We started the day at 0800 with a survey of the area, details animals seen, and noting any changes in landscape etc. We noted two large piles of grass reeds that had been harvested and stacked, possibly by locals who come on to the premises at times to take firewood and anything else they can get hold of really. We will report this and the grounds staff will check that the reeds are ones they have harvested and are planning to export. The reserve sells grass reeds for thatching each year, one of the few incomes it can rely on.
The zebras came past the office today while I was working there, popped their noses inside for a quick shifty, then headed on up the road towards the watering hole. While eating lunch today the ostrich came to the dining area and popped her head under the thatch, then turned her head to one side, I assume to see us better from one eye. In the toilet this morning a large frog came in to observe my oblutions; and once I had completed my duties I turned around to flush the chain and found a large lizard squatting on top of the water tank. It’s amazing how quickly you become accustomed to something that you would usually consider extraordinary. Mind you, I didn’t think it ordinary today when I was making my way back to base in the dark this evening, and concentrating my torch on a persistent lizard, of whose intentions I felt unsure. Which is why I totally failed to notice the ostrich squatting on the ground for 40 winks. I only saw her on the periphery, I suppose, and probably thought she was a rock. When I stepped really close to her though, my light still carefully trained on the lizard, she whipped her head around and I bad thing nearly happened, particularly unwelcome when you have to do your own hand washing. My goodness, the ostrich is a peculiar looking bird. And by no means cute. Apparently she lays very tasty eggs though, 1 egg equaling 24 hens eggs. Let’s hope someone finds one around breakfast time son time soon.
Lionant
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| Antlion |
I like these, they are jolly little chaps with a great sense of fun. There are a lot of them about at the LWC and here, and they are very clever. In average-sized larva digs a pit about 2 in deep and 3 in wide at the edge. Having marked out the chosen site by a circular groove, the antlion larva starts to crawl backwards, using its abdomen as a plough to shovel up the soil. By the aid of one front leg, it places consecutive heaps of loosened particles upon its head, then with a smart jerk throws each little pile clear of the scene of operations. Proceeding thus, it gradually works its way from the circumference towards the center. As it slowly moves round and round, the pit gradually gets deeper and deeper, until the slope angle reaches the critical angle of repose (that is, the steepest angle the sand can maintain, where it is on the verge of collapse from slight disturbance). When the pit is completed, the larva settles down at the bottom, buried in the soil with only the jaws projecting above the surface, often in a wide-opened position on either side of the very tip of the cone. The steep-sloped trap that guides prey into the larva's mouth while avoiding crater avalanches is one of the simplest and most efficient traps in the animal kingdom. Since the sides of the pit consist of loose sand at its angle of repose, they afford an insecure foothold to any small insects that inadvertently venture over the edge, such as ants. Slipping to the bottom, the prey is immediately seized by the lurking antlion; if it attempts to scramble up the treacherous walls of the pit, it is brought down by showers of loose sand which are thrown at it from below by the larva. By throwing up loose sand from the bottom of the pit, the larva also undermines the sides of the pit, causing them to collapse and bring the prey with them.
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| Antlion hole |
Antlion larvae are capable of capturing and killing a variety of insects and other arthropods, and can even subdue small spiders. The projections in the jaws of the larva are hollow and through this, the larva sucks the fluids out of its victim. After the contents are consumed, the dry carcass is flicked out of the pit. The larva readies the pit once again by throwing out collapsed material from the center, steepening the pit walls to the angle of repose.
How clever is all that!
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