Posts tagged insects
This Year’s Cicadas: A 90s Retro Re-mix
In 1996, the top box office film, “Independence Day” wasn’t the only invasion by bizarre creatures, nor was the remix resurrection of the “Macarena” the only sound grating upon the ear drums of Americans on the East Coast. The Brood II cicadas arose from the soil in screeching droves that year.
Bugs Make Art: Photos
Entomologist Steven Kutcher is a Hollywood “Bug Guy,” serving as a consultant in movies like “Jurassic Park,” “Arachnophobia” and “James and the Giant Peach.”
In the 1980s Director Steven Spielberg needed a shot where a fly walks through ink, leaving footprints.
Kutcher began experimenting for the scene, which led to his interest in prints created by insects.
This is just too cool! Pass me the cockroaches! I have a masterpiece to crawl.
Bizarre Insectlike Creatures Found in Spanish Cave: Three bizarre-looking springtails, tiny insectlike creatures, have been discovered in a Spanish cave.
“ A Thanksgiving Day meal with intentional insect ingredients is hardly the norm for most Americans, but it could be our future due to the cost, nutritional and environmental benefits of edible bugs.”
do spiders creep you out, or do you find them astonishingly beautiful?
The best part: these were found in populated parts of Brazil. These weren’t deep in the Amazon, but right underfoot.
Nine New Tarantula Species Creep and Crawl
Tarantulas inspire fear enough to create whole movie enterprises on their creepiness, but in reality they’re the gentle giant of arachnid-kind.
Dr. Rogério Bertani has discovered nine new species of the tarantula in the states of Central and Eastern Brazil. The new species are arboreal tarantula, which means they mostly live in the trees, and though they are commonly found in the Amazon rainforest this is not the case with these spiders. Some even live in the houses of people in the region. Of the nine, “four are the smallest arboreal species ever recorded.”
Frank the dung beetle: “Hey Chuck! Look at the view from up here! I’m on top of the world! I’m king of the mountain!”
Charlie the ant: “Yeah. You’re ballin’.”
Why Dung Beetles Like to Chill on Poop Balls
Though the smell might dissuade you, balls of feces make superbly effective foot coolers.
Dung beetles eat feces. Everyone knows this. But here’s something you didn’t know: newly published research reveals that dung beetles can use spheres of rollable poop-meals as portable AC units — and they’re damn effective ones, at that.
The researchers founddung beetles use their poo-ball as “a mobile thermal refuge” — a portable evaporative unit that cools the beetle slightly as it rolls, and dramatically when it clambers on top of it.
So what’s the secret to ball-cooling? The big one is evaporation. Dung balls are moist. moist. moist. mooooiiiissst…
All told, that means a beetle’s ball of crap helps keep it cool in three ways. First: as a platform, elevated above the scorching desert sand. Second: as a heat sink, drawing heat from the beetle’s forelimbs whenever they start to overheat. And third: as a mobile sand-cooling unit, paving a cooler path for the beetle as it pushes its prize ball of poo from one place to the next.
Taken in various locations around Maniwa and Okayama Prefecture in Japan between 2008-2011 this brilliant series of photographs captures the wild frenzy of gold fireflies as they mate after thunderstorms during the June to July rainy season. Shot using a slow shutter speed, the neon green and yellow contrails seem almost digitally imposed on the scenic landscapes, but I assure you these are real.
beautiful and surreal.
the long-elusive poodle moth sparked interest in other moths, and they’re pretty…
The Poodle and Other Beautiful Moths
When a new species is discovered, science has to find where it fits with other species. As they’ve never seen a poodle moth before, scientists will use apparent evolutionary steps to create theories as to its evolution.
This simple photo sparked a wide scientific debate in the entomological community.
so cute… they’re so amazed by that little guy.
Gorillas amazed by a caterpillar
> I always love how gorillas look so intelligent while looking confused at the same time.
> People amazed by gorillas amazed by caterpillar.
Guantanamo Bay: Butterfly Paradise
Guantanamo Bay is best known worldwide for its controversial detainment and interrogation facility located within the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.
This site is, however, a butterfly paradise. Scientists found some species that only exist in Guantanamo. Many butterflies and moths can be seen around the bay evidenced by flashes of orange, pink, blue and other bright colors.
Yikes, if you in the South this summer make sure you’re careful.
Five Things You Should Know About West Nile Virus
In the wake of 10 deaths due to West Nile virus, and hundreds of infections, authorities in Texas are spraying insecticide in the Dallas region, hoping to curb the spread of the disease, which can spread by mosquitoes.
There is no treatment for West Nile virus infections, according to the CDC and while 60% of this year’s cases have affected the nervous system. Such cases can cause inflammation of neural tissues, such as meningitis and encephalitis.
