Last night, I asked a clerk at Orchard Supply if he had any praying mantis egg cases. He thought so, and looked in their small refrigerator. Inside were earthworm castings and ladybugs in cartons. He turned to a couple of unopened boxes with ‘Beneficial Insects’ in big type, and ‘Ladybugs’ and ‘Praying Mantises’ in smaller type. Both were full of ladybugs. I have nothing against ladybugs, and I know that the newer ones don’t stray nearly as much as the older ones did. But a ladybug will not have the same effect as a 4-5 inch praying mantis sitting on my shoulder when I find yet another person asking for a donation at the front gate.

A Berkeley professor discusses a lovely octopus, whose rings glow when it is disturbed. Because it is the size of a golf ball, children are tempted to pick it up. No one should mess with this octopus.

Usually found in Third World countries, this disease is sometimes found here.

California Dreamin’ and Hello Stranger by Queen Latifah.

That move to the sounds of Coltrane and the Kronos Quartet.

Three who lived to tell of their encounters, including a herpetologist who regularly milked venomous snakes, and who died. . . of old age.

Fortunately, most of our meals don’t thrash around on the plate, but some diners aren’t as lucky, and need some means of control so they can eat in peace. Be aware there is at least one unpleasant image.

The California Academy of Sciences’ presentation of venomous creatures.

A Japanese story that involves the craving for a monkey’s liver. Scroll down a bit for the Rinjin and jellyfish tale.

Another discussion of various jellyfish, and if you are even a little squeamish, best to avoid the pictures of what these creatures can do to human skin.