Posts tagged with "insects"

Reading Comprehension: New Species

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Jul 28 2010

Let’s test your Portuguese skills by reading this article about finding new species in the Amazon.

Expedição encontra espécies novas de insetos na Amazônia

“Após uma expedição realizada em junho na selva amazônica, pesquisadores voltaram à cidade com pelo menos 65 espécies de insetos que nunca haviam sido vistas na natureza. A estimativa inicial representa apenas uma pequena parcela do que ainda pode ser descoberto entre os mais de 100 mil indivíduos resgatados durante a viagem, já que a análise e a catalogação das espécies podem levar anos e o setor carece de especialistas.”

Read the full article here

Questions

1. How many new species of insects were discovered?

2. How many specimens did the researchers collect?

3. What is a louva-a-deus? What does louvar a Deus literally mean?

4. How long did the expedition last?

5. What happened during the scientists’ 2009 expedition?

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Spiders on Display at Amazon Convention

Posted by Rachel No Comments
Jul 28 2009

Last week, scientists and others met at the science and technology fair held by the Sociedade Brasileira para o Progresso da Ciência (Brazilian Society for Scientific Progress) in Manaus, where there was a special exhibit with exotic spiders on display.

The star of the exhibit was a 20 centimeter-long tarantula (below), a member of the theraphosid family, which can grow up to 30 centimeters long. It is not harmful to humans, and feeds on rats, frogs, and other small animals. It can go up to six months without eating, and can live for up to fifteen years.

At the convention, scientists emphasized the need to study spiders–some of which are dangerous to humans–as to be better prepared in case of a bite or an accident.

Check out more of the creepy crawlers here! (not for arachnophobes!)

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