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Author Archives: SciBugs
What are Gnats? Are Gnats Flies?
I received this question from my learning community on Facebook called the SciHive! We deep dive into topics and I get some really insightful questions! And I even love these kinds of questions that really show the dichotomy between colloquial … Continue reading
Posted in Identification, Taxonomy
Tagged are gnats flies, brachycera, Diptera, Fly, fungus gnat, gnat, nematocera, what is a gnat
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What is the Difference Between Dragonflies and Damselflies?
I get this question in person more than I see it online. So let’s break it down shall we? What are dragonflies and damselflies? How are they similar? How are they different? And take a deeper dive than you might … Continue reading
Do Insects Have Taste Buds?
Insects do smell and taste and the sensation is different. We’re not exactly sure what the insect experiences when they are tasting vs smelling but behavioral studies have shown us that they are are different. If the insect is picking up airborne volatiles we say that they are “smelling”. If they come in direct contact with it – like a fly landing on your pizza – we call it “tasting”. If you want some fancy words to throw around, insect tasting is technically referred to as contact chemoreception or gustatory chemoreception. Continue reading
Posted in Chemistry, Physiology
Tagged bugs taste, can insects taste, insect taste buds, insects smell, insects taste, maxillary palps, taste buds
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Why Do Zipper / Writing Spiders Make “Zippers? / Writings” in Their Web?
Spiders that have the Stabilimenta are active during the day and tend to have their webs just hanging out in the open. Furthermore – they don’t build their web anew every day like other spiders. Continue reading
Entomologist Answers Commonly Googled Questions About Entomology and Entomologists
Written by Nancy Miorelli I’ve been rehauling my YouTube channel and I thought – that as member of the Ask an Entomologist team – what better way to spread the bug love than to answer questions that are commonly Googled! … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Identification, Pest Management
Tagged arthropod, Entomology, Forensic entmology, forensic entomologist, How Do Entomologists Help Solve Crimes, Insect, What Do Entomologists Do, What Do Entomologists Do at a Crime Scene, What Do Entomologists Do Every Day, What Do Entomologists Make, What Do Entomologists Study, What Do Entomologists Use To Catch Insects, What Do Entomologists Wear, What Does Entomology Mean, Why Do Entomologists Study Insects, Why Do Entomologists Use Dichotomous Keys
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Is This Asian Lady Beetle Meme True?
Written by Nancy Miorelli This meme – floating around FB. Fact? Fiction? Mix? I’m starting to feel like we’re the Snopes of Entomology. The answer? Mostly False. Like 98% False. And lots of misleading information.
Posted in Ecology, Identification, Pest Management
Tagged asian lady beetle, asian ladybug, infographic, Invasive Species, Lady Beetle, Ladybird, Ladybug, ladybug infographic, ladybug meme, meme
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Healthy Insect Relationships: How Insects Court Each Other
Written by Nancy Miorelli A while back I wrote an article about how insect relationships are a bit … non consensual. And these kinds of articles flood the internet because it’s all the hype and drama that you’d want to … Continue reading
Posted in Behavior, Ecology, Physiology
Tagged beetle, bug love, bug mating, cicada, gift, insect courtship, insect love, insect mating rituals, insect sex, katydid, mating, sperm packet
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Coming Out of the Woodwork: Worm Shoes, Mayflower II Restoration, and Maintaining Wood for the Long Term
Written by Nancy Miorelli Edited by Dylan Perry My Dad has interesting hobbies and interests. One such interest is history – specifically during the age of tall ships. Tall ships are those ships that are cruising around in Pirates of … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Pest Management
Tagged damaged wood, mayflower, mayflower II, ship building, tall ship, wood, wood boring beetles, wood maintenance, wood protection, worm shoe
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Don’t Get Choked Up Over It! Can Insects Choke?
Written by Nancy Miorelli This brilliant gem came from a five year old. Kids ask the best questions, don’t they? https://twitter.com/voraciousbrain/status/913123165735354368 And here’s the thing. We have covered spitting and vomiting which insects definitley can do. But insects can’t actually choke … Continue reading
Posted in Behavior, Physiology
Tagged black death, bubonic plague, Bugs, choke, feeding, flea, Insect, Insects, plague
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What’s the Difference Between a Butterfly and a Moth
Written by Nancy Miorelli We’ve been having a lot of fun and games on our Facebook Page! Literally. Games. Like our new bug quiz series! Which of the lettered insects is a butterfly? So have a quick look a the … Continue reading
Posted in Taxonomy
Tagged brush footed butterfly, Butterfly, clubbed antennae, Hedylidae, hooked antennae, Lepidoptera, moth, Taxonomy
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