#i was your spp!!!

[pitxroxas]

TSUGI NO GAKUSHOU WA

(Eichi SPP)

[windypuddle]

some things will probably never happen (izumi sena ballet routine to dernière danse by indila) but i can dream

[chrystalmaniac]

Weird Blue Girls only today!!!!! Slay!!!

[screamingcrows]

Genshin characters as ways animals court and mate

Hello. Hi. I've never attempted a post like this before. Please don't burn me at the stake for making a concept post with multiple characters. This is just a long shitpost. There are probably better suited animals out there, I just chose from the ones I knew.

Characters included; Pantalone, Diluc, Xiao, Childe, Xianyun, Itto, Dottore, Venti, Albedo

Tags: man I don't even know, descriptions of animal copulation (non graphic), noncon (Pantalone) , aphrodisiacs (Albedo), alcohol for Venti, crack post, none of it is described in detail or graphic but proceed at your own discretion

Pantalone - Gerridae spp. (Water striders) OR Garrulus glandarius (Eurasian jay)

How Pantalone acts very much depends on who you are and how you behave. If you're simply a means to an end (his own release) then you can expect to be used, under threats of misfortune if you're uncooperative, and then discarded. But, if you've truly caught his attention as something worth keeping, then you can expect a well thought out, catered specifically to your tastes, display of his wealth and what he can offer you if you stick around. Gerridae males will mount the female while they're on the water surface and thrum his legs against the surface to attract predators (the female is more likely to be eaten since she is closer to the surface), only stopping once the female stops resisting. The eurasian jay has been observed to regularly give gifts, not only right before mating, and has displayed that conscious thought goes into picking what the female will appreciate the most, with often opting for bringing her something 'new and exciting'.

Diluc - Pygoscelis papua (Gentoo penguin)

Once Diluc finds himself ready to settle down, you can rest assured that plenty of care went into that decision. After hovering around you for a while, slowly finding that he doesn't wish to be without your presence (I could write so much about this turning point for Diluc whew) he presents you with two seemingly odd items. One is an old-looking key, the other a locket containing a few grape seeds. The key is for the back-door to the winery so you can always come and go. The locket belonged to his mother and the seeds inside are for you to plant. He hopes you're as ready to settle down and build a life together as he is. Gentoo penguins build their nests out of rocks and males will essentially present a female with a carefully selected stone to signify "I would like to build a nest with you". Gentoo penguins are also known for being very strictly monogamously, to the point that sleeping around or attempting to can get an individual kicked out of the colony.

Xiao - Drosophila spp. (fruit flies)

This one isn't exactly a calculated move on Xiao's part, and he'd prefer that this wasn't a byproduct of sexual intimacy (intimacy of any kind really). Due to his karmic debt, Xiao affects his surroundings and 'taints' them. On his partner, this means that for a time after being with him, they experience mild symptoms akin to those you'd experience after being in close proximity to old god remains. The emotional effects last a couple of hours and make others less likely to engage in any kind of social behaviour with you. Drosophila males use a pheromone to mark a female as unattractive after mating, reducing the chances of his sperm being outcompeted. Some evidence suggests that the pheromone has mildly harmful effects on the female.

Childe / Ajax / Tartaglia - Vulpes vulpes (red fox)

Am I pushing an agenda here? Absolutely. Childe gets excited when he notices that you're beginning to pay attention to him - however sparse it may be - and does everything he can to interact with you, making sure to keep it fun and engaging (both for himself and you). Bright and cheerful while courting you. Gets territorial and doesn't take kindly to others being too familiar with you. Has a habit of disappearing for long periods of time on missions, but when he's there, he's very devoted. Male foxes get aggressive towards other males around breeding season. Courting includes loud calls and frolicking around with a chosen mate, typically play fighting and nipping at each other. Male foxes stay to help raise the pups, letting the female stay with the pups for the first weeks while he fetches food daily.

Xianyun / Cloud retainer - Grus japonensis (Manchurian crane)

As we've seen, Xianyun has quite the knack for designing pretty clothes, and once she's set her sights on courting someone, it doesn't take long for her 'daughters' to encourage her to make something that shows her off. Reluctant at first, wanting to make something nice for you instead (she ends up doing both) she eventually invites you for a stroll through the harbor. She's dazzling of course, leading you around while practically chatting your ear off. Next time you're invited to Mt. Aozang, she shows off the equally stunning garment prepared for you and makes you try it on before pulling out one of her musical contraptions and inviting you for a dance "to test the range of motion". Cranes in general exhibit 'elegant' courtship dances that are not only performed before initiating a partnership, but done regularly to strengthen the bond between two individuals. The courtship dance also shows off their plumeage, the health of which is important for selecting a partner.

Arataki Itto - Hypsignathus monstrosus (hammer-headed bat)

Oh boy. There's a reason I'm not an Itto fucker and this is part of it. Would absolutely take any chance he could (and probably try to set up even more chances...) to show you how cool he is. Always front and center, the adorable oni might very well get the brilliant idea to write you a song and perform in front of everyone at the next Iridescence Tour. Enters every single competition he can in an attempt to win you the prices and impress you. Hammer-headed bats engage in a courting behaviour known as 'lek mating', in which groups of males form a lek and establish performance areas. The males then hang from a branch, flapping their wings, and producing loud calls while females fly around and peruse the males available.

Il Dottore - Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast)

CTRL+C -> CTRL+V A multitude of microorganisms reproduce by a process called 'budding'. Only including Dottore as a joke because I'm actually making an entire post like this but for his different segments. And to the smartass about to say 'oh yeast isn't an animal' shhhh we have no idea what the fuck fungi are.

Venti - Sepia apama (Giant cuttlefish)

This little charmeur knows exactly how to play the mating game despite competition being fierce. Not exactly imposing, people merely scoff when he cozies up to you. Sure, he has his hands all over you and his head making a bee-line towards your lap. But he's drunk. And oddly endearing in how gently he touches you, like you're something precious, his eyes almost shining when he looks at you. Gotta remember he's a poet as well, a few of his sweet words and it's impossible to resist going home with him. Giant cuttlefish males are very competitive and aggressive, with the largest ones being able to secure females. BUT smaller males, sometimes referred to as 'sneaker males', will wait for the larger male to be distracted and sneak past to mate. They've also been observed to change their colouring and hide their hectocotylus (think of it as a specialised penis-arm) to resemble a female and better hide.

Albedo - Siphopteron quadrispinosum (sea slug)

This is dedicated entirely to you Petal <3 And to everyone else, this is a bad joke. While Rhinedottir did everything she could to make Albedo, he's lacking in certain places. Which was fine. Until he met you. But that's fine, he has a solution to that. He's spent weeks fussing over creating everything that would be needed, a bottle of pheromones to get you properly prepared and a perfectly shaped rod for insertion, the tip sharpened for piercing your skin of course. A lot of sea slugs are hermaphrodites and will, after feeling each other up, stab the other with a penile stylet and inject their fluids. Some of them do it directly into the other's head. The penile stylet regrows.

[4giorno]

my boy is home 😭😭😭💖💕💖♡💖

[rebeccathenaturalist]

I meant to post this earlier in the month, but in case you missed it, the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is going to be listed as a threatened species under the United States Endangered Species Act. It's a bit disappointing for those of us pushing for full endangered status because a threatened species doesn't receive as complete a set of protections. But it's better than nothing.

Monarch butterflies have seen a precipitous drop in numbers over the past few decades, to include both the western and eastern North American subpopulations. When I was a child in Missouri in the 1980s they were a common sight in our garden; that's not the case any more. The western subpopulation, found west of the Rocky Mountains, is much smaller than the eastern and so is at even greater risk of extinction.

As with most endangered species, habitat loss is the leading cause of population drop. While an adult monarch butterfly can feed from a variety of flowers, the caterpillars can only eat the leaves of milkweed (Asclepias spp.) No milkweed means no monarchs, and as open fields and meadows are increasingly paved over or turned into housing developments with sterile grass lawns, the monarchs have fewer and fewer places to lay their eggs. Climate change is also having a negative effect on monarchs; many died in last January's freezing temperatures that hit their overwintering sites in Texas and Mexico, and temperature variability also affects monarch reproduction.

While the ESA threatened listing is a move in the right direction, it's not enough. Existing monarch habitat must be protected, and lost habitat restored as much as possible. Even little pockets of native milkweeds for caterpillars, and other native wildflowers for the adults, can create important oases, so planting these species in your yard or on your porch can help monarchs and other native insects. Avoid non-native, tropical milkweed species, as these can host dangerous parasites. And keep pushing U.S. Fish and Wildlife to give monarchs full endangered status, while supporting organizations that advocate for these butterflies, like the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

[bogleech]

In theory, would an Endoparasite, given enough time co-evolving with its host, become an organelle or organ in time? Would that just transform it into a symbyote by definition instead? I ask this cause I've heard that's how eukaryote cells evolved (kinda, it's more like the smaller cells they absorbed did not get consumed instead)

Well, fun fact the word "symbiote" includes parasites anyway! It's a misconception that symbiote is the word for "the beneficial version." Symbiotes are any animals at all that depend on a deep relationship with another species, whether it means they help them out or they suck their blood all day and give them diseases! The helpful kind are just called "mutualistic symbiotes" and the detrimental kind are "parasitic symbiotes," but countless organisms blur those definitions in so many confusing ways that it's impossible to draw a line. For instance, we now know that many parasitic worms sequester so many toxic metals it must have always been of some benefit to their hosts, even before we started dumping more toxic metals into the food chain and have them working overtime these days:

That already feels a lot like the function of an organ! Kind of like how our bacterial biomes have been classified as "organs" too. But I know what you mean; a parasite becoming basically a permanent, attached part of what was once a host animal, passed directly to the host's offspring, just like a bigger version of where mitochondria came from. We don't know that that's happened just yet, but there are parasitic worms that start colonizing animals as soon as they're developing in the womb, and nearly all wild animal populations have a 100% constant presence of parasites their entire lives. So I think it's highly possible, really. Say a particular tapeworm mutated to where it's so good at that toxin absorption, it makes the host significantly healthier and stronger than its competitors? Then both creatures become that much more likely to pass on their genes together. Over many generations of this, if it proved beneficial enough, you could have a parasite that's barely recognizable as a tapeworm anymore, a sac of tissue that passes its larvae directly to the host's offspring, and the host's body could have even adapted designated places for these former parasites. They could totally look just like another natural organ until they were put under a microscope.

[herpsandbirds]

ID for this big friend we found in the back of our school? A friend said it was an "Eye Click Beetle", but I think I misheard, and would like a second opinion

Found in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, if location helps. They were at least 2 inches long.

Thanks!

Your friend is an entomology expert!

Yes, this is the Eastern Eyed Click Beetle (Alaus oculatus), family Elateridae.

Alaus oculatus - Wikipedia

click beetles - Alaus spp. (ufl.edu)

Species Alaus oculatus - Eyed Click Beetle - BugGuide.Net

[cedar-glade]

More from the gravel bars and mudflats, a type of riparian ecosystem of the Little Miami pt 2

Mimulus ringens, previous post had the other common species in this, these pictures show just how much larger the peduncle is comparative.

In a patch of Korean hops lies an introduced naturalized species known as Galinsoga quadriradiata or the shaggy soldier. (on broken bar)

Phyla lanceolata, lance leaf fog fruit , If your from Ohio we call it Frog Fruit; a native species perfect for bioswale planting and riparian restoration. Great stabilizer.

^bottom pic from MN wildflower blog. via Peter M. Dziuk

in the mudflat, Plantago rugelii (fairly sure based off of red base) or the floppy red based broad leaf plantain. If you find a plantain in a mudflat, it usually is stick like or narrow leaved with really unique flower structure that is more bristly looking on average, these tend to be our natives, Heartleaf is more of a gravel scour and flat wet wood species. Much like heart leaf, rugel's also has a broadleaf compared to the rest of the wet loving species. The base of this plant were barely red and the flower morphology was very bristle like is why I think the ID is correct, plus the niche affiliation; with this said, the P. major is also a generalist and can have red when stressed by summer heat on it's petioles so it would of been better to go off of the bulb like base instead of the intuition while kabrewing on the Little Miami. The other way to tell is that the ovules stick more erect.

Alisma spp. or rather I think it's A. triviale is a common mudflat species that can take longer partial submersion but doesn't like extended turbulence. Heart leaved small flowered northern water plantain.

[theoccultmoon]

‧｡⋆ Dangerous Herbs to Watch Out For ⋆｡‧

As part of my journey into my craft, I’ve spent a lot of time diving into herbalism. When I started creating content, I knew this was a topic I wanted to explore deeply. And what better way to begin than by talking about some herbs we should steer clear of?   

Herbalism can be a beautiful and powerful part of spiritual practice, but it’s important to remember that not all plants are safe to use. To help you navigate this, here’s a list of some dangerous herbs, along with their common names, scientific names, and potential adverse effects. Some of these herbs can be dangerous not only when ingested but also through skin contact or inhalation, so always prioritize safety and respect when working! 🌿   

 ❀ Aconite 

 Other Common Names: Monkshood, Wolfsbane, Aconitum   

Scientific Name: Aconitum spp.   

 Adverse Effects: Heart palpitations and arrhythmias, hypotension, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, respiratory system paralysis, and death.   

[Notes] 

Toxic even if absorbed through the skin. Always use gloves when handling, and never ingest.   

❀ Areca Nut 

Other Common Names: Betel Nut   

Scientific Name: Areca catechu   

Adverse Effects: Worsening of mental health issues in people with existing psychiatric conditions. Can cause cancer in the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach when chewed.   

 [Notes]  

Primarily dangerous when chewed or ingested. Avoid all oral use.   

❀ Lobelia  

Other Common Names: Asthma Weed, Pukeweed, Vomit Wort   

Scientific Name: Lobelia inflata  

Adverse Effects: Toxicity, rapid heartbeat, hypotension, coma, death.   

[Notes] 

Toxic if ingested, handling large amounts or inhaling powdered forms can also be harmful.   

❀ Atractylate   

Scientific Name: Atractylis gummifera  

Adverse Effects: Liver damage, nausea, vomiting, epigastric and abdominal pain, diarrhea, anxiety, headache, convulsions, often followed by coma.   

[Notes]  

Most risks come from ingestion. Avoid using this plant in any form.   

❀ Country Mallow   

Other Common Names: Heartleaf, Silky White Mallow   

Scientific Name: Sida cordifolia   

Adverse Effects: Heart attack, heart arrhythmia, stroke, death.   

[ Notes ]  

The stimulant properties can cause severe health issues if ingested or used in medicinal preparations.   

❀ Dan Shen   

Other Common Names: Red Sage, Chinese Sage, Tan Shen   

Scientific Name: Salvia miltiorrhiza   

Adverse Effects: Potentiates warfarin activity, leading to excessive anticoagulation and bleeding.   

[Notes]  

Hazardous when ingested, especially for those on blood-thinning medications.   

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! 🌟 I hope this list helps you stay safe as you explore the world of herbalism and incorporate it into your craft. Remember, knowledge is power, and approaching plants with respect and caution is key to unlocking their full potential. 

You can find more posts like this on my patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/posts/dangerous-herbs-116405313?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to share them—I’d love to hear from you! Let’s keep learning and growing together. 🌿✨ 

[mothgodofchaos]

Camera

I think that Wilford would have polaroids everywhere since his memory is shit, just so he doesn't forget things.

Wilford Warfstache x GN!Reader, TW: none Words: 636

The autumn air brushes past you, making the leaves swirl along the ground and dance with the chill. You shove your hands in your pockets, trying to keep them warm. Wilford notices your shivering, pulling a scarf out of who even knows where, and wraps it around your neck as you put on the matching gloves.

“Can’t have you getting cold now, pumpkin. There’s sights to see!”

He’s quick to snap a photo of you before you’re finished straightening yourself out. The camera prints the polaroid instantly, and he looks at it lovingly. You try to sneak a glimpse of it over his shoulder, but he hides it away before you can look.

“Ahhp-up-up! No ruining the surprise!” 

“Wilf, it’s a picture of me that you took as I was adjusting my scarf. What sort of surprise could there be?”

“Shhhhh, seeeecrets.”

You can’t tell if he’s being obtuse on purpose or not, but you just take his arm and keep walking, looking out upon your surroundings. The trees rustle as the clouds begin to hang overhead, letting only small bits of blue sky through. As long as you can feel Wilford next to you, you’re far more focused on the natural scenery surrounding you. Especially when that was the sole reason Wilford dragged you out here in the first place. 

You feel his mustache against your forehead as he leans over to give you a kiss, squeezing your arm, and double checking that you’re still warm. There’s the click of a camera again, and you glance over to see him photographing a squirrel happily munching on an acorn it found. It stares at you once you notice it, and Wilford takes the moment of it sitting still to capture another shot of it. 

“Perfect! An ideal specimen of sciurus carolinensis! And holding a quercus spp, just like the movies!”

“Oh? Which movie, Wilf?”

“The one with the little skittery one, with all the ice. His love for that acorn destroys the world, and I think that’s beautiful. Almost relatable, in a way…”

He trails off as you try and figure out what movie he could possibly be talking about. Every once in a while you hear the click of his camera, find what he’s photographing, and go back to what you were looking at. You have to pull the scarf over your face after a while, shuddering at the cold. Wilford looks at you, concern washed over his face.

“Oh pumpkin, we gotta get you indoors, stat.”

He scoops you up before you can protest, spinning you around in his arms and you appear in his living room. He’s careful to pull the scarf away from your face, frowning at how red your nose and cheeks are.

“Well we can’t have that, I’ll make us some hot choccies!”

Without another word, Wilford disappears into the kitchen, leaving you to get comfortable and warm. You’re quick to change out of your outside clothes, creating a cocoon for yourself with the massive pile of blankets by the couch. Wilford returns with mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, candy canes, and sprinkles. You happily take yours as he joins you in your comfort. He sets his camera on the table, and you catch a glimpse of the stack of photos from your walk. In the middle of each frame rests you, the focus of every photo, spare the squirrel. 

“So this was the surprise?”

You pick up the polaroids, thumbing through them carefully. Wilford gets quiet, sighing.

“My memory isn’t quite what it used to be… and I want to make sure I never forget my favorite memories of you.”

You look up at him, kissing his cheek as you pull him closer.

“You won’t, because I won’t let you. I promise.”

“Thank you, my dear.”

[srtruth]

It says: Turn Lactobacillus spp. into your favorite character. Don't forget to name it!

In bioreactor we got a bonus and of course I drew Mayuri. I forgot to name him 😭.

Lactobacillus Mayuritae

[thenativetank]

VA Native Fish Hunting - 24

Today was a fun trip. I've been to this beach a number of times for glass hunting (successful) and for shark tooth hunting (not so successful), but not for dedicated fishing. I did find a couple of neat finds, which goes to show you it pays off to explore old places with a new eye.

Last hunt, I included a picture of some sea lettuce (Ulva spp) I found but thought it lacked some context on how it naturally looked since I had it above water level. Using some advice from a tumblr follower, I brought my acrylic holding container with me. Sea lettuce is SO COOL when submerged and thought it was worth including a picture here.

Lots more Glass Shrimp (Palaemon spp) here. By contrast with the sea lettuce, glass shrimp are harder to get photos of when submerged in their home (murky) water. Still. Neat critters.

This Skilletfish (Gobiesox strumosus) was washed up/deceased, sadly. But still interesting because a) it's my first time finding this species in this area of the river, and b) it being dead means I can show off their suction cup like belly.

A first for me! This American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) is the first specimen I've caught of this species. Around 5 or 6 inches long, it was absolutely restless looking for a way out - which reflects how eagerly they escape the home aquarium. They also are thought to live upwards of 80 years, so I hope this dude has a nice long life!

Fair enough, I was unsure if I would catch anything, so I found this inlet to the river I was fishing on and tossed in a few minnow traps. Might as well hedge your bets, right?

I caught a few Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) here, and unsurprising as they are among the most common species in this area. Freshwater? Brackish? Saltwater? You'll probably find some. But I love the mottling coloration on this fella - I think they are handsome in a subdued way.

More shrimps! A little easier to see here butttt still a little hard with stirred up silt.

I probably caught about 20 Mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) aross my traps. No exaggeration, some of my favorite native fishes in this area - especially for home use but I think they are pretty in general.

Most of the Mummichogs were smallish but this dude was a chonker. Mine at home are pushing 5 inches but at 3.5 or so, this killifish is still impressive. Love the slight teal coloration the big ones have sometimes.

Last find was this live Skilletfish! That coloration is fantastic, much better than the last few washed out ones I've come across. This guy more than any other catch today has tempted me to start up a native biotope tank. What a cool cat!

[pancake-moth]

How to Download Digital Witch Mayura

@lolmeowaj

First you have to download SSP, the program you can use to run her.

Once downloaded, attempt opening SSP by pressing the ssp.exe file

If it's running, this character should appear on the screen. Please make sure you don’t leave ssp in your downloads or you might get a fatal error and have to reinstall. I suggest just putting it on the computer itself.

Mayura Download

To change her to Mayura, download the RAR file from this site. Once downloaded, extract her files and put the "Mayura_v350" file into the "ghost" file of SPP. You can change the file name if you'd like.

Now, try running the program again and press Mayura in the "call ghost" section

Now, she should appear on screen. You can close the other ukagakas if you'd like.

Mayura English (Poor English, Though)

Go here and click on Mayura at the bottom, and then drag and drop the file onto Mayura on your desktop. It should show you a few options, and then she'll begin speaking english.

Mayura Outfits (Shells)

You can obtain most of her alternate outfits here. Just drag and drop the items and then go to "shells" and it should be added.

And that's mostly it!! You can download other Ukagaka from other archives online, just be careful what you download so you don't download any malware!! And here's other Ukagaka information from the archive here!

[screamingcrows]

More Genshin characters as ways animals court and mate

The follow up to this that no one asked for.

Welcome to another round of (hopefully) the weirdest biology lessons you'll ever receive. Essentially a shitpost, someone should take away my writing privileges. There could be better suited animals out there, I just chose from the ones I knew.

Characters included; Baizhu, Ganyu, Dainsleif, Xiangling, Wriothesley, Cyno, Wanderer/Scaramouche

Tags: nsfw in the way a national geographic documentary is, there are no graphic details but proceed at your own discretion

Baizhu - Lumbricus terrestris (Common earthworm)

Spending most of his time tending to others, Baizhu doesn't have a lot of energy to spare when it comes to copulation. This combined with his illness makes for a difficult situation. To successfully bed this doctor, make sure to first become a trusted individual, and spend time in the pharmacy with him. Once the opportunity arises at the end of a day, ensure he is amicable to the idea, and bring him to a comfortable spot (preferably a bed) to avoid later joint pain. Benefits from having someone else do the hard work - please let him be a pillow princess. Lumbricus terrestris, and most other earthworms, have pretty chill mating habits. When they reproduce sexually (because they can also self-fertilise) it is done by two individuals laying against each other and forming a slime tube as well as gripping onto each other using the tubercula pubertatis <- this is a little thickening in the saddle (the band on earthworms that look different than the rest of their body). The worms then calmly exchange sperm before dislodging and sliding back into their respective burrows.

Ganyu - Capra spp. (Goats)

Sweet, docile Ganyu absolutely adores it when she gets to cuddle up to you, especially if your arms are wrapped securely around her. At first, you find her tendency to bury her head into your armpit a bit odd, but it's pretty endearing to be honest. Xianyun clearly makes sure her daughter is dressed to impress, and although Ganyu flusters easily; especially when you grin happily upon seeing her, you have no doubt she enjoys the compliments. Each sweet word is rewarded with a little kiss to your forehead (why her smile always looks a little sad when she pulls away is something you'll have to ask about, maybe she's still insecure around you?) Oh I promise you dear reader, this particular behavior is not a sign of insecurity. Goats are self-anointing animals, meaning they make sure to smell. For goats, this behavior includes males urinating on their forelegs and his own face, which combined with a secretion from glands located at the base of his horns, ensures a seductive scent. Some females have been observed to completely refuse mating with a buck who's had those glands removed.

Dainsleif - Antechinus spp. (Marsupial mice)

Oh you unfortunate soul who fell for Dainsleif. Ella, I dedicate this to you. Dainsleif yearns. And he lingers. His love is vast as an ocean and just as deadly- he knows (thinks) it will drown you both the moment he lowers his guard. For this reason, you're kept at arms length for a while, unsure if he wants you gone or not. It's impossible to tell with his tendency to appear for a moment and be gone the next. Every time you think yourself free and healed, he appears again to drive the blade further into both your hearts. When he finally caves, in a moment of weakness, the love he shares is passionate, the ferocity of a starved beast, keeping you awake throughout the night, crying out his name in pleasure. When you awake next, there's nothing but a scribbled apology next to you. Dainsleif doesn't return after that, but you swear he still lingers in your periphery. Marsupial mice have uhh interesting mating habits. Males are ready to breed a few weeks before breeding seasons start and females enter ovulation. Mating is intense but has a narrow window of opportunity. The males funnel so much energy into maximising reproductive capabilities, using up all energy storage, that a vast majority of males die off after mating. The level of free corticosteroids increase in the males during mating, which suppresses the immune system significantly.

Xiangling - Blattella germanica (German cockroach)

It probably comes as no surprise that Xiangling likes to surprise you with treats and meals. She takes great pride in making sure you're provided for and makes certain there's never a dull moment for your tastebuds. Maybe it's a little overwhelming at first, but don't worry, she'll learn your preferences for flavour combinations quickly. But more than anything, Xiangling loves being in the kitchen with you and seeing you add your own personal touch. Sure, she has a penchant for running all over the place, but there's no place like home. Blattella germanica males produce a sugary substance that they secrete from their back, offering it to females to keep them still long enough for copulation. This penchant for glucose led producers of pest controls to include it as bait, but as nature tends to, this has prompted a rise of glucose-aversion and a shift towards the sugary substance produced containing more complex sugars. Experimental little chefs.

Wriothesley - Acinonyx jubatus (Cheetah)

Regrettably, Wriothesley doesn't have as much time to see you as he'd prefer, seeing as he spends most of his time in the fortress. As such, he can be somewhat of a passionate and at times eager lover when he gets his hands on you. He takes pride in his physique and thoroughly enjoys when you're visiting and goes down to watch him train. Better yet if you see him win a match. Once he has you alone, he wastes no time getting close, his voice low and sultry as he asks about all that has transpired since he saw you last. His hands roam along your body as you try to answer, knowing full well nothing you say makes sense, heart swelling at the look in his eyes. It's fine, he'll ask again later when you're both relaxing with a cup of tea. Cheetahs are actually very straight-forward when it comes to reproduction. Males living in coalitions will sometimes fight for the right to mate. Females use a combination of vocal signals and urination to attract a partner, the male might also use urination to indicate his location. Once the pair meet, the male produces a series of sounds called the 'stutter-bark' which triggers female hormonal cascades and induces ovulation so the female is in prime condition for mating. Wriothesley could make a lot of people ovulate with his voice alone let's be honest.

Cyno - Erinaceus spp. (hedgehogs)

We all know that the General Mahamatra can be a bit.. annoying at times. And if he's actively trying to win you over? You best believe he's giving it his absolute best shot when he isn't out on the job, inviting you along wherever he goes to relax. To the great amusement (and embarrassment) of his friends, a choice strategy is to make you laugh... It's pretty cute, if a little pathetic at times. He makes genius invocation tcg decks for you to use against him, 100% has matching cards made of you both - you get his and he keeps yours. You can roll your eyes at his shenanigans as you please, he's persistent in his pursuit as long as you haven't outright rejected him. Erinaceus males will approach the sow and begin walking in circles around it, the female might occasionally hiss or swat at the male, sometimes even curling in on herself, but most of the time is just for show. The circling can continue for longer than an hour during which the male is huffing and trying to asses and approach.

Wanderer - Apis mellifera worker (European honey bee)

Not particularly romantically inclined, Wanderer could go the entirety of your life without declaring any affection, but you'll undoubtedly know that he favors you over others. He learns and remembers, and to be known is to be loved. Whenever you express a desire or wish, if it's within his power to grant, you may soon find yourself living out that dream. Deep down, Wanderer treasures every little moment of you being 'a nuisance', and you both know it. After all, he could leave at any moment if he wished to. Once he considers you kin, he'd do anything to keep you alive and content. Within eusocial insects such as honey bees, the worker can be fertile but will, in a healthy hive, most often refrain from producing offspring. This is done to instead focus on caring for the rest of the hive. The strategy is known as 'kin selection' and is based on workers being more closely related to each other, than they would be to potential offspring. As such, the individual's reproductive success is, in terms of % genetic material preserved between generations, better left to the queen.

Scaramouche - Apis mellifera drone

Sorry. He's so out of touch with his emotions that I don't think he'd last having to acknowledge being in love, much less indulge in 'human pleasures'. After mating with the queen, a drone's penis explodes while still in the queen (blocking off others from mating) and the drone dies shortly after. There's something poetic to be said about drones only having half the amount of chromosomes compared to a worker, but I'm no Scara analyser.

I also recommend checking out my comprehensive mating study of Dottore, it's exactly as weird as it sounds.

[qprpbj]

okay with the graffiti au thing (specifically Paul’s tag) how exactly does it work? Like you said the initials are spp, but neither Soda or pony’s tag starts w/ the letter of their first name (cola and dreamer) so does it matter? (and also, I don’t think I’ve read all your posts w/ Paul, so what’s your characterization of him, what’s important to/about him?)

LOL ok that was said in a moment of weakness bc i just kinda goofed and used their real names bc idk what paul’s tag name is yet, i took it back in the tags of that post specifying 😭 anyway whatever paul’s ends up being ponys would be written with a lowercase letter! yes in graffiti it does matter i just goofed sorry to make it confusing lmfaooo. when i come up with paul’s i think i’ll draw out their tag names and crew tag for the .2 people who are interested!!!

also tbh this is not my usual paul characterization so i don’t really know yet! it’s obv not part of my regular au so im not super sure but i will think on it 🙂‍↕️