…and this is a 
I had to read it just for the title alone: "Harmonic Convergence in the Love Songs of the Dengue Vector Mosquito". It's got romance, it's got harmony, it's got singing, and best of all, it has that delicious dramatic tension of being all about biting insects known to carry a nasty disease. Even in the lowliest, most obnoxious creatures, biologists find beauty.
I'd tell you all about it — in short, courting mosquitos synchronize their wingbeats to sing in harmony — but Neurotopia beat me to it. When summer comes to Minnesota, I'll have to remember that the incessant whines are actually tiny little liebeslieder.
Life Science
Comments
Posted by: AnthonyK
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February 27, 2009 11:32 AM
And those mosquitoes who don't know the words can simply hum along.
Posted by: Qwerty | February 27, 2009 11:38 AM
I remember once as a kid watching a mostquito feast on my blood; then fly away.
I think I saw a program on NOVA about all the animals that feast on other animals blood. Even humans do this as there is some tribe in Africa that bleed their cattle for the blood.
Posted by: ChrisGose | February 27, 2009 11:47 AM
Last year I got 2 different strains of dengue within a 2 month period.
To hell with their beauty.
Posted by: E.V. | February 27, 2009 11:50 AM
There was a Tabasco Sauce commercial here in the States with a red headed backwoods guy eating a slice of pizza with a few dashes of McIlhenny's best when a mosquito lands on his arm, digs in and then flies away after being sated with blood. Suddenly there is a midair fiery explosion in the night sky in the vicinity of the mosquito's last known whereabouts. The red headed guy just grins and nods.
That's my favorite mental image of mosquitoes.
Posted by: misc | February 27, 2009 11:52 AM
Apparently German words are somewhat popular in English nowadays. Maybe my mother tongue will come in handy, after all.
Posted by: Glen Davidson | February 27, 2009 11:53 AM
Nothing like a love whine to get them all hot.
Reminds me of the IDiots...
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/6mb592
Posted by: AnthonyK
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February 27, 2009 11:55 AM
Yes Misc, though I think you should have thrown your mother's tongue away long ago.
Posted by: Jeeves | February 27, 2009 11:58 AM
Minnesota has a summer?
Posted by: naughty savage | February 27, 2009 11:59 AM
The musical is back!
(couldn't resist)
Posted by: KI | February 27, 2009 12:09 PM
#8
Yes we have summer. Between June 15 and August 1 (exaggerating!). Better than that, we have a species called the Snow Mosquito, they come out in February on days above freezing and lay their eggs in snowmelt puddles. They can take freezing and thawing cycles and when the puddles dry up in the spring the adults hibernate under tree bark until the next winter. We also have snow spiders that have antifreeze in their blood so they can be mobile to about ten degrees (F) below freezing. How many snow mosquitos they eat is unknown to me.
Posted by: Brownian
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February 27, 2009 12:16 PM
You posted on mosquito love songs before.
Posted by: misc | February 27, 2009 12:17 PM
Yes AnthonyK, synonyms are really, really funny sometimes. Ha, ha. Ha...
Posted by: gaypaganunitarianagnostic | February 27, 2009 12:18 PM
Zing, zing, zing a little zong wid meeee.!
Posted by: Eamon Knight | February 27, 2009 12:20 PM
...and a humorous nod in the direction of a bit of newage woo.
Posted by: Tualha | February 27, 2009 12:20 PM
They've got rhythm, they've got music?
Posted by: E.V. | February 27, 2009 12:26 PM
Who could ask for anything more?
Posted by: AnthonyK | February 27, 2009 12:26 PM
I prefer "Antonyms" myself.
Posted by: peter g | February 27, 2009 12:43 PM
Canadas CBC radio beat you to it as well on last saturdays ,
Quirks and Quarks.
Posted by: T. Bruce McNeely | February 27, 2009 12:43 PM
Peggy Lee did it first:
You give me Fever
when you kiss me
fever when you hold me tight
Fever
In the morning
Fever all through the night
Posted by: NewEnglandBob
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February 27, 2009 12:55 PM
Mosquitoes playing harmonicas! Fantastic!!!
Posted by: Glen Davidson | February 27, 2009 12:59 PM
See, there's beauty in the parasites and vectors of deadly diseases that god made for us.
Behe will be thrilled.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/6mb592
Posted by: C. M. Baxter | February 27, 2009 1:00 PM
Ok, I couldn't find the definition anywhere. What the hell does liebeslieder mean?
Posted by: Slaughter | February 27, 2009 1:01 PM
Did you know that only female mosquitoes suck blood? And that the male is the one that buzzes, although he doesn't bite? So if you're in bed at night and hear buzzing, don't worry, it's the male and he won't bite. But if you hear nothing....
Posted by: mikecbraun | February 27, 2009 1:03 PM
misc and AnthonyK, you're both wrong. Tongue in this case, would be a homonym. The word is spelled and pronounced the same, yet has two different meanings. Here endeth the lesson.
Posted by: mikecbraun | February 27, 2009 1:05 PM
liebeslieder: love songs
synonym: two different words that have the same meaning (i.e. car/automobile)
antonym: two differnt words that have opposite meanings (i.e. alive/dead)
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
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February 27, 2009 1:06 PM
IIRC from my very rusty German (with the aid of a dictionary), love song.Posted by: Strangebrew | February 27, 2009 1:13 PM
'I'll have to remember that the incessant whines are actually tiny little liebeslieder.'
So that is noise coming incessantly from the fundy corner!
Posted by: PZ Myers
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February 27, 2009 1:24 PM
What? No one listens to Brahms or Strauss anymore?
Posted by: Strangebrew | February 27, 2009 1:29 PM
*23
'Did you know that only female mosquitoes suck blood? And that the male is the one that buzzes, although he doesn't bite? So if you're in bed at night and hear buzzing, don't worry, it's the male and he won't bite. But if you hear nothing....'
Then you is getting a nasty manly suck...but all is cool cos he don't bite right?!
( eeuwww!...having just read what I wrote...summat just don't gell right!)
Posted by: AnthonyK | February 27, 2009 1:31 PM
So which sex is it that does all the whining?
Posted by: Christine | February 27, 2009 1:39 PM
Qwerty: "I think I saw a program on NOVA about all the animals that feast on other animals blood. Even humans do this as there is some tribe in Africa that bleed their cattle for the blood."
You sound surprised. I recommend not coming to Scotland...
Posted by: AnthonyK | February 27, 2009 1:45 PM
With a lisp like that, I suggest you give steer clear of "lessons", or even "suggestions".Posted by: Epikt | February 27, 2009 1:52 PM
AnthonyK:
Before or after mating?
Posted by: Jeff Bell | February 27, 2009 1:57 PM
So I guess it is entitled to the title title.
Posted by: MusicCritic | February 27, 2009 2:21 PM
When I first saw this item, I missed the second "the" in the title, and interpreted "Dengue Vector Mosquito" as the name of a band.
Probably post-punk or something.
Posted by: MJKelleher | February 27, 2009 2:22 PM
Can't forget Bach ... PDQ Bach, that is, and the Liebeslieder Polkas.Posted by: Interrobang | February 27, 2009 2:25 PM
And that the male is the one that buzzes, although he doesn't bite?
I think that's only true for some species of mosquitoes. The little splattered bodies I've left when swatting in the dark by homing in on the annoying whining noise seem to indicate otherwise. After all, if they really were males (and I think the males are very much larger than the females, are they not>?), then why would they be buzzing around me and trying to fly into my ears and nose? I'm willing to bet you could scrape a beautiful biofilm out of my sinus cavities, but I'm also reasonably sure there's no mosquitoes in residence.
Posted by: misc | February 27, 2009 2:27 PM
@mikecbraun
Um.. what I meant: "Mother tongue" is synonymous to "first language". But enough Wortklauberei.
Posted by: misc | February 27, 2009 2:31 PM
That Gedankengang was somewhat opaque, though.
Posted by: CatBallou | February 27, 2009 2:34 PM
Since this thread has descended into wordplay, I'm reminded of the "Harmonic Convergence" of 1987, which was supposed to usher in a new era of love and unity. Sort of like the Age of Aquarius.
Anyway, a few months later I was chatting up a guy in a bar, and jokingly asked him where he was for the harmonic convergence. He thought I said "harmonica virgins."
A great name for a band.
Posted by: Ritchie Annand | February 27, 2009 2:36 PM
I will be conducting the mosquito symphony this summer with my electric racket/conductor's baton.
Posted by: Loc | February 27, 2009 3:15 PM
Are the footprints of Homo erectus or ergaster? I've seen two varying statements. The Perspective didn't mention either.
Posted by: Blondin | February 27, 2009 3:18 PM
Isn't the mosquito the Minnesota state bird?
Posted by: Katkinkate | February 27, 2009 3:22 PM
Posted by: AnthonyK @ 37 " "Here endeth the lesson."
With a lisp like that, I suggest you give steer clear of "lessons", or even "suggestions". '
Not to mention 'sizzling sausages'.
Posted by: scicurious | February 27, 2009 3:46 PM
Eeek! Linked by PZ! No way! You totally rock my socks, I'm feeling so famous right now. :)
Posted by: Wild Urmensch | February 27, 2009 4:06 PM
To Misc, AnthonyK and mikecbraun
Sorry. Mother's tongue is neither antonym, synonym or homologue.
It's a metonym. ;)
Posted by: Sili | February 27, 2009 4:06 PM
I hope you'll forgive me for preferring the arthropod Liebestod.
Posted by: dada-1.03 | February 27, 2009 7:57 PM
I submit:
The Narrative of Fatal flaw: Dialectic narrative and social realism
Helmut McElwaine
Department of Ontology, University of California, Berkeley
1. Foucaultist power relations and capitalist situationism
If one examines social realism, one is faced with a choice: either reject
dialectic narrative or conclude that reality is responsible for hierarchy, but
only if Lacan's critique of cultural socialism is valid. The subject is
interpolated into a social realism that includes consciousness as a paradox.
If capitalist situationism holds, we have to choose between the neodialectic
paradigm of concensus and social realism. Bataille uses the term 'social
realism' to denote not, in fact, theory, but pretheory. In a sense, Porter [1]
suggests that the works of Burroughs are reminiscent of Koons.
Therefore, several situationisms concerning dialectic narrative exist.
Postdeconstructive dematerialism holds that culture may be used to reinforce
outdated perceptions of art.
2. Expressions of absurdity
In the works of Tarantino, a predominant concept is the concept of textual
sexuality. In a sense, in Pulp Fiction, Tarantino reiterates social realism; in
Pulp Fiction Tarantino denies capitalist situationism. Many narratives
concerning dialectic narrative exist. However, the subject is contextualised
into a dialectic narrative that includes truth as a paradox.
The main theme of la Fournier's [2] model of capitalist feminism is the
collapse, and some would say the fatal flaw, of subcultural sexual identity.
Pickett [3] suggests that we have to choose between social realism and
capitalist situationism. Baudrillard uses the term 'dialectic narrative' to
denote the difference between class and society.
Thus, a number of narratives concerning precapitalist neomaterial theory may be
found. The premise of social realism implies that culture is used to entrench
capitalism, given that language is equal to art. Sartre promotes the use of
dialectic narrative to analyse consciousness.
3. Capitalist situationism and Sontagist camp
"Sexual identity is a legal fiction," says Sartre. But the rubicon of the
textual paradigm of context which is a central theme of Reservoir Dogs is also
evident in Clerks. The main theme of la Tournier's [4] essay on Sontagist camp
is the paradigm, and thus the meaninglessness, of substructural sexual
identity.
In the works of Tarantino, a predominant concept is the distinction between
figure and ground. Derrida uses the term 'dialectic narrative' to denote a
postsemioticist whole. It could be said that the subject is interpolated into a
social realism that includes narrativity as a reality. In a sense, social
realism states that the task of the writer is deconstruction.
If one examines Sontagist camp, one is faced with a choice: either accept
dialectic narrative or conclude that the collective is capable of truth. Any
number of theories concerning the role of the poet as artist exist. Parry [5]
suggests that we have to choose between neocapitalist libertarianism and social
realism.
Thus, Lyotard promotes the use of dialectic narrative to challenge class
divisions. The subject is interpolated into a constructivist situationism that
includes sexuality as a totality.
The main theme of the works of Tarantino is not narrative, but subnarrative.
Hubbard [6] holds that the works of Tarantino are an example of conceptual
nationalism.
In a sense, Marx's analysis of social realism implies that expression comes
from the collective unconscious, but only if Sontagist camp is invalid;
otherwise, Foucault's model of Debordist situation is one of "neodialectic
rationalism", and thus fundamentally impossible.
However, Baudrillard uses the term 'the semanticist paradigm of discourse' to
denote the futility, and eventually the stasis, of neodialectic reality. An
abundance of desublimations concerning Sontagist camp exist. If dialectic
narrative holds, we have to choose between social realism and Sontagist camp.
----
1. Porter, S. C. G. (1976) Dialectic narrative in the works of Tarantino.
Oxford University Press
2. la Fournier, P. A. J. ed. (1973) Social realism and dialectic narrative.
University of Georgia Press
3. Pickett, R. L. (1981) Expressions of Dialectic: Dialectic narrative and
social realism. Panic Button Books
4. la Tournier, W. (1977) Social realism in the works of Pynchon. O'Reilly &
Associates
5. Parry, O. D. ed. (1979) Social realism and dialectic narrative. Oxford
University Press
6. Hubbard, B. N. H. ed. (1988) Postcapitalist Theories: Social realism and
dialectic narrative. Schlangekraft
real 0m0.038s
user 0m0.006s
sys 0m0.007s
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
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February 27, 2009 7:59 PM
dada-1.03, this had what to do with subject of the thread?
Posted by: nick nick bobick | February 27, 2009 8:03 PM
t bruce @ 19
Credit where credit is due: Fever was actually first recorded as a hit by Little Willie John in 1956, 2 years before Peggy Lee. It was written by a couple of black songwriters.
Posted by: Patricia, OM | February 27, 2009 8:06 PM
I'm with you Nerd, that dada should read dodo. WTF?
Posted by: AnthonyK
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February 27, 2009 8:08 PM
Thankyou for clearing that mystery up, dada-1-03.
Posted by: Broggly | February 27, 2009 8:13 PM
There is beauty in the gnashing of a shark
There is beauty in the thorns around the rose
To a mind that's scientific
There's nothing so terrific
As the humming of a hive of mosquitos
Posted by: Patricia, OM | February 27, 2009 8:16 PM
Oh sweet mother of dodo's, he mentioned libertarism.
Posted by: AnthonyK
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February 27, 2009 8:23 PM
Libertarianism is one of my all-time favourite "ibertarainisms". What are yours?
Posted by: Patricia, OM | February 27, 2009 8:37 PM
Damn it. I do love that Chimp for his bacon and grits, but those blasted cooties he drops all over the place play hell with my spelling.
I ment liber-a-tard-ism.
Posted by: bastion of sass | February 28, 2009 12:51 AM
#31:
Or Poland.
There's czernina which my Polish side of the family calls "chocolate soup" when they want to introduce it to squeamish eaters.
And then there's the Polish equivalent of black pudding: kiszka.
Posted by: nothing's sacred | February 28, 2009 4:08 AM
dada-1.03, this had what to do with subject of the thread?
dada-1.03 is a piece of software that takes a grammar script and generates random output. In this case I gave it pomo.pb, which generates articles and article titles similar to what one might find in a PoMo journal like "Social Text", made famous by Alan Sokal, author of the hoax article "Transgressing the Boundaries: Toward a Transformative Hermeneutics of Quantum Gravity". So, this was intended as a joke, but I guess it was too esoteric.
Posted by: John Morales | February 28, 2009 4:23 AM
nothing's sacred, not that esoteric, with the runtimes at the end. Pretty big clue.
Posted by: AnthonyK
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February 28, 2009 10:21 AM
Ah I see, nothing's sacred - a socal poe. Well, if you think that's esoteric, you should check out my therory of indefinite postponeism, which I must get round to wtiting up.
I think that that pericular hoax, you know the one, effectivley killed off post-modernism, along with the death of Foucault et al.
If only we could find the equivalent for creationism. Oh shit, we have - reality! The world's fucked!
Posted by: hery
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January 25, 2010 7:31 AM
I think that's only true for some species of mosquitoes