Monthly Archives: November 2014

Small Wet World of Soldier Fly Larvae

Posted on November 30, 2014 by jjneal

This image of the abdominal tip of a soldier fly larva by Fabrice Parais, won honorable mention at the 2014 Nikon Small World. It captures the respiratory fringe with an air bubble. The lighting in this image is supurb and … Continue reading →

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

Snow Scorpionfly

Posted on November 29, 2014 by jjneal

Our understanding of the relationship of the Siphonaptera (fleas) to other insect groups has recently changed due to the availability of DNA data. The closest relatives of fleas appear to be the Snow Scorpionflies of the family, Boreidae. These tiny … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment, Taxonomy | 1 Comment

Living With Sticktight Fleas

Posted on November 28, 2014 by jjneal

The sticktight flea, Echidnophaga gallinacea, is an exotic species in North America that feeds on birds and small mammals. It is not typically assoicated with the wild bird population. However, Boughton and colleagues* reported Florida Scrub Jays (a species threatened … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Invasive Species, Pest Management | 1 Comment

Turkey for Thanksgiving

Posted on November 27, 2014 by jjneal

Turkey is associated with Thanksgiving feasts. However, holiday revelers are not the only ones feeding on turkeys. A variety of insects will feed on turkey including the sticktight flea, Echidnophaga gallinacea. Sticktight fleas are not native to North America. They … Continue reading →

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

Flea ID

Posted on November 26, 2014 by jjneal

Historically, morphological characters have been used to identify insect species. Often morphological differences between species are slight and require careful examination by trained experts. For example, the Cat Flea, Ctenocephalides felix, and the Dog Flea, Ctenocephalides canis, must be viewed … Continue reading →

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

Plague Origens

Posted on November 25, 2014 by jjneal

The bubonic plague is quiescent for long periods, then suddenly erupts as a major disease. One of the puzzles is why it does this. Part of the answer is development of resistance in host populations. The plague kills those least … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Health | Leave a comment

Plague Vectors

Posted on November 24, 2014 by jjneal

The most studied of the bubonic plague vectors is the Oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis. This flea is considered the primary vector of bubonic plague in urban areas. The island of Madagascar, the site of a worrisome number of plague … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Health, Invasive Species, Pest Management | 1 Comment