Earwig

THE name earwig comes from a European superstition that these insects entered the ears of a sleeping person and bored into the brain. This belief is totally unfounded. Earwigs do often cause alarm to homeowners when discovered indoors, despite the fact that they are harmless to humans. They have a frightful appearance, move rapidly around baseboards at ground level and may emit a foul-smelling, yellowish-brown liquid from their scent glands. Active at night and hiding during daytime, earwigs normally live outdoors and do not establish themselves indoors. They are harmless to humans and animals, although if handled carelessly, the earwig can give a slight pinch with the forceps. Earwigs can be responsible for serious feeding damage on flowers, vegetables, fruits and other plants, giving the leaves a ragged appearance with numerous, small, irregular holes. 

Roberta Katunga

Business Reporter

THE National Employment Council (NEC) for tourism and safari operators has increased baseline salaries for employees in its sector by 25 percent with immediate effect to be in line with current inflation rate and the poverty datum line.

The secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius)

Endangered animals in Zimbabwe

THERE are a number of interesting animals in Zimbabwe but sadly many of these creatures are threatened or endangered in their natural habitat. Poaching, habitat destruction and many other factors are responsible for these animals’ declining numbers.

Roberta Katunga

Business Reporter

A local hotel, St Patricks, is constructing miniature attractions at its premises to give visitors and students of hospitality in Bulawayo the opportunity to appreciate the country’s heritage and tourists attractions.

Ngonidzashe Chiutsi

Business Correspondent

LEADING global airline KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will be resuming services to Zimbabwe after a decade long absence, Netherlands Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mrs Barbara Joziasse, has said.

Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori)

The Kori Bustard is a large bird native to Africa. It may be the heaviest bird capable of flight. The largest bustard (Ardeotis kori kori) is one of the largest flying birds.  Males can reach weights of 16 to 19 kilogrammes

Roberta Katunga
Business Reporter
AN olive branch has been extended to women in tourism from Bulawayo as they have been offered free exhibition space at this year’s edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair.
Speaking at a public lecture to mark tourism month celebrations in the city on Thursday last week in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive officer, Mr Karikoga Kaseke, said women and the youth play a pivotal role in tourism.

The reproduction of fish
AS might be expected in such a large and diverse group of animals, fishes display a wide range of reproductive behaviors. Most Zimbabwean fish spawn during the summer and their spawning activity tends to be stimulated by the first rains. Almost all of them move upstream to some extent when rivers start to flow because the flowing rivers provide new environments and sources of food and perhaps most importantly, areas where the newly hatched fry can find refuge from predators.

Business Reporter

THE Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development will soon issue a comprehensive statement entailing the troubled national airliner Air Zimbabwe’s turnaround programme that is likely to see it resuming fully-fledged international flights within a month, an official said.

Aphids

Aphids are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects that have long antennae and a characteristic pair of cornicles (short tubes) extending on either side of their abdomen. Their translucent bodies are most usually green, red, brown, yellow or white.