All things Entomology's topics - tribe.net

What is the most intelligent insect?

Matt — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 07:50:35 GMT

Some say the Monarch which makes amazing migrations or the Mourning Cloak which certainly has personality for a butterfly. Mydas Flies are large aerial predators with a lot of presence. Some bring up the Swamp Darner, a large dragonfly that easily enters open buildings, prowls around, and then leaves. Some are impressed by the Chinese Mantis's way of looking around and snatching prey. Sphinx Moths certainly have impressive speed and sometimes seem almost birdlike. The Black Witch may wander north to Alaska from the tropics and can listen and call. The American Cockroach has over a million neurons and uncanny survival skills. We are all impressed by the communication, social cooperation, and orienteering of the Honeybee. Tarantula Hawks are among the most impressive of the predatory wasps.

I hope to discuss these questions and more on the Animal Intelligence tribe (tribes.tribe.net/animal intelligence). We will mostly discuss the behavior, intelligence, and emotions of wild animals. Because animal intelligence and emotion are the basis for animal rights, we will also look into scientific methods of measuring animal intelligence.

posted in All things Entomology - 38 replies

baby praying mantids

kristendvineyard — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:06:05 GMT

My boyfriend brought home 7 praying mantids about a month ago. Since then, two have died of unknown causes, the rest were eaten by the others (fun times at our house). He also brought home 2 egg sacks. We are expecting two egg sacks to hatch, but are unsure of how long it might take. We are also curious about what to feed the little guys when they do hatch. Any suggestions?

posted in All things Entomology - 3 replies

What's the difference (if any) between a Katydid and a Grasshopper?

Baya — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:38:18 GMT

Are they the same thing? Eat the same things? Nest the same places, etc? I found a great big green one on my porch altar last Saturday and checked it out on What'sThatBug.com There's sooo many different colors and shapes and sizes, so what sort of things do they have in common?

Thought I'd share the photo anyway. :) I'll post it to my page if all else fails. :)
~S

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

arachnid

Steveflanagan — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:16:25 GMT

I took a picture of some sort of arachnid, can anyone ID it?
This is in Oakhurst, Ca in the sierras

posted in All things Entomology - 3 replies

Bot Fly

ImageWeaver — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:40:01 GMT

I stumbled upon a species I had never heard of before and... wow, what an intriguing species this is. This is a mosquito born vector that would freak anyone out. The species is (Dermatobia hominis) it is one of several species in which it's larva live as a parasite in it's host but the only one that is known to attack humans. The eggs will hatch immediately upon contact with the warm flesh of a mammal and the larva bore in to the skin to begin feeding until it is ready to pupate.

What I wonder is this... I have heard nearly everyone I talk to about spiders claim that either they, or a friend, or a friend of a friend, was bit by a Brown Recluse and had a really nasty necrotic wound. Brown Recluse do not live this far south, they are cold weather spiders, they are all over the place north of the panhandle, but certainly not in central Florida. After watching several of the video's on this fly, I am suspecting that people that think they have a necrotic spider bite, may indeed be hosting a bot fly. The wounds look similar and I would not be surprised if even a doctor would misdiagnose this event. once the larvae has buried itself inside the host, the only visible sign is a pimple like entrance wound that will not heal. The larva needs air, so it will keep the hole open and come up for air on occasion and then return deep within the tissue.

I read a very helpful article from an entomologist that had become a host during a field study. To remove the larvae, he covered the wound with petroleum jelly to force the larva to surface for air, then he could grab the larva for removal. It is important NOT TO PULL the larva if you ever become host. They have backward facing barbs on their skin, similar to a bee stinger that helps prevent it from being pulled out. The technique is to let the wiggling action of the larvae do the work to free the barbs, pull with a steady but gentle force and let it wiggle it's way out.

Here is a link to one of the You Tube Videos, they seem to be fairly reasonable people with a genuine interest in science, listen to the comments and observations, they are obviously quite familiar with the species.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23eimVLAQ2c

posted in All things Entomology - 13 replies

What is it ?

Pilsbury — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:37 GMT

I posted a few pics of this weird bug I saw in Mt Shasta area at about 5000 feet.
It had green metallic eyes and could fly. Looked a bit like an armor plated cockroach.

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

Soil Remediation

ImageWeaver — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:21:11 GMT

Does anyone know of any insects, nematodes, or microbes that can be added to soil to assist with the decomposition of pollutants such as oil and other fossil fuel based compounds?

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

bed bugs?!?! EWWWW!

cicadaloca — Mon, 03 Jan 2005 21:05:50 GMT

A dear friend of mine just returned from Czech republic....with 50-100 bed bug bites!!! Her fiance has ~200. It's really quite amazing. It seems they were continuously bitten after they left Czech republic, leading them to believe that they may have accidently brought some of the nasty critters back with them.

In the event that they have brought some back into their apartment, a quick search on the web indicates these nasty little bugs are not easily exterminated.

Any entomologists here studied bed bugs before? Anyone here have some tips for getting rid of them? Anyone have some first hand experience with the lil critters?

Thanks and happy new year!!

posted in All things Entomology - 9 replies

Why are Lampyridae so hard to find...(fireflies)

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 07:45:47 GMT

Does anyone know why (so I have heard) Lampyridae dont exist in the US west of Kansas???
Also, it seems nearly impossible to purchase them (or larvae glow-worms) for terrarium or controlled breeding.
Any suggestions or answers??

-Craig

posted in All things Entomology - 12 replies

yellowjackets

eric — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 02:08:16 GMT

Has anyone seen these giant yellowjacket nests that have been splashed all over netscape lately? Anybody read anything more reliable about them than the netscape articles?

posted in All things Entomology - 6 replies

Bugs in the family

wiggle wiggles — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:00:12 GMT

My father was an entomologist and had my sisiter and I collecting insects and watching eggs hatch to catterpillers, cocoons/chrysalis and moths/butterfiles. We would go hunting for crickets at night and look for insects. Daddy was a science teacher. So I am, of course, still interested in entomology and life science. It is a pleasure to watch the native insects in California and the seasons they go through. We have Tiger Swallowtails, I remember raising the cute catterpillers and watching them hatch into butterflies when I was a kid. I loved the "wooly bear" catterpillers. Soft and fuzzy. One night a couple of years ago we had a Polyphemos (sp?) Moth come to the light at night. She landed on my finger and then flew off.
Anyway I saw this tribe and said wow! Other people like entomology, too. Cool.
Wiggle wiggles

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

Stupid People and insects

Andrea — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 12:27:51 GMT

The Situation:
I am a college student in Hawaii and I work in a dorm as a desk clerk oncall which means I get my room for free and I have to carry a pager one night a week and lusually one or two weekend days a month. Its Hawaii and therefore tropical which means lots of creepy crawly critters and the dorm is pretty open so there are tons of insects and if you walk the halls at night you can get a lot of variety.

The Event:
So tonight is my oncall night, been pretty quiet thought myself to be lucky. So at 1:30 the pager goes off and renches me from a beautiful sleep. Technically I have 5 min to answer a page and since the desk clerk paged me with a number i didnt recognize i was trying to gather my thoughts and a en and paper before returning the call. As I am reaching for the phone well before my 5 min are up the phone rings and its the desk clerk telling me that one of our residents has an ant infestation and he wants me to come do something about it. Its so bad he wants something done about it right away!

Now, I am thinking ant infestation as in there are tons of ants crawling all over this guys bed or something right? I mean its 1:30 in the morning so it must be pretty bad. I get to the guys room and there are like 5 or so little flying insects buzzing around the light fixtures. I am thinking you have got to be kidding me. I have dormed going on year 5 now. Currently in my room I have several comfortable spiders a moth or two, there was a narly roach that scurried for the window when i flipped on the light and we get termites flying around several times a semester and I am a very clean person! So I go and get some traps and some spray because there are a few little bugs buzzing around a light that he "hardly ever uses, but would really like to use tonight" After coming back with the spray he points out that there is also a trail by his closet. Again about 6-10 ants walking up the wall, hardly anything to write home about. Do to the program he is in I know he is new to the state, only been here about a month and probably not adjusted, but I cant help but shake my head in wonder.

My freshman year we had an ant problem in our dorm room and we sprayed and set out traps and all kinds of stuff. The ants were harmless but annoying, couldnt get rid of them not matter what we did. I reached up onto my shelf one night to grab my performance folder for the wind ensemble, I never used it for class only concerts, and to my surprise tons of ants, eggs, and other crap fell out of it = found the ant problem! Now that is an ant infestation, hahaha! And it was easily remedied once i cleaned it up.

So I am wide awake and in wonder in the middle of the night. I just dont understand how people get so worked up over a few harmless bugs. I guess I am used to it. If anyone would care to comment feel free, I think the situation is absolutly hilarious.

posted in All things Entomology - 36 replies

Does anyone know what this is ?.

Bloke72 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:59:02 GMT

A picture of a cacoon http://tribes.tribe.net/triviarocks/photos/20e3fd12-23a0-44dd-aa32-6e96fad870bd it comes from the DYI Tribe - but I posted it in the Trivia Tribe because the members often come up with answers on stuff like this,, but I thought I would bring it to the experts - being you guys !

Can you help ?

posted in All things Entomology - 13 replies

do you know what this is?

Chili_Bonbons — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:10:12 GMT

posted photos in this tribe's photos

http://entomologyfreaks.tribe.net/photos/1cddaaac-58e7-40ef-9bb5-09e9d4452584

http://entomologyfreaks.tribe.net/photos/eabe608f-b906-45c6-af67-fce70c32094c

they seem solitary, fly clumsily, lots of noisy buzzing, blue-black, hanging out in the shade

posted in All things Entomology - 6 replies

Luna Moth PNW

Fireweed — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:59:56 GMT

I have been to many websites to identify the caterpillar that was brought in today by one of my students. The child and I got on the internet and started looking it up.
It has all the exact markings of a Luna moth caterpillar.
He found it in the woods near his home and he and his father brought it to school thinking they were giving me a gift.
I have been a hiker for over twenty years and hiked on both coasts and the midwest regions. This caterpillar is not a native species found in Washington State, Olympia.
It would have to be far from home...
My question is: Is this normal to find one these species of caterpillar here?
It is creating a silk coating around it...I am concerned about disturbing it?
Does this caterpillar winter and then emerge?
Normally I would have followed the outdoor ethics of leave no trace and not taken it from the forest, but now here it is.
I also see it as an incredible learning opportunity for the preschool I run which is an alternative preschool focusing on the students interests.
I feel a little overwhelmed about the responsibility of this caterpillar and want to do the right thing.
Can anyone give advice?
Thanks for taking the time
Sarah Bear

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

Bug Love Poster

Huzzab — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:58:00 GMT

Great for elementary schools and dorm rooms alike.

www.whatsthatbug.com/poster.pdf

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

giant spider webs in Texas!

missbug — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 23:27:24 GMT

A little creepy but interesting! check out the link below!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20514703/

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Wow, is this Mirkwood or something? :-D

adfadfadf123 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:28:01 GMT

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/08/30/spider.web.ap/index.html

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

Ants vs Buddhists

missbug — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:06:12 GMT

March 12, 2007, 12:13AM

Ants test nonviolence of Buddhist monks

© 2007 The Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Buddhist monks, who are bound by faith to nonviolence, are grappling with how to rid a temple of a severe ant infestation without killing the insects.

Stinging red ants have plagued the Hong Hock See Temple in northern Penang state for a year, causing one worshipper to be bitten so badly last month that he had to receive hospital treatment, said Elma Lin, a temple volunteer worker.

A temple disciple tried using a vacuum cleaner to gather up the ants before freeing them in a nearby forest, but the method failed to purge the insects, Lin said.

"We haven't found a solution so far," Lin said. "Nothing has worked."

The temple's chief monk, Boon Keng, was quoted by The Star newspaper as saying that the monks had to "respect other living things" in the temple.

"When an ant drops on you, you must not flick it away or blow on it," he told the newspaper. "If you do, it will bite to hold on. You just have to shake it off."

The newspaper published a photograph of Boon Keng standing beside a sign at the temple that read: "Beware poisonous ants. Do not sit under the tree."

The decades-old temple has more than 10 monks living there and hundreds of devotees, Lin said.

SOURCE
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4621159.html

posted in All things Entomology - 4 replies

No Bees = No Humans?

missbug — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 19:37:31 GMT

Ecological Apocalypse: Why Are All The Bees Dying?
GM, toxic chemicals, chemtrails destroying eco-system, threatening very survival of humanity

Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet
Tuesday, April 10, 2007

The alarming decline in bee populations across the United States and Europe represents a potential ecological apocalypse, an environmental catastrophe that could collapse the food chain and wipe out humanity. Who and what is behind this flagrant abuse of the eco-system?

Many people don't realize the vital role bees play in maintaining a balanced eco-system. According to experts, if bees were to become extinct then humanity would perish after just four years.

"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man," said Albert Einstein.

Others would say four years is alarmist and that man would find other food sources, but the fact remains that the disappearance of bees is potentially devastating to agriculture and most plant life.

Reports that bee populations are declining at rates of up to 80% in areas of the U.S. and Europe should set alarm bells ringing and demand immediate action on behalf of environmental organizations. Experts are calling the worrying trend "colony collapse disorder" or CCD.

"Bee numbers on parts of the east coast and in Texas have fallen by more than 70 percent, while California has seen colonies drop by 30 to 60 percent," reports AFP.

"Approximately 40 percent of my 2,000 colonies are currently dead and this is the greatest winter colony mortality I have ever experienced in my 30 years of beekeeping," apiarist Gene Brandi, from the California State Beekeepers Association, told Congress recently.

The article states that U.S. bee colonies have been dropping since 1980 and the number of beekeepers have halved.

Scientists are thus far stumped as to what is causing the decline, ruling out parasites but leaning towards some kind of new toxin or chemical used in agriculture as being responsible. "Experts believe that the large-scale use of genetically modified plants in the US could be a factor," reports Germany's Spiegal Online.

Bee populations throughout Germany have simultaneously dropped 25% and up to 80% in some areas. Poland, Switzerland and Spain are reporting similar declines. Studies have shown that bees are not dying in the hive, something is causing them to lose their sense of orientation so that they cannot return to the hive. Depleted hives are not being raided for their honey by other insects, which normally happens when bees naturally die in the winter, clearly suggesting some kind of poisonous toxin is driving them away.

"In many cases, scientists have found evidence of almost all known bee viruses in the few surviving bees found in the hives after most have disappeared. Some had five or six infections at the same time and were infested with fungi -- a sign, experts say, that the insects' immune system may have collapsed."

A study at the University of Jena from 2001 to 2004 showed that toxins from a genetically modified maize variant designed to repel insects, when combined with a parasite, resulted in a "significantly stronger decline in the number of bees" than normal.

"According to Hans-Hinrich Kaatz, a professor at the University of Halle in eastern Germany and the director of the study, the bacterial toxin in the genetically modified corn may have "altered the surface of the bee's intestines, sufficiently weakening the bees to allow the parasites to gain entry -- or perhaps it was the other way around. We don't know."

Kaatz was desperate to continue his studies but funding was cut off.

SOURCE:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/april2007/100407beesdying.htm

posted in All things Entomology - 5 replies

Job searching

Andrea — Tue, 29 May 2007 18:55:20 GMT

I am back in Cali and having a little trouble finding a job. I have experience working in an entomology lab. Any suggestions?

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

Worm suicide -- why why why?

turtlebeanz — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 13:35:08 GMT

Why do they do that thing when it rains? Don't they know the sidewalks are suicide?

posted in All things Entomology - 6 replies

Native Plants and Permaculture: A gathering of plant enthusiasts

nathaniel — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 01:42:07 GMT

Native Plants & Permaculture
May 11-13, 2007 (Friday afternoon-Sunday)

Event details at www.lostvalley. org/nature2007ma y
Online registration form at www.lostvalley. org/nativeplants pc/registrationo nline
Mailable/emailable registration form at www.lostvalley. org/nativeplants pc/registration

We will be seeking common ground between the Native Plant and Permaculture communities in developing ecologically- integrated self-sustenance and native habitat preservation in the Pacific Northwest.

• Presentations about various perspectives on indigenous and exotic plants, including human uses and ecological relationships
• Facilitated panel discussions and discussion circles
• Guided plant walks
• Garden and Permaculture tours
• Resource tables and networking opportunities
• Music, games, and community-building
• Hands-on projects
• Meals made from organic, homegrown, and wildcrafted food
• Overnight lodging and camping available

Schedule overview:
Friday afternoon and evening, 3 pm on: informal tours, socializing, discussion circles, and activities.
Saturday and Sunday, 9 am-6 pm: scheduled walks, talks, discussions and activities related to the roles of native and nonnative plants in our cultivated and noncultivated landscapes.
Saturday evening, 8 pm: concert with Laura Kemp (see www.laurakemp. com) (by donation).

Topics:
• Native Plant-Animal Interactions and Relationships
• Indigenous Land Management
• Bringing Back Native Food Crops
• The Challenges of Native Habitat Conservation and Restoration
• What Is the Role of Nonnatives?
• Wildflower, Tree, and Shrub Walks
• Substituting Natives for Nonnatives in Home Landscapes
• Responsible Control of Exotics
• Economic Uses of Native Plants
• Ecologically Sustainable Foodsheds
• Invasion Biology: A Closer Look
• Preserving Diversity in Times of Environmental Change
• Evolving a Bioregional Permaculture
• and more.

Presenters:
• Ed Alverson (The Nature Conservancy)
• Rhoda Love (Native Plant Society of Oregon)
• David Theodoropoulos (author, Invasion Biology)
• Michael Pilarski (Friends of the Trees)
• Stephanie Schroeder (Walama Restoration Project)
• Toby Hemenway (author, Gaia’s Garden)
• Jude Hobbs (Agroecology Northwest)
• Rick Valley (Lost Valley Educational Center)
• Marcia Cutler (Native Plant Society of Oregon)
• Bill Burwell (Kalapuya researcher)
• Heiko Koester (Eugene Permaculture Guild)
• Sharon Blick (School Garden Project)
• Dave Bontrager (Lane County Audubon Society)
• Joshua Smith (Ecoscape Environmental Design)
• Pat French (Willamalane Parks and Recreation District)
• Nick Routledge (Seed Ambassadors Project)
• Tobias Policha (Institute of Contemporary Ethnobotany)
• and more.

This event is supported in part by Lost Valley Nature Center, Eugene Permaculture Guild, Friends of the Trees, Walama Restoration Project, Institute of Contemporary Ethnobotany, Mt. Pisgah Arboretum, Fern Hill Nursery, Living Tree Paper Company, and others. We are seeking additional groups to co-sponsor, as well as individuals willing to contribute financially to help this event happen.

Contact: Lost Valley Nature Center, attn.: Chris Roth, 81868 Lost Valley Lane, Dexter, OR, 97431, (541) 937-2567 ext. 116, nature AT (replace with @) lostvalley.org.

Why This Conference?

For many years, plant lovers have held widely varying opinions about the appropriate roles of native and nonnative plants in our ecosystems and cultivated landscapes. Native plant enthusiasts list some nonnative plants as dangerous invaders, while Permaculturalists may advocate the cultivation and spread of those same species. Some native botanists endorse the selective application of herbicides to eradicate aggressive weedy species, while Permaculturally- inclined gardeners seem more apt to embrace “weeds” and reject chemical means of control. Meanwhile, whatever our attitudes towards natives and exotics, all of our diets and many facets of our economy depend heavily on nonnative plants. Before the arrival of Europeans, however, native plants provided sustenance to indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest for thousands of years.

This weekend gathering will bring together plant enthusiasts of all stripes to learn from one another and explore common ground. We will examine current and potential ecological and economic roles of native plants, effects of exotics on ecosystems and how best to respond to those impacts, indigenous land management techniques, and more. We will use the 87-acre living laboratory of Lost Valley Educational Center, whose Nature Center features native flora restoration projects and extensive interpretive trails through largely native habitat, and whose Permaculture gardens and projects include both native and nonnative plants. We will assess how (and whether) the different outlooks and activities represented both at this gathering and on this land can form practical syntheses which will guide us into more sustainable ways of inhabiting our region. Please join us!

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Current Entomology Research

missbug — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:49:32 GMT

WHITE BEETLE DAZZLES SCIENTISTS
Thursday, 18 January 2007
The finger-tip sized Cyphochilus beetle, found in south-east Asia, had a shell whiter than most other materials found in nature, UK researchers said.
Close inspection reveals a unique surface structure covered with scales 10 times thinner than human hair.
A report in Science magazine claims mimicking these scales could provide a range of applications for industry.
"Such pure bright whiteness is uncommon in insects," explained lead scientist Dr Pete Vukusic of Exeter University.
"You do see the odd bit of whiteness here and there, mainly in butterflies, but the whiteness is really incomparable with this little beetle."
In the study of the insect, Vukusic's team used a number of techniques such as optical microscopy, laser analysis and spectrometry.
The researchers found, according to the International Organization for Standardization measurements, the beetle was much brighter and whiter than milk and the average human tooth.
The beetle's shell was covered with ultra-thin scales, measuring just five micrometres (millionths of a metre), with highly random internal 3D structures.
This irregular structure, explained Dr Vukusic, was the cause of the beetle's whiteness.
While colour, he explained, could be created through highly ordered structures, whiteness is achieved through very random features that scatter all colours simultaneously.
"The degree of whiteness given the scales' thinness is the really impressive thing," Dr Vukusic added.
"We can create this quality of white synthetically, but the materials need to be much thicker. This could have many applications."
The researchers believe industry might draw inspiration from the beetle to enhance the whiteness of synthetic objects, such as papers, plastics, paints or white-light displays.
The team thinks the beetle evolved to be so white because the colour provides camouflage in amongst the white fungi common to where it is found.
SOURCE http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6272485.stm (good pictures!)

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

binoculars

eric — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:40:05 GMT

Anybody have any opinions on binoculars for observing butterflies, other insects, and various close focus critters in the field? I found a ratings page at the North American Butterfly Assn. in which the guy seems to favor several models but I'm interested to hear about people's experiences and opinions here.

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

Cicada Wasp

Zcat — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 20:06:49 GMT

Newby. First Post. I live in Kansas. My kids and I love to study bugs, there are always new ones we don't yet know or haven't yet found (collembola). When we travel we always take pics of bugs and once in a great while collect when numbers are very high. (Anybody want some Kansas mosquito's or ants?) Our house is on a small bit of land by a park which seems to be on loan to us from the birds and squirrels and ants here. There are wondrous places in the wild here where dragonflies are so numerous they come out of the cedar trees and light on you, 3 or 4 at a time. Butterflies too. And we found a place in the woods where the wheel bugs thrive in the thousands. We only see one of these bugs in town once or twice a decade. We called them saw blade bugs until we found out their real name. The crest on their back looks like half a table saw blade.

The spineless creatures Gallery shows a cicada wasp. (Great photos - some award winners in there). We are entranced by these large and beautiful wasps and are amazed when we see them carrying their prey off to their ground nests. We can actually get right up to them when they are busy with a dig or hauling off a cicada. I have had them land on my sleeve and prove to my kids that if you don't bother a wasp, it won't bother you. (we're not allergic or we wouldn't tempt fate. Our ground bees are just as safe to be among)

Since the picture in spineless creatures gallery is from PA, I wonder how widely distributed these wasps are. Does their distribution match that of the cicadas? All cicadas? Here in KS, they are usually found hunting the annual Dog Day Cicada, but I doubt if they discriminate. I just suspect that the wasp might not thrive where annual cicada did not. We see 10 or more wasps on our property every summer. Anybody else so taken by these flying heavy haulers?

Bug Love back atcha. Z

posted in All things Entomology - 4 replies

Sue Hubbell's "Broadsides From The Other Orders"

girlmark — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 07:18:09 GMT

I just read Broadsides From The Other Orders by Sue Hubbell- she was a commercial beekeeper who writes absolutely delightful stories about bugs and the people who love them. Broadsides From the Other Orders is a series of essays about various forms of insects and other bugs (she defends the use of the term "bug" by the way), and stories about various entomologists who specialise in them. The book points out ways in which these people have some of the most fun jobs in the world, and makes the whole subject of entomology sound so charming.

As a bug-keeper (bees) I really related to so much of what she said in this book.

posted in All things Entomology - 3 replies

long-horned beetle ID question

Chili_Bonbons — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 23:28:02 GMT

if anyone can identify the beetle I just posted in the pics, that would be cool~ it is about a 1-1/2" long total~ with a 3/4" long body. I have seen many larger darker brown California Prionus beetles around, and have seen a few gold ones like this (immature ones?) clumsily flying around the lights or divebombing bbq guests...but this tenacious one came in the door the other night flying like a beetle outta hell and ended up disappearing into the nether regions of my art studio...found the next morning encumbered and dwarfed by a giant lint bunny firmly entangled in both back legs. I carefully freed it into the garden to recoup (and unbelieveably it is still there but has moved up into the camellia tree)...it'll probably eat my house some day. let's hope it isn't a fir or pine borer. (oh and I'm in the SF Bay Area/CA)

posted in All things Entomology - 3 replies

Predators

eric — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 15:18:35 GMT

So, you might have noticed that a number of the large, predatory insects and spiders come out in the fall. Where I live in the lower midwest, it is a particularly good year for those Wheel Bugs and the Black and Yellow Garden Spiders (Charlotte's Web, or Writing Spiders). I know that many of you are west of the Rockies and that at least one is waaaaay west, but what have you been seeing this fall?

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

bees

Andrea — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 08:03:52 GMT

Ok, so I live on my college campus and up the street there is a researcher that studies bees, this has caused lots of hives in the area and lots of bees in my building. My dorm windows are not sealed very well so several nights a week I get a lost bee in my room. I wouldnt mind them here, but I have had mild, but increasingly worse, allergic reactions to bee stings t last few years. I dont really like to kill them, but I dont know how to get rid of them or keep them away. Any suggestions on how to keep them out of my room? I am not totally sure how they keep getting in since I do not see any obvious spots in the wondows.
A

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Fierce ants build 'torture rack'

scurle — Sat, 30 Apr 2005 09:01:38 GMT

Thought this might be of interest?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4472521.stm

posted in All things Entomology - 9 replies

Pet bug

Cassandra — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:16:39 GMT

Hey all,
I am interested in having a pet insect. Hopefully a beautiful beetle of some sort. Does anyone have any ideas about what kind of beetle would make a good pet in the pacific north west? I understand a mantis makes a good pet.
I don't want anything too noisy that need a lots of space.

Thanks for any ideas that may hatch :p

Cassandra

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

parasitoid wasps

Andrea — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:23:46 GMT

I am a college student, fairly new tothe world of entomology and I am doing a project studying mating behavior in Diachasmimorpha tryoni. If anyone has any imput on the topic I am all ears.

posted in All things Entomology - 3 replies

Spider living atop my air conditioner

turtlebeanz — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 19:29:04 GMT

Why does this spider keep building its web in the window casing above my airconditioner? Every few days, it seems like the web is trashed. It just seems like a bad location. I like this spider. When its web is up, it seems to spend a lot of time staring into my apartment. If this spider ever entered my apartment, I'd be scared to death, though. It's no daddy long legs. It's kind of fat and big and has designs on it. It scared me a lot when I first saw it.

posted in All things Entomology - 7 replies

Entomology for the family!

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 19:15:27 GMT

Greetings entomology enthusiasts!

The hit show Wife Swap on ABC is looking for amazing families with Huge Personalities
who could teach another family that bugs arent just creepy crawlies!
(and that they are pretty tasty, with the right spices of course)
Would you want to see what life is like in the shoes of another family?
? Do you think you could help teach another family a thing or two? If yes, then we are looking for you!
The only requirement for applying is that you are married with kids over the age of 5 and under 18 living at home.
Also, not that money is an incentive, but there is a $20,000 honorarium offered to the family that is selected!
So if you or anyone else you know is up for the experience of a lifetime, hit me up, to find out how to apply for the show
today!

posted in All things Entomology - 4 replies

not technically an insect

vba1 — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 19:37:35 GMT

but really neat nonetheless.

check the picture section for a rare 750 legged (!) millipede (Illacme plenipes).

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Beekeeping Workshop, Davis (CA) May 27th!

ndemik — Sun, 21 May 2006 20:40:37 GMT

A hands-on introduction to the tricks, trades & joys of raising honeybees in your own back yard!

Davis Student Co-Op
Saturday May 27th, 10am

• Bee Basics: initiation into the fascinating biology of nature’s most renowned insect society!

• Equipment: what you need to manage honeybees for honey, pollen, propolis & other products of the hive!

• Secrets of the Hive: learn to recognize the hallmarks of a healthy hive, including workers, queens, drones, honey, pollen, propolis, mites & more!

• Management Strategies: The tricks & trades of natural, chemical-free management for healthy, happy & productive bees!

Contact:
Eli Sarnat
(530) 902-7866
ndemik@yahoo.com

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

bug meeting in SF

paulajean — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 01:41:51 GMT

The pacific area Entomological society meets every third friday of the month. This will be the last meeting of the season in SF. many people in the group meet for dinner before the meeting.

If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll get the details. It's an interesting group, but they could use some young blood.

posted in All things Entomology - 4 replies

preserving my specimen

meghann — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 03:11:23 GMT

i'm looking for some tips on how to preserve soft bodied insects and spiders. anyone have any favorite methods? favorite preservation fluids?

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

2 females carolina praying mantises & both pregnant!

Rochelle — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 02:05:29 GMT

I,M SO BLESSED THIS YEAR BECOUSE OF THE PRAYING MANTISES I,VE SEEN IN N.C. WOOW SO MANY OF THEM.
SO I MADE A CAGE AND GOT 2 PINK CAROLINA FEMALE
PRAYING MANTISES AND BOTH OF THEM ARE FAT WITH
EGGS & DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM ? I CAN GET MORE IF ANYONE WANTS TO BUY THEM? BOTH MALE & FEMALE . FEMALES ARE BIG & PINK, MALES ARE SMALLER & GREEN BROWN

posted in All things Entomology - 3 replies

Input on honey bee's.

Anthony — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 16:16:37 GMT

I recently got involved in all aspects of harvesting honey..i would love to know more about bees. Especialy about affects of the smoke . and any other facts concernig their life cycles and such.

posted in All things Entomology - 7 replies

Spineless Creatures gallery

Darter02 — Sat, 17 Sep 2005 14:33:07 GMT

Hello all. I have a gallery of insect and spider images on my photo site. I would love some input on the shots. In fact, if anyone can identify what the subject is in the photo you can leave a comment under it identifying it. Heck, feel free to leave links to more info if you desire.

My “Spineless Creatures” gallery can be seen at http://www.pbase.com/darter02/insects

posted in All things Entomology - 13 replies

Beetles in Las Vegas

meghann — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:06:01 GMT

I'm going to be traveling around a bit in the next couple of weeks and was wondering if there
are any interesting beetles I should look out for in the Las Vegas area?

how about Cazadero, near the Russian River?

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

Eastern Washington Beetles...

amy-out-of-line — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 19:29:37 GMT

Is anyone familiar with the Southeastern Washington region as far as beetles are concerned? I am new to the area. Since the weather began to warm, I am encountering at least a dozen species that I don't recognize in the least!

Curious...
Help!

posted in All things Entomology - 4 replies

mysterious insects terrorize indian village...

Cory — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 08:56:22 GMT

Are there no entomologists in India? The news story found at the following link: http://www.ibnlive.com/article.php?id=5456&section_id=13 sounds like science fiction, but I'm sure someone with a little biological background can figure it out. It is hard to tell from the pictures, but the offending arthropod looks like a beetle of some sort...a tenebrionid maybe?

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Wanna catch aquatic insects this Spring?

Flowingrace — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 08:36:14 GMT

Water bugs indicate stream health, so volunteers can help net them in East Bay Watersheds. ID the bugs to determine diversity, abundance and pollution tolerance of the species, which flags areas in creeks with problems, like low dissolved oxygen or toxicity. Check back on this website for details in Spring. http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cd/water/_private/CitizenMonitoring/Home.htm

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

New Tribe: "Botanical Conservation and Research"

Cynorkis — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 19:45:19 GMT

Hi, for any entomologists out there who fancy pollination biology or the amazing plant-ant relationships take a look at the new tribe that I created that has a botanical emphasis but with an ecological connection to the world of insects.

Check out this new tribe if you are interested in protecting plant biodiversity, participate in rare plant propagation or restoration, scientific research, or grassroots conservation efforts.

Thanks,

Cynorkis

-----------------------------------------------------------
Botanical Conservation and Research

This is a forum for individuals interested in understanding and protecting the Earth's botanical diversity. Discuss scientific research, conservation efforts or organizations, rare plant or ecosystem restoration, systematics, funding resources, conferences, and academic institutions.

Keywords: Botany, plants, mycology, bryology, ecology, conservation biology, evolution, horticulture, flowers, pollination, seeds, soil, forests, wetlands, deserts, montane, tropical, temperate, earth.

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

Can you help identify...

NYRAT — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 02:35:26 GMT

the creature I posted in this Tribes photo Album. It's the rather large Moth. I'm enquiring about this out ig simple curiosity.

Taryn

posted in All things Entomology - 3 replies

Life in the Undergrowth

scurle — Tue, 22 Nov 2005 18:04:29 GMT

Just in case anyone interested in insects doesn't know about this new series about to start on BBC1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/lifeintheundergrowth/
I understand the book is out, the series starts Wednesday 23rd Nov @ 21:00 and the DVD is out on the 5th December - just in time for Xmas!
Steve

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Entomophogy.

piscivorus — Mon, 09 May 2005 04:23:57 GMT

Eating insects...

Have you? Do you? Do you want to?

I'm looking for experienced insect (and arachnid) eaters. I'm starting my research on the topic for a lecture and demonstration I will be giving soon. I know about B.A.B.E.S. ( http://www.planetscott.com/babes/index.asp ) as well as many good books, but I'm currently looking to make contact with actual insect eaters. Maybe for dinner?

-Matthew

posted in All things Entomology - 9 replies

Seeking Firefly Information

Tentacular — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 14:39:40 GMT

Can anyone suggest a good comprehensive source of information on fireflies. I'm especially interested in the species diversity.

Thanks everly so much.

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Mantis ban?

Wed, 05 Oct 2005 22:12:37 GMT

Apparently there's a long-standing ban on exotic species that's just now being enforced on mantids - an area store I know that had African & "#9" mantid stocks stopped carrying them and posted a sign to that effect, as well as the venerable East Bay Vivarium not carrying them any more...

So now we're limited to domestic breeds plus the Chinese mantis, which has become quite at home here in the states.

A) Anybody know the precedent for this? Was there an explosion of Orchid Mantids somewhere or something?

B) Anybody recommend a breeder w/ varieties other than the aforementioned Chinese or the common Carolina? I know there are some interesting horned mantids in Arizona, for instance...

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

Hormiga Culona

orangeboxman — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 18:40:14 GMT

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=hormigas%20culonas&btnG=Google+Search&sa=N&tab=wi

I heard someone was successfully growing a hive of these things in the U.S..

They're very tasty, and I'd be very interested in growing a hive myself at some point.

I need some suggestions about how to begin this process.

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

How Long do Butterflies live

Benjangles — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 19:37:52 GMT

Does anyone know the average life span of butterflies? I was wondering what it would be from when it hatched to when it died.

posted in All things Entomology - 7 replies

Carnivore Caterpillar Thinks It's A Spider

Fri, 22 Jul 2005 20:03:11 GMT

Flesh-eating caterpillar that thinks it's a spider
By Mark Henderson, Science Correspondent

A FLESH-EATING caterpillar that uses spider-like silk to trap snails before devouring them alive has been found in Hawaii.

Once the larvae, which develop into moths, have tied the snails to leaves, they climb inside their shells to feast on the soft tissue.

The caterpillar, which is native to the island of Maui, has been named Hyposmocoma molluscivora, in recognition of its status as the first known species to hunt molluscs.

Researchers have since discovered a second variety, which remains unclassified and unnamed but which adopts similar tactics, on another Hawaiian island, Molokai.

The two finds illustrate evolution in action, showing how the isolation of species can lead to behaviour that is rarely seen. The Hawaiian islands make up the world’s most remote land mass, and many of the creatures that have evolved there — particularly invertebrates such as insects — have adopted feeding strategies not observed elsewhere.

Other Hawaiian oddities include predatory caterpillars that ambush their prey, spiders that impale insects in mid-flight, and damselflies with nymphs that live on land and not in the water.

The new species of caterpillar was identified by Daniel Rubinoff and William Haines, of the University of Hawaii, who publish details of the discovery today in Science.

Caterpillars are the larval stage of insects from the order Lepidoptera, which include butterflies and moths. The majority of these insects are herbivores: an estimated 150,000 Lepidoptera species are known to science, and only about 200 are predators or parasites. All caterpillars have glands capable of producing silk — the silkworm is a kind of caterpillar that will eventually grow into a moth — but none has previously been found to use it in similar fashion to spiders. The Hyposmocoma molluscivora caterpillar is about 8mm (0.3in) in length and uses its sticky silk to build a case that serves as camouflage and protection.

When the caterpillar finds a snail of the genus Tornatellides — which is native only to Hawaii — it attaches sticky silk fibres to its shell. It anchors these silk bonds to the leaf on which the snail is resting, preventing its prey from moving.

Once the snail is immobilised, the caterpillar wedges its case next to the snail shell before stretching its body out of the case and into the shell. It then “pursues the retreating snail to the end of the shell from which there is no escape,” Dr Rubinoff said. “We observed 18 attacks by 10 different larvae following this sequence.”

STRANGE SPECIES

-At least 18 Eupithecia genus caterpillars are carnivorous and ambush prey, their tail looping back to seize it in one twelfth of a second
-Most damselfly young, called nymphs, are aquatic. Hawaii has a species whose nymphs live on land
-Many Hawaiian spider species have abandoned web-spinning, either seizing prey or, like Doryonychus raptor, impaling it in mid-flight

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1703393,00.html

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Bees vs. Hornets

Tue, 19 Jul 2005 22:53:23 GMT

http://www.wackyvids.com/movies/animals/83/hornetsvsbees.html

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Tiger Beetles... anyone here interested in them?

DrRichardCranium — Sat, 15 Jan 2005 22:48:39 GMT

Anyone here interested in tiger beetles? They're pretty popular for insects, so I thought maybe someone here might have run across them, collect them, want to know more about them, etc.

I'm always looking for people that collect might collect them, since I work on the ecology evolution /molecular systematics of the group... so definitely talk to me if you're an occasional collector of tigers!

Dan

_____________________________________________________

"Wherever you go... there you are"

posted in All things Entomology - 4 replies

Can anyone identify this spider?

maggieathena — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 09:27:22 GMT

I caught this spider about an hour ago and I was hoping someone can tell me what kind she is. We live in San Jose, CA. Our pet rats get to play in most parts of the house so I'm a little paranoid about what other critters they may come up against. Here she is: http://www.e3o3.net/mag/Spider%20to%20identify.html

I'll probably set her free tonight - I just can't kill something once I've spent any time with it.

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

Whasis Moth?

Tentacular — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 21:51:40 GMT

Spotted in Massachusetts this morning:

http://connecticut.tribe.net/template/pub%2CViewPhoto.vm/context/person?page=1&currentoffset=2&parentid=c67fd41a-e9cd-413b-ab85-b36d25aa6882&sortby&rows&r=10450

posted in All things Entomology - 3 replies

Black Widows

heather — Fri, 04 Mar 2005 18:25:52 GMT

i've heard so much conflicting information regarding this beautiful little creature, and really, i'm a little tired of wive's tales, folklore, rumor and "but a friend of a friend of mine got bitten and..." is there a bonafied source on the behaviors, toxins, et. al. of the widow? i would truly love some reliable information with which to refute all the hearsy that comes my way. i see widows everyday, deconstructing and re-constructing the Renaissance Faire---there's even one living in my car at the moment, cleverly beyond my reach within the mysterious world of the dashboard. everyone has their own story about Death by Widow, or Chased by Widow, etc. etc. etc. and it would be really nice to know if i'll have to Bug Bomb my car...

posted in All things Entomology - 9 replies

insect photography

Drew — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 00:07:58 GMT

check out my bros work.

http://michaelready.com/fauna.html

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

Slime-mold Beetles Named for Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld

Thu, 14 Apr 2005 20:44:50 GMT

Three new beetles of the genus Agathidium have been named after members of the current administration: A. bushi, A. cheneyi and A. rumsfeldi.

Two former Cornell University entomologists, Quentin Wheeler and Kelly Miller, were in charge of naming 65 new species of slime-mold beetles, which they discovered while studying the insects' evolution and classification.

Wheeler, who is now head of entomology at the Natural History Museum in London, said that the choice to name beetles after President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was out of admiration for their principles, not because they look like the beetles.

None of these beetles make their home inside the Beltway.

Wheeler said Agathidium bushi has been found in southern Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia; Agathidium cheneyi inhabits Chiapas, Mexico; and Agathidium rumsfeldi is known from Oaxaca and Hidalgo in Mexico.

The slime-mold beetles are so-called because they feed on fungi-like molds.

Some of the other recently identified specimens were named after the entomologists' wives and their scientific illustrator, as well as Pocahontas, Hernan Cortez, and the Aztecs.

Most of the rest of the names are derived from various geographic locations or distinguishing features. One of the beetles was called A. vaderi because of its shiny, Darth-Vader-like head.

Scientists are allowed to name the species they discovery. According to rules established by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, the species name must end in "i" if it comes from a person.
Slime-mold Beetles Named for Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld

Wed Apr 13, 5:20 PM ET Science - SPACE.com/LiveScience.com

Michael Schirber, LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com

Namesakes of the U.S. President and two of his key people might be crawling around your back yard as you read this.

Three new beetles of the genus Agathidium have been named after members of the current administration: A. bushi, A. cheneyi and A. rumsfeldi.

Two former Cornell University entomologists, Quentin Wheeler and Kelly Miller, were in charge of naming 65 new species of slime-mold beetles, which they discovered while studying the insects' evolution and classification.

Wheeler, who is now head of entomology at the Natural History Museum in London, said that the choice to name beetles after President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was out of admiration for their principles, not because they look like the beetles.

None of these beetles make their home inside the Beltway.

Wheeler said Agathidium bushi has been found in southern Ohio, North Carolina and Virginia; Agathidium cheneyi inhabits Chiapas, Mexico; and Agathidium rumsfeldi is known from Oaxaca and Hidalgo in Mexico.

The slime-mold beetles are so-called because they feed on fungi-like molds.

Some of the other recently identified specimens were named after the entomologists' wives and their scientific illustrator, as well as Pocahontas, Hernan Cortez, and the Aztecs.

Most of the rest of the names are derived from various geographic locations or distinguishing features. One of the beetles was called A. vaderi because of its shiny, Darth-Vader-like head.

Scientists are allowed to name the species they discovery. According to rules established by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, the species name must end in "i" if it comes from a person.

The rather long scientific names also includes the names of those who first described the species.

The new names are reported in a monograph in the March 24, 2005, issue of the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=96&e=1&u=/space/20050413/sc_space/slimemoldbeetlesnamedforbushcheneyandrumsfeld

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

godofinsects.com & bugguide.net

barushka — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 02:13:13 GMT

just wanna let ya'll know about
www.godofinsects.com
&
www.bugguide.net

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

Insect Mounting Class @ Paxton Gate SF

piscivorus — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 23:55:13 GMT

Insect Mounting Class – Easter Sunday, March 27th at 2 pm.
Lecture & hands-on training, approx. 4 hrs.

We will be teaching a class on how to mount both beetles and butterflies. Insect mounting kit and lecture are provided for the fee of $60 plus tax. The kit includes the basic tools needed to mount insects as well as specimens to mount the evening of the class. This lecture does not include instruction or materials for framing insects.

Students will receive 10% off any entomology purchases the night of the class as well as a 10% discount card that can be used at any time.

There is limited space and the class fills up on a first come first serve basis.

Paxton Gate is located between 19th and 20th on Valencia in San Francisco. Call or stop in if you have questions. 415.824.1872

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

Raising Lampyridae???

Average — Sun, 27 Feb 2005 21:10:58 GMT

I just got back from a jaunt in Asia and noticed that hobby rearing of Lampyridae is becoming extremely popular--especially among school groups. I'm sending off a couple of emails in Japanese asking for more info, but my question to the rest of you here is....

Has anyone seen any ENGLISH LANGUAGE documentation on doing this???

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

interested neophyte

Harry — Sun, 27 Feb 2005 02:42:03 GMT

I just joined this tribe but am a little imtimidated by the general level of education on the subject among members. But here goes. Early evolution of plants and animals has fascinated me. Where did insects evolve from? Do they have a common ancestor with other arthropods and if so what was it. Was it some sort of unsegmented worm? I have read the the first finney vertebrate that flopped out of the water probably got bit by an insect so they are a lot older than our ilk. Suggestions about any non technical books about their early evolution would be greatly appreciated. Does anyone else think the house fly is one of the most highly evolved and adaptable creatures on earth? (can stand maggots though)
harry

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

Business or Pleasure?

Wed, 28 Jan 2004 22:27:07 GMT

Does anyone here actually work in entomology? Even indirectly?

posted in All things Entomology - 16 replies

Skydiving Ants

Thu, 10 Feb 2005 20:48:07 GMT

Sky-diving ants save themselves a long climb

JOHN VON RADOWITZ

AN ANT species that lives high in the canopies of tropical forests has learned the art of sky-diving, say scientists.

The Cephalotes atratus workers typically live on tree trunks more than 90ft above the forest floor.

It is a long fall for any ant dislodged from its perch by a gust of wind or passing bird - and a long climb back up to the nest.

But scientists found that the ants hardly ever hit the ground. Instead they go into free-fall and, like sky-divers, steer their way through the air, the journal Nature reported.

Observations of the insects in Panama, Costa Rica and Peru showed that falling ants returned to their native tree trunk 85 per cent of the time.

The team of researchers, led by Dr Michael Kaspari from the University of Oklahoma, in the United States, painted the ants’ legs white and captured their falls on film.

They found the ants glide backwards, abdomen first, towards their tree, and typically rejoined their nestmates within ten minutes of a fall.

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=153332005

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

New tarantula

Mon, 03 Jan 2005 21:41:42 GMT

As a holiday present to myself, I bought a sub-adult Starburst Baboon Tarantula. Too young to sex yet, but my daughter named it Itsy and it's doing really well so far.

I transferred it to a new, larger cage and it promptly began digging a burrow under the cork bark that I provided. It's been drinking water and has eaten two crickets so far.

I have some other ts coming from a friend of mine, too, a Mexican redleg, some ornamental baboons, and more Honduran curly-hairs. Yay!

posted in All things Entomology - 5 replies

Da Boys

gumby — Sat, 25 Dec 2004 19:14:23 GMT

Hmm well I have about 500-1,000 dermestid beetles in a 65 gallon tank waiting for the warm season so I can set them to work..

I collect skulls etc and I bought a few dozen to start a colony. Hmmm well their size has improved and with everyone in the house passing them left over chicken bones and pieces of pork etc they have found feeding the multitude of foundling easy and keep producing.

I call them 'Da Boys' and well since I am a skull collector people already think I am crazy but when I tell them about my only current pets well hehehe you can imagine.

I do have a question ... I would like to help other skull collectors start their own ( I certainly have plenty ) but would like to make sure these are just a common beetle (like flies are common). Are dermestids common thoughout the US? The world?

Oh and I have always thought it would be cool to have a couple of those really big roaches with the spots on the wings as pets.

G~ < a bug ethusiast and spider worshipper>

posted in All things Entomology - 3 replies

Buying Insects?

Mon, 08 Nov 2004 18:46:44 GMT

Hey there-

if one were to be in the market for invertebrates in SF, where would you go? Been to the EBVivarium; their stock is decent. Anywhere else though?

posted in All things Entomology - 11 replies

P. Murinus

Wed, 29 Dec 2004 21:37:44 GMT

I just bought myself a holiday present: a sub-adult Pterinocholus murinus (starburst baboon tarantula). It's too young to sex, but in beautiful condition. The petstore where I bought it didn't even know what it was and sold it to me for $20, cage included.

*happy dance*

My 2 year-old daughter named the spider - what else - Itsy.

posted in All things Entomology - 3 replies

New member... professional entomologist here

DrRichardCranium — Fri, 24 Dec 2004 23:40:29 GMT

Hello all! I just joined Tribe.net and found your site... good stuff. I'm a beetle guy and specifically a specialist on Cicindelidae (tiger beetles) and Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles). I'll post some cool field photos on here sometime soon.

- Dan

posted in All things Entomology - 11 replies

Mantids as Pets

Thu, 03 Jun 2004 00:35:04 GMT

Howdy-

Anybody have experience with praying mantids as pets?

I've been semi-obsessed by them since a close encounter with some a few years ago. Smart bugs to say the least...

Share your heartwarming mantis tales!

posted in All things Entomology - 17 replies

Anybody want a bright orange Orbweaver spider?

destri_josh — Wed, 20 Oct 2004 04:09:08 GMT

We found a gigantic freaky spider on the porch, in which I couldn't initially see a head (cephalothorax) so I thought it was a whacky Harvester, I decided that we should get pictures of it, because I went online and didn't see a solid orange orb-weaver or Harvester. (San Leandro, rainy, just today). I tried to take some pictures of it with my cell phone, but they didn't come out well.

I called around trying to find my Entomology friends, but alas, I could not.
So, I can be reached at prestoco@hotmail.com
She's in a big jar right now, if anybody wants her to take photos of and let go, or fix or whatever please email me. I'll attempt to get a clear picture of it. Thanks!
-Josh

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Anyone interested in sphinx moths?

Mark — Fri, 24 Sep 2004 03:02:50 GMT

I just love them and really enjoy raising their caterpillars.

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

Free trantulas

Mikey — Fri, 24 Sep 2004 07:14:27 GMT

Pic them up in SF. Comes with tank, heater, light, ect... I have no more time to take care of my babies. I am giving away all three. Please send me a message or call me at my cell 415-254-0684.

I don't have time to take care of them anymore. Raised since they were babies.

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

Periodical cicadas

jenn_b — Thu, 29 Jul 2004 21:06:57 GMT

Last night related to me her recent experiences with the emergence of the 17 year periodical cicadas in Washington D.C. this spring - which led to this question.

Is there some reason that the periodical ones have prime number life cycle repeats (13 and 17 years) or is this just a coincidence? I really don't subscribe to the coincidence theory in any aspect of biology. Does anyone know anything about this or have any theories?

posted in All things Entomology - 6 replies

spider ID

iammark — Sat, 27 Mar 2004 18:16:29 GMT

I've posted a "not so good" photo of a spider in the album.

I'm guessing that it must be some type of a a Wolf spider (Lycosa), but I'd like to know the specific speces. Can anyone give me some pointers?

posted in All things Entomology - 4 replies

any conventions in boston?

adillus — Mon, 23 Aug 2004 23:42:32 GMT

i just moved to boston and was wondering if there are any entomology conventions (annually, monthly, whenever) on this coast, like there are in la?

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

J. Gordon Edwards

NameWithheld — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 04:51:51 GMT

He was an amazing professor, scientist and true gentleman in every sense of the word.

Farewell Doc.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,128165,00.html

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

Gotta love the LBC

Drew — Thu, 29 Jul 2004 23:14:37 GMT

See posted photo.
Found in Snoops hood.

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Bee pics posted.

Drew — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 22:41:15 GMT

I just thought I'd share a couple of photos from my recent foray to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in Claremont, California.

I was photographing a prickly pear cactus flower (photo 1) when the pollen loaded anthers started to buzz and shake tossing pollen everywhere. A few seconds later a bee (photo 2) crawled into view.

posted in All things Entomology - 7 replies

Black Widows

NameWithheld — Sat, 03 Jul 2004 22:54:37 GMT

Okay, I know this is not technically entomology. I hate these things and they are all flipping over my garage.

Other than squishing, does anyone have any good ideas for killing them off all at once? Do bombs work? I understand that spiders resp. rate can be low enough to foil a bomb. Anyone?

posted in All things Entomology - 4 replies

scarab season

NameWithheld — Wed, 16 Jun 2004 13:53:44 GMT

It's happening again.

It's scarab season. Every night the mating pairs come out and throw themselves against my window screens and pile themselves up in any receptacle they can find outside. Good times.

Is this happening anywhere else?

posted in All things Entomology - 3 replies

experimental sound..

ascii — Wed, 24 Dec 2003 12:49:42 GMT

www.mollybrenner.com

posted in All things Entomology - 4 replies

males as primary caretakers

Kai — Sun, 16 May 2004 20:38:24 GMT

I know there are at least a few species of insects where the male is the primary caretaker as opposed to the female, but are there also species where the male both fertilizes and carries the eggs within them, or where the female fertilizes the eggs which are inside the male?

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

Identity help, please?

HarleyLady — Tue, 16 Mar 2004 14:58:15 GMT

Can someone please help me identify this critter - I've uploaded a photo to the tribe album and have other photos if needed. I forgot to put something in the picture for scale, but they are approx 1.5 inches long. They seemed to move in waves. Yesterday they were in front of my property, feeding on the low-growing grey, wooly weed in the picture, now they are moving east toward the back of the property and infesting my bougainvillea and other plants. Location is the San Felipe desert, Baja, on the Sea of Cortez.

posted in All things Entomology - 6 replies

oleander moth?

Pandora-Frijole — Sun, 09 May 2004 08:04:00 GMT

a couple of weeks ago, i noticed a big beautiful moth, with very bright blue, red and black coloration, and a sort of curly-looking abdomen. and she was inside of my house, chilling on top of a pile of bananas. i shooed her outside.
later, when i described her to my boyfriend, he said it was definitely an oleander moth. and i have seen plenty of them at the environmental center where he works. i had just forgotten what they were called (my memory sucks sometimes)
anyways, a few days later my mom and i were in the kitchen and she reached for a banana and stopped. she let out an "ewwww" and i went to see what the deal was. there was a hairy cocoon on the banana. i told her the story about the moth and she thought it was cute. then i put the banana outside. a couple of days later, the cacoon was an empty shell and a couple of perfect rows had been chomped out of the banana.
but when i told my boyfriend this part of the story, he said oleander moths do not lay their eggs on bananas, nor do they eat bananas. the end.

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

Bugged out

Pilsbury — Thu, 12 Feb 2004 17:02:30 GMT

The bug hunter is here ! I've been into bugs ever since my mum showed me a catapillar. My latest bugged out experience concerns a mushroom specimen I found. It was a Ganoderma oregonense specimen that had large maggot critters in it. I put the mushroom in a jar to see what would hatch out. Weeks went by before I noticed these crysalis formed on the top of the fungi that looked very like those made by moths ( ! ) The critter that hatch out actually looked more like a large mosquito ! Frickin wierd bug ! I found the mushrooms while Oregon on a foray.....

posted in All things Entomology - 8 replies

Identity help, please?

HarleyLady — Tue, 16 Mar 2004 14:58:15 GMT

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies

www.bioindicators.com

Gannet — Sat, 13 Mar 2004 16:23:30 GMT

New website. It is under construction and I have little time to commit as I prepare to graduate.

Please let me know your thoughts. Any corrections or suggestions are welcome....

www.bioindicators.com

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

question re: spider life cycle

David — Tue, 24 Feb 2004 20:49:06 GMT

Hello everyone, was hoping somebody here could answer me this - why do spiders cocoon themselves before dying? Does this happen only with female spiders? Is it to prevent from being eaten? I watched one does this against a crook in a window and there were two other spiders (presumably male) right outside the cocoon. Anybody have an answer as to why?

posted in All things Entomology - 2 replies

saying hello

kristendvineyard — Wed, 18 Feb 2004 01:10:33 GMT

hey there! Ive just been introduced to Tribe, Im from the Portland OR area and I looooooove bugs! specially Luna moths and phasmids and well, okay....pretty much everything cept cockroaches! just wanted to say hi...

posted in All things Entomology - 1 reply

Crap moderator

Fri, 23 Jan 2004 19:30:30 GMT

Hey all, sorry I've been such a crap moderator so far.
I'm really pleased to see that you all have joined my tribe.
It was lonely with just me and the two friends that I made
join. Its really good to see that I'm not the only
bug lover.

posted in All things Entomology - 0 replies