Fireflies/Lighting bugs

I RECENTLY encountered a “burning bush” that had tonnes of fireflies in Kariba and it made me remember my days as a child, watching characters in cartoons trap the fireflies into a bottle and use it as a “lamp”. I stood there for several minutes staring at the spectacular sight and I could not help but be inspired to write this article and share a few facts about these unique creatures.
There are about 2 000 firefly species in the world. These insects live in a variety of warm environments, as well as in more temperate regions. Fireflies, also called lightning bugs, are actually beetles.
They’re in the insect family Lampyridae, meaning “shining ones” in Greek and like little lamps; they usually come out only at night. Fireflies have a brief “shining light” moment and that light is the firefly’s last “good job”. This is because they live for three years, and for the first two years there are in the form of a larvae better known as glow worms then in their last summer, they emerge as full-fledged adult fireflies that live only for about two weeks depending on the species.
Everyone knows how fireflies got their name, but many people don’t know how the insects produce their signature glow. Fireflies have specialised cells that are located under their abdomens. The insects take in oxygen inside these special cells and combine it with a substance called luciferin to produce light with almost no heat. This type of light production is called bioluminescence.
Why do fireflies glow?
One reason that fireflies glow is to attract a mate. Males and females of the same species will flash signals back and forth as a way of communicating. Each firefly species has its own particular pattern. For example, the fireflies of one species will fly around in the night sky and dive steeply just as the flash begins and turn upward to make a distinctive J-shaped pattern of light. Female fireflies hang out on a tree branch or in the grass while the males fly around showing off their best flashes. When a female recognises the flash from a male of the same species, she will answer with her best flash.
Another reason that fireflies glow is to avoid predators. Fireflies are filled with a nasty tasting chemical called lucibufagens, and after a predator gets a mouthful, it quickly learns to associate the firefly’s glow with this bad taste! So not only does the flashing help attract a mate, but it also warns predators to stay away. A firefly that can’t make this chemical acquires it by eating other species that can make it. They do this by mimicking the flash pattern of another species and luring them in close. The unsuspecting male firefly thinks he is going to find a mate, but instead becomes a tasty treat to the crafty firefly.

khanondo Safaris on expansion drive

 KHANONDO Safari and Tours has embarked on a massive renovation and expansion drive in preparation for the forthcoming United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly to be held in the country next year.

The quality-oriented safari company, based in Victo­ria Falls, said it has invested in world-class services in a bid to meet international standards.
“We are excited about the assembly hence we have stepped up preparations for it. We want to provide excellent services that meet international standards and we hope this will contribute significantly to the econ­omy,” said Khanondo's marketing manager, Mr For­ward Mutero.

He said the company has successfully opened a state-of-the-art lodge in Bulawayo and has also commenced taking bookings for the Victoria Falls Deluxe Suites, a five-star facility in Victoria Falls.
“Khanondo has successfully built the High Mount Lodge in High Mount suburb in Bulawayo. The lodge tops the accommodation rankings of Bulawayo due to its beauty and exclusivity plus personalised service. It is also a few minutes’ drive away from the central business district humdrum. The place is serene and its comfort matches the demands of every traveller from business to leisure.

Meet one of zimbabwe's seven wonders

Great Zimbabwe Empire- Stone Monument

Was Great Zimbabwe the capital of a vast Gold and Ivory trading empire. Visit the largest stone structure in Africa outside Egypt

Slideshows Lodge at the Ancient City | Great Zimbabwe

Maps Great Zimbabwe map

There are some 18,000 zimbabwes or stone ruins recorded in Southern-Central Africa 100 Kilometres of ancient canals Terracing covering 5,000 Square Kilometres 2,000 stone pits 2,000 known ancient mines Wars were raged, art and architecture flourished, dynasties reigned and were overthrown Was it the capital of a vast gold and ivory trading empire ? Lost civilization of the world Was it's wealth founded on cattle and subsequently trading gold, copper and ivory to Arab Merchants on the Indian Ocean coast in return for ceramics and cloth Was it built by Indians who sailed here in catamarans using the favourable monsoon trade winds Was it built by the ancestors of Venda / Lemba Tribes (now further south) or the resident Karanga By the 15th century the city had fallen into irreversible decline Then the civilization disappeared and left no record of a written language behind, which makes Great Zimbabwe one of the truly lost civilizations of the world, inspiring wild and romantic speculations linking it with the Queen of Sheba and King Solomons Mines. Nobody knows for sure Two main areas of stone wall enclosures The Hill Complex The Hill Complex, sits atop a granite dome that overlooks the rest of the site and consists of small enclosures separated by narrow, twisting passages View of the granite hill from where the Valley Enclosures and the Great Enclosure are situated - photo right The Great Enclosure is the most impressive and extraordinary of the stone remains and is a large stone enclosure with a maximum diameter of 89 meters. The wall is 244 meters long and, at its greatest, 5 meters thick and 10 meters high, capped by turrets and monoliths, where carved birds once perched. Inside is a large tower, the purpose of which is still a mystery. Long after the buildings and cathedrals of Europe have fallen, the Great Tower will still stand as a testimony to a long dead civilization Getting There Coach service: Translux and Greyhound luxury coaches go nightly from Johannesburg through Masvingo to Harare - return

World Heritage site Today, Great Zimbabwe ruins is a World Heritage site and its massive curving walls, constructed from millions of granite blocks fitted together without mortar, remain the largest ancient stone structure in sub Saharan Africa Lofty, majestic, and timeless the quality of the building in places is outstanding 30 kilometers from Masvingo this amazing complex is formed of regular, rectangular granite stones, carefully placed one upon the other, without the use of mortar Great Zimbabwe is the name given to hundreds of great stone ruins spread out over a 320 square kilometers area within Zimbabwe, which itself is named after the ruins Masvingo Centre of an active mining district producing a large variety of minerals (asbestos, chrome, lithium, tin, tungsten and gold). Asbestos is mined at Mashava and Zvishane, gold at Renco and Bikita. The region has the largest source of lithium in the worl

Masvingo faces drought

MASVINGO — The prolonged dry spell that has hit Masvingo province for the past weeks has led to moisture stress resulting in most crops wilting, provincial Agricultural Extension (Agritex) officer Paul Poshai has revealed .
Poshai told NewsDay in an interview yesterday that most crops were likely to fail unless more rains fell in the next fortnight, sparking fears of hunger in the region.
“The situation is not very pleasing. Most crops are experiencing moisture stress and have wilted, although they are not yet a write-off. But if the situation persists for two weeks, we will be doomed,” he said.
Affected districts include Gutu, Chivi, Mwenezi and Bikita, Poshai said.
He also said the late and inconsistent rainfall experienced in the province had led to a reduction in the hectarage under crop cultivation.
“Although I do not have figures at hand, I can confirm that the provincial hectarage put under crop cultivation decreased from that of last year.
“Cereal production is drastically reduced, the same with legumes and cash crops. This was because of the late rains we got in January. As if that was not enough, the rains were inconsistent,” he said.
Masvingo province is susceptible to drought and many communal farmers have been facing food shortages for the past decade, making them perennial candidates for food aid

deforestation

 In Chivi deforestation is taking place at a large scale, that left the residents in a shock. the destruction of vast areas of land for agriculture ares purposes and exploitation of wood as a source of fuel are the major causes of deforestation.Chivi area is now a true replica of the Namib desert due to excessive cutting down of trees without replacing them.

Masvingo  is the oldest city in Zimbabwe and boasts the country's historic ancient town Great Zimbabwe, from which the country gets its name.In terms of travel Masvingo is currently located and is almost equidistant between Harare, Mutare, Beitbridge and Bulawayo making it a transit nerve centre.