Category Archives: Physiology

What happens to insects when they die of old age?

Posted on January 12, 2015 by joeballenger2005

Written by Joe Ballenger I think this is a really neat question for many reasons. Getting older is something we all deal with, and the person you were 5 years ago is not the person you are today. For everything … Continue reading →

Posted in Physiology | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

What does an osmeterium smell like? Does the smell differ between species?

Posted on December 23, 2014 by joeballenger2005

Written by Joe Ballenger After our initial launch, we had a number of people submit questions. One of the first, from Antnommer on Twitter, I found particularly interesting because it aligns with my interest in biochemistry. @SciBugs @BioInFocus @BugQuestions What … Continue reading →

Posted in Chemistry, Physiology | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Is the Smallest Multicelled Organism an Insect?

Posted on December 17, 2014 by SciBugs

Written by Nancy Miorelli https://twitter.com/CharlesSimmins/status/544696298822443009 Well, in short. No. It’s actually a microscopic, parasitic zooplankton that attaches itself to the outside of other zooplankton. Meet the crustacean Stygotantulus stocki, which measures in at just under 0.1mm (94µm). What does that mean for … Continue reading →

Posted in Developmental Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Physiology | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment