|
Argiope Bruennichi
''Argiope bruennichi'' (wasp spider) is a species of orb-web spider distributed throughout central Europe, northern Europe, north Africa, parts of Asia, and the Azores archipelago. Like many other members of the genus '' Argiope'' (including St Andrew's Cross spiders), it has striking yellow and black markings on its abdomen. Web The spider builds a spiral orb web at dawn or dusk, commonly in long grass a little above ground level, taking approximately an hour. The prominent zigzag shape called the '' stabilimentum'', or web decoration, featured at the centre of the orb is of uncertain function, but it has been shown that webs containing stabilimenta catch fewer insects because they are less cryptic, but on the other hand these webs are less often damaged by birds flying through them. When a prey item is first caught in the web, ''Argiope bruennichi'' will quickly immobilise its prey by wrapping it in silk. The prey is then bitten and then injected with a paralysing venom and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Giovanni Antonio Scopoli
Giovanni Antonio Scopoli (sometimes Latinized as Johannes Antonius Scopolius) (3 June 1723 – 8 May 1788) was an Italian physician and naturalist. His biographer Otto Guglia named him the "first anational European" and the "Linnaeus of the Austrian Empire". Biography Scopoli was born at Cavalese in the Val di Fiemme, belonging to the Bishopric of Trent (today's Trentino), son of Francesco Antonio, military commissioner, and Claudia Caterina Gramola (1699-1791), painter from a patrician family from Trentino. He obtained a degree in medicine at University of Innsbruck, and practiced as a doctor in Cavalese and Venice.Newton, Alfred 1881. ''Scopoli's ornithological papers.'' The Willoughby SocietyScanned version/ref> Much of his time was spent in the Alps, collecting plants and insects, of which he made outstanding collections. He spent two years as private secretary to the bishop of Seckau, and then was appointed in 1754 as physician of the mercury mines in Idrija, a small to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
