Floder av Guld

A few images from my weekend mothing trip down to Shell Creek, San Luis Obispo County. Early spring along the central coast is stunning, and the back roads were packed with flower watchers. There were dozens of cars occupied by families out for a weekend drive, many had packed lunches and sat to watch the . . . → Läs mer: Floder av Guld

För mycket fritid?

Än vika själv en insekt.

These pieces of art are the creation of Robert J. Bara. Chanserna är om du har sett en del vansinniga origami än de var hans skapelse. Ja, de är faktiskt gjorda av ett enda stycke av oklippt papper. Han ger veck mönstret för de flesta av hans konstruktioner, but actually folding . . . → Läs mer: För mycket fritid?

Och nu vet du resten av historien

For those who saw the FOX interview with MSU entomologist Dr. Cognato (OK, for those who didn’t, here it is), you will be interested to hear his side of the story.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7f52y4Nq4E&feature=player_embedded]

Take the time to register (förlåt, it’s annoying but I couldn’t find it anywhere else) and read a response to the interview by . . . → Läs mer: Och nu vet du resten av historien

Aquamoth del 2

Jag kom över hela PDF-filen av amfibiemalartikeln och extraherade trädet som visar strålningen från denna artgrupp och den troliga utvecklingen av de amfibiska egenskaperna. Intressant att notera fallets form, och varje nattfjäril är endemisk till sin egen vulkan i Hawaiis skärgård.

This is a Bayesian analysis of . . . → Läs mer: Aquamoth del 2

In the name of the

UR6FVJ2S3B8H

Nothing wrong with established religion

You can read all about his story from the NY Times. I think the scariest thing about this whole abuse scandal (scandalsssss) is that the church actually believes that this is the work of satannot the twisted minds of individual humans. Ja, “the Devil is at work . . . → Läs mer: In the name of the

Answer to last week’s Genius of the Press

For all those who abstained from voting (I want to assume some readers must have known the identity of our mystery caterpillar, but were too lazy to comment), here is the answer (after the break).

. . . → Läs mer: Answer to last week’s Genius of the Press

Aquamoth!

Another amazing animal from Hawaiia completely amphibious caterpillar (published in the March 22 PNAS). While there are a few aquatic Lepidoptera, all of them have gills that keep them restricted to the water (mind you, we are talking only about the larval stage). If their stream dries up, so does the caterpillar. . . . → Läs mer: Aquamoth!

California Spring

Spring has come to northern California and moths are on the wing. I took a quick trip up to the Sierra foothills over the weekend and hiked up the steep slopes above the American River. Above is pictured Xanthothrix ranunculi f. albipuncta (Noctuidae: Stiriinae). It happens to be sitting on a beautiful california . . . → Läs mer: California Spring

Genius av Press, v.III

Yet another installment of my favorite series, the genius of the press. This article comes from ABC news, who can identify this caterpillar? It is decidedly NOT a gypsy moth.

Fellow entomology blogger Myrmecos had a similar story last week.

Off with their heads!

(photo credit)

The monarchs have started their spring migration north and you might even see one soon (not exciting if you live in FL or HI where there are year-round residents, or in CA where there are separate overwintering spots). Reports from their winter locations in Mexico however are dismal; with possibly the lowest . . . → Läs mer: Off with their heads!