January 31, 2009 – 11:59 pm
As a follow-up on the Bees on Cocaine post, I give you: Hoppers on Prozac.
Serotonin Mediates Behavioral Gregarization Underlying Swarm Formation in Desert Locusts. Michael L. Anstey, Stephen M. Rogers, Swidbert R. Ott, Malcolm Burrows, and Stephen J. Simpson (30 January 2009) Science 323 (5914), 627. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1165939]
The desert locust is a mid-mannered grasshopper [...]
January 29, 2009 – 8:32 pm
I’ve mentioned before how much I enjoy some of the randomness that shows up in my Inbox because I’m an entomologist. Today’s example:
“Subject: Genetalia vials
I have been using small genitalia vials (10mm x 4mm) that I purchased from BioQuip. They say they are no longer made and they only have them in 15mm x 5mm [...]
January 29, 2009 – 2:11 am
Yep, time to indulge a little and make my seed orders for spring. Since there’s about a foot and a half of snow on the ground right now, it’s kinda hard to imagine when I’ll actually even see the ground again, much less dig a hole in it.
But hope springs eternal, and since it looks [...]
January 28, 2009 – 2:50 pm
The Bee Course is a workshop offered for conservation biologists,
pollination ecologists and other biologists who want to gain greater
knowledge of the systematics and biology of bees. From the course description:
“The field of pollination ecology explores the reproductive biology of plants in general, including the biotic and abiotic agents associated with pollination [...]
January 27, 2009 – 8:23 pm
That isn’t a joke–The Liberian president has declared a state of emergency:
“MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Liberia’s president declared a state of emergency over an invasion of crop-eating caterpillars that has affected 350,000 people in the West African country.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf told lawmakers Monday night that the pests “have invaded our country with the potential [...]
January 27, 2009 – 7:58 am
I am always amazed at how the internets make it easy to find clever people all over the world doing things I really should have thought of myself. Today’s Example: The Small Science Collective.
“The intention of Small Science Collective is to …get everyone thinking about & communicating science through cheap and handy one page zines. [...]
January 25, 2009 – 11:04 pm
Sigh. Why is it that whenever insects and food go together, people immediately go for the shock value?
Boing Boing recently ran a post titled “Maggot Cheese that tries to Eat Your Eyes.”
“Casu marzu is an illegal Sardinian cheese that is served riddled with writhing maggots that try to jump into your eyeballs as you eat [...]
January 24, 2009 – 11:03 am
Every now and then I find something amazing in the little Flickr bar on the side of the blog.
Here’s the latest–a longhorn beetle that someone has crocheted!!
It’s even labeled with a name that indicates what beetle it is: Anoplophora malasiaca.
As I’ve said before when I’ve found knitted insects, I am in awe of this talent.
Thanks, [...]
January 23, 2009 – 5:18 am
I spent yesterday afternoon chasing mute swans around in 2 foot deep snow, on a frozen pond, in waders, with a giant net on a pole.
It was not an easy task.
Big props to our intern, who made some amazing diving catches that were better than anything you’ll see at the Super Bowl.
Now, I’m exhausted.
So, how [...]
January 22, 2009 – 7:29 am
Dear Ms. Barista,
I must compliment you on your very lovely ass. The pants you were wearing today showed me most of it.
However, as nice as that was, I do not want to see your crack when you are preparing my food.
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Bug Girl
PS. Thanks also to greencolander for this photo. I had no idea so [...]
