Science & Nature

Many variables have to be accounted for when you try to hatch chicken eggs, but building an incubator that will successfully facilitate the development and hatching of fowl eggs is quite simple....

Apple snails are large freshwater snails. The apple snail is native to South America, Central America, and the southern United States. These snails can grow to 6 inches in diameter and make...

Ducks breed in the spring and typically breed with the same partner year after year. The female duck lays 9-12 eggs per clutch, and only she will incubate those eggs for 28-30 days. The male...

Butterflies have a way of capturing our attention because they are such colorful and beautiful creatures. Butterflies go through a metamorphosis, changing from an egg to a larva, to a chrysalis to...

There are more than 22,000 species of fish in the world, and they all reproduce at an incredible rate. Along with being some of the most plentiful creatures on Earth, baby fish are some of the...

Making a chicken incubator with junk found around the house is easier than you would think. You can successfully build one and hatch chicks in your home so that the kids or even adults can enjoy...

The genus ascaris belongs to the phylum nematoda; the ascaris is the longest type of intestinal roundworm. There are two species of ascaris. One, the ascaris lumbricoides, infects humans.

Someone who goes into their attic and opens a box full of their old newspaper clippings can find that silverfish have been at work. These insect pests frequently will invade dark places and cause...

Geese are among the largest birds in the wild and often can be seen migrating overhead in large groups. In addition to their unique migration methods, geese are notable for living considerably...

Poison dart frogs, also called poison-arrow frogs, raise their young in a very different way from most other frogs. Both the mother and father frog play roles in ensuring their offspring survive...

Although there are around 700 species of dermestid beetle (carpet beetle/flesh- eating beetle), they all begin life as an egg. All species of dermestid beetles lay tiny white eggs. The number of a...

A common snapping turtle, or Chelydra serpentina, resides in freshwater habitats. Snapping turtles reside in ponds, marshes, swamps, river, creeks, streams and sometimes in puddles where they feed...

A painted turtle is a small turtle with red and yellow stripes on its neck, head and tail. Colorado, Michigan, Illinois and Vermont officially recognize the painted turtle as their state reptile.

Officially known as Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis, scabies mites are microscopic burrowing insects that infect the skin of both animals and humans. Highly contagious, they cause rashes and...

Turtles are very versatile reptiles, living on both land and in water and in various environments. There are turtles that live in deserts, and there are even turtles that live in cold-weather...

Incubators are important tools for raising healthy chickens or other fowl. They allow large numbers of eggs to be kept warm and safe until they are able to hatch. There are a lot of incubators...

Tetranychus urticae is commonly known by at least 60 different names, including red spider mite, glasshouse mite and two-spotted mite. This arachnid is primarily found in the United States and...

There are two different types of bloodworms. One is from the genus Glycera, a group of bristly worms. They are actual worms that grow to be 15 inches long and live at the bottom of shallow,...

The black stink bug, or Proxys punctulatus, comes from a very large family. There are more than 250 known stink bug species in the United States alone and almost 5,000 worldwide. Stink bugs are...

Reptiles come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny geckos to mammoth dinosaurs. Their reproductive methods and behaviors generally differ greatly from mammals, though there are some similarities....

The leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest turtle in the world, the largest of which was discovered stranded on a Welsh beach in 1988 weighing in at 2,019.4 pounds (916...

Liver flukes are small parasites that live in the bile ducts of mammals, including humans, and live off the nutrients they can acquire there. Liver flukes can cause the liver to swell and the bile...

Typically, a cricket lives from four to six months. Different species may have shorter or longer lifespans, and the longevity of individuals within species also varies. Given special care, the...

There are several definitions for a fluke. One is a parasitic flatworm that can infect animals and humans. Another is a type of fish. Fluke can also be slang for unusual luck, either good or bad....

Crustaceans are the arthropods of the sea and include about 30,000 different species. Lobsters, crabs, shrimp, krill and other types of animals are included in the crustacean scientific class. All...

Reptiles and amphibians share some characteristics with mammals, but they are mostly different. For instance, all amphibians spend at least part of their life cycle in the water. Reptiles and...

Stink bugs, sometimes called shield bugs, are in the scientific order Hemiptera and in the family Pentatomidae. There are 221 species of stink bugs in North America. Among the various species, the...

Raising chickens for consumption is an economical and healthy way to provide meat and eggs for your family. You, as the caregiver and meat processor, will know the product is fresh, healthy, and...

Scale insects belong to the order Hemiptera, which includes aphids, whiteflies and cicadas. Their name is due to the fact that they secrete a protective wax covering that resembles the scales of...

The typical chickens that lay the eggs humans eat begin producing eggs when they reach around 22 to 24 weeks old. These chickens will continue to lay eggs until they reach about 65 weeks old. Many...

Before she can lay her eggs, the female robin, with help from her mate, builds a nest from twigs, mud and dried grass. A finished nest is circular and deep enough to safely cradle the eggs and,...

The hummingbird, among the smallest bird in the world and a native of the Americas, is the only bird that can fly backward. Its name comes from the hum its wings make as they flap 12 to 90 times...

Silkworms are readily available for purchase both on the Internet and in insect supply stores. They vary in cost depending on the species, how many you are buying and whether you wish to buy them...

The roundworm is a parasite that relies on animals and plants to survive, without providing any benefit back to their hosts. The roundworm reproduces sexually, meaning that it takes both a female...

The silkworm is actually the larvae, or caterpillar stage, of the silkworm moth's life cycle. If allowed to develop from pupa, and not destroyed at this stage in the cycle so that silk can be...

Goanna refers to 30 species of monitor lizards, most of which are found in Australia with a few in Southeast Asia. Included in the category is the world's largest lizard --- the Komodo dragon....

Silverfish are a common insect pest that is capable of causing damage in a home. People usually only see a silverfish after it traps itself in a sink or bathtub and cannot climb back up the...

Mollusks make up a scientific phylum of soft-bodied creatures, most often enclosed in a shell. The mollusk's body contains the digestive and reproductive organs. A mantle covers the body and a...

The stickleback fish is found worldwide throughout the Northern Hemisphere, from northern Asia and Europe to North America. Its scientific name is Gasterosteus aculeatus and there are three...

The annual life cycle of aphids involves two types of reproduction. Since the lifespan of an aphid is very short, multiple generations of the insect will live and die during the year.

As its name implies, Aedes aegypti is originally from Africa. Today, it is seen worldwide and is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical climates. The species has been observed in cooler, more...

Simulium are more commonly known as blackflies. They generally have large compound eyes composed of facets called ommatidia. Their bodies are segmented, and their wings are veined, and appear...

A fun experiment to do with your kids. Turn basic eggs or chicken bones into rubber as if it were magic.

Brown eggs are a delicious product of chickens. While brown eggs do not differ from white eggs in nutritional value, their appealing brown color is popular for baking and cooking. Brown eggs are...

Cartons of absolutely fresh eggs are the goals of many who raise chickens. Raising chickens for egg production is an increasing popular backyard activity in many parts of the United States. But...

Red spider mites are wingless arachnids that start life with six legs and add two more as adults. They are barely visible to the human eye, but seen up close they look like their name suggests:...

The different ways of preparing shrimp were outlined in the movie "Forrest Gump." But nothing was mentioned about the life of the shrimp as it grows into adulthood. The shrimp goes through several...

Also known as threadworm, Strongyloides stercoralis is a parasite common in humans and animals such as cats, dogs and primates. Its presence is not considered a serious threat to health but it can...

More commonly known as the two-spotted red spider mite, Tetranychus urticae is a serious agricultural and home garden pest. Although the species does best in warm, dry weather, Tetranychus urticae...

Amphipods are a group of shrimp-like crustaceans that live on the seafloor, in ocean currents and on shores in rocky sand. They have two antennae, seven pairs of walking legs, three pairs of...