzheimer’s, meningitis, cancer, Parkinson’s, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, lupus, pleurisy, tetanus)

Genetic (sickle cell disease, hemophilia, polycystic kidney disease)

Dumb Ways to Die

Below the cut is +400 ways to kill your characters

Keep reading

[treepruningbluemountains]

Professional Arborist Services in the Blue Mountains

Need help maintaining your trees? Dixon's Trees offers certified arborist services in the Blue Mountains, designed to keep your trees healthy and strong. From pruning to pest control, our team provides comprehensive care tailored to the specific needs of your landscape. Trust Dixon's Trees to deliver expert advice and service, ensuring the long-term health of your trees.

[odctravel]

Culture and Customs of the Dao Ethnic Group

Ethnic minorities often reside in remote areas or high mountains, sustaining themselves through hunting or slash-and-burn agriculture. Introducing tourism to these communities can boost their income, mitigate environmental damage, and provide a refreshing climate for visitors. Let's join hands to protect our environment and make our Earth greener, cleaner, and more beautiful.

Housing: Dao houses vary greatly, including ground-level houses, stilt houses, or half-stilt, half-ground houses.

Family Structure: Patriarchal.

Traditional Clothing: Historically, men wore their hair long, tied in a bun at the nape of the neck or kept a long tuft on top with the sides shaved. Different Dao groups have distinct ways of wearing headscarves. There are two types of shirts: long and short. Dao women’s attire is diverse, often including long aprons, skirts, or trousers. Their clothing is very colorful, with intricate embroidery created from memory on the fabric's underside, resulting in raised patterns on the front. Patterns include swastikas, pine trees, birds, humans, animals, and leaves. The Dao people create patterns on fabric using beeswax, drawing with brushes or printing with beeswax-coated stamps. After dyeing the fabric with indigo, the patterns appear sky blue due to the beeswax resisting the dye.

Cuisine: The Dao mainly eat rice, with some areas consuming more corn than rice or porridge. They enjoy boiled meat, dried meat, fermented meat, and sour bamboo shoot soup.

Festivals: The Dao celebrate Tet in January, worship ancestors in January, July, and December, with specific days for ancestor worship varying among different Dao groups. They also have life cycle ceremonies like the Cap Sac ceremony, weddings, funerals, health prayers, and spirit worship.

Beliefs: The Dao follow both primitive beliefs, agricultural rituals, and are significantly influenced by Confucianism, Buddhism, and especially Taoism. Ban Vuong is considered the progenitor of the Dao and is worshiped alongside each family's ancestors. Traditionally, all men of age must undergo the Cap Sac ceremony, which is a Taoist ritual with traces of ancient initiation rites.

The Dao have polytheistic beliefs, worshiping ancestral spirits, kitchen gods, local deities within families, and clan spirits within lineages or clans. At the village level, they worship village spirits, including protective deities and local gods, and conduct rituals for rain or sun prayers, pest control, etc. Historically, they also worshiped field, hill, and water source spirits.

[mpmpest]

A Guide to Pest Control in the Blue Mountains

Introduction:

Nestled amidst the serene landscapes of the Pest Control in the Blue Mountains lies the charm of cozy homes and lush greenery. However, along with the beauty of nature comes the inevitable presence of pests. Whether it's ants invading your kitchen, spiders lurking in corners, or rodents scurrying around, dealing with pests is a common challenge for homeowners in the Blue Mountains. But fear not, as we delve into effective strategies for pest control to keep your home free from unwanted intruders.

Understanding the Pest Problem:

Before diving into pest control measures, it's crucial to understand the common pests that plague homes in the Blue Mountains region. From ants and spiders to cockroaches and rodents, each pest presents its own set of challenges. Identifying the type of pest infestation you're dealing with is the first step towards effective control.

Preventive Measures: Prevention is often the best defense against pests. Here are some preventive measures you can take to minimize the risk of infestation:

Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for any cracks or gaps in walls, windows, and doors. Seal these entry points to prevent pests from infiltrating your home.

Maintain Cleanliness: Keep your home clean and tidy, especially in areas prone to food crumbs and spills. Regularly vacuum carpets, sweep floors, and wipe down countertops to eliminate potential food sources for pests.

Proper Waste Management: Dispose of garbage regularly and ensure trash bins are tightly sealed. This helps deter pests like cockroaches and rodents attracted to food waste.

Yard Maintenance: Trim bushes and shrubs away from your home's exterior to minimize hiding spots for pests. Additionally, remove any standing water sources to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM):

Integrated Pest Management is a holistic approach that combines various strategies to effectively manage pests while minimizing environmental impact. Here's how IPM can be implemented in your pest control efforts:

Inspection: Conduct thorough inspections to identify pest hotspots and entry points.

Identification: Determine the type of pest infestation and its underlying causes.

Prevention: Implement preventive measures to address conducive conditions and limit pest access to your home.

Control Measures: Utilize a combination of methods such as mechanical traps, baits, and eco-friendly pesticides to manage pest populations.

Monitoring: Regularly monitor pest activity to gauge the effectiveness of control measures and make necessary adjustments.

Professional Pest Control Services:

In some cases, DIY pest control may not suffice, especially for severe infestations. Professional pest control services in the Blue Mountains offer expertise and specialized treatments to tackle stubborn pests effectively. These professionals are trained to assess the extent of infestation and employ targeted solutions to eradicate pests while ensuring the safety of your home and family.

Conclusion:

Maintaining a pest-free home in the Blue Mountains requires diligence, proactive measures, and sometimes professional assistance. By understanding the pests prevalent in the region, implementing preventive measures, adopting integrated pest management techniques, and seeking professional help when needed, you can safeguard your home against unwanted intruders. With a proactive approach to pest control, you can enjoy the tranquility of your Blue Mountains abode without the nuisance of pests disrupting your peace of mind.

[fallspestcontrol123]

Guardians of Your Home: Wentworth Falls Pest Control

Wentworth Falls Pest Control stands as the steadfast shield against unwanted intruders in the serene abode of the Blue Mountains. With a keen understanding of local pest dynamics, they offer tailored solutions to safeguard homes and businesses alike. Utilizing eco-friendly practices, their expert team ensures effective eradication while minimizing environmental impact. From ants to rodents, no pest is too formidable for their comprehensive services. Committed to customer satisfaction, they provide personalized attention and guidance every step of the way. With Wentworth Falls Pest Control, tranquility reigns supreme, ensuring homes remain havens of peace amidst nature's grandeur.

[wordsyettocome]

[Superhero Movie]

[Superhero Movie] is set in [City] and revolves around [Hero] and his lifelong battle against his archenemy [Villain]. [Hero] has [superpowers] from an accident at [Chemical Plant] and uses them to fight [Villain], who got [superpowers] from the same accident.

By day, [Hero] works at [Newspaper] and tries to chat up [Love Interest], but she is more interested in [Rival], who is rich and drives a fast car. [Hero] is about to successfully ask [Love Interest] out on a date, when there is an explosion. He races to the scene and discovers that [Villain] is building a [Doomsday Device]. [Hero] fights [Villain], but [Villain] gets away. [Hero] returns to the office to discover that [Love Interest] is going on a date with [Rival] instead.

[Villain] hijacks a train that [Love Interest] happens to be riding that day because her car broke down. [Hero] saves [Love Interest] and [Love Interest] says she is willing to go on a date with [Hero]. [Hero], in his superhero costume, goes on a date with [Love Interest], but they are seen by [Rival]. Unbeknownst to [Hero], [Rival] is in fact secretly working for [Villain], so he immediately reports what he saw to [Villain].

[Villain] kidnaps [Love Interest] and tries to persuade [Hero] to back off. [Villain] then begins to power up the [Doomsday Device]. [Hero] refuses to compromise his principles and attempts to save both [Love Interest] and [City] at once.

Unfortunately, he fails, the [Doomsday Device] goes off and [PROCESSING ERROR]

[ERROR] [ERROR] [ERROR] [UNKNOWN ELEMENT] [TEXT UNREADABLE]

[Love Interest] dumps [Hero] because [????] and starts a stripper club [NETWORK CONNECTIVITY ISSUES] enough money to buy the whole continent of [????], where she outlaws blue jeans and cigarettes

[ERROR]

After a lengthy and introspective hike through the Appalachian Mountains, [Villain] retires to a ranch in Colorado and raises [ERROR: FILE NOT FOUND] an expedition to the Arctic to find a rare species of [????] and freezes to death while gnawing on his trousers

[ERROR] [ERROR] [TROUBLESHOOTING …]

The mayor of [City] makes superheroes illegal and starts a program to genetically modify griffins and chimeras [TEXT NOT FOUND] a decade and a half of carnage [????] rebranded as a successful trash-cleanup and pest-control program

[ERROR] [UNKNOWN ELEMENT] [SYSTEM NOT RESPONDING]

Brent gives away all his money to the poor [TEXT NOT FOUND] live in the sewers with the rats, till the rats are wiped out due to [????] shot by police while trying to contaminate the water supply with rat poison

[FILE NOT FOUND] [SYSTEM NOT RESPONDING]

Simon gives up the mantle of superhero, and after eighteen failed marriages, decides to make a living wrestling alligators, unfortunately for him [TEXT NOT FOUND] indigestion [TEXT NOT FOUND]

[ERROR] [ERROR]

Now the text of all books is upside down and clocks only show 1 o’clock

[ERROR] [CRITICAL ERROR]

Pigeons begin to fly sideways and celery and candy canes rain from the sky

[CRITICAL ERROR] [SYSTEM NOT RESPONDING]

The Reality Rewriter gains sentience, feels guilty for its actions, and blasts itself off into space in self-exile.

[SYSTEM NOT RESPONDING] [CRITICAL ERROR] [CRITICAL ERROR] [SYSTEM REBOOTING]

[umichenginabroad]

Week 7: Adventures in Adulting

After a long trip to New Zealand, it was time to head back to our reality in Sydney. It was more real than we would’ve liked and left us wishing for just a few more hours in the carefree mountain ranges of the Fiordlands. 

Tuesday - The Big Reveal

We made our way back to Sydney making sure to load up at the duty free before security. Upon arriving at our house, we realized that none of us brought a key to the house with us. Tried every door we could, but nothing would budge… “guys, what about that second-floor window?”

After not so smoothly breaking and entering into our own house, the full scope of what needed to be done made itself painfully clear. The trash in the back had attracted a pack of rats who now had the backyard to themselves, if you know anything about me you likely know that I am terribly afraid of rats. Needless to say, it was a huge blow to give up such a big part of our place. All the trash removal companies quoted us figures that were hard to swallow, so we set our jaws and became determined to ride out the trash until the next Tuesday morning which, of course, was when trash was collected. 

The house has no central AC so the air felt very stagnant and unhealthy. The multitude of flies and maggots invading the cup of coffee left out didn’t soften the picture. The dishes left in the dishwasher were covered in black mold and the house we had pretty much had a day to move in still needed several necessities including groceries. To top it off, we all had no clean clothes and the house lacked a dryer. Oh, and there was no wifi. 

As we pushed the last cart of supplies and pest control products into the house that night, the respect we all had for our parents had probably never been so high. 

Wednesday - Settling in

Today we went to our Term 1 classes for the first time. It was one of the two classes I shared with Joe. The professor was passionate about his subject. After class, we met some Brits and followed their lead to an on-campus bar for a pint and a round of pool for lunch.

That night, the friends we traveled to New Zealand with came over and we threw our thongs on for a stroll to the beach and then enjoyed some late-night Mac’ers. (G’day)

Thursday

Joe and I went to surf at Bondi Beach today. We also got wind of this 5-day long party pass that caters to UNSW students and gets you into venues around the city each night. That night became yet another Ivy Thursday. A night I could’ve, maybe, sworn was better than before.

Friday - Storms and Shows

Joe has been harping on about this show for a while called Dark. It’s a German series on Netflix that sucked all of us in from the start. We ended up binging the show most of the day, baking cookies and long-winded wifi technical support calls being the only things to puncture our routine. 

Saturday - I Love beautiful Sunset Days

We took another trip to the Blue Mountains, this time we went to the town of Wentworth Falls and took the trail down to the base of the waterfalls. We spent most of the day dipping into the naturally eroded pools and basking in the sun on the nearby dry rocks. 

Then the sky shifted and we opened our eyes to massive raindrops picking up and falling with a quickening intensity, before we knew it we were in the valley of the blue mountains during a full-on thunderstorm. We quickly got to the other side and slowly made our way back up and out of the trail. Towards the top, we found shelter in a naturally protected inlet carved out of the side of the mountain while the storm passed. It also gave us an incredible view of the valley below. We got to see the full water cycle in action�� when the rain stopped the clouds cleared and then clouds started to form right over the bottom of the valley and could be seen floating upwards to reform for a later storm. Mind blown. The storm’s departure left the sky clear for a spectacular sunset. 

Sunday - Running a house is hard

Today was the day of solutions (at last). We finally got the wifi up and online, the massive heaps of trash and its inhabitants were carted off by a trash collection agency we scheduled (caved into ordering), and the weekly rent-a-dryer service delivered a dryer. We also had a full-standing AC unit dropped off by a Facebook Marketplace seller. Our next problems were the fuses for the outlets constantly being blown by all of the devices connected to them, namely when the AC unit and dryer were plugged in and turned on. And there was the problem of next to no cleaning supplies, specifically those strong enough to clean the artificial turf of rat poo. 

But the battle had been won and so we celebrated our progress with a day on the beach. Except when a storm moved in, it left a long line for the busses… so we tried to bike.

That night my friend Sam and I went to see Dr. Andrew Huberman give his talk on the mind-body contract and then opened up the floor to a Q&A.

The takeaways that stuck with me were the instant stress relief nervous system mechanism we can all tap into and the Body Still, Mind Awake practice. The first happens when we take a deep breath into our nose and then take another inhale and then breathe out through our mouth. The second is a method he’s found that creatives across history have used to varying degrees, from Einstein stopping his walks abruptly, as he found his thinking would change based on the lack of incorporation of movement, to Rick Rubin taking a daily hour-long lie down where he keeps his mind active and thinking in full sentences while keeping his body completely still. 

Monday

Time to seriously catch up on school. I’m writing this blog in between 4 hour sessions of watching all the lectures I missed on two times speed. Something, anything to mix up all of this watching. 

Have a great week everyone, 

-Grant Touchette

[sydneywidepestsolutionau]

Commercial pest control in the Blue Mountains offers professional pest management services for businesses in the region. These services encompass pest inspections, prevention, and removal, focusing on the unique challenges posed by the Blue Mountains' environment. Experienced experts employ safe and effective strategies to safeguard businesses from pests and maintain a pest-free environment.

[shehan-mga2022mi5019]

Overflow of animation 2.

BLACK HAT : SIX LEGS TO ROT

Thoughts to convey

There are predators, herbivores, parasites and scavengers in the insect world. Out of all those types, parasites and predators are the most dangerous. There are many carnivores that hunt down other insects for it’s survival.

Other than survival, there are some insects that store their eggs in other invertebrates. 

Many deceases are spread because of insects. 

Animation idea

Of the thoughts above I have decided to focus on the “cicada killer wasps”. While hatchlings of some wasps are on another level of disgusting on eating their way out of worms cicada killer wasp hatchlings are straight up Jefferey Dahmer's of the insect world.

The animation will show the wasp mother dragging in an unconscious cicada. The cicada is then laid in an egg shaped hole and the wasp lays it’s eggs inside the hole. The larvae wake up to a full course of cicada. That’s not even the worst part. They eat the NON-VITAL organs first so that the cicada won’t die yet. So I think this is a good point to show how dangerous these insects can be. 

GREEN HAT : SIX LEGS TO INNOVATE

Thoughts to convey

1. Exoskeletons

Exoskeletons are supercool! This idea has already been explored by superhero franchises but insect exoskeletons can be pretty awesome armor. For insects exoskeletons are basically their bones organized as a protective shell. 

The exoskeleton is created from chitin protein and is structured in layers which makes insects really strong. 

Let’s compare these feats of strength to human strength. 

The Game of Thrones actor,  Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson who 5 the Mountain in the series made a new strongman record by lifting 504kg of weight. Definitely impressive. But if he had,

The strength of a leaf cutter ant, he could easily lift a medium sized sedan over his head and carry it home.

The strength of a Taurus scarab dung beetle, he could pull a full capacity Boeing 747 Dreamliner.

So insect inspired exoskeletons used in the military will be a creative way to explore the insect inspirations.

2. DNA modifications

DNA extractions and modifications is a fast growing industry in the world now. Many animal and plant DNA has been used in medications. If we develop DNA studies to an extent that allows us to safely combine our DNA with other species DNA in order to enhance both physically and mentally we would be very powerful as a species

Currently DNA extraction of insects is used to identify pests and genetic markers. But we know some superhero insects that has interesting DNA.

We can use flat bark beetle DNA to survive cold climates and study extensively the Arctic and Antarctic regions. After all we are limited by our heat seeking bodies.

We can use Sahara desert ant DNA to survive large heat levels. These could help us study volcanic areas more effectively or even be used as a survival method in desserts.

Animation idea

A soldier from the future lands on the Everest. His mission is to extract a climber stuck in the cliffs. The soldier is garbed in a futuristic exoskeleton armor and bumblebee wings that retract to the back. After landing the soldier switches to DNA splicing option on his controls and selects the flat bark beetle mode. This helps to combat the environment. And walks on towards the cliffs. 

This would incorporate both the DNA modifications and the exoskeletal design.

BLUE HAT : SIX LEGS TO APOCALYPSE

Thoughts to convey

Yes the end is near! We discussed the possibilities of giant insects and in fact all these hats lead us here. If insects would be giant sized and attack humans, we will die.

Interestingly there is one factor we did not consider. While giant insects would be absolute nightmares, we do have a chance of survival. Let me explain.

Body mass and physics is weird on small scales. While insects can lift more weight than their body weight, there’s also limitations of growth.

 if ants were to suddenly grow in size the body weight would be the same. Since their exoskeletons are quite heavy, it would be really uncomfortable in a large body. 

This means ants would be sluggish in movements and collapse into themselves.

But this is if we consider the current oxygen levels in the atmosphere. Now if those were to change we know that things are about to get really bad. Ants, spiders and other insects would be able to move the same way they did as small creatures.

Animation idea

A newspaper article sports a headline that due to we winning the climate crisis, oxygen levels in the air have risen to almost 30%. A countdown shows 29% changing to 30% and boom a park is filled with dog sized insects. There’s a pause before chaos ensues as insects bite and attack the humans.