About Amy Lines
With a degree in Fashion Design from Falmouth University, Amy has a passion for textiles, tiles, art, ceramics, and houseplants which she enjoys filling her beautiful home in Hampshire with. She also has a keen interest in infant and child sleep patterns and mindfulness for adults and children, inspired by her energetic and chatty three-year-old daughter. When not exploring the outdoors, Amy can be found painting, knitting, and dancing at home.
Family interest
In house speciality
Education
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts specializing in Fashion/Apparel Design
Recent Work
Cobweb Creation Unraveled: Where Do Cobwebs Come From?
Do you find cobwebs spooky on Halloween?
Cobwebs come from spiders. Spiders are small arthropods that have eight legs, and their teeth are generally able to inject venom from biting.
As recorded by taxonomists, presently there are over 45,000 species of spiders distributed in 129 families in the world. These arthropods are known to be found almost on every continent except Antarctica and are able to establish their habitat everywhere with the exception of wind and sea colonization.
They are carnivores who eat flying prey like mosquitoes. Generally, spiders build a small net using their spider silk to trap their prey, however, not all spiders are capable of building webs.
The spider looks for support to weave its net. After the construction, it just waits for the prey to be trapped.
There are different categories of spider webs, which include spiral orb webs that are built by the family of Araneidae. Secondly, there are cobwebs or tangle webs that are associated with the family of Theridiidae.
Thirdly, funeral webs are built by some modern and primitive spiders. Lastly, there are tubular webs and sheet spider webs.
Most people are scared of spiders, because of their creepy looks and poisonous bite, but there are only a few species of spiders in the world that are dangerous to us. These spiders have bites that can be fatal, but most spiders only attack as a defense mechanism.
Cobwebs are generally made of the abandoned webs of the Theridiidae species of spiders. Initially, the spider combs the web using silk it produces from its spinneret glands, which is sticky and can easily trap small flying insects like mosquitoes or houseflies as prey.
Spiderwebs are transparent when they are built.
Later, when dust and dirt become attached to the web, only then is it considered as a cobweb. Several strands of this invisible silk may also be spun to catch the wind if a spider feels the urge to go swinging through the air, from one spot to another, just like we saw in the movie 'Spiderman'!
Spiders are mostly found in dark corners as they don't like being exposed to bright light. Spiders have the natural behavior of wandering throughout their environment and they sometimes unintentionally roam in building gaps or dark corners on the ceiling in a home. They can build their webs behind furniture, in a storeroom, or in a basement.
If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about where do spider mites come from? or where do ticks come from? here on Kidadl?
Where Do Centipedes Come From? How Can You Avoid Them?
What's that running through the walls with lots of tiny legs?
They're centipedes! Centipedes are grayish-brown colored creatures belonging to the class of anthropods.
The name 'centipede' has a Latin origin in which 'centi' means 'hundred' and 'pedes' means 'foot.' The species of house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) is known to be originated from the Mediterranean region and now they are spread all throughout the world, living amongst human beings, in their houses.
These creatures have up to 15 pairs of legs and can crawl swiftly from one hiding place to another.
Their heads also have a pair of long antennas helping them to track other pests in their surroundings.
Centipedes can live as long as six years if they are not preyed on by other creatures and lay 35 eggs or more inside the soil during the summer. Centipedes prefer environments that are cool and damp where significant moisture is present as they cannot survive dry conditions.
Their body mechanism does not store water, thus, moist surroundings are necessary to protect them from dehydration and extremely cold weather. When outside the house, they basically live outdoor under large rocks, heaps of leaves, piles of wood, and debris from unfinished construction and trash bins.
The centipedes prey using the sense of touch and smell because they have weak eyesight and their food consists of other soft-bodied pests like silverfish bugs, flies, spiders, and other house pests.
They are natural pest hunters to control other pest populations.
Centipedes can rarely be spotted, unless it catches your sight, because of their nocturnal activity. Also, with the fast speed that they move with their small legs, it is difficult to spot a centipede!
Centipedes mostly come from the yard and take entry inside the house to avoid the cold weather outdoors. They are also attracted to places where they can find lots of prey.
Adult centipedes hide in moist and dark areas. Unlike other pests, they do not have any sign of presence, unless you actually see them in the house. Some common locations that can be their hiding spots inside the house are bathtubs, sinks, sewage pipes, and basements.
Centipedes may crawl into the cracks in the foundation of the house. Centipedes do not actually carry any disease that is fatal to us.
If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about how often do bed bugs feed and where do carpet beetles come from here on Kidadl!
Where Do Chihuahuas Come From? How Did They Get Their Name?
Chihuahuas are adorable but hot-tempered small dogs.
Chihuahua dogs are enlisted as one of the smallest dog breeds in the world. They are named after the native state Chihuahua, in Mexico. The history of the ancient breed of chihuahuas was unknown until the American Kennel Club recognized them in the year 1904.
There are two types of the chihuahua breed of dog: firstly, the smooth coat, having short hair, and secondly, the long coat or having long body hair. The main physical difference between the two breeds is the length of the fur.
Both the smooth coat and long coat breeds of this species are adorable and attractive as they are easy to be taken care of with good health and kept clean because of their tiny size.
Chihuahua dogs also vary depending on the head shapes. There are apple head dogs, which are round-headed like fruits, and deer head dogs, with narrow faces.
They have big round eyeballs and long ears like wolves as they have origins from wolf breeds.
They have a height of 6-10 in (15-25 cm) and weigh up to 4-6 lb (1.8-2.7 kg). Although the chihuahua is tiny and may look weak, it can live a long life as a pet if proper care is taken by the owner.
They may have a lifespan of 15-20 years as they belong to healthy dog breeds.
They can be of various body colors with vivid colors like black to solid white, or brown, fawn, reddish-brown, chocolate, mixed with a variety of spots and patterns. They are carnivores, and thus can have a food diet just like other canine dog breeds.
The personality of chihuahuas depends on factors like their environment, health, age, and experience. Some of them may really be trouble, with a hot temper and anger issues, running and barking at much larger dogs, and also showing aggressive nature in their behavioral traits.
A chihuahua dog can be easily recognized as they have gained popularity over the television screen and celebrate culture.
They set the trends for mostly female dog owners to adopt a small dog, mostly in America. They are also good pets, protecting the owner, and are the loyal companions of their master.
When trained properly they can help as watchdogs but not guard dogs, as though they might not have the physical attributes to spot the intruder, they can create enough chaos to alert the owner.
They are also swift and can easily take down squirrels, small rats, and lizards. They even have the boldness for bull-baiting if properly trained.
The first-ever record of the chihuahua's existence occurred in the year 1884, almost 137 years ago, when they were sold by Mexican traders to tourists in markets near the border. Chihuahuas are an ancient dog breed that was first recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in the year 1904.
Some possible reports state that the chihuahua's ancestors had possibly been from Asia, Egypt, or Sudan.
The breed then migrated or maybe was moved through the Mediterranean Sea to the American and European countries. Some theories state that Spanish travelers had brought the chihuahua breed of dogs to the European continent.
Recently researchers have compared the DNA samples of chihuahuas with Asian, European, and African dogs, to find their breed origin.
It was known then that the samples resemble Techichi dog, with unique DNA type in Mexican pre-Columbian samples origins. Although tiny, chihuahuas have habits of barking and chasing strangers and can even attack their owners.
If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about how often do dogs need shots and when do puppies calm down here on Kidadl?
70+ Best Names That Mean Wanderer For Your Little Adventurer
Everyone in the developed and developing world is a product of Wanderers and Adventurers. Centuries ago, they found new worlds on their voyage.
Finding habitable lands for early men was an investment for people in the world of today. You can incorporate the same spirit into your little one by giving them names that mean Adventurer. If you love to travel around the world, it would also make a perfect name for your baby.
Should you have already named your baby and discover that its inquisitive nature is beyond the ordinary, the ‘wanderer’ name can come as a nickname for your baby. Check out our list of 75 names that mean Wanderer for your Little Adventurer.
Tailbone Pain: Pregnancy And Coccyx Discomfort
Have you been experiencing tailbone pain during your pregnancy?
Tailbone or coccyx pain can happen at any time throughout the three trimesters. Pain in the tailbone is really uncomfortable, especially alongside being pregnant, feeling that familiar twinge every time you stand up or lean back can really put a damper on your day!
Luckily, pain in the tailbone can be eased in a variety of ways, using things you probably already have at home, so read on to find out which one is going to work for you.
If you would like more information about pregnancy and things to look out for, check out these signs labor is 24-48 hours away, and find out all about slapped cheek during pregnancy.
What Is Transitional Kindergarten? A Parents Guide
Do you have a child who will turn five between September 2 and December 2?
This means that if they were to go straight from preschool to regular kindergarten, they will be one of the youngest in their class, so you might be curious about your other options.
Some parents in this position decide to go ahead and enroll their children in regular school, others opt for an extra year of preschool, and then there is transitional kindergarten, an extra school year, funded by local school districts just like regular school programs.
Transitional kindergarten programs work to bridge the gap between the freedom of preschool and the structure of a regular kindergarten program. The idea is to introduce children to the structure of the classroom, whilst also working to develop their social and emotional skills.
Read on to find out all about this option and what you can expect if you do decide to enroll your little one in one of these programs.
If you would like to continue reading about the preschool education stage, why not check out these articles about November preschool themes and January preschool themes too?
