joined on 02/18/08
last updated 05/19/08
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Ok, you folks have heard me preach about the widow spiders in Florida. I finally have my own pet brown widow. I accidentally ran my hand through her web coming home late from work one night. I recognized the texture of the strong web even in total darkness and confirmed it moments later when I could grab a flashlight. I have taken some pictures and video of this beautiful creature and will post them soon to share with you. My spider is a virgin so unfortunately, she is not spinning an e...
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I was involved in an ICO outing with the Sierra Club this weekend and learned a fascinating fact about the Gopher Tortoise that taught me a life lesson. The Gopher Tortoise digs it's nest at a 30 degree angle, sometimes as deep as several meters. Along the tunnel there are several rooms that it digs out for a variety of utilitarian purposes, nesting, food storage, sleep, etc.. well, when natural disasters such as fire occur, all the creatures in the forest run for safety. Those that mana...
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I stumbled upon a species I had never heard of before and... wow, what an intriguing species this is. This is a mosquito born vector that would freak anyone out. The species is (Dermatobia hominis) it is one of several species in which it's larva live as a parasite in it's host but the only one that is known to attack humans. The eggs will hatch immediately upon contact with the warm flesh of a mammal and the larva bore in to the skin to begin feeding until it is ready to pupate.
Wha...
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We have all heard by now the stats on the latest Salmonella infection. This can be the beginning of a really big problem, and it is not a new one. Bacterial infections have wiped out entire civilizations throughout history. Even with today’s technology and information exchange, one of the most perplexing aspects of microbiology is the amazing perseverance to survive the tiniest of creatures has exhibited. Below is a clip from the web site of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. You...
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I know this topic is kinda gross, but it is interesting nonetheless. This came to me after following a research link to diatoms. I have included the link below. I think it is fairly common knowledge that the human body is host to a fairly large variety and number of parasites, in most cases we are healthy enough to provide sustenance to the invaders without any real danger to our own health. Often, signs of parasitic population within the human body are mistaken for other more palatable con...
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Brown Widow
(blog entry)
Ok, you folks have heard me preach about the widow spiders in Florida. I finally have my own pet brown widow. I accidentally ran my hand through her web coming home late from work one night. I recognized the texture of the strong web even in t...
read more
Natural Cooperation
(blog entry)
I was involved in an ICO outing with the Sierra Club this weekend and learned a fascinating fact about the Gopher Tortoise that taught me a life lesson. The Gopher Tortoise digs it's nest at a 30 degree angle, sometimes as deep as several meter...
read more
Bot Flies
(blog entry)
I stumbled upon a species I had never heard of before and... wow, what an intriguing species this is. This is a mosquito born vector that would freak anyone out. The species is (Dermatobia hominis) it is one of several species in which it's la...
read more
Salmonilla infections
(blog entry)
We have all heard by now the stats on the latest Salmonella infection. This can be the beginning of a really big problem, and it is not a new one. Bacterial infections have wiped out entire civilizations throughout history. Even with today’s techn...
read more
Parasitic Worms
(blog entry)
I know this topic is kinda gross, but it is interesting nonetheless. This came to me after following a research link to diatoms. I have included the link below. I think it is fairly common knowledge that the human body is host to a fairly large ...
read more
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