That’s how the saying goes, right? Two weeks ago I participated in the 5th annual National Geographic BioBlitz over in Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. It was a great excuse to get back into the field and it was the first time I collected Arizona in the fall. Temps were still pushing the mid . . . → Read More: Busy as a Moth
 Comments are closed  Entomology  Arizona, BioBlitz, Collecting, Conservation, Entomology, Lepidoptera, Moths, National Geographic, New Species Maroga setiotricha (Xyloryctidae)
Another huge Australian “microlep”, (probably) Maroga setiotricha: Xylorictidae – measuring in at 60mm. With wings like this they must make formidable fliers. According to the Xyloryctinae Moths of Australia blog the larvae are stem borers into Acacia sp. (Mimosaceae). This specimen was collected in November of 1962 by Ed . . . → Read More: Monday Moth Share this! One comment - (Comments are closed) Entomology Australia, Entomology, Lepidoptera, Monday Moth, Moths CNN has now jumped on the bandwagon of FOX-esque bashing of scientific funding. Reporter Erin Burnett “reports” on the federal funding of $5.7 million dollars to help fight the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys). Burnett’s sarcasm is nearly thick enough to break into SNL levels of ridiculousness, but she seems genuine in her . . . → Read More: Stink Bug Stink Share this! 2 comments - (Comments are closed) Entomology, Skepticism Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, CNN, Entomology, Halyomorpha halys, Hemiptera, Invasive Species, Media, Pests, Skepticism A few months ago a magnificent key to the Lepidoptera of Canada (all of them) was published by Jason Dombroskie – a PhD student from the U. of Alberta. The program is available for windows users only so I haven’t had a good chance to explore it yet – but the PDF is available online . . . → Read More: Key to the Lepidoptera of Canada Share this! One comment - (Comments are closed) Entomology, Science News Butterflies, Canada, Entomology, Identification, Key, Lepidoptera, Moths Gnophaela vermiculata pair
This Monday moth is an Arctiinae, Gnophaela vermiculata. These beautiful day flying moths were abundant on yellow Helianthus flowers around 9000′ in the Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico. Caterpillars feed on bluebells, but the adults prefer the highest quality nectar source in the area – which fortunately makes . . . → Read More: Monday Moth Share this! Comments are closed Entomology Collecting, Entomology, Lepidoptera, Monday Moth, Moths, New Mexico, Photography The 2011 Ig Nobel ceremony took place yesterday at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre. The award is sponsored by Improbable Research, an organization that gathers fascinating, odd, and outright hilarious research papers that triumph the idea that not all science is boring. Among this year’s distinguished recipients was fellow entomologist and blogger David Rentz, who received the . . . → Read More: Sexy, Sexy Beer Bottles Share this! 4 comments - (Comments are closed) Entomology Australia, Beer, Beetles, Behavior, Coleoptera, Entomology, Humor [youtube kZyIN23Cy4Y 480 360] The microscopic insect world is a very different one from ours and we rarely are given glimpses into it. Thanks in part to the impressive Phantom camera system and the Flight Artists project researchers have filmed the minute (1mm!) Trichogramma wasp (Chalcidoidea) in flight. These insects are . . . → Read More: The Soaring Microcosmos Share this! Comments are closed Entomology Behavior, Biomechanics, Entomology, Flight, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Parasite Trosia nigrorufa (Megalopygidae)
This Monday moth is a stunning female of the Neotropical Megalopygidae – Trosia nigrorufa. Ed Ross and Ev Schlinger collected this specimen in Peru in 1955, and I’ve heard many stories about these epic expeditions. I can’t really imagine travelling via cargo ship, being gone for six or more . . . → Read More: Monday Moth Share this! Comments are closed Entomology California Academy of Sciences, Collecting, Entomology, Lepidoptera, Megalopygidae, Monday Moth, Moths This is a pretty epic fail. I guess the “young adult” publishing guidelines are less strict with “facts”.
Thanks to Richard Lee Brown for first posting this on Facebook. Share this! Comments are closed Entomology Bad Science, Contest, Diptera, Entomology, Humor, Hymenoptera, Media, Skepticism Oops, I skipped last monday’s moth, so here are two! These are some stunners from the CAS Philippines expedition and I think I have figured out their names. If you know better, please correct me.
Parasa darma (Limacodidae)
Parotis marginata (Crambidae)
. . . → Read More: Monday Moth Share this! One comment - (Comments are closed) Entomology California Academy of Sciences, Entomology, Lepidoptera, Monday Moth, Moths, Philippines |
Skepticism |
