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Lybia edmondsoni

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OK, this is the cutest thing I’ve learned about all week. Tiny, pugnacious pom-pom crabs have very thin shells, and so they use anemones to defend themselves, waving them around vigorously like boxing gloves. I wondered if they put them down to eat, but it seems that the anemones collect food as they are being swished through the water, and the crabs just nibble it off them. Kind of like licking your swiffer I suppose (ugh, gross).

The crab/anemone relationship is symbiotic, though it seems that the crab gets the better end of the deal. If one of its pom poms gets lost, the crab will just tear the other one in half. Each half will grow into a complete organism. Isn’t nature amazing?

Pittenweem

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Pittenweem is a picturesque Scottish fishing village in the East Neuk of Fife, dating back to medieval times. The name derives from Pictish and Scottish Gaelic and means “the place of the caves”, referring to St Fillan’s cave.

According to Charlie Flinders, it has the best fish and chips in the world.

Pittenweem hosts one of the most-loved art festivals in Scotland, attracting about 20,000 visitors over eight days each August. Many artists have re-discovered the charms and the light of the area, and have moved to the village, creating a vibrant artistic community. Makes me want to visit!

Lactarius deliciosus

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Some quick sketches done while tagging along on a hike with the latest docent class at Malibu Creek State Park.

We have saffron milkcaps galore! Are they edible? Yes, but … it’s complicated. Our local ones may or may not be delicious. Please don’t eat foraged mushrooms unless you‘ve received expert instruction!

Tachinidae

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We didn’t identify this fly down to the species, but we figured out the family. Some tachinid flies parasitize pest species, which has allowed them to be used as biological control agents by farmers. For instance, Istocheta aldrichi only attacks the Japanese beetle. But some are generalists; Compsilura concinnata uses at least 200 different hosts, and so is not safe to be used as biological control.

Adult tachinids feed on flowers and nectar from aphids and scale insects. As many species typically feed on pollen, they can be important pollinators of some plants, especially at higher elevations in mountains where bees are relatively few. So don’t be hating on them, just because they’re flies!

rosa

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People in the US and Canada allegedly spend billions of dollars on Valentine’s Day to celebrate their loved ones, and roses are considered the gold standard of romantic gifts. Together, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are responsible for nearly 40 percent of annual flower purchases among top U.S. florists.

Here at Casa Hashiworks, we felt no need to contribute to this floral consumerism. We are still enjoying the daffodils Georgia gave us eleven days ago.