Category Archives: behavior

Living With Puddles

Posted on May 20, 2013 by

A mud puddle (or soil wet with irrigation water) is attractive to many butterflies. The butterflies at these sites are males that are collecting sodium to supplement the caterpillar diet (plants) which is deficient in sodium. Water dissolves minerals in … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, by jjneal, Environment | Leave a comment

Living With Large Carpenter Bees

Posted on May 19, 2013 by

The Horticulture Department at Purdue University maintains Horticultural Gardens surrounding its main building. The gardens are a great place to observe insects including butterflies, bees and other pollinators. Recently, they added a wooden structure that provides shade in the middle … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, by jjneal, Pest Management | Leave a comment

Living With Invasive Ants

Posted on May 18, 2013 by

Texas has a new ant in town: the crazy ant. Crazy ants are natives of Brazil that have been inadvertently transported to North America, first noted in Houston, Texas in 2002. Crazy ants will likely displace many native (and non-native) … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, by jjneal, Environment, Invasive Species | 3 Comments

Living With Mate Guarding

Posted on May 16, 2013 by

In many cricket species the male transfers nutrients to the female during mating. Females who mate with multiple males can produce more eggs. However, a male will produce the most eggs if all his sperm fertilize the eggs of the … Continue reading →

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Living With Insect Media

Posted on May 11, 2013 by

Jussi Parikka has written a thought provoking and compelling book, Insect Media that explores the relationships between insects and technology. The idea of using nature as a model for human machines has a long standing history. As technology has advanced … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, by jjneal, Insect Inspired, Literature | Leave a comment

Why the Millipede Tucks It’s Head

Posted on May 7, 2013 by

Millipedes are not insects but both insects and millipedes are arthropods. The arthropod lineage that led to modern millipedes and the lineage that led to insects diverged in the oceans over 500 million years ago. Both insects and millipedes have … Continue reading →

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Monarch Migration Map?

Posted on May 6, 2013 by

Monarch Butterflies are famous for migrating long distances. In late Fall, most Monarchs from East of the Rocky Mountains fly to Mexico. These monarchs have never been to Mexico and are at least 2 generations removed from Monarchs that overwintered … Continue reading →

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