Category Archives: Taxonomy

Living With Entomologist Communication

Posted on May 14, 2013 by

People ask entomologists many questions about pest insects and random insects they encounter. The Insect IQ (knowledge about insects) matters. The more someone knows about insects, the easier it is to give them an answer. People who know more about … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Education, Invasive Species, Taxonomy, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Living With Science Patrons

Posted on May 12, 2013 by

Prior to the era of the modern government research grant, art and scientific research were largely funded by subsidies from wealthy patrons. Many of the Great Scientists and Artists of the Renaissance were supported by Patrons. However, Patrons were few … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, News, Policy, Taxonomy | Leave a comment

How Low Can They Go?

Posted on April 29, 2013 by

Fairyflies are parasitic wasps that are among the smallest known insects. Huber and Noyes* described a new species of Fairyfly, Tinkerbella nana, from Costa Rica. The tiny wasp was found in sweep net samples of vegetation. Only the adults are … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment, Taxonomy | 1 Comment

Pictures Don’t Lie?

Posted on April 13, 2013 by

New advances in photography are revolutionizing insect museum collections and increasing their accessibility. Cameras glide over specimen boxes photographing insects and uploading the images to servers that allow access from remote locations. If scientists can get much of the information … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Taxonomy | Leave a comment

Living With Tiger Spiders

Posted on April 4, 2013 by

Scientists from Sri Lanka’s Biodiversity Education and Research Organisation have collected a new Tiger Spider, Poecilotheria rajaei, noted for its large size (8 inches). The predatory spider feeds on insects, snakes, small rodents and small birds. The new Tiger Spider … Continue reading →

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

Living With Two Wings

Posted on April 3, 2013 by

In the evolution of arthropods, a big step was going from an animal that had multiple identical body segments to an animal with certain body segments that are adapted to special functions. For example, the insect thorax has 3 segments … Continue reading →

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Living With Hard Wings

Posted on April 2, 2013 by

Beetles fly using their membranous hind wings which are similar to wings of other insects. The fore wings of beetles are distinctive. They are thickened and hard, providing a protective covering for the more fragile hind wings. Thus beetles can … Continue reading →

Posted in Biomaterials, by jjneal, Taxonomy | Leave a comment