texascavers Digest 19 Jan 2010 23:32:35 -0000 Issue 949 Topics (messages 13316 through 13333):
Re: Cave Shields
13316 by: Pete Lindsley
13317 by: George Veni
13318 by: Scott McCrea
book review: California Underground
13319 by: Mixon Bill
leaf-cutter ants in Mexico
13320 by: Mixon Bill
13321 by: Denise P
13323 by: Gill Edigar
13327 by: Nancy Weaver
13333 by: JSSchneider1
shields
13322 by: Mixon Bill
leaf cutter ants
13324 by: Sam Young
13325 by: Brian Riordan
13330 by: Logan McNatt
helmets
13326 by: David
caver obituary
13328 by: David
13329 by: David
UT Grotto meeting Wed 01-20-2010
13331 by: Gary Franklin
CBSP Gate Combo
13332 by: Mark.Alman.l-3com.com
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--- Begin Message --- "Some years ago" would be in the 1960-70's. When Carol Hill described them in her first Cave Minerals book we thought they were mostly known in one of southern Arizona's caves which was also compared to the Caverns of Sonora. Several of us from TX made a trip to see this new speleothem. It was no "Sonora", but there were quite a few shields. Then in the next few years everyone started noticing them in their own favorite caves. I don't know if anyone is keeping data on such speleothem location or now.- Pete On Jan 17, 2010, at 7:28 AM, Tone G wrote:I recall some years ago—I think in a show cave called Colossal Cave in Arizona—a tour guide mentioned that "cave shields" are somewhat rare.Since then, I seem to see them frequently enough.I am wondering if anyone has empirical data, or even an educated guess, that considers the rarity or abundance of cave shields.\Tone
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--- Begin Message ---Some folks say shields are rare. I've found them rare regionally. In some regions, and some caves in particular, they are amazingly abundant and large. For example, Grand Caverns, Virginia, and some caves in China come to mind. In other regions they are absent. Cave mineralogists have different views on how shields form. I've asked some leading mineralogists about the reasons we don't any in the Balcones Fault Zone and Edwards Plateau regions of Texas and they had no clue. Actually, Caverns of Sonora has two stegamites, a shield-related form described in Australia, but other than that, I don't know of any shields in central Texas. Shields are known in the Capitan Limestone caves in the Glass Mountains and Guadalupe Mountains of west Texas and New Mexico. Clearly, there is still a lot to learn about caves. George -----Original Message----- From: Tone G [mailto:tone.ga...@gmail.com] Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 7:29 AM To: texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [Texascavers] Cave Shields I recall some years ago-I think in a show cave called Colossal Cave in Arizona-a tour guide mentioned that "cave shields" are somewhat rare. Since then, I seem to see them frequently enough. I am wondering if anyone has empirical data, or even an educated guess, that considers the rarity or abundance of cave shields. \Tone
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--- Begin Message ---When you take the tour at Grand Caverns in VA, the guide tells you that the cave has more cave shields than any other in the world. Don't know if that is true, but there are probably hundreds. Someone counted a few years ago when it was resurveyed, but I can't remember the number was. Some are pretty big, too. Eight feet across or so. Grand Caverns in the number 2 cave the US, ya' know. On Sun, Jan 17, 2010 at 1:36 PM, Pete Lindsley <caverp...@gmail.com> wrote: > "Some years ago" would be in the 1960-70's. When Carol Hill described them > in her first Cave Minerals book we thought they were mostly known in one of > southern Arizona's caves which was also compared to the Caverns of Sonora. > Several of us from TX made a trip to see this new speleothem. It was no > "Sonora", but there were quite a few shields. Then in the next few years > everyone started noticing them in their own favorite caves. I don't know if > anyone is keeping data on such speleothem location or now. > > - Pete > > On Jan 17, 2010, at 7:28 AM, Tone G wrote: > > I recall some years ago—I think in a show cave called Colossal Cave in > Arizona—a tour guide mentioned that "cave shields" are somewhat rare. > > Since then, I seem to see them frequently enough. > > I am wondering if anyone has empirical data, or even an educated guess, > that considers the rarity or abundance of cave shields. > > \Tone > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com > For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com > >
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--- Begin Message --- "California Underground Adventure: A Guide to Caves, Mines and Lava Tubes." Jon Kramer and Julie Martinez. Adventure Publications, Cambridge, Minnesota; 2009. ISBN 978-1-59193-230-7. 6 by 9 inches, 184 pages, softbound. $16.95.A travelers' guide to various sites in California, including show caves, old mine museums and tours, a few wild limestone caves and lava tubes with self-guided tours, and even a sea cave. Some of the thirty sites barely quality as underground. All have a full-page color photograph and several smaller ones. The pictures are well printed, but mostly uninspiring, and a lot of them are not good advertisements for the attractions. The text is written for adults, to judge by the advice about taking children, but the chatty style may grate on anybody over the age of 12.One feature that sounds like it would be fun to visit is a pair of natural bridges on a creek near Angels Camp. Otherwise, nothing of much caver interest.--Bill Mixon---------------------------------------- Chastity: The most unnatural perversion. ---------------------------------------- You may "reply" to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
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--- Begin Message --- A few months ago there was a thread about leaf-cutter ants. Here's something new about them from the Yucatan. Such ants can usually be seen busily at work in Bustamante Canyon. I don't recall seeing them in Texas, but I wouldn't be surprised if some were found in the valley. -- MixonJIM CONRADS NATURALIST NEWSLETTER Issued from Hacienda Chichén beside the Maya ruin of Chichén Itzá in the central Yucatán, MÉXICO January 17, 2010**********RETURN OF THE LEAFCUTTER ANTS The owners of Hacienda Chichen are justly proud of their pro- environment policies, which includes using as few chemicals as possible. The other day a worker not yet clear about the policy poisoned a large leafcutter nest because the ants had begun defoliating a Tropical Almond tree in the parking lot. As soon as we saw what had been done we made every effort to scoop all the poison and contaminated soil into plastic bags and dispose of the bags properly. Before the poisoning attempt, every day I'd seen the ants carrying bits of herbage back to their nest. However, after the poisoning for two weeks not a single ant was seen at the nest. I felt sure that the whole colony had been wiped out. It had been a colony as large as the one we saw last year at Yokdzenot. You still can read about that big nest and see it at http://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/ant-lfcu.htm Wednesday morning, there were ants again. Moreover, not only had the colony resumed its earlier foraging habits, but also they seemed to have redoubled their efforts, for now many more ants than before were carrying cut-out leaf sections and they were moving faster. Anthropomorphically, they looked exactly as if they were trying to make up for lost time! You can see several on the trunk of a Gumbo-Limbo -- which after two days they'd defoliated nearly completely -- at http://www.backyardnature.net/n/10/100117lc.jpg That picture was made about 30 yards or meters from their nest and every inch of the trail between there and the nest was just as cluttered and bustling with leaf-carrying ants as in the picture. Of course I'm relieved that the nest seems to have survived. Sometimes visitors say that for them watching the ants is as fascinating as visiting the ruins! Also the experience has reminded me how like a single living organism an ant colony is. The colony became sick, stopped functioning, but then one day finally burst from home looking as healthy as ever, trying to make up for lost time. In fact, they're out there as I type this, a long, long line of them, gradually defoliating a hibiscus.***********Best wishes to all Newsletter Readers. Jim Subscribe AND unsubscribe to this Newsletter at http://www.backyardnature.net/news/natnat.php---------------------------------------- A bore is a person who talks when you wish him to listen. ---------------------------------------- You may "reply" to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
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--- Begin Message ---I have heard a number of gardeners in the central Texas area complaining about them decimating their crops. I hear they are very hard to control. -d > From: bmixon...@austin.rr.com > To: texascavers@texascavers.com > Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:23:50 -0600 > Subject: [Texascavers] leaf-cutter ants in Mexico > > A few months ago there was a thread about leaf-cutter ants. Here's > something new about them from the Yucatan. Such ants can usually be > seen busily at work in Bustamante Canyon. I don't recall seeing them > in Texas, but I wouldn't be surprised if some were found in the > valley. -- Mixon > > > JIM CONRAD’S NATURALIST NEWSLETTER > > Issued from Hacienda Chichén beside the Maya ruin of > > Chichén Itzá in the central Yucatán, MÉXICO > > > > January 17, 2010 > ********** > > RETURN OF THE LEAFCUTTER ANTS > > The owners of Hacienda Chichen are justly proud of their pro- > > environment policies, which includes using as few > > chemicals as possible. The other day a worker not yet > > clear about the policy poisoned a large leafcutter > > nest because the ants had begun defoliating a Tropical > > Almond tree in the parking lot. As soon as we saw what > > had been done we made every effort to scoop all the > > poison and contaminated soil into plastic bags and > > dispose of the bags properly. > > > > Before the poisoning attempt, every day I'd seen the > > ants carrying bits of herbage back to their nest. > > However, after the poisoning for two weeks not a > > single ant was seen at the nest. I felt sure that the > > whole colony had been wiped out. It had been a colony > > as large as the one we saw last year at Yokdzenot. You > > still can read about that big nest and see it at > > http://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/ant-lfcu.htm > > > > Wednesday morning, there were ants again. Moreover, > > not only had the colony resumed its earlier foraging > > habits, but also they seemed to have redoubled their > > efforts, for now many more ants than before were > > carrying cut-out leaf sections and they were moving > > faster. Anthropomorphically, they looked exactly as if > > they were trying to make up for lost time! You can see > > several on the trunk of a Gumbo-Limbo -- which after > > two days they'd defoliated nearly completely -- at > > http://www.backyardnature.net/n/10/100117lc.jpg > > > > That picture was made about 30 yards or meters from > > their nest and every inch of the trail between there > > and the nest was just as cluttered and bustling with > > leaf-carrying ants as in the picture. > > > > Of course I'm relieved that the nest seems to have > > survived. Sometimes visitors say that for them > > watching the ants is as fascinating as visiting the > > ruins! Also the experience has reminded me how like a > > single living organism an ant colony is. The colony > > became sick, stopped functioning, but then one day > > finally burst from home looking as healthy as ever, > > trying to make up for lost time. In fact, they're out > > there as I type this, a long, long line of them, > > gradually defoliating a hibiscus. > *********** > > Best wishes to all Newsletter Readers. > > > > Jim > > > > Subscribe AND unsubscribe to this Newsletter at > > http://www.backyardnature.net/news/natnat.php > > ---------------------------------------- > A bore is a person who talks when you wish him to listen. > ---------------------------------------- > You may "reply" to the address this message > came from, but for long-term use, save: > Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu > AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com > For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com > _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390706/direct/01/
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--- Begin Message ---I am pretty sure--like 99%--that we had them in South Texas when I was a kid. I remember well watching them but don't recall a specific location--meaning, probably, that they were a common enough occurrence that they didn't invoke any great interest worthy of remembering. There were some ants in South Texas that made underground nests which humped up above ground (sorta like fireant mounds except 10x bigger) and which created large subsurface voids. On more than one occasion we were unlucky enough to drive over these mounds hidden by tall pasture grass and the front tire of the pick-up fell into them and the truck got stuck and we had to get towed out. It is my recollection that these were a type of leaf-cutter ant which, by the way, don't (or didn't) sting. Those events DID create specific memories. --Ediger On Mon, Jan 18, 2010 at 9:29 AM, Denise P <pepabe...@hotmail.com> wrote: > I have heard a number of gardeners in the central Texas area complaining > about them decimating their crops. I hear they are very hard to control. > > -d > > > From: bmixon...@austin.rr.com > > To: texascavers@texascavers.com > > Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:23:50 -0600 > > Subject: [Texascavers] leaf-cutter ants in Mexico > > > > > A few months ago there was a thread about leaf-cutter ants. Here's > > something new about them from the Yucatan. Such ants can usually be > > seen busily at work in Bustamante Canyon. I don't recall seeing them > > in Texas, but I wouldn't be surprised if some were found in the > > valley. -- Mixon > > > > > JIM CONRAD’S NATURALIST NEWSLETTER > > > Issued from Hacienda Chichén beside the Maya ruin of > > > Chichén Itzá in the central Yucatán, MÉXICO > > > > > > January 17, 2010 > > ********** > > > RETURN OF THE LEAFCUTTER ANTS > > > The owners of Hacienda Chichen are justly proud of their pro- > > > environment policies, which includes using as few > > > chemicals as possible. The other day a worker not yet > > > clear about the policy poisoned a large leafcutter > > > nest because the ants had begun defoliating a Tropical > > > Almond tree in the parking lot. As soon as we saw what > > > had been done we made every effort to scoop all the > > > poison and contaminated soil into plastic bags and > > > dispose of the bags properly. > > > > > > Before the poisoning attempt, every day I'd seen the > > > ants carrying bits of herbage back to their nest. > > > However, after the poisoning for two weeks not a > > > single ant was seen at the nest. I felt sure that the > > > whole colony had been wiped out. It had been a colony > > > as large as the one we saw last year at Yokdzenot. You > > > still can read about that big nest and see it at > > > http://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/ant-lfcu.htm > > > > > > Wednesday morning, there were ants again. Moreover, > > > not only had the colony resumed its earlier foraging > > > habits, but also they seemed to have redoubled their > > > efforts, for now many more ants than before were > > > carrying cut-out leaf sections and they were moving > > > faster. Anthropomorphically, they looked exactly as if > > > they were trying to make up for lost time! You can see > > > several on the trunk of a Gumbo-Limbo -- which after > > > two days they'd defoliated nearly completely -- at > > > http://www.backyardnature.net/n/10/100117lc.jpg > > > > > > That picture was made about 30 yards or meters from > > > their nest and every inch of the trail between there > > > and the nest was just as cluttered and bustling with > > > leaf-carrying ants as in the picture. > > > > > > Of course I'm relieved that the nest seems to have > > > survived. Sometimes visitors say that for them > > > watching the ants is as fascinating as visiting the > > > ruins! Also the experience has reminded me how like a > > > single living organism an ant colony is. The colony > > > became sick, stopped functioning, but then one day > > > finally burst from home looking as healthy as ever, > > > trying to make up for lost time. In fact, they're out > > > there as I type this, a long, long line of them, > > > gradually defoliating a hibiscus. > > *********** > > > Best wishes to all Newsletter Readers. > > > > > > Jim > > > > > > Subscribe AND unsubscribe to this Newsletter at > > > http://www.backyardnature.net/news/natnat.php > > > > ---------------------------------------- > > A bore is a person who talks when you wish him to listen. > > ---------------------------------------- > > You may "reply" to the address this message > > came from, but for long-term use, save: > > Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu > > AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > > To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com > > For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com > > > > ------------------------------ > Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up > now. <http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390706/direct/01/> >
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--- Begin Message ---There were some ants in South Texas that made underground nests which humped up above ground (sorta like fireant mounds except 10x bigger) and which created large subsurface voids. On more than one occasion we were unlucky enough to drive over these mounds hidden by tall pasture grass and the front tire of the pick-up fell into them and the truck got stuck and we had to get towed out. It is my recollection that these were a type of leaf-cutter ant which, by the way, don't (or didn't) sting. Those events DID create specific memories.--Edigersounds a lot like the termite mounds of madagascar.
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--- Begin Message ---I used to think they were fascinating until they began to cart off most of my garden seedlings. A & M's website has some useful information on Texas Leafcutters. The only thing I have found that works is to follow their trail back to the mound, and either use Amdro Ant Block ( not just regular Amdro), or Viper ( permethrin- which is a synthetic pyrethrin). Viper works right away, and Amdro Ant Block takes a couple of weeks to work.You have to keep at it. The label says you can dust your plants with Viper, but I don't put anything directly on my vegetable garden plants, just on the ant mound. --- On Mon, 1/18/10, JSSchneider1 <jsschneid...@peoplepc.com> wrote: ----- Original Message ----- From: Gill Edigar To: Denise P Cc: TexasCavers Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 10:31 AM Subject: Re: [Texascavers] leaf-cutter ants in Mexico I am pretty sure--like 99%--that we had them in South Texas when I was a kid. I remember well watching them but don't recall a specific location--meaning, probably, that they were a common enough occurrence that they didn't invoke any great interest worthy of remembering. There were some ants in South Texas that made underground nests which humped up above ground (sorta like fireant mounds except 10x bigger) and which created large subsurface voids. On more than one occasion we were unlucky enough to drive over these mounds hidden by tall pasture grass and the front tire of the pick-up fell into them and the truck got stuck and we had to get towed out. It is my recollection that these were a type of leaf-cutter ant which, by the way, don't (or didn't) sting. Those events DID create specific memories. --Ediger On Mon, Jan 18, 2010 at 9:29 AM, Denise P <pepabe...@hotmail.com> wrote: I have heard a number of gardeners in the central Texas area complaining about them decimating their crops. I hear they are very hard to control. -d > From: bmixon...@austin.rr.com > To: texascavers@texascavers.com > Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:23:50 -0600 > Subject: [Texascavers] leaf-cutter ants in Mexico > > A few months ago there was a thread about leaf-cutter ants. Here's > something new about them from the Yucatan. Such ants can usually be > seen busily at work in Bustamante Canyon. I don't recall seeing them > in Texas, but I wouldn't be surprised if some were found in the > valley. -- Mixon > > > JIM CONRAD’S NATURALIST NEWSLETTER > > Issued from Hacienda Chichén beside the Maya ruin of > > Chichén Itzá in the central Yucatán, MÉXICO > > > > January 17, 2010 > ********** > > RETURN OF THE LEAFCUTTER ANTS > > The owners of Hacienda Chichen are justly proud of their pro- > > environment policies, which includes using as few > > chemicals as possible. The other day a worker not yet > > clear about the policy poisoned a large leafcutter > > nest because the ants had begun defoliating a Tropical > > Almond tree in the parking lot. As soon as we saw what > > had been done we made every effort to scoop all the > > poison and contaminated soil into plastic bags and > > dispose of the bags properly. > > > > Before the poisoning attempt, every day I'd seen the > > ants carrying bits of herbage back to their nest. > > However, after the poisoning for two weeks not a > > single ant was seen at the nest. I felt sure that the > > whole colony had been wiped out. It had been a colony > > as large as the one we saw last year at Yokdzenot. You > > still can read about that big nest and see it at > > http://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/ant-lfcu.htm > > > > Wednesday morning, there were ants again. Moreover, > > not only had the colony resumed its earlier foraging > > habits, but also they seemed to have redoubled their > > efforts, for now many more ants than before were > > carrying cut-out leaf sections and they were moving > > faster. Anthropomorphically, they looked exactly as if > > they were trying to make up for lost time! You can see > > several on the trunk of a Gumbo-Limbo -- which after > > two days they'd defoliated nearly completely -- at > > http://www.backyardnature.net/n/10/100117lc.jpg > > > > That picture was made about 30 yards or meters from > > their nest and every inch of the trail between there > > and the nest was just as cluttered and bustling with > > leaf-carrying ants as in the picture. > > > > Of course I'm relieved that the nest seems to have > > survived. Sometimes visitors say that for them > > watching the ants is as fascinating as visiting the > > ruins! Also the experience has reminded me how like a > > single living organism an ant colony is. The colony > > became sick, stopped functioning, but then one day > > finally burst from home looking as healthy as ever, > > trying to make up for lost time. In fact, they're out > > there as I type this, a long, long line of them, > > gradually defoliating a hibiscus. > *********** > > Best wishes to all Newsletter Readers. > > > > Jim > > > > Subscribe AND unsubscribe to this Newsletter at > > http://www.backyardnature.net/news/natnat.php > > ---------------------------------------- > A bore is a person who talks when you wish him to listen. > ---------------------------------------- > You may "reply" to the address this message > came from, but for long-term use, save: > Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu > AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com > For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.
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--- Begin Message --- Lehman Caves, a show cave in Great Basin National Park, Nevada, brags about its "rare" shield formations.Shields essentially consist of two parallel plates of calcite deposit. Water flows between the plates and deposits stalactites on the lower plate when it drips from the edge. The mystery is what keeps the passage between the plates open. -- Mixon---------------------------------------- A bore is a person who talks when you wish him to listen. ---------------------------------------- You may "reply" to the address this message came from, but for long-term use, save: Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
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--- Begin Message ---I saw some leaf cutter ants in Rockport. ........ Sam A few months ago there was a thread about leaf-cutter ants. Here's something new about them from the Yucatan. Such ants can usually be seen busily at work in Bustamante Canyon. I don't recall seeing them in Texas, but I wouldn't be surprised if some were found in the valley. -- Mixon
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--- Begin Message ---I have always associated these ants with tropical regions, but when house hunting two months ago, spotted a leaf cutter train in someones front yard about 30 miles West of Houston (Fullshear area). On Mon, Jan 18, 2010 at 10:58 AM, Sam Young <youn...@centurytel.net> wrote: > I saw some leaf cutter ants in Rockport. ........ Sam > > A few months ago there was a thread about leaf-cutter ants. Here's > something new about them from the Yucatan. Such ants can usually be > seen busily at work in Bustamante Canyon. I don't recall seeing them > in Texas, but I wouldn't be surprised if some were found in the > valley. -- Mixon >
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Caution: This message has nothing to do with caves, unless there is a category for "Adventures in Caver Houses".
Yes, leaf cutter ants are in south central and east Texas. See the excerpt below from
http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/leaf_cutting
When I lived in Belmopan, Belize, there was a medium-sized nest (ca. 1.5 meters diam) under the hibiscus hedge in front of my house. The ants would target a specific tree in my yard and harvest it for several days or weeks, depending on the size of the tree. So their trails kept shifting, and at certain times of the year they would cross my front door step. They often worked at night, and I didn't have a front porch light. So friends, neighbors, and foreign visitors (including several hundred cavers over 10 years) would show up at my house, stand on the front step in the dark, and knock on the door. I would open the door, they would walk into the light, look down, and see hordes of large ants climbing up their pants to the knee or above, depending on how long it took me to open the door. This was usually followed by shrieks of horror (maybe this is why they're called "WEE WEE" ants in Belize) and frantic slapping of legs while performing acrobatic leaps. Sweeping piles of non-biting, hard-working, semi-dead ants out of my living room was a nightly routine. I would console my somewhat hysterical guests with rum & cokes, which consumed a significant portion of my meager budget. But with no TV stations, no telephone, and only one radio station, it provided much-needed entertainment.
One year, the ants completely stripped a 10 meter tall tree near their nest - twice -, so the tree died. I had to cut it down with a machete before it fell on my house. This effort, combined with years of sweeping piles of dead ants out of my living room and spending lots of money on rum and cokes, finally convinced me to get rid of the nest. I love wildlife and really didn't want to do it, but sometimes you just have to. Fortunately, leaf cutters aren't exactly an endangered species.
LowGun
P.S. I also lived in several houses that were built in the historic paths of army ants, who had probably been using them for millenia and sure as hell weren't going to stop or go around. But that's another story.
Atta texana (Buckley) is a fungus ant commonly called the Texas leaf-cutter ant because it is found mainly in south central and eastern regions of the state. It also occurs in scattered locations in northwestern Louisiana. Primarily considered an agricultural pest, it has also been found in homes on occasions foraging on cereals. It is not a persistent invader of structures. It is estimated that this ant causes "agricultural" losses of $5 million annually in the United States. The Texas leaf-cutter colonies have a very complex social organization. Colonies typically have a single queen and a worker caste (sterile females) of many thousands of individuals, highly polymorphic, varying in size from 1/6" to ½" in length. The queen is huge, more than 1" long and can produce enormous egg masses that give rise to several million individuals. There is a high degree of task specialization among the workers. All colony members are rust-brown in color.
Nests of the leaf-cutter ant are established in open and brushy areas in deep, well-drained sandy or loamy soils. They may cover more than half an acre, marked by many crater-shaped mounds of loose soil, sloping inward to a center entry hole. Chambers containing fungus may be found at a depth of more than 8 feet. The nest is a complex structure designed to protect the colony and to provide a healthy, stable environment for the fungus gardens. Fresh air is drawn in through the peripheral tunnels to maintain proper ventilation throughout the nest. Stale air and heat produced by metabolic processes going on in the gardens is vented through central passageways above the gardens. Chambers within the nest are prevented from flooding by a system of lower passages. In hot, dry periods, nest openings are plugged and the workers retreat to more favorable moist areas below.
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--- Begin Message ---Has anybody noticed the assortment of helmets the international rescue teams are using? http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/01/17/07.k9team.afp.gi.jpg http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/01/17/02.rescueteam.afp.gi.jpg The U.S. and French seem to prefer Petzl, but I don't recognize the fluorescent orange one the Irish are using and the yellow ones the Israelis are using.
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--- Begin Message ---Did anybody know this caver? Bradley John Smith, 57, of Austin, died Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, at his home. He was born June 1, 1952, in Austin and graduated from Austin High School and attended college in Southern Minnesota. He was self-employed as a jeweler and owned Smith Custom Jewelry. Brad was an avid outdoorsman and was a spelunker, spending a lot of time in the caves of Southern Minnesota.
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--- Begin Message ---I just realized there was an Austin, Minnesota.
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--- Begin Message ---Underground Texas Grotto meeting January 20, 2010 The meeting is on Wednesday from 7:45 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. in Austin Texas on the University of Texas Campus in 2.48 Painter Hall http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/pai.html Beverley Shade will present - Blowing Sink: A UTG/City of Austin conservation project, 2004-2009. Starting in 2004, efforts by many cavers have made it possible to gain safe access to the Edwards Aquifer in south Austin for biological and hydrological monitoring of our important karst system. While the work involved cavers from near and far, the project was organized by UTG cavers, who provided the bulk of the work. Volunteers are still welcome to help out with the science and get to enjoy the cave! Come out for a great time in Austin Texas and check out the footage of the local cavers having fun while hauling concrete, rebar, and other items down deep drops of this local iconic cave. For information on UT Grotto www.utgrotto.org activates, please see the website. All of our information is available through our link including officer contact info, trips reports, new caver training, event calendar, and posting links to beginner trips or vertical rope training. These meetings are a major event where sometimes, cavers meet before the meeting about 6:30 at Sao Paulo's www.saopaulos.net for happy hour margaritas. And after every meeting, we adjourn to the Posse www.posseeast.com for beer and burgers. The UT Grotto Program needs you, the caver with photos and a story to share about your adventures, scientific research, or something else really cool. Contact Gary for your place in the spotlight. v...@utgrotto.org
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--- Begin Message ---Going down to CBSP this weekend and need to confirm Conference Center gate combo. Please contact me offline. Thanks! Mark CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This electronic mail transmission is confidential, may be privileged and should be read or retained only by the intended recipient. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify the sender and delete it from your system.
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