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- Skateboarder's Death Puts Spotlight On Bee Sting Allergies 6:52am Aug 21
- Bug of the Week - August 19, 2009 10:01pm Aug 18|5 Comments
- Fall Webworm May Not Require Control 11:43am Aug 17
Hey Los Angeles: do you have spiders in your basement or backyard? The spider experts at the L.A. Natural History Museum want to see them. You can help entomologists survey spider populations in the L.A. Basin by participating in the Los Angeles Spider Survey.In 2002, museum staff invited L.A. re...
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Did you know...Some dance flies use handmade nuptial gifts to woo a mate. The male spins a silken balloon and offers it to the female of his choosing. The balloon serves no purpose, but still, an interested female will accept the gift. It is believed that this behavior evolved from the practice o...
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Thanks to all my regular Bug of the Week participants for coming back each week, and welcome to newcomers. Each Wednesday, I post an image of an insect, spider, or other "bug" here in my blog, with a challenge to you to identify it. You've got until next Wednesday, when I'll reveal the answer and...
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For 80 million years, figs and fig wasps have co-existed and co-evolved. Each of the 700-plus species of fig trees has its own partner species of fig wasp. The fig wasp lay its eggs in the fruit, where its offspring are protected from harm. In exchange for this safe haven, the fig wasp pollinates...
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Monarch butterflies had a rough year in 2009. Drought and a heat wave in the south slowed their migration. When they finally fluttered into the northern states, they were met with an unusually cold, rainy summer. Most butterfly biologists expected winter numbers to be down this year.Monarchs at t...
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Did you know...The shaggy, fuzzyfoot bee - yes, that's its name - pollinates blueberries using an unusual method. It "buzzes" or vibrates the pollen loose from the flower's anthers. These pollinating powerhouses don't let the rain stop them; while other bees take shelter, they're still flying fro...
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The folks at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust area doing good things for bees in the UK. They've already established the world's first bumblebee sanctuary, a 20 acre meadow now bursting with clovers, vetches and trefoils. The Vane Farm Sanctuary, a bumblebee habitat created by the Bumblebee Conse...
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http://insects.about.com My friends at the Bumblebee Conservation Trust in the UK are competing against 5 other groups for a £25,000 prize. If they win, they'll use it to create a wildflower-rich habitat to support rare, native bumblebees in the Pembrokeshire National Park. You can help them win! Visit their website to vote and learn more.
www.bumblebeeconservation.org
"Bumblebees are key factors in our wildlife. If they disappear many of our plants will not bear fruit. I am proud to be associated with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust"
This week, I've changed things up a bit. Can you name this spider? Each Wednesday, I post an image of a bug for you to identify. If you leave a comment with its correct name, I'll give you a shout out in next Wednesday's blog post. And for those who need it, I've left some hints in the forum.Four...
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Going to Mexico? Here's one souvenir you don't want to bring back with you - a live beetle, encrusted with real gems.A living brooch from Mexico was seized at the U.S. border. This beetle is encrusted in gold and gems.Photo courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionA woman returned to the U.S...
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Did you know...If it weren't for dung beetles, we'd be up to our hips in poop. When cattle were first introduced into Australia, the pasture quickly filled up with cow patties that just wouldn't decompose. The problem? Native dung beetles didn't evolve with cattle, and weren't capable of breaking...
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It's Wednesday again, and that means it's time for another Bug of the Week challenge. Do you recognize this insect? If you can name it, leave your answer in a comment. Next Wednesday, you'll find the answer here in my blog. If you'd like a few hints to get you started, drop by the forum.The myste...
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http://insects.about.com commented on Debbie Davson's photo.
http://insects.about.com commented on Debbie Davson's photo.
http://insects.about.com commented on Debbie Davson's photo.
A pair of tech savvy researchers using motion sensitive night cameras made an unexpected discovery on the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean. Claire Micheneau and Jacques Fournel captured video footage of a cricket pollinating an orchid. It's the first time such beneficial behavior has been ob...
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Twice a month for over 30 years, UC Davis professor Arthur Shapiro headed into the field to count butterflies. Shapiro chose 10 sites in northern California that represented a variety of climates and habitats, from sea level to tree line. Never before has such a database of butterfly information ...
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Did you know...Social bees can hold their poop in for weeks or months at a time. Bee larvae have a blind gut, separate from the alimentary canal. The poop simply accumulates in the blind gut through their development. When they become adults, the young bees expel all the accumulated waste in one ...
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Ready for a challenge? See if you can identify the Bug of the Week, shown here. If you recognize this insect, leave a comment with your answer. Next Wednesday, come back to my blog to see if you were right. I haven't provided any clues this week, but this caterpillar's distinct markings should be...
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I received the most wonderful gift for Christmas this year - a Celestron LDC Digital Microscope! I'm still tinkering with all its features, and plan to give this cool product a thorough review soon. If you're an insect enthusiast, a teacher, or just into looking at small things up close, consider...
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A fellow in the UK sought medical help when he developed an eye problem. For several weeks, the man had experienced unusual light sensitivity, and his eyes were red and watery, according to the BBC News.A Chilean Rose tarantula can throw tiny, barbed hairs to defend itself.Photo: © Getty Images/J...
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Did you know...A mosquito's wings beat 300-600 times per second, which might suggest they're fast fliers, too. Quite the opposite is true, actually. Mosquitoes fly at speeds between 1 and 1.5 miles per hour. If a race were held between all the flying insects, nearly every other contestant would b...
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Happy New Year, and welcome back to the first Bug of the Week challenge of 2010. As usual, I've posted some clues in my forum to help you identify this mystery insect. Think you know what it is? Leave an answer in a comment to this blog post. I'll be off line next week for some vacation time, so ...
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High school science class has really changed. My mom's generation learned that DNA existed. My generation learned about DNA testing that might, someday, solve crimes. Today's high school students are collecting DNA samples and discovering new species.Brenda Tan and Matt Cost, both seniors at the ...
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Florida avocado growers are bracing themselves for the arrival of a teeny, tiny insect pest that could wipe out their livelihoods. Since its discovery in Georgia in 2002, the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, has advanced steadily toward Miami-Dade County and its 7,500 acres of avocado...
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Did you know...The New Zealand weta lives at high elevations where nighttime temperatures get quite icy. To combat the cold, the weta simply goes to sleep at night, and literally freezes. In the morning, it thaws out and resumes its activity. It can repeat this cycle of freezing and thawing throu...
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Here it is - the final Bug of the Week challenge for 2009. Thanks to everyone who participated throughout the year, and congratulations to the many readers who answered one or more correctly. Can you name this bug? As always, you'll find some clues in the forum. Leave your answer in a comment, an...
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http://insects.about.com This tiny bug could be hailed as a hero, or cursed as a pest. It remains to be seen...
http://insects.about.com Think you've got bed bugs? Now you can find out if you do, using $15 worth of everyday materials.
