Category Archives: Health

Ant-i Zombie

Posted on May 27, 2012 by

I have previously discussed a fungus (Ophiocordyceps) that attacks ants and takes over the brain of the ant. The fungus manipulates the behavior of the ant so that the fungus can be widely disseminated to infect other ants. This interaction … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment, Health | Leave a comment

Malaria Fighting Fashion

Posted on May 19, 2012 by

Clothing treated with insect repellent or insecticide has been available for a number of years. In the US, mosquito repellent clothing is popular with hunters and primarily available in styles that are popular with outdoorsmen. There is no reason why … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, by jjneal, Health, Pest Management | Leave a comment

Friday Cat-erpillar Blogging: The Climate for Caterpillars

Posted on May 4, 2012 by

Oak processionary caterpillars, Thaumetopoea processionea, have invaded London. These caterpillars have thousands of urticating hairs that can cause a painful rash and dermatitis. The hairs can be carried on the wind and cause symptoms in people who are in the … Continue reading →

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Friday Cat-erpillar Blogging: A Prickly Problem

Posted on April 28, 2012 by

PLoS publishes an online journal of “Neglected Tropical Diseases”. The tropical areas often have lower density populations than temperate zones, and there are fewer scientists to investigate health issues. However, these “neglected” diseases can adversely affect many people. “Pararama associated … Continue reading →

Posted in Biomaterials, by jjneal, Caterpillar Blogging, Health | Leave a comment

Living With Insect Bites

Posted on April 26, 2012 by

The insects most likely to bite humans in Indiana are mosquitoes, flies, fleas and more recently bedbugs. Most blood feeding insects that pierce the skin have salivary secretions that are injected into the bite area. These secretions typically contain anti-coagulants, … Continue reading →

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Climate for Disease

Posted on April 25, 2012 by

Some of the diseases that afflict humans living in or visiting tropical or subtropical areas are confined to those regions because of climate. As the climate warms, species that were excluded from much of the temperate zone by cold temperatures … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment, Health, Invasive Species | Leave a comment

Allergy to Cockroaches?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by

Is Allergy to Chocolate Due to Cockroach Allergy? Inquiring minds have been asking that question since at least the 1970s. Harry S. Bernton, MD, wrote an answer to the question in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1970. … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Food, Health | Leave a comment