A Wadi Racer Snake Encounter

A detail of the head of the Wadi Racer Snake (filter was used to provide contrast)

A Wadi Racer sliding its way on top of rocks

The snake easily blends in its rocky environment

The agility and speed of the racer was an awesome site to witness 

From entomology to herpetology, my nature expeditions are creating opportunities for me to learn more about awesome creatures!

It was during a recent group expedition towards Fossil Rock at the Maleha Mountain trail that I got this awesome encounter with a very agile and fast Wadi Racer snake. We where ascending towards the flat surface to Fossil Rock when we stumbled upon the snake as it was moving on the rocks. Upon detecting my presence, it dashed and hid inside the rock crevices. It was a brief encounter, but I was able to take a few photos before it "disappeared and blended into the rocks".

The Wadi Racer or Arabian Racer (Platyceps rhodorachis) (COLUBRIDAE) is a snake found in the wadi and mountain regions of UAE. 

This snake is NONVENOMOUS and poses no threat for humans. It is nonaggressive and will not attack unless provoked, stepped upon, or directly harassed.

The Wadi Racer possesses full gray to dark gray-colored scales with dark brown traverse markings. Its body is long, slender and uniformly cylindrical with its tail tapering to a needle-like tip. It can grow up to 150cm (1.5m) long. 

This snake is very agile, as it moves with great speed on its wadi and mountainous environment. It can climb vertical rock surfaces. It is also reported as a great swimmer, with the ability to pursue wadi fish when in water. Its common prey include toads, smaller reptiles, birds and mice. 

The innate speed, agility and camouflaging ability of the Wadi Racer in its natural environment was an awesome sight to behold!

Awesome creature! Awesome CREATOR! 

An Encounter with Dark-Winged Fungus Gnats (SCIARIDAE)

 

Fungus gnats are DIPTERANS associated with fungi in moist soil and decaying plants

These are very small flies at just 1cm long

A large hump appears on the portion between the head and the base of the wings

Sciaridae wings have two branched sclerotized wing veins 

They have long legs, with enlarged coxa and femur segments

The smoke to dark colored wings of Sciarids

Fungus gnats favor excess moisture on potting medium of indoor plants

The green and living landscape trend has taken both the residential and office spaces by storm! Live plants, contained in pots of various forms and sizes filled with a concoction of soil, potting media and other organic materials are now a major component of the indoor landscape. 

A number of these insects are emerging from the pots and plants are becoming a nuisance. They get into people's faces and contaminate food and drinks. 

What are these very small, mosquito-like, dark-colored insects emerging from our indoor plant havens? These are what we call the fungus gnats!

For this article we will focus on one family of fungus gnats, the SCIARIDAE (Dark-Winged Fungus Gnats). 

The adult dark-winged fungus gnats are 1-11mm long, with a slender body, mosquito-like, with long legs, black to dark brown colored body and smoke-colored wings. There legs have distinctly enlarged coxa (1st) and femur (2nd) segments. They have long, segmented antennae.  

The larvae appear slightly longer than the adult gnats with a shiny black head and a 12-segmented white translucent body.

Females can lay up to 200 eggs on MOIST organic materials in the soil surface. Total developmental time (egg to adult) takes 10-14 days. The adults are short-lived, after mating and egg-laying they die within 5 days. 

The adults are typically found on or near the larvae food materials. The larvae feed primarily on fungi growing in the soil, decaying organic matter, animal excrement and on rotting wood. Indoors, the infestations of fungus gnats are mainly associated with the soil of overwatered potted plants and atriums. Water leaks or moisture issues which support fungal growth can also support larval development. During the day, the adults congregate on dark moist areas. Adults are attracted to light.

There are 1700 recorded species of SCIARIDAE occupying diverse moist, organic material rich habitats worldwide.    

In low numbers, they are mainly a nuisance. But if their indoor population explodes, high numbers on indoor pots and atriums can lead to larvae damaging the plant roots resulting in stunting of growth. The high number on plant seedling can result to damping off and death of the seedlings. Some Sciarid species are also reported as pests of greenhouses and mushroom-growing houses.

IPM CONTROL TIPS

1. Conduct careful inspection and identification.

2. Identify the breeding source(s). Look for the moist/damp areas that support fungal growth. Search for overwatered pots, moist potting medium, water leaks on walls and void areas.

3. Systematically address and remove all potential moisture and damp conditions. Drying out or the removal of moist materials will prevent fungal growth. 

4. Avoid overwatering of plants. Remember that it is the moist soil surface that attracts the females to lay their eggs.  

5. Strategically install sticky card traps near your pots assembly. Fungus gnats are highly attracted to these yellow-colored sticky traps. Install and replace the traps regularly. 

6. Fly paper traps also capture the adults and help reduced the numbers on indoor plant sections.

7. The fungus gnat adults are highly attracted to light. Installation and servicing of UV light traps can help in reducing indoor fungus gnat numbers.

8. If the numbers are high and insecticide application is required, make sure to use non phytotoxic products for spraying or ULV-misting treatment. Always read and follow label instructions. (Pesticide application should be conducted by trained, approved and licensed Pest Management Professionals ONLY) 

 These dark-winged fungus gnats might be very small but indoors they will truly capture your attention, especially when they emerge from your favorite potted plants!

I had an awesome time doing the microscopic analysis of these small flies! 

Awesome creature! Awesome CREATOR!

 

An Arabian Sand Skink Encounter

 

An Arabian Sand Skink darting away on the pavement

A chance encounter out of the sand dunes

By running on the pavement the skink loss its desert camouflage

Hiding underneath a car (don't worry the skink was not crushed!)

Its so awesome to have an encounter with an Arabian Sand Skink (Scincus mitranus) out of its natural sand dune habitat!

It was during a random petrol station stopover along the Kalba-Maleha Road en route to Fujairah that I had the awesome sighting of this bright yellow-orange and white skink darting across the pavement. The other people who saw it were immediately repulsed and thought it was a snake but I told them not to panic as it is a nonvenomous skink. I hurriedly grabbed my camera inside the car and chased after the lizard to capture the moment. Even though it was out of its sand dune habitat, it was able to run very fast from end to end of the pavement. It hid underneath a parked car and then proceed to dart its way to a storage area, then back into its sandy refuge and away from my sight. 

The Arabian Sand Skink or Eastern Sand Skink is is also called the Arabian Sand Fish because of its ability to move and slide into the loose sand which appears as if it was "swimming in the sand." 

It has very smooth, shiny, fish-like scales with bright yellow-orange color on top and white on the bottom. It also possess distinguishable dark brown markings on its side. The head is amazingly wedge-shaped which allows it to quickly move, slide, dive and hide into its sand dune habitat. It has short legs and tail. They are known to reach up to 20cm in length. 

These lizards are called SKINKS (SCINCIDAE) because they do not have pronounced necks and they have short legs.  

Adapted to live and forage in the loose desert sand, they feed on insects and other invertebrates.

Arabian Sand Skinks do not lay eggs, the females give birth to fully developed lizards (VIVIPAROUS). This is a special adaptation to help them move away from egg dessication in their extremely hot environment. 

As an explorer-adventurer-nature blogger, I have to undertake great efforts and cover distances to have awesome encounters with God's creations in their natural habitat. This episode with the Arabian Sand Skink was a chance encounter, we crossed paths directly away from its natural habitat and our meeting was an awesome treat! Thanks be to the Lord God!

Awesome creatures! Awesome CREATOR!

Subterranean Termites Encounter Up on A Rooftop Restaurant

 

Appearance of winged reproductive termites (alates) on the floor of a roof top restaurant

Discarded wings of termites 

Heavily damaged wooden floor support beam

Heavy termites damage on the wooden floor panels

Live termites on the wooden floor panel

A termite soldier escorting two termite workers

Termite soldiers on the prowl

More termite soldiers marching on opposite direction

A termite soldier attacked and bit my finger

A termite secondary reproductive on the damaged wooden floor panel

A termite secondary reproductive

Alates and mud tunnel particles appearing two floors down on the corner post of the lift  

Flying Termites on the roof top! Alert! Alert! Flying termites on the roof top! Alert! Alert!

I was requested by a premiere Pest Management company to provide technical support regarding a very alarming sighting of winged termites up above on the rooftop restaurant. We conducted an intensive inspection and assessment of the area to determine the extent of the termites damage, study their movement and formulate a treatment strategy against the ravaging termite colony. The damage was so extensive that the facility is required to replace the whole wooden floor panels and also a large portion of the decorative double wall support frames. The termite colony has been steadily building up its numbers on the roof top restaurant and has inflicted havoc on the structure in a subtle manner. The emergence of the winged termites on the dining area has required the management to seek professional help.  

Unlike many other insects (beetles, grasshoppers, cockroaches, etc) which lives and works only for its own survival, termites are social insects. They live in family groups called colonies. It is in these colonies that termites exhibit what is called "cooperative behavior" which leads to their success as an organism. In the termite colony, an entire group (caste) of termites is responsible for feeding their siblings and their parents (the termite king and queen), while another is focused on defense and another is mainly focused on reproduction. Because of this distinct division of labor, the many individual termites that comprises the colony functions as a single animal (a super organism). A termite colony can be comprised of just a few hundred individuals, to hundreds of thousands to millions of termites depending on the species!

The winged termites (Alates) are future Kings and Queens whose sole purpose is to mate and start a new colony. At certain periods of the year, a termite colony will produce these future kings and queens which undertake the nuptial flight to start off the new colony. It is important to note that only mature colonies can produce the winged reproductives. Depending on the termites species, it takes 4-7 years before a colony matures to enable it to have enough resources to produce alates. 

After their nuptial flight, the new king and queen lose their wings, they hide inside their earthen chamber and mate. Once the queens starts producing eggs, she will be a totally unstoppable egg-laying machine (some termite Queens can live up to 15- 30 years).

In cases where the king or queen dies, other individuals within the colony can develop functional reproductive organs to take their place. Mature termite colonies can produce what is called "secondary reproductives". The secondary reproductives are light in color, larger than the workers and they do not develop wings. There are cases wherein in mature colonies that secondary reproductives are present even though there is still an active egg-laying queen. When this happens, the secondary reproductives will overtake the queen in producing more eggs, causing the colony to grow faster. No individual secondary reproductive can produce more eggs than the queen, but in a colony several hundreds of them may exist, thus producing thousands. They are also involved in the establishment of satellite nests when a group of termite workers become separated from the parent colony. These satellite colonies aids in the expansion of potential foraging territory for the colony. 

The Workers are the caste that we observed on the infested wood. These termite workers are the "life blood of the colony". They are responsible for all the labor in the colony. They are the do-it-all caste. They are in charge of building the mud tunnels, repairing the nest, foraging for food, rearing the young, they also feed and groom the other members of the caste and their fellow workers. Workers are functionally sterile males and females. They are milky white in color, have no eyes and no wings. They have soft bodies but they posses hardened mouth parts which enables them to chew upon wood.  

Last caste to mention are the Soldiers, the defenders of the colony. They protect the colony against the attack of marauding ants and other termites. When the mud tunnels are broken, the soldiers assemble themselves around the opening to stand against invaders. Like the workers, they are also blind, soft-bodied and wingless. However, the soldiers are armed with enlarged, hardened and dark-colored heads which have been developed for combat! Their heads have a pair of very large jaws or mandibles that are primarily used to slice, pierce and kill enemy ants. These built-in large mandible weaponry prevents the soldiers from feeding themselves, that is why they are dependent on the workers for their food. 

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Tips

Termite Management Treatment Programs must be conducted by properly trained, approved and licensed Pest Management Professionals (PMPs).  

1. Conduct a comprehensive inspection and assessment of the property. Identify and map out all the signs of infestation, damaged areas, mud tunnels, structural issues that support the prevalence of termites. 

2. Heavily damaged wooden panels must be removed and replaced.by the property owner. PMPs must highlight and identify this during the inspection to manage expectations and determine the extent of the treatment to their client. 

3. Consider what is applicable and what is within the budget allocation of the client. Ensure that you have taken the needed measurements to serve as basis for your treatment strategy.

4. Available treatment options: the use of non-repellent termiticide formulations (imidacloprid) or repellent termiticide (synthetic pyrethroids) to be applied as a pesticide barrier. 

5. Available treatment option: the strategic application of borate-based protectant coats on wooden panels to form an anti-termite layer. 

6. Available treatment option: termiticide foam application on double walls, hard to reach areas. 

7. Available treatment option: strategic implementation of a termite monitoring and baiting system incorporating both in-ground and above ground stations.

8. Always read and understand the Product Label. Follow Label instructions.

9. A NOTE on termite service warranty: DO NOT deceive your clients. If you are issuing warranties, give only what is applicable and true based on the chemistry of your product, the conditions of the soil or material treated and basic common sense. 

The interdependency of each member of the termite colony and the practice of cooperative behavior is just mind blowing! Something that we humans must truly try to learn and practice. 

I hope to feature more amazing facts about termites! 

Termites are truly awesome. Awesome creatures! Awesome CREATOR!  

 

Fossil Encounter at the Maleha Trail

 

The first fossilized twirl I observed embedded on the rocky surface

Led to another fossilized shell

A swirl coming out from the rocky crag

The distinct shape and form of a snail was very evident 

The fossils observed appeared in different forms and sizes

More fossils embedded on the rocky surface

A fossilized snail beside what looks like a fossilized slug

Loose fragments of rock revealing more fossils on the site

From entomology to paleontology! From searching for awesome insects to fossil hunting!

In a recent expedition at the Maleha Mountain Trail, during our descent, we discovered providentially, a treasure throve of awesome fossils on the rocky surfaces. 

We were having a short water break under the shaded portion of a large crevice, I removed my hiking gloves and put it down on the rocky surface, when I picked it up, I saw a cinnamon roll like twirl embedded on the rocky surface, this sighting led to more discoveries of  fossils in various shapes and sizes spread out on the rocky slopes. 

It was truly an awesome find! Discovering and seeing snails, shells and slugs preserved in rock high above a dry desert mountain environment was truly amazing!

Fossils are preserved remains, traces or impression of living things from a past geological age. Fossils can appear in the form of bones, shells, stone imprints of microbes and other animals, and other prehistoric objects preserved in amber, petrified wood, oil and coal.  

I will NOT speculate on the type of fossils we observed and comment on the time period these marine animals appeared and how they got preserved on the rock. This subject matter is way beyond my range.

Finding traces of marine life on a dry desert mountain is really awesome! 

Awesome creatures! Awesome CREATOR! 

 

Fuzzy-Muzzy Drain flies or Moth flies (PSYCHODIDAE)

 

Drain fly or Moth fly, Psychoda spp.

Drain flies or Moth flies are also called Sewage flies  

Details of the hairy wings of the drainfly
 

Microscopic details of the moth fly antenna

Drain fly larva on a slimy substrate

Drain fly larvae feeding on slimy organic muck on the toilet floor

Moth flies are also called by many names: Drain flies, Sewage flies, Filter flies and Psychodids. 

These common names are associated with the places and situations which represent their typical breeding and developmental sites. Mainly observed on toilets, in damp subfloors, in drainage, in greenhouses, sewage plants and other locations where moisture and the presence of decaying organic matter will support their feeding and breeding. These flies usually breed in the accumulation of slime around drain pipes, water closets, urinals, on undersurfaces of dishwashers and on sewage tanks.

These dark gray to blackish, delicate, small flies (adults 1.5-5mm long) are called moth flies due to their fuzzy, moth-like appearance, their bodies, wings and antennae are very hairy. The wings are broadly oval, pointed apically and are held roof-like over the body when it is at rest. Adults are typically live about 2 weeks.

Larvae are 4-10mm long, eyeless and legless. Body color pale with dark head, dorsal bands and breathing tube. Subcylindrical in shape, with head narrower than its body and the terminal segment forming a short hardened breathing tube. 

Female drain flies lay 10-100 eggs on organic muck accumulates. Both larvae and pupae have breathing tubes which allows them to breath in there gelatinous organic muck environment. The larvae feed on the algae, bacteria, fungi, microscopic organisms and sludge present on the organic muck. Larval period last for 8-24 days while pupal stage only 20-40 hours. Total development period (egg to adult) is 8-28 days depending on conditions. 

Drain flies are weak fliers, indoors they are usually seen crawling on walls and on other surfaces. When they do fly, they only cover short distances of a few feet and they move in a characteristic jerky pattern. It is important to note that due to their small adult size these insects are able to penetrate ordinary screens. Even though they are weak fliers, they can be carried by wind unto a facility. Furthermore, the presence of numerous adults indoors indicate the presence of an organic muck source nearby.  

Drain flies do not bite and even though they breed and feed on organic muck they do not transmit human diseases. However, in some case they are reported to cause bronchial asthma when the dust particles brought about by dead drain flies adults are inhaled.   

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Tips for Drain flies 

1. Thorough inspection of breeding site. Check for slimy drains, sewer leaks, dirty garbage bins, bird baths, clogged roof gutters, clogged storm drains, air conditioners, moist compost, septic tanks, water closets, urinals, etc.

2. Elimination of the breeding and feeding sources of drain flies is key to control.

3. Pouring hot water on the drains can physically loosed and remove the gelatinous films..

4. Drains must be deep cleaned (mechanical removal of muck and slime accumulation with a brush and approved drain cleaning products).

5. If there are large number of adult drain flies, targeted indoor ULV, misting or aerosol application can be done. (Pesticide application must be conducted by properly trained and approved Pest Management Professionals (PMPs) ONLY!) 

6. Repeat: ELIMINATION of breeding sites is the key to long term control!   

I had a blast doing the microscopic analysis of these fuzzy-muzzy drain flies! The intricate detail of their hairy wings, body and antennae was truly awesome!

Awesome creatures! Awesome CREATOR! 

        

Awesome Bird Encounter at the Maleha Trail

 

Spotted Owlet, Athene brama

A pair of Spotted Owlets roosting on a rocky crevice

Peekaboo! I see you Mr. Samurai Bug!

The curious and intense stare of this Spotted Owlet says it all! 

A Striolated Bunty, Emberiza striolata on its rocky perch

Can you spot the Bunty?

How many Striolated Bunties can you see?

Nightjar, Caprimulgus sp. hiding inside a rocky cave

Sparrow, Passer domesticus

A Sparrow on a dry desert bush branch

Desert Lark, Ammomanes deserti

Desert Lark foraging on the desert sand

Birds are masters of survival and adaptation!

Even in the midst of such a harsh desert environment, numerous bird species can be observed thriving and adapting on the Maleha mountain. 

From inside the rocky crevices, to the sparse desert bushes and trees, to the dwindling grass growth at the base of the wadi, birds are present and their lively chirping breaks the silence of the mountain trail.

It was such as an awesome experience to encounter numerous bird species all in one day! 

In this climb, I observed a pair of Spotted Owlets on their rocky crevice nest. When I approached the nest I had a stare down with the male owl which appeared as curious as I am. Even had a little peekaboo moment! It was such a delight to see this pair guarding their home. 

The group of the Striolated Bunty was tough to spot once they move along the dry grass and rocks. Perfectly camouflaged, they were roosting and foraging on the rocky ground in pure bird bliss! Enjoyed watching one Bunty, which acted as the main watch bird whereas it positioned itself atop a rock to stand guard and observed the others forage.

As I was looking for insects hiding inside a rocky cave, I stumbled upon a Nightjar resting inside the protective crevice and under perfectly cool shade. This nocturnal bird species got rattled by my curious presence and flew immediately into the confines of another deep and dark rocky crevice further up the trail.

The lively chirping of Sparrows is a staple sound breaker of  the silence of the mountain. As I traverse the trail, these little brown birds are such a delight to stalk as they move from rock to rock, from branch to branch as they carefully evade the numerous thorny hurdles. 

The Desert Lark was another carefully camouflaged bird I observed on the desert space. The recent rains have brought-in rich moisture and organic materials in the sand at the base of the mountain which encouraged foraging. 

Birds are such awesome organisms to observe in their natural habitat! 

Birds are also a constant reminder of God's providential care to those who love, trust and believe in Him. 

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are numbered. Fear not therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10: 29-31, ESV) 

Awesome creatures! Awesome CREATOR!