Ptera Hunter's Blog - Posts Tagged "wisdom-of-loki"
Parasitic Birds Blend into their Nests
Be they protists, worms, or vertebrates, parasites depend on their ability to deceive. The nest parasites, like the cowbird and cuckoo, mimic the offspring of their host birds. Their eggs often look like the eggs of a host bird (at least within the visual world of the host), and when they hatch, they imitate the hunger calls of the baby host birds. Some can imitate the calls of a nest full of hungry chicks.
Although their eggs and offspring are usually larger than their host, the adoptive parents don’t care. In fact, birds favor large offspring because it signals health. The parasite takes advantage of the inability of the host to overcome their preference for large, healthy babies. When an animal gives the same response to a stimulus and can’t vary it, we call the stimulus-response behavior “fixed,” and we call it a Fixed Action Pattern.
The Wisdom of Loki, by Ptera Hunter, explores patterns of deceit in the natural world, including predator-prey, parasitic, and molecular deceits.
Although their eggs and offspring are usually larger than their host, the adoptive parents don’t care. In fact, birds favor large offspring because it signals health. The parasite takes advantage of the inability of the host to overcome their preference for large, healthy babies. When an animal gives the same response to a stimulus and can’t vary it, we call the stimulus-response behavior “fixed,” and we call it a Fixed Action Pattern.
The Wisdom of Loki, by Ptera Hunter, explores patterns of deceit in the natural world, including predator-prey, parasitic, and molecular deceits.
Micro-level deception.
Deception isn't solely a grand affair; it can unfold on a microscopic scale. Within our bodies, tiny predators lurk unseen. These parasites deploy a cunning arsenal of chemical weaponry. These insidious invaders unleash compounds that mimic our body's natural signals and hormones. Through this subterfuge, they hijack our internal communications to disrupt our regular processes and behaviors. The intricate balance of nature is replete with parasitic plants and animals that concoct deceptive potions, perfectly mirroring the growth hormones of their unwitting hosts. As the host diverts vital nutrients and resources to the imposters, their parasite thrives.
The horsehair worm, without ever breaching its host's brain, orchestrates a macabre ballet in the grasshopper. It compels the insect to leap to its death, seeking out water to leap to its own death, drowning itself in bodies of water. There, the work escapes from the insect's body and lays its eggs, ready to infect the next host in its life cycle.
The horsehair worm, without ever breaching its host's brain, orchestrates a macabre ballet in the grasshopper. It compels the insect to leap to its death, seeking out water to leap to its own death, drowning itself in bodies of water. There, the work escapes from the insect's body and lays its eggs, ready to infect the next host in its life cycle.
Getting Ready at Last
I'm on the cusp of completing the seemingly endless editing and updates for my upcoming book, and I'm gearing up to launch it into the world. As soon as I receive the green light from my publisher to release content, I'll start spreading the word. The excitement is palpable, and my shoulders feel the strain of ten months spent at the keyboard. It's been quite a journey, and I can't wait to share the final product with all of you.
