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Author Archives: JoanieTheEntomologist
Hitchhiking mites, yikes (maybe he should have brought a towel)
One of the emails we got this month led to an interesting answer. A nonprofit director asked some questions about an earwig for their kids they teach. They found an earwig one day and thought it was a mother carrying her … Continue reading
What would it be like to eat a bug that was about as large as a loaf of bread?
“What would it be like to eat a bug that was about as large as a loaf of bread? This question was inspired by a video game called Grounded, in which shrunken kids have to survive on a lawn, which … Continue reading
Posted in Culture
Tagged Anthropo-entomophagy, Anthropoentomophagy, catzos, chontacuros, crickets, Ecuador, Entomophagy, seafood, silkworms, waxworms
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Do other bugs have anything similar to a hymenopteran’s stinger?
Question: I know that stingers on wasps, bees, ants, etc., are modified ovipositors, which helps them out in terms of defense […] this got me into thinking. Do other bugs have anything similar? This question emailed to us is quite intriguing and … Continue reading
Posted in Behavior, Evolution
Tagged antlion, cuticular spins, envenomation, Onychocerus albitarsis, Reduviidae, scorpion beetle, sting, venom, Venomous
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November – Time for the Entomological Society of America National Meeting
Every year, November is an especially busy month for Nancy, Joe, and I. This is because it is time for the national Entomological Society of America (EntSoc or ESA) meeting, in addition to our other responsibilities. This meeting is a … Continue reading
Deathwatch Beetles – Spooky Sounds
Tick, tick. Tap, tap, tap. These sounds are produced by a deathwatch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum). Old buildings can sometimes give us spooky vibes. However, for the deathwatch beetle, they are quite welcoming. This is because these beetles are woodboring and … Continue reading
Posted in Behavior, Culture
Tagged Deathwatch beetle, Grim Reaper, Xestobium rufovillosum
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Poll for next week’s blog post – Halloween Theme
Howdy y’all. We wanted to try something a little different. For next week’s post, I have a couple of topics in mind – but I’m only going to write about one. Which topic would you like to read about next … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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A note on death in insects – pretending, surviving, and living
My undergraduate student that I’m mentoring this semester asked me a question about when an insect is dead. He pondered this because we read a paper were researchers infected carpenter ants with a fungus were considered dead after no movement … Continue reading
Email question: are fireflies attracted to CO2?
Back in June we received an email that stuck with me. A person had a question about CO2 attraction in fireflies. Their question pertained to an insect trap that emits CO2 to attract and capture insects. They were concerned about … Continue reading
Bugs With Fuzzy Butts: What are They?!
Spring and summer time bring out all the interesting bugs! Over the years (and recently) we’ve had a few people ask what these insects are and why they have “fuzzy butts.” These insects are broadly called planthoppers. Why do they … Continue reading
Dr. Charles Henry Turner: An Amazing Scientist
This week we are featuring Dr. Charles Henry Turner. Before I begin my article on him, I have a personal note that I’d like to share. As Nancy stated in her blog post on Dr. Margaret S. Collins, I would like to … Continue reading
