Clipmarks | Insects Clips

LOL people!!!!

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:30:06 GMT

clipped by: mooner-one

Urban Legends

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A man made "plague" to treat a plague

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:50:54 GMT

clipped by: balthazarus
clipper's remarks: It's a new concept, that looks very promising.
pre treating the disease, by infecting the carriers, mosquitos, with a virus which is harmless for humans.
Very interesting!

Clip Source: microbiologybytes.wordpress.com

Malaria Researchers Identify New Mosquito Virus

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have characterized a virus that is infectious to Anopheles gambiae - the mosquito primarily responsible for transmitting malaria.

this virus could potentially be used to pass on new genetic information to A. gambiae mosquitoes to help control malaria, which kills over one million people worldwide each year.

Paratransgenesis, the genetic manipulation of mosquito symbiotic microorganisms, is being considered as a potential strategy to control malaria.

Microorganisms associated with Anopheles mosquitoes could be manipulated to alter the mosquito’s ability to become infected with and transmit the malaria parasites, or reduce mosquito fecundity or lifespan.

AgDNV is a member of the Parvovirus family, a “densovirus”, which are quite common in mosquitoes and other insects, but do not infect vertebrates such as humans

still many years away from practical use

Tags: biology, medicine, malaria

Birds defend against coffee borers

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:51:34 GMT

clipped by: BirdBarista
clipper's remarks: I've seen this research presented at meetings, and will be writing about it in a future "Know your coffee birds" post

Clip Source: news.nationalgeographic.com

Millions of dollars have funded research to eradicate the coffee berry borer, and for decades, coffee farmers the world over have been battling the pest using every weapon they can muster, from traps to insecticide and even other insects—all with limited success.

But a simple solution may already exist in their own backyards: birds.

"By eating the pests that damage coffee crops, birds can provide a valuable service to coffee farmers," said ecologist Matthew Johnson. He's measured birds' protective effects on coffee plants in Jamaica—and concluded that farmers can reap more protection simply by providing the birds a friendlier environment.

When foraging birds were free to visit coffee plants, there was up to 14 percent less borer infestation than in plants that were caged off from the birds.

The researchers also found that berry damage was cut nearly in half, providing a significant boost in coffee yields and farm income.

The Future of Death at the Pentagon

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:52:16 GMT

clipped by: JICWyllie

Clip Source: www.tomdispatch.com

"How long until they start thinking about weaponizing insects as well?" Earlier this year, I answered my own question. Not long was the reply. I reported that DARPA was now working to create cyborg insects for surveillance purposes, and -- an even more frightening prospect -- "that such creatures could be weaponized, and the possibility, according to one scientist intimately familiar with the project, that these cyborg insects might be armed with 'bio weapons.'"

According to DARPA's current chief, some 85%-90% of its projects fail to meet their full objectives.

what now captivates DARPA researchers once captivated comic-book readers -- the dream of creating a real-life Captain America, that weakling-turned-Axis-smashing-super-patriot by way of "super soldier serum."

If you're a researcher in crucial fields and want the time, funding, and latitude to be creative, your work must benefit the Pentagon

Tags: politics, military, i-research, i-policy, i-ethics

Lots of 'Bees' Nesting in the Ground? 'Wasp' Out!

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:10:21 GMT

clipped by: dewitte

Clip Source: www.wtop.com

Ed in Clarksville, Md., writes: "We apparently have ground bees under the ivy growing under our deck. I used a can and a half of bee and wasp killer last week to no avail; there are just too many entrance spots. Would your tarp trick work here? It would probably kill the ivy but my wife and I got stung trimming the ivy so we are anxious to control this problem."

Well, Ed-ground-nesting insects that:

1) look like bees,
2) are highly active this time of year, and
3) aggressively sting people

are almost certainly yellowjackets.

They may look like bees but are actually a type of hornet-and very dangerous. If you've got a nest in a frequently-used area, it must be destroyed.

Tags: wasp, bee, yellowjacket

Butterflies and Dragonflies

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:37:33 GMT

clipped by: Kelika
clipper's remarks: Photos by Debra Cloud

Clip Source: photo.net

Tags: photos, insects

whan you "smell danger in the air,” it might literally be true..

Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:46:59 GMT

clipped by: einbar
clipper's remarks: "At the tip of the noses of mammals, including humans, is a ball of nerve cells known as the Grueneberg ganglion, named after Hans Grueneberg, the scientist who described the structure in mice in 1973".

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

How the Nose Sniffs Danger in the Air

The next time someone says, “I smell danger in the air,” that might literally be true — and the odor might be coming from you.

At the tip of the noses of mammals, including humans, is a ball of nerve cells

All sorts of organisms, including plants, insects and mammals, release “alarm pheromones” when they sense danger; the pheromones waft through the air to warn others. Very little is known about the alarm pheromones of mammals other than that they exist. Scientists have not identified the compounds; they do not know where in the body the pheromones are produced. Nonetheless, the Lausanne scientists could collect the pheromones by simply stressing mice and sucking up the air around them.

When other normal mice were exposed to the danger-scented air, they froze in their tracks. But mice whose Grueneberg ganglia had been excised did not notice anything wrong and continued to wander around their cages without a care in the world.

symptoms of cocaine

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:31:43 GMT

clipped by: hatenile
clipper's remarks: There are many myths and rumors that surround the properties and use of illegal and prescription drugs. Many people hold false perceptions on these topics, rooted in the spread of this misinformation. We have set out to clarify some of the actual facts about these drugs, just how addictive they really are, and some of the extreme treatments necessary to overcome these addictions. Below are the 10 most addictive drugs on the market today.

Clip Source: www.vistabay.com

Nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs in the U.S. and comes from the tobacco plant, which uses it as a natural protection against insects. Nicotine has a similar chemical structure to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine allowing it to gain both direct and indirect control over more than 200 chemicals in the brain. Short-term effects include: an increase in blood pressure, the flow of blood from the heart, and the heart rate, as well as narrowing of the arteries. Tar found in cigarettes can increase the risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and other bronchial disorders, while carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen carried in the blood. Impatience, irritability, anxiety, depression, restlessness, increased appetite, and weight gain are all symptoms of withdrawal and usually occur around 72 hours after the last nicotine intake. A wide variety of programs and products are available to aid in the recovery process.

5. OxyContin (Oxycodone)

Tags: addiction

Insects in the morning dew

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:52:45 GMT

clipped by: jona li

Clip Source: www.funniez.net

Spider webs

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:09:25 GMT

clipped by: kris_tea
clipper's remarks: Ok, I'm a huge a arachnophob, but I can't say that these aren't beautiful. The "mass" or comunal webs really freak me out though. Those two pics I believe are the 2 creepiest pics I've ever seen.

Clip Source: www.darkroastedblend.com

Spider Webs Glamour & Architecture

The above is a “fluffy” web taken in a park in Holland. It isn’t actually an attempt to take over the world but works as a kind of obstacle course. Its intention is to confuse insects and make them more likely to get trapped. It also helps the spider avoid being lunch for its enemies, such as wasps and birds.

Sometimes, many spiders will build webs together. The above is a beautiful picture but gives no real impression of the real size to which group webs can grow. Try the one below!

This giant communal spider web was photographed in Texas and measured over one hundred and eight meters in length. Entomologists think that it may be the results of socialization, with spiders deliberately building webs in unison that merge in to one giant net (for elephants possibly?). However, scientists have no real idea whether the spiders are working in a “Borg” like way or it is simply accidental.

Tags: spider webs, photography

Creepy Spidey Webs

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:25:02 GMT

clipped by: Kelika
clipper's remarks: I'd run screaming if I happened on one of these!

Clip Source: www.darkroastedblend.com

Chile peppers' spice is a built-in pesticide

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:40:08 GMT

clipped by: Kelika

Clip Source: www.latimes.com

If you like your chile peppers hot, thank a fungus.

The spicy fruits developed their kick to ward off invading pathogens bent on destroying chile seeds before they could grow into new plants, according to a study published Tuesday. The bigger the threat from microbial invaders, the more pungent the pepper.

Chiles are native to South America, where heat and humidity nurture the toxic fungus Fusarium semitectum. The fungus enters chiles through puncture holes made by hungry insects.

Chile peppers responded by growing built-in pesticides -- capsaicinoids, the chemical compounds that give chiles their distinctive zesty taste.

Those antifungal properties may have been the reason why people first domesticated chiles more than 6,000 years ago, said Paul W. Sherman, a professor of neurobiology and behavior at Cornell University who has studied the use of spices. Without refrigeration, ancient cooks would have needed a way to keep microbes from spoiling fresh food.

Tags: spice, food

Hairy Insects Use Bubble "Lungs" to Stay Underwater

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:33:20 GMT

clipped by: ChiVampir

Clip Source: news.nationalgeographic.com

Scientists have known since the 19th century that when aquatic insects dive underwater, they trap an air layer similar to a thin bubble around their bodies and use this air supply to breathe.

The new study is the first to describe exactly how the insects' air layers work

When aquatic insects dive, the layer of air forms between their waxy body surfaces and their rough covering of hairs.

The bubble is held to their hairs by surface tension, the same force that allows a leaf to float on a pool of water.

Air pressure inside the bubble is less than that of the surrounding water, allowing oxygen to flow into the air layer and then into the insect's body via spiracles—small openings that ultimately connect to its bloodstream.

For some insects, gases are exchanged across the bubble's surface, with oxygen being absorbed from the surrounding water while carbon dioxide is expelled.

Clip Source: news.nationalgeographic.com

Some insects, the researchers found, can dive down to 98 feet (30 meters) while maintaining their air supplies.

Experts Say the Planet's Biodiversity Crisis is Accelerating

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:21:32 GMT

clipped by: Silkweaver
clipper's remarks: ...If I disappear anytime soon know who to blame

Clip Source: www.dailygalaxy.com

Should we be alarmed at the current massive die-offs being noted in the animal and plant kingdoms? After all, new species arise and old species die off all the time. Its just nature taking its course, right? Not necessarily.

The Earth is now entering the sixth mass extinction event in its four-billion-year history, but what’s different about this die-off is that this is the only such event precipitated by a biotic agent: humans.

The extinction numbers far outweigh the emergence of new species.

As mass extinction occurs, experts say that we end up dealing with serious consequences.

Amphibians have been around for about 250 million years. They made it through when the dinosaurs didn't.

The fact that they're cutting out now should be a lesson for us

Over 10,000 scientists in the World Conservation Union have compiled data

currently 51 per cent of known reptiles, 52 per cent of known insects, and 73 per cent of known flowering plants are in danger along with many mammals, birds and amphibians.

Tags: animal life, biodiversity, mass extinction

Climate Chage Altering UK Bird Habits

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:57:52 GMT

clipped by: abailart

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

A number of UK bird species are laying eggs significantly earlier than they were 40 years ago, a report reveals.

A conservation coalition's report says some finches, robins and tits are all laying earlier and puts this down to warming caused by climate change.

The RSPB said birds were having to respond to climate change to survive.

"This year's report shows that climate change is with us already; and from our gardens to our seas, birds are having to respond rapidly to climate change simply to survive," said Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's conservation director.

This response to rising temperatures has been documented in birds, insects, plants and mammals across a range of continents, and it is no surprise that the UK's birds should be changing their habits too.

Tags: climate change, bird habits