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Taxonomy of the Occlupanida (parasitoids on bread bag tags)

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Re: Taxonomy of the Occlupanida (parasitoids on bread bag tags)

#31

Post by conductr »

junon wrote: post #29
Toutouxc wrote: post #21

It took me quite a while to figure out what the article is about. These don’t seem to exist over here.

They're the American (perhaps other places) equivalent of the little wire ties, almost exclusively used for bread. They're supposed to be quick to close the bread bag back up but in my experience they're I'll equipped for that purpose as they either break or maul the plastic. I thought they were commonplace until I moved outside the US; at least here in Germany I never see them. As kids you'd break off one of the hal…

I consider them a disposable freshness seal. After opening a new bag, I toss it out and just spin the bag real tight and tuck it under. The weight of the bread holds the twist.

It’s super effective but my wife isn’t a fan. Neither was my mom.

Re: Taxonomy of the Occlupanida (parasitoids on bread bag tags)

#32

Post by conductr »

stogot wrote: post #4

At first , by the title, I thought there were parasites growing on these clips. Anyone else?

Same initial thought. Took me a solid 10 seconds for orient myself, not usually finding HN as a source of comedy so my context was polluted

Re: Taxonomy of the Occlupanida (parasitoids on bread bag tags)

#33

Post by dofm »

junon wrote: post #29
Toutouxc wrote: post #21

It took me quite a while to figure out what the article is about. These don’t seem to exist over here.

They're the American (perhaps other places) equivalent of the little wire ties, almost exclusively used for bread. They're supposed to be quick to close the bread bag back up but in my experience they're I'll equipped for that purpose as they either break or maul the plastic. I thought they were commonplace until I moved outside the US; at least here in Germany I never see them. As kids you'd break off one of the hal…

These used to be absolutely commonplace in the UK with Sunblest in particular, but also supermarket-baked bread, when I was a kid and then they largely disappeared. I haven’t seen one in maybe twenty five years, probably more, but I gather they have crept back into use in places.

Bread bags are pinched and taped, folded and over and taped, or (in the case of supermarket-baked bread) maybe taped paper if not actually simply folded.

Bread in the UK has improved so enormously in my lifetime that we have largely abandoned sci-fi long-life bread anyway, though Sunblest is still around for any quiet men the kids have given cheeky nicknames who are still saving up for a boat. We’ve also largely moved away from giant loaves of bread towards smaller loaves, but the bigger stuff increasingly seems to be sold in waxed paper anyway.

So reusable sealing devices just seem silly.

Re: Taxonomy of the Occlupanida (parasitoids on bread bag tags)

#34

Post by dcminter »

ricardobayes wrote: post #22

What are these for? In Europe we normally put a sticker directly on the bread, if at all. Is this for sliced bread?

The UK does, or used to, and yes, it was on the plastic wrappers on sliced bread.

Sweden has a wire encased in plastic thing that crimps the opening shut instead.

Both types are re-usable at least for the expected lifetime of a loaf of bread.

Re: Taxonomy of the Occlupanida (parasitoids on bread bag tags)

#37

Post by redsocksfan45 »

Terr_ wrote: post #13
BretonForearm wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the only correct take, since the title atop literally says "parasitoids on bread bag tags".

Hmm, if we're being really pedantic and go a step further, it becomes incorrect take: The text says parasit oids , which resemble parasites but probably aren't. Much like how "asteroid samples" means rocks instead of hot plasma from stars ( aster ), or "android battery" doesn't mean something surgically cut out of an human man ( andros ).

[dead]

Re: Taxonomy of the Occlupanida (parasitoids on bread bag tags)

#38

Post by bregma »

junon wrote: post #29
Toutouxc wrote: post #21

It took me quite a while to figure out what the article is about. These don’t seem to exist over here.

They're the American (perhaps other places) equivalent of the little wire ties, almost exclusively used for bread. They're supposed to be quick to close the bread bag back up but in my experience they're I'll equipped for that purpose as they either break or maul the plastic. I thought they were commonplace until I moved outside the US; at least here in Germany I never see them. As kids you'd break off one of the hal…

They're also used where I am with milk to keep the outer bag closed.

Re: Taxonomy of the Occlupanida (parasitoids on bread bag tags)

#39

Post by afandian »

Terr_ wrote: post #2

> The outside (or ‘edge’) of the occlupanid is often smooth, but many species sport palps, or tabs. These have unguessable purposes for mating, locomotion, defense, take your pick. I propose that these palps or tabs are remnants of the reproductive cycle, vestigial points of contact in the budding process. This phenomenon can be observed in some other classes within phylum Plasticae, and I see no reason to assume it…

This is where the morphological approach falls down. This is an "analogous trait", i.e. something that's arrived at through two independent evolutionary pathways.

These palps are due to a reproduction process called "stamping". Sounds violent, but that's nature for you. This is an asexual process. The tabs give an advantage to the overall clutch of young, not individuals.

There's a morphologically similar trait in other Plasticae that's the result of "injection moulding". This involves the mating of two (or sometimes more) parents. This method allows for the evolution of more complex features.

Overmoulding is also possible, which produces symbiotic organisms.

Re: Taxonomy of the Occlupanida (parasitoids on bread bag tags)

#40

Post by roryirvine »

dofm wrote: post #33
junon wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're the American (perhaps other places) equivalent of the little wire ties, almost exclusively used for bread. They're supposed to be quick to close the bread bag back up but in my experience they're I'll equipped for that purpose as they either break or maul the plastic. I thought they were commonplace until I moved outside the US; at least here in Germany I never see them. As kids you'd break off one of the hal…

These used to be absolutely commonplace in the UK with Sunblest in particular, but also supermarket-baked bread, when I was a kid and then they largely disappeared. I haven’t seen one in maybe twenty five years, probably more, but I gather they have crept back into use in places. Bread bags are pinched and taped, folded and over and taped, or (in the case of supermarket-baked bread) maybe taped paper if not actually…

They were replaced by twist ties in the late 80s / early 90s, which in turn were replaced by tape fastenings fifteen or twenty years later - the main benefit of tape is that it can be recycled along with the bag.

As you say, the industrially-produced sliced white 800g loaf has fallen out of fashion in the UK, and only 20% of us will buy one in any given month. The market is consolidating as a result, with two of the three main providers (ABF and Hovis) in the process of merging.

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