As a Lepidopterist, yes, gods yes, the terror of parasitism (though hyper-parasitism is really cool – when those Braconiid wasp larvae spin their external pupae, some Pteromaliid wasps will lay their eggs in the pupae – ah, evolution).
A toast to the new guy who got an endless supply of JW Black upstairs.
I miss him.
kreativekaossays
Anyone know anything about the ‘continuing illness’ referred to at the end of this installment of Mr. Deity????? Is it just a part of his latest ‘schtick’, or is he having a problem of some sort???
JohnnieCanucksays
Nerdette @5
That probably was intended as ‘unable to speak’ rather than stupid. My guess is that they were adding some colour to his speech since it is more common in England and moreso in centuries past. It’s what is meant by ‘dumb animal’ or ‘dumb brute’ or ‘deaf and dumb’.
The unfounded assumption that the reason a person hasn’t learned to speak is because of a low IQ rather than their deafness is where the pejorative meaning of dumb comes from. So much so that the word must now be replaced with ‘speech-impaired’ to avoid offense.
Larvae clearly have sufficient brain capability for their requirements, to date. Evolutionarily speaking, that is.
randaysays
A caterpillar munching away on a leaf is already horrorific. Plants have feelings too.
Brilliant, as usual.
Damn, I love Mr. Deity. He always manages to get his—very serious—points across succinctly and clearly, and they’re funny, to boot.
I want to sit over there with Charlie and Lucy.
(and, uh, Peppermint Patty, and Schroeder…)
I could listen to Richard Milners voice all day
As a Lepidopterist, yes, gods yes, the terror of parasitism (though hyper-parasitism is really cool – when those Braconiid wasp larvae spin their external pupae, some Pteromaliid wasps will lay their eggs in the pupae – ah, evolution).
Though calling larvae dumb is a bit cruel, too.
A toast to the new guy who got an endless supply of JW Black upstairs.
I miss him.
Anyone know anything about the ‘continuing illness’ referred to at the end of this installment of Mr. Deity????? Is it just a part of his latest ‘schtick’, or is he having a problem of some sort???
Nerdette @5
That probably was intended as ‘unable to speak’ rather than stupid. My guess is that they were adding some colour to his speech since it is more common in England and moreso in centuries past. It’s what is meant by ‘dumb animal’ or ‘dumb brute’ or ‘deaf and dumb’.
The unfounded assumption that the reason a person hasn’t learned to speak is because of a low IQ rather than their deafness is where the pejorative meaning of dumb comes from. So much so that the word must now be replaced with ‘speech-impaired’ to avoid offense.
Larvae clearly have sufficient brain capability for their requirements, to date. Evolutionarily speaking, that is.
A caterpillar munching away on a leaf is already horrorific. Plants have feelings too.
Naturalists are Unnatural! Hehehe! Love it.
Bah, those dumb plants.