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..... Unusual items from around the world! Panda Ant This may seem like a cute little ant but it is one of the most deadly ants in the world. They are nicknamed cow killers and you can imagine why. Cows have been known to wonder too close to the Panda Ant`s nest and are quickly swarmed by these little terrors that sting the cow so much it`s enough to kill it. Honey Pot Ant These ants gorge themselves on plant nectar to the point where their abdomens swell to an enormously crazy size. In times of famine or drought other ants in the colony will line up to receive their share of the excreted sweet liquid. In some dessert areas humans have learned where to find these ants which have proven very useful in survival situations. Glider Ant These ants also live in trees and have developed a method of getting from one tree to another by gliding. Their flat body shape lets them pick up the breeze and effortless glide from one tree to the other throughout the forest. Giant Amazon Ant Probably the most scary of all the ants. This ant is an absolute giant and also has an incredibly painful sting. They live in the Amazon region of south America and be thankful that you don’t. They are not as common as there famous relative the bullet ant but are much larger and can grow to 1.6 inches in length making them the largest ant in the world. Fish Hook Ant This strange looking ant is from Cambodia. It has three pairs of barbed hooks along it`s body and just like a real fish hook if you get impaled it`s tricky to remove. Red Velvet Ant Very similar to the blue velvet ant. Another very painful stinging insect so best stay clear if you ever see one. Blue Velvet Ant These ants look totally amazing. But in fact they are not actually ants. They are a species of wingless wasp. The females have a very large stinger which will cause extreme pain, so don’t mess with one if you come across it. Armored Arboreal Ant These ants spend their life in the tree tops. They are found in both the United states and Africa. They have a very tough shell for protection hence their name. Turtle Head Ant Turtlehead ants are part of the Cephalotes, a broad genus of ants. It`s strange shape head is used as a door to plug gaps in wood. They live in parts of south and central America. Thistledown Velvet Ant Thistledown ants are part of the Dasymutilla genus. They can be found in the southern Untied states and down in Mexico. They can deliver a very nasty sting despite their cute appearance. Shingle Froe Tool This simple tool might look like it was assembled by cavemen, but it’s actually still in production today and widely available. The shingle froe was introduced by colonial settlers, who used it to split shingles and other types of lumber while building the earliest homes in America. Today, you can use it on any project that requires strong wood panels and boards with straight grain. You’ll need to use a maul to pound the froe’s blade into the wood. Stanley #1 Odd Jobs Tool In 1888, Stanley Tools introduced its “Convenient Tool,” the original Odd Jobs, which was later marketed as “Ten Tools In One.” For 47 years, carpenters relied on the versatile metal gadget as a tri-square, spirit level, miter square, scratch awl, rule, marking gauge, mortise gauge, depth gauge and beam compass. It was discontinued in 1935, but some manufacturers, like Garrett Wade and Woodpeckers, still sell modern versions. Lignatool Set Schnittführung Tool If you’ve been searching far and wide for a precision cutting tool to guide the blade of your chainsaw, you can stop looking. We found the Lignatool Set Schnittführung SF400 all the way in Austria. It even uses a laser to align the cuts perfectly. The sophisticated piece of equipment costs about $2,766, but sadly, the manufacturer, Wimmer-Maschinen, doesn’t appear to ship to the U.S. Hydraulic Torque Wrench Tool This tool, which uses hydraulic power to exert torque and get a fastener in place when it’s just too tough to do on your own, may seem like a modern concept, but it was actually invented in the 1960s. Quieter, lighter-weight versions can be found on the market today, at pretty hefty prices, from Grainger and Hytorc. Pneumatic Planishing Hammer Tool If you’re familiar with Amish woodworking, you know the concept of pneumatic tools: they don’t actually use electricity, but instead run on compressed air fueled by a diesel generator. This work of art with an equally creative name, the pneumatic planishing hammer, is used by modern welders to shape and smooth large swaths of metal—a task that used to require manual hammering. Non-pneumatic planishing hammers are available, too. Spud Wrench Tool And yes, we know there is another tool called a “closet spud wrench” that is used in close quarters for closet spuds, basket strainers nuts and spud nuts. Halligan Bar Tool Unless you’re a fireman or rescue worker breaking into a burning building, you probably haven’t uses this primitive-looking tool for prying and demo projects—but you can easily buy a Halligan bar online and feel like a DIY hero. Usually three to four feet long and weighing in at a about 12 to 14 pounds, the heavy-duty hand tool is typically made of high carbon steel, some of the strongest you can find, though it can be pretty hard to wield and is susceptible to fractures. Japanese Ryoba Saw Tool Fine Japanese woodworking tools—the Samurai swords of carpentry—are coveted for their precision and minimalist design. The Japanese Ryoba saw is among the coolest. The lightweight, two-side hand saw with rip teeth on one side for cutting in the direction of the grain, and cross-cutting teeth on the other side, for going against the grain. Its long handle is ergonomically designed to give the woodworker full control. Adze Tool It doesn’t get much simpler than an adze, a sharpened piece of metal attached to a wooden handle and used to carve and shape wood. It’s been used since ancient times to do everything from creating wooden beams out of tree trunks to hollowing out bowls. Modern adzes are now used not only for woodworking but also for gardening. In fact, the head of an adze can be found on Halligan bars, a firefighter’s favorite tool after the good, old-fashioned ax. Power Chisel Tool Every woodworker has a chisel in their tool collection, and resourceful DIYers might even have a pocket version. But you’re really cool if you can call yourself the owner of a power chisel, which is exactly what this slightly ambiguous device is. It’s everything you rely on your old-school chisel and hammer for, but without the man power—meaning you can do your fine detailing faster, more efficiently, and with less down time. Inflatable Shim Tool What might appear to be a blood pressure tester without a sleeve is a device that acts as a shim, letting solo DIYers hold a window or door in position while they work. You can also use an inflatable shim to align cabinets or level appliances, and you don’t have to worry about leaving marks or scuffs behind. You can inflate or deflate the device as needed for a perfect fit. Creusot Steam Hammer Tool What use would you have for a 100-ton steam hammer modeled to look like the Eiffel Tower? Probably not a whole lot, but in 1876, during the Industrial Revolution, French and British engineers introduced this beast—the first ever steam hammer—to the world, to shape and strengthen iron and steel. The Cruesot Steam Hammer was retired in 1930, but it remains a pioneer and icon of its time. Cartridge Puller Tool You know how you have to remove the cartridge from your faucet to fix an annoying leak? There’s a tool for that! This lightweight, hand-held gadget is so simple yet so useful, and one of those tools DIY plumbers don’t realize they need until they, well, need it. This cartridge puller is inexpensive too—only about $26. Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake These snakes have upturned snouts that they use for digging, but their most peculiar trait is that they’re bluffers. When threatened, they flare their heads like a cobra and also strike – but those strikes are only head-butts. If this bluff doesn’t scare off a predator, these snakes will flop onto their backs and play dead. They’ll also let their tongues go slack and also emit a foul odor. Iwasaki’s Snail-Eater Snake This snake has a certain affinity for snails – so much so that it doesn’t eat anything else. The peculiar thing is that these snakes only feed on snails with clockwise-shaped shells because their jaws are asymmetrical. The Reticulated Python Snake Often found in southeast Asia, it is currently the world’s longest snake, as they grow to reach around 28 feet long. Spitting Cobras Snake Spitting cobras consist of several species. They generally spit their venom as a defense mechanism, and their venom is only effective if it hits another animal in the eyes. They are extremely accurate, however, as they actually “lead” shots by anticipating a target’s movement. King Cobra Snake One of the most famous and frightening snakes of all time, king cobras actually have mild temperaments. They hiss and flare their hoods when threatened, but they prefer to flee rather than attack. These snakes actually prefer to feed on other snakes, but are known to feed on other small rodents if food is scarce. Spider-Tailed Viper Snake These snakes might possibly have the coolest tail appendage in the world, which essentially looks like a spider. The appendage is not used to appear intimidating, but rather to lure prey that eat spiders. Black Mamba Snake Black Mamba get their name from the color of their mouths, which are inky-black. They are highly venomous – and a bitten human will likely die in 7-15 hours if anti-venom is not used. If that’s not freaky enough, then know that they are arguably the fastest snakes in the world. Luckily, however, they tend to avoid confrontation. Burrowing Asp Snake This snake usually lives underground in parts of Africa. Their most peculiar trait is their flexible and venomous fangs. When a burrowing asp is ready to strike, it extends its two fangs from its mouth, and it can do so even when its mouth is closed. Also, their fangs can be moved independently of one another. Horned Viper Snake These snakes often have a pair of horns over their eyes, and they can be found in the deserts of the Middle East and Northern Africa. They are adept at using camouflage – they’ll often burrow under sand and lie in wait for prey. What’s more, when horned vipers do actually move around, they slither sideways to confuse prey and predators. Madagascar Leaf-Nosed Snake This is another snake that lives and hunts in trees. They have long appendages on their noses. The males have long, tapering snouts, while the females’ noses are leaf-shaped. They have a funny quirk, however: sometimes when they’re waiting for prey, they’ll simply dangle from a tree’s limb. Tentacle Snake These aquatic snakes are found in the waters of southeastern Asia. They have tentacles on their noses that are highly sensitive to disturbances in the water, which is how they detect prey. Also, they feint when attacking prey. They drift in one direction to trick prey into fleeing another way, and then they strike the prey in its anticipated retreat. Flying Snake Found in rainforests of southeastern Asia and India, these snakes are skilled gliders. When they want to glide, these snakes essentially flatten their bodies to make a concave wing and launch themselves. They slither in the air while gliding, which gives them some measure of control. The most interesting thing, however, is that they are better at gliding than flying squirrels. Tiger Keelback Snake These snakes are often found in eastern Asia. They often feed on poisonous frogs, but are immune to their poison. Furthermore, these snakes have neck glands where they actually store the frogs’ poison. Then, if threatened by larger predator, these snakes release the stolen poison as a defense mechanism. Feathered Tree Viper Snake These snakes are found in Central Africa’s rainforests. Their bulbous eyes and strange scales make them appear like miniature dragons, and they have retractable fangs just like other vipers. People should run if they ever see one of these snakes: there is no known antidote to their venom, which can cause severe internal hemorrhaging in humans. Long-Nosed Vine Snake These snakes are native to southeastern Asia. They live and hunt in trees, where frogs and lizards are often their prey. They have excellent binocular vision, and their eyes are shaped like keyholes. They generally hunt by moving slowly, relying on stealth and camouflage rather than quick movements. Elephant-Trunk Snake These snakes are completely aquatic and often found in the waters of Indonesia. They are named for their grey, baggy skin that resembles the trunk of an elephant. What’s most interesting is that elephant-trunk snakes cannot slither on dry land – they lack the necessary scales to do so.These snakes are completely aquatic and often found in the waters of Indonesia. They are named for their grey, baggy skin that resembles the trunk of an elephant. What’s most interesting is that elephant-trunk snakes cannot slither on dry land – they lack the necessary scales to do so.
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