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Whack! The Disgusting Disease Carrying Common Fly
The common fly is more than just an annoying pest. It is a carrier of many types of diseases. Here are some ideas to keep your family healthy before you have this unwanted visitor at your summer picnic. The common fly is more than just an annoying pest. It is a carrier of many types of diseases. Here are some ideas to keep your family ... more
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Man blows up apartment spraying for bugs
I always wondered when something like this would happen. Those fumes are flammable.
A New Jersey man trying to exterminate insects in his apartment blew it up instead, the New York Daily News reported on Monday.
Isias Vidal Maceda was unhurt in the incident, but 80 percent of his apartment was destroyed, Eatontown, New Jersey police told the newspaper.
The accident occurred as Maceda was spraying for pests in his kitchen. Somehow the bug spray ignited a blast that blew out the apartment's front windows and triggered a fire that quickly spread, the newspaper said. I always wondered when something like this would happen. Those fumes are flammable. ... more -
Waterfleas 'mail' their eggs to other ponds
The puzzle of how waterfleas, little pond bugs that can't survive out of water, can spread across different ponds has baffled zoologists for some time - until now. Scientists have discovered that the fleas take advantage of the hairy abdomens of a flying waterbug called the backswimmer by latching the eggs onto the backswimmers bellies. The eggs are then carried to other ponds as the backswimmers migrate.
Never really thought much about waterfleas before.. Clever little buggers eh? The puzzle of how waterfleas, little pond bugs that can't survive out of water, can spread across different ponds has baffled zoologis... more -
Mystery Bug Found at London Museum
"July 15, 2008—Even with 28 million insect specimens in their collection, experts at London's Natural History Museum haven't found a match for a mysterious bug—pictured above—found in their own backyard.
Since it was discovered last year by entomologist Max Barclay, the tiny, red-and-black, seed-eating ground bug has become the most common insect in the museum's wildlife garden.
It has also been spotted elsewhere in the city.
"Today we've had people ringing us up saying they've known about this thing in [central] London for six or seven years," Barclay said.
"It's only when it gets to somewhere like the Natural History Museum, where there are loads of specialists hanging around, that somebody will pick it up."
While the insect looks similar to a Central European species, Arocatus roeselii, it is a darker red and lives on plane trees—what Americans call sycamores—instead of alders.
It also resembles a mystery insect found in France that likely isn't native to Europe at all, Barclay said.
"It's also very similar to a common North American pest called the boxelder bug, but it isn't that," he added.
Barclay believes the ground bug either represents a variation of a known exotic species or it's a newly discovered species.
Museum scientists hope an analysis of the insect's DNA will finally solve the mystery."
Cool! Mysteries abound! I love stories like this.
"July 15, 2008—Even with 28 million insect specimens in their collection, experts at London's Natural History Museum haven't found a m... more -
Mystery insect bugging experts at London museum
The experts at London's Natural History Museum pride themselves on being able to identify species from around the globe, from birds and mammals to insects and snakes. Yet they can't figure out a tiny red-and-black bug that has appeared in the museum's own gardens.
The almond-shaped insect, about the size of a grain of rice, and was first seen in March 2007 on some of the plane trees that grow on the grounds of the 19th century museum, collections manager Max Barclay said Tuesday.
Within three months, it had become the most common insect in the garden, and it was also spotted in other central London parks, he said.
The museum has more than 28 million insect species in its collection, but none is an exact match for this one. Still, Barclay is cautious about calling it a new discovery.
"I don't expect to find a new species in the gardens of a museum," he said. "Deep inside a tropical rainforest, yes, but not in central London."
The bug resembles the Arocatus roeselii, which is usually found in central Europe but is a brighter red and lives on alder trees. Entomologists suspect the new bug could be a version of the roeselii that has adapted to live on plane trees, but acknowledge it could be a new species.
Either way, it appears the museum's tiny visitor, which appears harmless, is here to stay.
"We waited to see if the insect would survive the British winter," Barclay said. "It did and it's thriving, so now we had better figure out what it is."
The experts at London's Natural History Museum pride themselves on being able to identify species from around the globe, from birds an... more -
Ants cut scientists down to size
Ants have been proven to be farmers, trappers, traffic wardens... and now it turns out they can be excellent strategists and problem-solvers too.
Scientists at the University of Sydney have discovered that leafcutter ants change the shapes of the leaves they cut and the number of ants collecting foliage depending on the obstacles in their path. In the study, a low roof was placed over the route between a colony's collecting area and nest. Within 24hrs, the ants had entirely adapted to the new obstacle, not only cutting smaller leaves to take back to their nests but also making them rounder to maximise their surface area. More ants from the colony also started collecting the foliage to keep up the rate of productivity.
The speed and adaptability of these insects is perhaps the most astounding, particularly since nothing approaaching this level of behaviour has yet been observed in any other insect. Ants have been proven to be farmers, trappers, traffic wardens... and now it turns out they can be excellent strategists and problem-s... more -
Why? Tell Me Why! :: Fireflies
Discovery-News.com: This week Kasey-Dee Gardner shines some light on why fireflies brighten up the summer sky.
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They are cooking crickets!
She argued that insects can provide an environmentally positive, healthy protein and an occasional alternative to meat, if only we could tackle the yuck factor. She argued that insects can provide an environmentally positive, healthy protein and an occasional alternative to meat, if only we cou... more
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"Artistic" spiders trap prey with light
From the report: Many flower species reflect ultraviolet light, which insects use to identify food sources. If spider webs reflect the same light, it would suggest that the spiders' webs are mimicking the properties of flowers and tricking insects into coming closer.
Evolution is incredible and the initial fact that spiders can weave such incredible pieces of art is just mind blowing.
From the report: Many flower species reflect ultraviolet light, which insects use to identify food sources. If spider webs reflect the... more -
Unity of Ants
I was impressed to see these little ants so coordinated in order to take that piece of food bigger than their bodies.
Watch it.
May we all learn this unity from ants.
Amazing Unity! I was impressed to see these little ants so coordinated in order to take that piece of food bigger than their bodies. Watch it. ... more -
Woman quarantined with bird mite infestation
There was a warning issued Thursday to homeowners after a Long Island woman's home was infested with "blood-sucking" parasites. It wasn't bed bugs that caused the problem, but bird mites.
"I was hysterical crying last night," said Crystal Shea, the daughter of the bird mite victim. "You know, I feel terrible for her. How do you watch your mom come out in a hazmat suit?"
The emotional daughter of the bird mite victim shared ominous looking photos of her mother being suited up in bio containment gear by emergency medical technicians responding to her S.O.S. from her Levittown home. They stripped her of her clothing, shoes, carted off her mattress, confiscated the wild bird nest from a bathroom vent and transported the patient to the quarantine unit at Nassau University Medical Center.
CBS 2 HD spoke by phone with patient Nina Bradica from her hospital bed in the isolation unit.
"My whole shower was covered with them," said Bradica, 45. "I didn't even know they were there at first, I was drying myself with my towel in the bathroom. That's how they got on me."
One of Bradica's doctors told CBS 2 HD bird mites can be a very severe problem.
"They can be a nuisance and some people have been infected for years with these bird mites and have had difficulty eradicating them," said Dr. Kenneth Steier.
Added Dr. Shadab Ahmed of Nassau Medical Center, "They can stick to the body. They are extremely tiny. I just sent three to be tested to the parasitology lab for identification."
Doctors say there is absolutely no public health hazard. Mites can't feed off human skin and will eventually drop off, but until then …
"They were biting her all night long," Shea said. "They were coming out of her ears, her nose, some other places."
Bradica tried to describe her discomfort.
"They do go inside you. They go in your nose. They go in your ears. They go in your mouth."
The victim's irate family is blaming her landlord, who drove off without commenting on why the home had not been fumigated.
Bradica told CBS 2 HD she is covered with welts and red bumps and wonders if her home will ever be livable again.
Bird mites usually infest bedrooms and bathrooms, but can quickly spread to the entire house. There was a warning issued Thursday to homeowners after a Long Island woman's home was infested with "blood-sucking" parasites. It wa... more -
Eat more insects, scientists say
"Eating insects such as wasps and grasshoppers has health benefits and should be encouraged in the Western diet, scientists have said.
Eating insects is good for the environment as insects require forest to be preserved
The bugs are rich in protein and some minerals and are lower in cholesterol than beef or pork.
Research carried out at the National Autonomous University of Mexico found that 1,700 species are eaten in at least 113 countries across the world, usually as a substitute for meat." "Eating insects such as wasps and grasshoppers has health benefits and should be encouraged in the Western diet, scientists have said.... more -
Isabella Rossellini's Green Porno
Dressed as a fly, Isabella explains and reenacts the daily activities of the common housefly -- from dodging swatting papers to having sex several times a day. Her latest effort is a strange batch of two minute conceptual performance art shorts aimed to educate in a humorous fashion. It's an interesting take, what do you think?
You can view clips from Green Porno here: http://www.sundancechannel.com/greenporno Dressed as a fly, Isabella explains and reenacts the daily activities of the common housefly -- from dodging swatting papers to having... more -
United Kingdom Talk Thursday 15th May 2008
Thursday's edition of my three times a week talk show. Watch the show here on Current TV on Tues, Thurs & Sats.
In todays show :
The safety zone.
Fur everywhere.
A fly attacks.
Jobs are waiting to be done.
We hear from Julian & Romy.
Is this a sin ?
Suko's writings.
Free as a bird.
Happy tenants.
Taking stock of where you've got to in life.
Out for dinner last night.
Itchy nose.
lucky to have water.
Have I gone dim ?
Average weather - but is that better than extremes ?
In the confessional for years.
Trying other things.
What other job would you like to do ?
"The Bishops Avenue".
Our prize winning hanging basket man.
http://unitedkingdomtalk.forums4free.org/
Email :
chris@unitedkingdomtalk.co.uk
WWW.UNITEDKINGDOMTALK.CO.UK Thursday's edition of my three times a week talk show. Watch the show here on Current TV on Tues, Thurs & Sats. ... more -
Circuit-hungry ants invade Texas
File under Nature Fights Back...
An invasive species of ant, commonly known as "crazy rasberry ants" has taken Texas by swarm. For reasons not entirely understood by scientists, these ants have a liking for electronic equipment. So far the ants have been blamed for ruined pumps at sewage pumping stations, fouled computers, broken fire alarms and at least one homeowner's gas meter.
File under Nature Fights Back... ... more -
What's really in the food you eat?
Discovering what's really in the food you eat can be depressing. You've surely heard that Americans eat as much as two pounds of insects per year without knowing it. But that seems pretty benign compared with the other stuff you may be ingesting. Pesticides, rodent droppings, way more fat than you had ever imagined... Fortunately there are web resources to scare you / gross you out / educate you about what you're throwing down the hatch. This new information may not keep you from your favorite greasy spoon — nor should it — but it may help you choose some healthier or more sanitary options for your general snacking and dining. Discovering what's really in the food you eat can be depressing. You've surely heard that Americans eat as much as two pounds of insec... more
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Green Porno is here!
Is now for you to enjoy!
Thanks Sundance channel! (link contains the short films!)
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Green Porno is a series of very short films conceived, written, co-directed by and featuring Isabella Rossellini about the sex life of bugs, insects and various creatures. The films are a comical but insightful study of the curious ways certain bugs “make love”. “Green” echoes the ecological movement of today and our interest in nature, and “Porno” alludes to the racy ways bugs, insects and other creatures have sex, if human, these acts would not be allowed to be screened or air on television, considered instead as most filthy and obscene.
(Todd Brown for twitch.com) Is now for you to enjoy! Thanks Sundance channel! (link contains the short films!) - ... more -
Orchid Tricks Wasp Into doing the NASTY!: "HE'S NOT MY DADDY"!
All in the name of SURVIVAL...it turns out being sexually appealling to insects is the best way for a plant species to survive these days.
This puts a new twist on "the birds and the bees"...
All in the name of SURVIVAL...it turns out being sexually appealling to insects is the best way for a plant species to survive these d... more -
ROBOT + INSECT= Cyborg Insect: Resistance is Futile!
Researchers have developed ways to connect tiny electrodes to the neural system of insects.
This allows for control of flight and even can take input from the eyes!!!
Combining Insects and robots may make more effective systems, but are there any ethical concerns here? And where do we draw the line? If the technology exists to take over the control of higher forms of mammal or marine life, what then? Or is this already happenning? And who decides? Researchers have developed ways to connect tiny electrodes to the neural system of insects. ... more -
40,000 bugs eat a whole head of lettuce in one hour video
I got the creepies just watching it. Yuck!
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Insects
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Insects
