After a friend of mine travel to Costa Rica the summer of 2006 he contracted West Nile Virus. He had thought he caught the flu from his constant surfing and rainy weather but the flu wasn't the culprit.
West Nile Virus can be transmitted by something as typical as a mosquito bite. Although the chances of contracting the virus are quite low, people who live or plan to travel in mosquito infested areas can contract it.contract West Nile Virus when they feed on infected birds. The infected blood circulates within a mosquito's salivary glands for a few days. When a human or animal is bitten by an infected mosquito it may take three to fourteen days for West Nile Virus symtoms to show up. Not everyone who contracts the virus will have a severe reaction. West Nile Virus symptoms can be very mild ranging from a small fever and flu-like symptoms or it can result in permanent neurological affects or even death.
West Nile Virus originated in remote areas such as Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia, and the Middle East. Until 1999 it had not previously been documented in the Western Hemisphere. While we are not sure where the U.S. and Canadian virus originated it is thought to have come from strains found in the middle-east.
I find Love Bugs very interesting. I've always wondered why this bugs are almost inseparable. Growing up in Florida there has been many of these intriguing bugs around and my grandma use to say if the bugs landed on you that meant you were in love. After researching love bugs which belong to a family of march flies, I learned the scientific name of lovebugs is plecia nearctica.Urban legend holds that lovebugs are synthetic the result of a University of Floridagenics experiment gone wrong.Lovebugs are most common in parts of central America and the southeastern United States.Adult lovebugs are usually coupled for days during and after mating even in flight for up to several days.Adults females live only 3 or 4 days but males may live longer.Lovebugs are common foods for birds such as quail and robins.
The Deep Sea Dragonfish, is a ferocious predator in spite of its small size. It is one of many species known to inhabit the deep oceans of the world. This fish grows to about six inches in length. It has a large head and mouth equipped with many sharp, fang-like teeth. The dragonfish has a long barbel attached to its chin. This barbel is tipped with a light-producing organ known as a photophore. The dragonfish uses this organ like a fishing lure, flashing it on and off and waving it back and forth. Once an unsuspecting fish gets too close, it is snapped up in the dragonfish's powerful jaws. The dragonfish also has photophores along the sides of its body. These light organs may be used to signal other dragonfish during mating. They may also serve to attract and disorient prey fishes from deep below. The Dragonfish lives in deep ocean waters at depths of up to 5000 feet (1,500 meters). They are found in most tropical regions around the world.
The dragonfish can use its light-producing barbel like a fishing lure. By flashing it on and off and waving it back and forth, it is thought that the dragonfish can attract the attention of its potential meal. Once an unsuspecting fish gets too close, it is snapped up in the dragonfish's powerful jaws.
Classification
Species:
atlanticus
Genus:
Idiacanthus
Subfamily:
Idiacanthinae
Family:
Stomiidae
Order:
Stomiiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia
Distribution
The species occurs in subtropical and temperate marine waters of the southern hemisphere. The subfamily Idiacanthinae contains three species, two of which, Idiacanthus fasciola Peters, 1877 and Idiacanthus atlanticus occur in Australian waters.
