Elaine's Place » Nature

Today’s Picture

Elaine — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:32:00 +0000

A “cute” primate so rare it was thought to be extinct has been caught on camera in the forests of Sri Lanka for the first time, scientists said Monday.

The Horton Plains slender loris is a small, nocturnal animal which can grow up to 17 centimetres (six inches) long with big, bulging eyes.

Don’t Get Too Close

Elaine — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:12:09 +0000

Yep, think I’ll just sit here on this old rusted hitch and look around. Don’t get too close though or I’ll start squawking at you. Spied yesterday in a neighbor’s driveway.

Are You A Mosquito Magnet?

Elaine — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:29:12 +0000

Mosquitoes find some people tastier than others. But a widespread notion is that women, to mosquitoes at least, are the sweeter sex, supposedly because estrogen is a strong attractant.

In reality, gender does play a role, but not in the way most people think. As one report in the Annals of Internal Medicine pointed out, men are more likely to be attacked, primarily because of their greater body size.

“Larger persons tend to attract more mosquitoes,” the study said, “perhaps because of their greater relative heat or carbon dioxide.”

A similar effect can be seen among women. When scientists compared pregnant women with their nonpregnant counterparts in a Lancet study in 2000, they found that the pregnant women attracted twice as many mosquitoes. The study noted that the pregnant women exhaled more carbon dioxide and had higher body temperatures, allowing mosquitoes to detect them more easily.

In addition to carbon dioxide, lactic acid is strong attractant, which is why people are attacked more when they are outside and sweating, said Dr. Clifford W. Bassett of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York.

“Mosquitoes can sense these chemicals off the skin from up to 30 meters away,” Dr. Bassett said.

For people who react strongly to bites, he recommends insect repellent and taking a non-sedating oral antihistamine — which can lessen the itch after a bite — before spending time outdoors.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Research suggests that men are more likely to be attacked by mosquitoes than are women.

Source:

Elaine’s Hummers

Elaine — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 02:32:33 +0000

This is too pretty not to share. Taken this morning, various Hummers at the feeder and flowers. Big thanks to Jodi for her collage making program. The original photos can be seen at my Flickr album.

Image: Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX20 IS

My Little Chickadee

Elaine — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:57:54 +0000

Today is a break from the usual health care gloom and doom and something sure to make you smile (or at least I hope so). I went to Kensington Metropark today and enjoyed the Black-capped Chickadee’s. They’re friendly and love visitors in their woods as long as you remember to bring along some seed.

Friday’s Picture

Elaine — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:44:53 +0000

Taken with iPhone today – Mill Pond, downtown Brighton, Michigan.

Hidden Stashes of Fall Foliage

Elaine — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:42:31 +0000

Picture of the day – Lake Champlain, in Essex, N.Y.,

Hidden Stashes of Fall Foliage – The New York Times > Escapes > Slide Show > Slide 1 of 14

Picture of the Day

Elaine — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:44:09 +0000

Taken on my morning walk.

Deck 2009

Elaine — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:33:28 +0000

Sharing my pretty flowers and birds. Hope this slideshow from Flickr works.