Comments on: Metallic wood-boring beetle – Dicera http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/05/23/metallic-wood-boring-beetle-dicera/ A Field Guide to the North Side of Old Mill Hill, Atlantic Mine, MI Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:35:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: K T Cat http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/05/23/metallic-wood-boring-beetle-dicera/comment-page-1/#comment-1020 K T Cat Sat, 30 May 2009 04:28:52 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=845#comment-1020 Tim, if they have microorganisms in their stomachs to perform some of the stages of digestion, does this mean that the food sits there for a while to give their partners a chance to work? By the way, that's a very handsome beetle in the photo. Well done! Tim, if they have microorganisms in their stomachs to perform some of the stages of digestion, does this mean that the food sits there for a while to give their partners a chance to work?

By the way, that’s a very handsome beetle in the photo. Well done!

]]> By: Tim Eisele http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/05/23/metallic-wood-boring-beetle-dicera/comment-page-1/#comment-997 Tim Eisele Tue, 26 May 2009 15:09:47 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=845#comment-997 Thanks! I've been looking into how various things go about digesting wood, and it turns out that the only organisms that are particularly good at it are certain fungi and bacteria. Animals that "digest" cellulose, like termites and ruminants, actually just have a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms in their stomachs that do the heavy work. Those of that can't do this, can always use fungi for sort of "external digestion" of the cellulose. Sometimes I wonder whether it would be practical to make a fermentation system where you shovel in cellulose wastes (wood scraps, grass, corn stalks, you name it), and extrude a food product that humans could digest. Then I remember what it smelled like when a cow would belch in my face, and realize that this is about what the fermenter product would probably smell like. And I drop the idea. At any rate, growing oyster mushrooms on moist paper works pretty well, and smells a whole lot better. Thanks! I’ve been looking into how various things go about digesting wood, and it turns out that the only organisms that are particularly good at it are certain fungi and bacteria. Animals that “digest” cellulose, like termites and ruminants, actually just have a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms in their stomachs that do the heavy work. Those of that can’t do this, can always use fungi for sort of “external digestion” of the cellulose. Sometimes I wonder whether it would be practical to make a fermentation system where you shovel in cellulose wastes (wood scraps, grass, corn stalks, you name it), and extrude a food product that humans could digest. Then I remember what it smelled like when a cow would belch in my face, and realize that this is about what the fermenter product would probably smell like. And I drop the idea. At any rate, growing oyster mushrooms on moist paper works pretty well, and smells a whole lot better.

]]> By: Moe http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/05/23/metallic-wood-boring-beetle-dicera/comment-page-1/#comment-996 Moe Tue, 26 May 2009 14:45:53 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=845#comment-996 Awesome! Good photos. Did not know how they digested the wood, etc. Awesome! Good photos. Did not know how they digested the wood, etc.

]]> By: Drhoz http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2009/05/23/metallic-wood-boring-beetle-dicera/comment-page-1/#comment-984 Drhoz Sun, 24 May 2009 00:20:21 +0000 http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/?p=845#comment-984 very cool looking beetle :D very cool looking beetle :D

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