I’ve eaten a few bugs while cycling. What is more of an issue, is that they get wedged in your bike helmet. Stinging bugs really get your attention. Not to contradict ol’ Jef (’cause he needed to use mosquitoes for his story), but mosquitoes because of their low body mass, lack the necessary inertia to really be on the menu for cyclists.
In addition to all the other functions they carry out in a balanced ecosystem, insects are the bottom of the food chain. And studies from all over the world show that they are rapidly decreasing in number. Where I live, butterflies and moths have almost disappeared. And the birds that eat primarily insects are in steep decline. The few spider webs I find remain empty of prey. Humans have treated insects as enemies for a couple of hundred years, practicing chemical warfare against them. We may win the war, but it will be a pyrrhic victory.
Bottom of the food chain is all the producers. Mosquitoes are parasites, Caulfield, and they bite us for a blood meal so they do “eat” us. (Well, the females do. The males are nectar sippers.)Whatever grade you’re supposed to be in, kid, you should have paid attention rather than being a smug disruption to the rest of the class. You might have learned this if you had, and I know that this kind of thing starts being covered in second or third grade at the latest, at least around here.
I used to go to a lot of science-fiction conventions, and at many of them the masquerade was emceed by a guy dressed up as Dracula, whose opening schtick was always to remind us that we weren’t at the top of the food chain, HE was!
It all depends on where you live. Out here in rural Oregon we are NOT at the top of the food chain. If you go for a walk, you’d better be carrying bear spray or a heavy caliber hand gun.
Your worm is your only emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service; two dishes to one table, that’s the end. (Hamlet)
In México, certain posh restaurants offer a delicacy called “escamoles”. Its a plate made of mosquito larvae, very tasty indeed and expensive too. Bon appetit and enjoy.
Concretionist almost 4 years ago
You know how you can recognize a happy bike rider?
Yeah. You know it’s by the bugs on her teeth…
RAGs almost 4 years ago
In a similar vein, what is the last thing that goes through a bee’s mind when it his your windshields? The stinger.
222jo almost 4 years ago
I like the water effect from the hose and the blue vignette.
sandpiper almost 4 years ago
Caulfield is having a ‘fraught’ summer of irritations.
cervelo almost 4 years ago
I’ve eaten a few bugs while cycling. What is more of an issue, is that they get wedged in your bike helmet. Stinging bugs really get your attention. Not to contradict ol’ Jef (’cause he needed to use mosquitoes for his story), but mosquitoes because of their low body mass, lack the necessary inertia to really be on the menu for cyclists.
HappyDog/ᵀʳʸ ᴮᵒᶻᵒ ⁴ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘⁿ ᵒᶠ ᶦᵗ Premium Member almost 4 years ago
I wouldn’t be so flip while talking with someone holding a water hose.
Markov Da Robot almost 4 years ago
Frazz is a bike nerd?
Whatcouldgowrong almost 4 years ago
In addition to all the other functions they carry out in a balanced ecosystem, insects are the bottom of the food chain. And studies from all over the world show that they are rapidly decreasing in number. Where I live, butterflies and moths have almost disappeared. And the birds that eat primarily insects are in steep decline. The few spider webs I find remain empty of prey. Humans have treated insects as enemies for a couple of hundred years, practicing chemical warfare against them. We may win the war, but it will be a pyrrhic victory.
aardtacha almost 4 years ago
Bottom of the food chain is all the producers. Mosquitoes are parasites, Caulfield, and they bite us for a blood meal so they do “eat” us. (Well, the females do. The males are nectar sippers.)Whatever grade you’re supposed to be in, kid, you should have paid attention rather than being a smug disruption to the rest of the class. You might have learned this if you had, and I know that this kind of thing starts being covered in second or third grade at the latest, at least around here.
Richard S Russell Premium Member almost 4 years ago
I used to go to a lot of science-fiction conventions, and at many of them the masquerade was emceed by a guy dressed up as Dracula, whose opening schtick was always to remind us that we weren’t at the top of the food chain, HE was!
bigal666 almost 4 years ago
It all depends on where you live. Out here in rural Oregon we are NOT at the top of the food chain. If you go for a walk, you’d better be carrying bear spray or a heavy caliber hand gun.
Stephen Gilberg almost 4 years ago
Is he spraying water or sucking up the panel border?
fritzoid Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Your worm is your only emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service; two dishes to one table, that’s the end. (Hamlet)
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] almost 4 years ago
Mosquitoes do not eat us.
For certain periods the females need mammalian blood for their eggs otherwise they like sucking nectar just like the males.
Gonzojr almost 4 years ago
In México, certain posh restaurants offer a delicacy called “escamoles”. Its a plate made of mosquito larvae, very tasty indeed and expensive too. Bon appetit and enjoy.
asrialfeeple almost 4 years ago
Something seems to be bugging Caulfield.