#mechanical insects

[feodortum]

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Palmetto Tortoise Beetle: the larvae of this species produce long, thin strands of feces that are gradually woven together to form protective "fecal shields" around their bodies

During its larval stage, the Palmetto tortoise beetle (Hemisphaerota cyanea) uses its own feces to create a defensive layer known as a "fecal shield" or "fecal thatch."

As this article explains:

Most remarkable, perhaps, is the fecal “thatch” of Hemisphaerota cyanea. In the larva of this beetle, the feces are emitted in strands, which, as they build up over the course of larval life, form a loose assemblage that totally hides the larva from view.

The construction of the "fecal thatch" begins almost immediately after the larva hatches. Each larva begins to feed within minutes of hatching, and the very first fecal strands emerge from its anal turret just a few minutes later. Subsequent strands are then produced in quick succession, and they begin to accumulate around the larva's body; as each strand emerges, it is made to curve around the larva's left or right side depending on whether the anal turret is flexed to the left or right. The direction of the curve usually alternates from one strand to the next, ensuring that a nest-like structure is formed around the larva's body.

As they emerge, the fecal strands are gathered together and then cemented into place with the help of an anatomical feature known as a caudal fork. Once an individual strand has been extruded to its full length, the anal turret is rotated upward until it comes into contact with the caudal fork, and the larva then pinches off the strand while secreting a droplet of "glue," which effectively cements each fecal strand into place against the caudal fork.

It generally takes about 12 hours for the larva to finish building its very own "fecal shield."

As an adult, the Palmetto tortoise beetle has another unusual defense mechanism: its tarsi (i.e. feet) are each lined with 10,000 tiny adhesive bristles, and when the beetle is attacked, it can press its feet flat against the surface of a leaf and secrete an oil that allows it to adhere to that surface with an enormous amount of strength. The adhesive mechanism is strong enough to resist pulling forces that are up to 60 times greater than the beetle's own weight for a full 2 minutes; it can resist even greater forces (up to 230 times greater than the beetle's own weight) for shorter periods of time.

According to this article from the University of Florida:

Each of the greatly enlarged tarsi is equipped with approximately 10,000 adhesive bristles. Each bristle has two terminal pads. When walking, only a few of the bristles touch the leaf surface. However, when attacked by a predator, the beetle puts all or nearly all of the bristles in contact with the surface and secretes oil onto the pads. With the adhesive force created by the oil between the leaf surface and tarsi, the beetle is able to clamp its hemispherical shell down tightly against the leaf and has been demonstrated to withstand pulling forces of approximately 60 times its own weight for up to two minutes. This time period is sufficient to thwart the efforts of predatory ants attempting to pry the beetle from the leaf. 

Palmetto tortoise beetles are native to the southeastern United States, and they're especially common in Florida (which is why they're also known as Florida tortoise beetles).

Sources & More Info:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Defensive Use of a Fecal Thatch by a Beetle Larva (Hemisphaerota cyanea)

Earth Touch News Network: By the Power of the Poop-Shield: Beetle Defenses of the Faecal Kind

Cornell Chronicle: Fecal Defense: This Beetle Uses 'Overhead Sewer System' to Ward off (most) Predators, Cornell Biologists Discover

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Defense by Foot Adhesion in a Beetle (Hemisphaerota cyanea)

University of Florida: Palmetto Tortoise Beetle

Bug Guide: Hemisphaerota cyanea

[vroen-arts]

Some praying mantis adopts up for auction!! The bids are a little scattered across sites rn. Feel free to shoot me a dm or comment if you're interested in bidding, and AB is $75 <3

[toacody]

FOHROK

The Brotherhood just loved its knockoffs.

Source

Creator: The-Dapper-Scrapper

[wellthisissomething]

AI-Less Whumptober Day 13 - "Take Me Instead"

Insect Detective 2 - Ep. 20

Glory of Special Forces - Ep. 11

Love Mechanics - Ep. 2

Unbeatable - Ep. 27

Duel - Ep. 16

Light Chaser Rescue - Ep. 36

Previous 13/31 Next

[bonefall]

Elder Bones... what if I... made a ClanGen mod based off of Better Bones.

Sure go ahead!

I hope they take that nutrition mechanic off the backburner soon, I feel like that update would be the perfect opportunity for someone to go in there with a BB-inspired mod.

[dare-to-dm]

One thing people need to understand about me is that I am always role-playing. Even and especially when I'm playing board games where that's not the point. So to me, games where the mechanics have literally nothing to do with the framing device are kind of absurd.

[scruplescripture]

Guys what if scarabs dream shadow thing is blue because he was originally blue, like a lobster situation and he got fucking boiled somehow. Ignore how that doesn’t make sense. Just think about it, because I know we’ve been running with the whole ripped off wing situation, I think this might be interesting… I think I might have something here…..

Scarab could actually be a metallic blue. Just ignore the science behind it and embrace the blue. Trust me. Might use lobster mechanic for daydreamer AU

[briery]

Spicebush larva with osmeterium displayed When these caterpillars are confronted an orange forked gland flicks in and out like a tongue and secretes nasty smelling material. By John Flannery on Flickr. (Hi-Res).

[squishsquishy]

💛🤍🦊Nonbinary Tails🦊💜🖤

x/x/x x/x/x x/x/x

[therottenkingsreckoning]

Took a while, but I have another Cherrywood neighbor done-Tiki Ti! Some fun facts about this guy, which I'll put under readmore along with the rest:

-just barely over 3 feet tall thanks to the antennae

-autistic & severely anxious, though it's friends have helped a lot with that

-favorite food is sweet cheese pie

-comes from a family of honeypot ant ranchers, which is where his love of ants comes from

-at roughly the equivalent of 20 human years old, it's one of the youngest neighbors

-extremely pretty by Centicarr standards, to the point where people sometimes think he's a supermodel

-has a pair of beetle wings under the rear elytra, but is too scared to ever try flying

Eddie was one of the first of Home's residents to meet any of them, and naturally it was quite a shock when a guy made of bugs walked in! He does over time learn to tolerate and even somewhat enjoy Tiki's presence though- he has to, since a mutual love of insects means that Frank's new bestie is often over at their house. The others have a bit of an easier time getting along with their new buggy pal, although in a similar fashion to Eddie Sally's presence and intensity do end up taking some time to get used to.

I'll leave y'all with a final sketch of Tiki teaching Frank his native language, Chitter, which although they lack the mouthparts to speak fluently can be modified to the point of being understood.

[murderbees]

thinking about Tron program bodies again, blood is not enough for me, where are the wires and fans and plates of metal that bend and snap

I have this vague image of an anatomical diagram of a program

Energy Circulatory System - the Blood, also the digestive track bc they don't have food, Mouth to throat tube to processor located center, near the disk port, it processes and then pumps the energy through the lightlines of the body, if a program overclocks themselves enough, they can suffer burnt or even ruptured circuitry

Energy both fuels the program and cools them off, when cooling processes are activated, the energy will be cooled off by nearby venting processes and will then be circulated throughout the body

Venting System - Similar looking to lungs, two fans that sit within the upper chest, one on each side, subtle ducts can open along the sides of a program to release extra heat (they sorta look like gills, ticklish), Most of the cooling is done through this system, Vents work to expell air through the nose, mouth, and additional vents and ducts, some programs have extra vents for their functions (Mechanic need more bc they work in hotter environments)

The Disc Port - connected directly to the morherboard of the program, this is why if programs are hit there, they will derezz, sorta like a brain (head wounds are not fatal), all processors are connected via wires to the board

Processors - part of the motherboard, eyes, ears, nose, tongue, all the senses are split up into different processing units, These usually have a mechanical unit, like eyeballs, that connect to the board with long thin wires, essentially the nervous system, but centered around the disc not the head

Internal Systems - internal sensors and diagnostics that regulate the body, the Endocrine System, Connected to a programs personal display, will update with warnings and display whatever parameters needed about the body

"Bones" - programs don't have bones, but they do have metal tubes that house their more delicate pieces (wires), Some programs (security) have more reinforcement around vulnerable areas, like the throat and chest, with the plating sometimes even being above the skin, Additonal plating can be added to the forearms and calves without much modification, further integrated armor is an arduous process

Derezzing is still a thing, parts of a program will maintain integrity to a point, then they collapse into voxels, Not all pieces will derezz, if that threshold isn't met, the pieces will remain in their form, basically, if you want to fully derezz a program you have to grind them into voxels, otherwise the bones and other stuff are unlikely to derezz until the energy runs completely out (usually a few days, or the Grid equivalent), where they will then turn into a pile of voxels

Voxels and Energy both evaporate, losing their vivid technicolor hues, until they turn a dark soot grey, at this point they disappear leaving a thin dusty film behind, it's hard to clean and slippery

[ch1meraa]

Been fixating on how Final Form’s laser chest weapon works. He’s got a lot of organic stuff going on as well so here’s my idea - feel free to ask questions if it’s not clear enough.

Kinda feel like using the chest cannon is a last resort for him, probably gives him stitch or something as well as depleting loads of energy

[dailybutterfly]

Butterfly #32: Mechanitis polymnia

Image credits: 1, 2, 3

Found from Mexico to the Amazon rainforest, this butterfly’s larvae feeds on plant species from the genus Solanum.

[toacody]

Bionicle MOC - Shadow Bohrok

Amazing what just a new coat of paint can do.

Source

Creator: Alex-Darkrai