ScienceDaily: Spider and Tick News

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07/27/10--09:19: Native-like spider silk produced in metabolically engineered bacteria (chan 1615582)

Biomolecular engineers have developed technology to artificially create spider dragline silk proteins that can be used to make ultra-strong synthetic fibers and bulletproof vests.


08/02/10--19:17: Why are male spiders small while females are giant? (chan 1615582)

'Bridging', an unusual mode of getting around frequently used by vegetation-inhabiting spiders to cross large gaps, may partly explain the tendency for male spiders to be much smaller than females. Researchers studied bridging, in which spiders use the wind to carry a strand of web to their destination and then clamber upside down along the resulting bridge, finding that small size was associated with a greater ability to carry out the maneuver.


09/29/10--11:21: Scientists genetically engineer silkworms to produce artificial spider silk (chan 1615582)

Researchers have succeeded in producing transgenic silkworms capable of spinning artificial spider silks.


09/30/10--08:22: Need to undertake epidemiological monitoring programs for ticks confirmed (chan 1615582)

Researchers have undertaken a study of ticks, tick-borne diseases and the reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens, which has confirmed the importance of continuous surveillance programs to monitor these arthropods.


10/11/10--14:32: Invasive honeysuckle increase risk of tick-borne disease in suburbs (chan 1615582)

We often read about dreadful new zoonoses -- animal diseases that are now infecting people -- that have jumped species in distant parts of the world such as Asia or Africa and are now headed our way. But Missouri has its own new zoonoses, tick-borne diseases whose spread is encouraged by pest species such as white-tailed deer and invasive plants such as bush honeysuckle. In Missouri as in Africa or Asia, the loss of a biodiversity takes a toll in human health.


10/29/10--12:27: Dracula orchids and goblin spiders (chan 1615582)

Observation of fruit flies pollinating Dracula orchids and discovery of over two dozen new goblin spiders: two recent publications from invertebrate zoologists provide a timely bit of natural history.


11/02/10--13:40: Getting rid of cattle fever ticks (chan 1615582)

Scientists at the US Department of Agriculture have developed two strategies to ward off cattle fever ticks that are crossing the border from Mexico into the United States.


12/02/10--16:43: Biologist tracks spiders' eyes to learn how tiny brains process information (chan 1615582)

Over the next year, spiders watching videos of their prey are going to help biologists understand how animals choose which visual elements to attend to in their environments. She believes we are on the verge of gaining important new knowledge about how brains and specialized sensory systems work together to process visual information.


12/16/10--16:05: More than 100 new species described by California Academy of Sciences in 2010 (chan 1615582)

In an effort to address the critical need for data about the diversity of life on Earth, scientists from the California Academy of Sciences have spent the past year exploring some of the planet's most diverse habitats, searching for new species and creating comprehensive biodiversity maps. In 2010, they have added 113 new relatives to our family tree: 83 arthropods, 20 fishes, four corals, two sea slugs, two plants, one reptile, and one fossil mammal.


01/24/11--08:11: Spiders adjust courtship signals for maximum effect (chan 1615582)

Male wolf spiders produce multiple courtship signals -- vibrations and visual cues -- to attract females. New research shows that when courting, these males can modify their mating signals depending on the environmental surface (soil, rock, wood, leaves) in order to ensure that their message gets through.


01/24/11--08:11: People aren't born afraid of spiders and snakes: Fear is quickly learned during infancy (chan 1615582)

There's a reason why Hollywood makes movies like Arachnophobia and Snakes on a Plane: Most people are afraid of spiders and snakes. A new article reviews research with infants and toddlers and finds that we aren't born afraid of spiders and snakes, but we can learn these fears very quickly.


02/14/11--17:18: Living fast but dying older is possible -- if you're a sheep (chan 1615582)

Modern humans may live longer than hunter gatherers, chimpanzees, mountain sheep or the European robin, but what does that tell us about how we age relative to other species? Not much, according to new research, which looks at a new way of comparing how different species age.


02/15/11--16:16: Tick population plummets in absence of lizard hosts (chan 1615582)

The Western fence lizard's reputation for helping to reduce the threat of Lyme disease is in jeopardy. A new study found that areas where the lizard had been removed saw a subsequent drop in the population of the ticks that transmit Lyme disease. The decline in tick numbers suggests a decreased risk of human exposure to Lyme disease when the lizard is gone.


03/01/11--09:19: Scientists unravel the mysterious mechanics of spider silk (chan 1615582)

Scientists now have a better understanding of why spider silk fibers are so incredibly strong. Recent research describes the architecture of silk fibers from the atomic level up and reveals new information about the molecular structure that underlies the amazing mechanical characteristics of this fascinating natural material.


03/02/11--04:58: Ecological adaptation likely to influence impacts of climate change (chan 1615582)

Animals' capacity to adapt is a factor in how they are likely to respond to changing climate conditions.


03/09/11--10:19: Newly identified spider toxin may help uncover novel ways of treating pain and human diseases (chan 1615582)

Spider venom toxins are useful tools for exploring how ion channels operate in the body. These channels control the flow of ions across cell membranes, and are key components in a wide variety of biological processes and human diseases.


03/22/11--12:13: Newly discovered virus implicated in deadly Chinese outbreaks (chan 1615582)

Outbreaks of a mysterious and deadly disease in central China have been linked to a previously unknown virus. Five years ago, large numbers of farmers in central China began falling victim to an mysterious disease marked by high fever, gastrointestinal disorder and an appalling mortality rate -- as high as 30 percent in initial reports.


03/29/11--06:56: Spiders target mate-luring signals from 'vibrating' insects (chan 1615582)

Insects using vibration to attract a mate are at risk of being eaten alive by killer spiders, scientists have discovered.


03/30/11--06:41: Prevention is better than cure for zoonotic diseases (chan 1615582)

The risk of contracting zoonotic diseases that pass from animals to humans appears to be on the increase in the UK, but encouraging countryside users to take simple precautions to protect themselves is the best response, according to new research.


04/01/11--09:14: When food is scarce, hungry female spiders alter mating preferences (chan 1615582)

Weather and environmental change can bring alterations -- and scarcity -- in food resources. In looking at how such changes might affect mating choices and subsequent reproduction, researchers studied how hunger affects the mating preferences of common female spiders.


04/21/11--18:07: Jurassic spider from China is largest fossil specimen discovered (chan 1615582)

With a leg span of more than five inches, a recently named Jurassic period spider from China is the largest fossil specimen discovered, and one that has modern relatives in tropical climates today.


04/21/11--18:22: Brown recluse spider: Range could expand in N. America with changing climate (chan 1615582)

One of the most feared spiders in North America -- the brown recluse -- is the subject a new study that aims to predict its distribution and how that distribution may be affected by climate changes. Researchers believe that the range may expand northward, potentially invading previously unaffected regions. Newly influenced areas may include parts of Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.


04/30/11--11:38: Spiders in space: Researchers observe arachnid habits in a microgravity environment (chan 1615582)

The very idea of spiders in space brings to mind campy, black and white horror films involving eight-legged monsters. In actuality, it is a scientific investigation called Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus Science Insert-05 or CSI-05, in which researchers observe arachnid habits in a microgravity environment. This is the second spider investigation on the International Space Station -- the first was CSI-03 -- and researchers have high hopes that the sequel will eclipse the original.


05/12/11--07:39: Deer tick bacteria DNA in joint fluid not reliable marker of active lyme arthritis, study finds (chan 1615582)

New research shows that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Borrelia burgdorferi DNA--the spirochetal bacteria transmitted by deer ticks--in joint fluid may confirm the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis, but is not a reliable indicator for active joint infection in patients whose arthritis persists after antibiotic therapy.


05/16/11--04:59: Tarantulas shoot silk from their feet (chan 1615582)

Most spiders have no problem holding onto vertical surfaces, but not tarantulas; they are always on the verge of falling. So what helps tarantulas hold tight? Researchers have found that slipping tarantulas shoot silk safety threads from their feet to reattach themselves when they lose hold.


05/18/11--05:01: Imaging technology reveals intricate details of 49-million-year-old spider (chan 1615582)

Scientists have used the latest computer-imaging technology to produce stunning three-dimensional pictures of a 49-million-year-old spider trapped inside an opaque piece of fossilized amber resin.


05/20/11--07:48: Spiders suffer from human impact (chan 1615582)

Researchers looked at whether spiders were more tolerant of human impact than other animals. The answer was no: arachnids suffer the consequences of changes to their landscape just like any other animal.


05/31/11--07:22: Scientists crack the spiders' web code (chan 1615582)

Decorative white silk crosses are an ingenious tactic used by orb-weaving spiders to protect their webs from damage, a new study has revealed.


06/09/11--07:55: How spiders breathe under water: Spider's diving bell performs like gill extracting oxygen from water (chan 1615582)

Water spiders spend their entire lives under water, only venturing to the surface to replenish their diving bell air supply. Yet no one knew how long the spiders could remain submerged until Roger Seymour and Stefan Hetz measured the bubble's oxygen level. They found that the diving bell behaves like a gill sucking oxygen from the water and the spiders only need to dash to the surface once a day to supplement their air supply.


06/16/11--16:39: Lyme disease bacteria take cover in lymph nodes (chan 1615582)

The bacteria that cause Lyme disease appear to hide out in the lymph nodes, triggering a significant immune response, but one that is not strong enough to rout the infection, report researchers.


06/21/11--10:13: Lyme disease tick adapts to life on the (fragmented) prairie (chan 1615582)

A new study offers a detailed look at the status of Lyme disease in Central Illinois and suggests that deer ticks and the Lyme disease bacteria they host are more adaptable to new habitats than previously appreciated.


06/24/11--05:35: Borrelia infection in ticks in Norway (chan 1615582)

The most common tick-borne disease in humans is Lyme borreliosis. Extensive field and laboratory tests have revealed that the Borrelia bacterium is present in a larger proportion of ticks than has been shown by earlier studies. Another finding is that migratory birds play an important role in the spreading of ticks and pathogenic agents borne by ticks.


06/30/11--10:18: Predicting locations for deer vs. car collisions (chan 1615582)

Researchers have produced a map of Edmonton, in the western Canadian province of Alberta, predicting the most likely locations where vehicles will collide with deer. These collisions can be fatal for drivers and their passengers. The hot spots for deer vs. vehicle collisions virtually encircle Edmonton along the city limit, border line.


06/30/11--19:00: Tarantula's double beating heart revealed by MRI (chan 1615582)

A specialized magnetic resonance imaging scanner has been used on tarantulas for the first time, giving unprecedented videos of the spider's heart beating. The images showed possible "double beating," a type of contraction which has never been considered before. The non-invasive nature of MRI provides added insight.


07/01/11--17:37: Web weaving skills provide clues to aging, spider study reveals (chan 1615582)

Young house spiders weave webs with perfect angles and regular patterns, but as they reach old age their webs deteriorate, showing gaping holes and erratic weaving. By using spiders as a simple model, new research may provide insight into how age affects behavior in other organisms, including humans.


08/03/11--14:47: New bacterium found causing tick-borne illness ehrlichiosis in Wisconsin and Minnesota (chan 1615582)

A new tick-borne bacterium infecting humans with ehrlichiosis has been discovered in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Experts say the new species from the Ehrlichia genus can cause a feverish illness in humans. The new bacterium, not yet named, has been identified in more than 25 people and found in black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis), in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Researchers used culture and genetic analyses.


08/10/11--07:15: Genetically engineered spider silk for gene therapy (chan 1615582)

Genetically engineered spider silk could help overcome a major barrier to the use of gene therapy in everyday medicine, according to a new study.


08/17/11--09:02: Why spiders don't drop off of their threads: Source of spider silk's extreme strength unveiled (chan 1615582)

It has five times the tensile strength of steel and is stronger than even the best currently available synthetic fibers: Spider thread. Scientists have now succeeded in unveiling a further secret of silk proteins and the mechanism that imparts spider silk with its strength.


09/06/11--15:15: Circadian clocks in a blind fish (chan 1615582)

Do animals that have evolved underground, completely isolated from the day-night cycle, still "know" what time it is? Does a normal circadian clock persist during evolution under constant darkness? A new study tackles these questions by investigating a species of cavefish which has lived for 2 million years beneath the Somalian desert, finding that it has an unusual circadian clock; it ticks with a period of up to 47 hours, and is completely blind.


09/15/11--08:36: When ticks transmit dangerous pathogens: Local antibiotic therapy stops Lyme disease (chan 1615582)

Blood-sucking ticks are not just a nuisance, they can also transmit dangerous diseases. One of them is Lyme disease, which is caused by bacteria of the genus Borrelia, and requires a course of treatment with antibiotics lasting several weeks. Researchers have come up with a quicker alternative.


10/03/11--10:22: Tick responsible for equine piroplasmosis outbreak identified (chan 1615582)

The cayenne tick has been identified as one of the vectors of equine piroplasmosis in horses in a 2009 Texas outbreak, according to new research.


10/04/11--13:23: Developing East Coast fever vaccine (chan 1615582)

A vaccine that protects cattle against East Coast fever, a destructive disease in eastern and central Africa, is being developed.


10/06/11--08:36: Improve cattle in US and South Africa (chan 1615582)

Scientists in the US and South Africa are working to improve prospects for cattle breeders in that African nation -- and they could improve them for breeders around the world.


10/11/11--06:59: Natural pesticide protects cattle against ticks in Africa (chan 1615582)

A traditional treatment prepared from a woody shrub is proving highly effective at protecting cattle against ticks in southern Africa, according to researchers.


10/12/11--08:29: Warning signs can prevent deer-vehicle collisions, Canadian study shows (chan 1615582)

Collisions between wild deer and vehicles not only hinder conservation efforts but pose a serious danger to drivers. In new research, Canadian scientists examined locations and time periods of high rates of deer vehicle collision to assess the effectiveness of warning signs to prevent fatalities.


10/18/11--06:51: Unknown species and larval stages of extremely long-legged beetles discovered by DNA test (chan 1615582)

The unknown larval stages and a new species of the curious spider water beetles were described after their assignment by DNA sequences. These taxonomic works are groundwork for the development of water quality bioindicator systems in the tropics.


11/08/11--16:51: Hi-tech scans catch prehistoric mite hitching ride on spider (chan 1615582)

Scientists have produced amazing three-dimensional images of a prehistoric mite as it hitched a ride on the back of a 50-million-year-old spider. At just 176 micrometres long and barely visible to the naked eye, the mite -- trapped inside Baltic amber (fossil tree resin) -- is believed to be the smallest arthropod fossil ever to be scanned using X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning techniques.


11/23/11--10:31: Big pest, small genome: Two-spotted spider mite genome decoded (chan 1615582)

Biologists have decoded the genetic blueprint of the two-spotted spider mite, raising hope for new ways to attack the major pest, which resists pesticides and destroys crops and ornamental plants worldwide.


11/24/11--12:07: Spiders, webs and insects: A new perspective on evolutionary history (chan 1615582)

The orb web, typical of a large number of spider species, has a single evolutionary origin, according to molecular phylogenetic research. The study presents the hypothesis that the diversification of spider webs is motivated by the need to occupy new natural habitats (trunks, stems, etc.) and to make more efficient use of natural resources.


12/06/11--10:14: New tick-borne disease discovered in Sweden (chan 1615582)

Researchers have discovered a brand new tick-borne infection. Since the discovery, eight cases have been described around the world, three of them in Sweden.


12/08/11--06:26: Patterns seen in spider silk and melodies connected (chan 1615582)

Using a new mathematical methodology, researchers have created a scientifically rigorous analogy showing the similarities between the physical structure of spider silk and the sonic structure of a musical composition, proving that the structure of each relates to its function in an equivalent way. The comparison begins with the primary building blocks of each item and explains that structural patterns are directly related to the functional properties of silk and a melodic riff.


12/12/11--09:47: Whole new meaning for thinking on your feet: Brains of small spiders overflow into legs (chan 1615582)

Researchers report that the brains of tiny spiders may fill their body cavities and overflow into their legs. As part of research to understand how miniaturization affects brain size and behavior, the scientists measured the central nervous systems of nine species of spiders, from rainforest giants to spiders smaller than the head of a pin. As the spiders get smaller, their brains get proportionally bigger, filling up more and more of their body cavities.


12/12/11--12:31: Bigger, scarier weapons help spiders get the girl (chan 1615582)

If you're a red-headed guy with eight bulging eyes and a unibrow, size does indeed matter for getting the girl. More specifically, the bigger a male jumping spider's weapons appear to be, the more likely his rival will slink away without a fight, leaving the bigger guy a clear path to the waiting female.


12/19/11--07:18: First aid after tick bites (chan 1615582)

They come out in the spring, and each year they spread further – the ticks. Thirty percent of them transmit borrelia pathogens, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis that can damage joints and organs. The disease often goes undetected. In the future, a new type of gel is intended to prevent an infection – if applied after a tick bite.


01/04/12--08:50: How male spiders use eavesdropping to one-up their rivals (chan 1615582)

Researchers have made a new discovery into the complex world of spiders that reflects what some might perceive as similar behavior in human society. As male wolf spiders go searching for a mate, it appears they eavesdrop, match and even try to outdo the mating dances of their successful rivals, a behavior seen mainly in vertebrate animals.


01/04/12--14:48: How can Lyme disease be prevented and controlled? (chan 1615582)

A new article assesses the potential reasons for the continued lack of success in prevention and control of Lyme disease and identifies areas where additional knowledge could be used to improve Lyme disease prevention and control strategies.


01/06/12--08:30: Hybrid silkworms spin stronger spider silk (chan 1615582)

Silk produced by transgenically-engineered silkworms in the lab exhibit the highly sought-after strength and elasticity of spider silk. This stronger silk could possibly be used to make sutures, artificial limbs and parachutes.


02/01/12--11:00: Spider web's strength lies in more than its silk (chan 1615582)

A study that combines experimental observations of spider webs with complex computer simulations has shown that web durability depends not only on silk strength, but on how overall web design compensates for damage and the response of individual strands to continuously varying stresses.


02/08/12--15:02: Most stretchable spider silk reported: Study conducted with egg sacs collected from natural environment (chan 1615582)

The egg sac silk of the cocoon stalk of the cave spider Meta menardi is the most stretchable egg sac silk yet tested, according to a new study.


02/22/12--17:42: Phobia's effect on perception of feared object allows fear to persist (chan 1615582)

The more afraid a person is of a spider, the bigger that individual perceives the spider to be, new research suggests.