Watch Out for Zombie Bees

Maciej Czyżewski, CC-BY-SA-3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

"Zombie bees" (aka zombees) are showing up is some parts of the United States. Don't worry, they aren't coming after our brains. The poor critters are infested with a parasite.

Apocephalus borealis, a fly known as the "scuttle fly" or "zombie fly", is the culprit. This insect has been known to infect bumble bees and paper wasps in the past, but now it is also using honey bees as hosts. The adult fly lands on the bee's back and injects the eggs into the abdomen. The eggs hatch, and the maggots eat the bee from the inside while they grow. Once a bee is infected, it will abandon the hive at night and fly around erratically in movements reminiscent of a zombie. This goes on until the bee dies and the maggots crawl out to pupate. 

As of October 3, 2012, the problem is primarily in California, where the bees were first discovered in 2008. However, confirmed cases of infection have also been confirmed in Oregon and Washington State, and as far east as South Dakota. The flies themselves have been found scattered across the United States and Canada, all the way to the east coast.    

The honey bee has been a victim of unexplained die-offs around the world in recent years. Bees are also susceptible to a variety of other parasites, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The zombie fly is yet another threat to populations of one of our most important pollinators.

You can find updates on the spread of the infection at ZomBee Watch.

Some Pets Can Contract the West Nile Virus

Electron Micrograph of West Nile Virus (CDC Image, via Wikimedia Commons, PD-USGov)

2012 was a record year for the West Nile virus. We already know that this virus is zoonotic, which means it can pass from animals to humans, and from humans to animals. What does this mean for our furry, feathered, and scaly friends?

West Nile Virus in Cats and Dogs
There are two ways a dog or cat could possibly be exposed to this disease. He may be bitten by an infected mosquito, or may decide to snack on an infected prey animal such as a mouse. That being said, dog and cat owners can relax a bit. The West Nile virus doesn't seem to cause much harm to our two most popular pets. In an experiment, cats and dogs were intentionally infected with the virus (yeah, I'm not crazy about that either). The dogs and some of the cats didn't show any symptoms, and the rest of the cats experienced only mild symptoms such as lethargy and a slight fever. (You can read the report here, but I recommend stopping after the abstract if you're a cat and/or dog lover).

Even though WNV probably won't harm the health of your cat or dog, if you notice any suspicious symptoms, contact your veterinarian. He or she can provide supportive care for your pet if necessary.

Reptiles and Amphibians
Studies have been done with iguanas, garter snakes, bullfrogs, and turtles (specifically, red-eared sliders). In one experiment, the iguanas, snakes, and bullfrogs became infected, but none exhibited symptoms. In a different study involving only garter snakes, 4 of 9 snakes died. Young crocodiles and alligators seem to be the most susceptible to WNV - there have been outbreaks of the disease among wild alligators in multiple states. Also, there have been transmission studies that strongly suggest the virus can pass directly from an infected alligator to tankmates. Symptoms to watch out for are "star gazing" and mouth lesions.

Horses
There's good news and bad news for horse owners. First, the bad news is that horses are susceptible to the WNV. Most horses that get bitten do not get sick, however, those that do get sick show symptoms of encephalitis such as loss of appetite, depression, weakness, muscle twitching, paralysis, convulsions, or coma. The good news is that vaccines are available for horses. Vaccination is obviously your best protection, but other ways to reduce your horse's risk include: keep your horse inside during peak mosquito times, set up fans in the stable to help keep mosquitoes out, eliminate standing water, and check the property frequently for dead birds. If you do find a dead bird, call your local health department, and of course, never touch a dead wild animal with your bare hands.

Small Mammals (Pocket Pets)
Many small mammals have been experimentally infected with WNV. Mice, rats, and hamsters developed clinical signs (some severe). Guinea pigs and rabbits, however, did not become sick.

West Nile Virus in Pet Birds
Wild birds are the primary hosts of the West Nile virus. Crows, jays, thrushes, chickadees, and raptors are among the most affected. The virus has been reported in approximately 300 species of birds, so as one might guess, pet birds can become infected as well. Fortunately for parrots and their owners, psittacines seem to have at least some resistance. However, there have been a few cases in parrots such as macaws, cockatoos, conures, budgies, and cockatiels, so no bird is 100% safe. Some birds with the virus experience weight loss, weakness, fluffed feathers, or neurological symptoms such as paralysis, lack of coordination, circling, or seizures. Other birds experience no symptoms at all. For some, the only symptom is sudden death.

Officially, there is no vaccine available for birds,* and you should never use insect repellents on or near your bird due to the fact that birds are much more sensitive to chemicals than we humans are. So, how do you protect your birds? If your birds are indoors, they are pretty well protected as long as you keep your doors and windows closed (or screened) to avoid letting mosquitoes into the house. If your birds are in an outdoor aviary, you may wish to consider bringing them inside during peak mosquito times. If that's not possible, you can try using mosquito netting, and of course, make sure there's no standing water nearby.

As always, if you notice any symptoms, contact your veterinarian.

*Some zoos are using the equine WNV vaccine on their outdoor birds, and are experiencing some success with it. However, the vaccine has not been officially approved for birds as of yet.

Those Scary-looking Anglerfish With the Big Teeth are Female

Public Domain Image (PD-1923) via Wikimedia Commons

This deep sea fish may be familiar due to its appearance in Finding Nemo, as well as its appearance on almost every list of "the world's ugliest animals." However, you're not likely to see one in person. Seeing a male deep sea anglerfish would be even less likely, and if you did see one, you probably wouldn't know it. When it comes to the humpback anglerfish (the kind in the above drawing) and "sea devils," the fishing lure and huge mouth full of teeth belong only to the females.

You may wonder where the males are. Well, you'll usually find them connected to the body of the female. When a male angler becomes sexually mature, his digestive system stops working. His options are then to either die of starvation, or find a female and join with her as a parasite. Neither option is a great one for the poor male. When he finds a female, he bites her, and then his mouth dissolves into her body. Their blood vessels merge, and over time, the male's organs are absorbed until the only things left of him are his gonads. The female can then use them when she wants to spawn, and she can end up with up to six "males" attached to her.

As far as the lure and giant teeth: the female uses her lure like a human angler would - to draw her prey (other fish) close enough for her to snatch with those teeth. The teeth are angled inward to help keep the prey from escaping, and her jaw and body are pliable enough to allow her to eat prey twice her size.

(Apologies for the lack of updates lately. My classes are starting to take up most of my time. I'll post again soon... I promise!)

The Blue-Footed Booby Has Multipurpose Feet

Photo Credit: Maros (via Wikimedia Commons)

The Blue-Footed Booby is a bird with feet that are made for more than just walking. Like most seabirds, his feet are webbed and work as paddles for swimming and diving. On the downside, the web shape makes the bird clumsy as he walks on land, which is where his funny name came from ("booby" comes from the Spanish word "bobo," which means "stupid" or "clown"). Even so, the male blue-footed booby is quite proud of his feet, and he uses them to help attract a mate.

As one may guess from this bird's name, the feet are often blue in color. However, the color actually ranges from bright green to dull blue. When the male is ready to attract a female, he will perform a courtship dance full of struts and high steps - all moves meant to show off his feet. Studies have shown that females tend to prefer bright green, and that the color is dependent on the amount of carotenoids in the diet. Therefore, it seems the color is an indicator of the booby's nutritional condition (and suitability as a mate). 

The blue-footed booby has one more important use for those feet. These birds do not have brood patches (a bare patch of skin on the bird's belly for sitting on the eggs), so they use their feet to keep the eggs warm. The parents will continue using their feet to keep the babies warm even after hatching, as the chicks are unable to control their own temperatures for about the first month of life. 

A Cheetah's Speed Has a Downside

Photo Credit: Marlene Thyssen (via Wikimedia Commons)

We all know the cheetah is one fast cat. They can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in a little over 3 seconds, and can reach speeds of 70 miles per hour, making the cheetah the fastest land animal. Watch a cheetah run and you can't help but be impressed. Their stride can be as long as 25 feet, and at top speed, they can make 3 strides per second. Unfortunately, this amazing speed has a downside for the cheetah.

A cheetah is literally built for speed - their bodies are aerodynamic in shape, they have huge hearts for pumping lots of blood, large lungs and nostrils, a flexible spine, and a long tail that can act as a rudder and counterweight to keep the cat steady as he runs and turns. This sounds great for the cheetah, but it turns out that running is practically the only survival skill he has.

The cheetah weighs an average of 125 pounds, which is small for a big cat. When the cheetah runs at top speed (which he can only do in a short burst), the heart pumps so hard and the body becomes so hot that brain damage can occur if the cat doesn't rest before eating. During the rest period, other predators or scavengers can come in and steal the prey, and there's nothing the cheetah can do about it. The cat is exhausted, and due to his aerodynamic shape, he doesn't have the muscle mass or strong jaws and teeth needed to fight back. All he can do is run.

Some people believe the overspecialization is part of why the cheetah is endangered, but most researchers believe the primary issue is the usual human created problem of habitat loss, along with loss of genetic variation. Fortunately, groups such as the Cheetah Conservation Fund are working to make sure this beautiful cat survives. 

Elephants Make Great Mothers (and Grandmas, Aunts, Sisters and Cousins)

Photo Credit: Gorgo (via Wikimedia Commons)

Yesterday, we talked about how alligators are great moms. On Mother's Day, we'll talk about another great mom from the animal kingdom - the elephant.

Female elephants have a complex social structure which is centered around the raising of offspring. When a young female reaches the age of around thirteen, she'll go into her first estrus. In other words, she'll be "in heat." This phase only lasts a few days, and will be one of the only times an adult male elephant is involved in a herd (males are usually solitary once they come of age). After mating, the female will carry the baby for 20 - 22 months. When the mother goes into labor, the entire herd will surround her and stand guard while she gives birth to a 150 - 220 pound calf. The herd will then greet the newborn, who is born practically blind and with few survival instincts.

Over the next two years, the calf will be dependent on her mother for food. She will survive completely on her mother's milk for the first few months of her life, and will drink about 10 quarts (about 9.5 liters) every day, which is enough for her to gain 30 pounds a week. The calf will start eating on her own at around age two, but mother's milk will still be a part of her diet.

The mother isn't the only one who takes care of the baby. The rest of the herd, which will consist primarily of related females (with some male calves) will aid in protection, teaching survival skills, helping out if the baby falls or gets stuck, and so on. 

If the calf is a female, she will remain with the herd once she becomes an adult (if the herd becomes too large, some of the elder females will break off and start their own herd). If the calf is male, he will head out on his own at around the age of sixteen.

Happy Mother's Day!

Female Alligators are Great Mothers

Photo Credit: William Stamps Howard (via Wikimedia Commons)

When we think of animals that are good parents, reptiles usually don't come to mind. We tend to think that reptiles aren't very maternal - that they lay their eggs and move on with their lives. However, alligator mothers are some of the best moms around! (With babies as cute as the ones in the picture, how can they not be?)

A female alligator will begin breeding when she is between 7 and 12 years old. Males and females come together to mate in spring, and once the deed is done, the female will search for a place to build a nest. She will gather reeds and other plants to create the mound shaped nest, which will be about 3 - 3.5  feet tall and 7 feet wide. Then she'll lay between 20 and 60 eggs and will cover them up. She'll let the heat from the vegetation in the nest keep the eggs warm (being huge and cold-blooded, she doesn't sit on the eggs to warm them with her body like a bird would). 

The mom remains on guard near the nest for a little over two months while the eggs incubate. The babies chirp as they hatch, and when the mom hears the sound, she'll uncover the nest. If any babies are having difficulty hatching, mom will gently roll the egg in her mouth to crack it. Once all babies are out, mom will carry them in her mouth to the water, where they'll gather together in a pod. 

Baby alligators can hunt and swim, but they are too small to defend themselves from predators such as raccoons, snakes, raptors and herons. The mom will use her powerful jaws and huge body to protect as many of her babies as she can, and the family stays together for at least a year (sometimes two).