fauna

Biologist Robert Full studies the amazing gecko, with its supersticky feet and tenacious climbing skill. But high-speed footage reveals that the gecko’s tail harbors perhaps the most surprising talents of all.

Full talks about a concept he calls “biomutualism,” a back-and-forth process of contribution between disciplines that tends to contribute in surprising ways. In the video, it’s biologists and engineers. Fascinating talk.

ScienceDaily reporting on a possible cure for the Colony Collapse Disorder that has been decimating bee colonies across the United States.

For the first time, scientists have isolated the parasite Nosema ceranae (Microsporidia) from professional apiaries suffering from honey bee colony depopulation syndrome. They then went on to treat the infection with complete success.

Let’s hope the study translates to widespread recovery!

Having lived in a citrus community the past 20+ years, I’ve really had a change of heart regarding bees. I always thought they were cool, but at a distance. Once you get over your apprehension, though, it’s quite pleasant having them around your flowers and trees. Plus the local honey is great.

Speaking of honey, that was a substance I had a tough time with growing up. Loved it in things — oatmeal, graham crackers, etc., just not on anything. Nowadays, however, the more honey (and the more varieties) the better. Yay bees!

The CNN headline: “Polar bear attacks woman at Berlin Zoo”

The real story: “Woman jumps into polar bear habitat during feeding time”

Now what do you suppose would have happened to a bear if it wandered near a human habitat at the primates’ feeding time?

Yep, it’s that time of year. Humans aren’t the only ones on our local trails — now you can come across more slithery hikers as well.

The aptly named “Staff Writer” has the details on snakes in the local area, thanks to the Redlands Conservancy and the Daily Facts, “Snakes on the trails”:

Hikers on Redlands’ rural trails already have noticed the snake tracks crossing the trails. It’s the time of year when snakes of all stripes come out of hibernation and take to the trails.

“Snakes on the rural trails in the canyon areas are just a part of life in the country,” said Sherli Leonard, executive director of the Redlands Conservancy.

“Anyone who uses the trails must be aware that they may encounter a snake, and use the trails with caution. Keep all dogs leashed so they don’t encounter the snake, either. If this is intimidating, people should probably wait until later in the year to use the trails.”

These suggestions apply no matter where you’re at in the SoCal area.

Yes, as if the produce section weren’t frightening enough, now you have to watch out for Brazilian Wandering Spiders wandering around the bananas.

TULSA, OK — The world’s deadliest spider found in a Tulsa grocery store. An employee at Whole Foods Market at 1401 East 41st Street found a Brazilian Wandering Spider wandering around in their produce section.

The store handed the spider over to biologists at the University of Tulsa who say that employee is lucky to be alive.

According to Wikipedia,

The Brazilian wandering spiders (Phoneutria spp.), armed spiders (“aranhas armadeiras”, as they are known in Portuguese) or banana spiders (not to be confused with the relatively harmless species of the genus Nephila) are a genus of aggressive and highly venomous spiders found in tropical South and Central America. These spiders are members of the Ctenidae family of wandering spiders.

The Brazilian wandering spiders appear in the Guinness Book of World Records 2007 as the world’s most venomous spiders and are the spiders considered directly responsible for most human deaths due to envenomation from spider bites.

So, yeah, look twice before picking up your next bunch. :)

Via Boing Boing.