Monthly Archives: March 2014

Maggots: A Medical Device

Posted on March 31, 2014 by jjneal

Maggot therapy can be used to promote healing of chronic wounds that don’t otherwise heal. One larva of Lucilia sericata, (maggot) can consume 25 mg of necrotic material in one day. The debridement (removal of necrotic tissue) is accomplished by … Continue reading →

Posted in Biomaterials, by jjneal, Health, Policy | Leave a comment

Flies as Flowers

Posted on March 30, 2014 by jjneal

The First Street Gallery (Humboldt State University) in Eureka, California will host an exhibit by Stanford artist Gail Wight. The exhibit will feature digital prints inspired by nature (and insects). Among the works is this flower made by incorporating digital … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, by jjneal, Invasive Species | Leave a comment

Flies Save Lives

Posted on March 29, 2014 by jjneal

German tourist, Daniel Dudzisz, is walking across Australia. On February 17 he went missing initiating a search by authorities. Dudzisz is diabetic and took very little food. He had left the road and was walking cross-country when he was cut … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Food | 1 Comment

Friday Cat-erpillar Blogging: Citizen Science

Posted on March 28, 2014 by jjneal

Many people are interested in nature and science and would jump at the opportunity to participate in worthwhile science projects. Writing in PLOSOne, Pocock and Evans* describe the incorporation of the public in a project to study an invasive species … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment, Insect Inspired, Invasive Species | 2 Comments

The Lesser House Fly

Posted on March 27, 2014 by jjneal

Most people are familiar with the common house fly that enters houses and has the unappetizing behavior of landing on food. Sometimes people notice another fly, slightly smaller than a House Fly, the Lesser House Fly, Fannia canicularis. The Lesser … Continue reading →

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

High Plains Grasshopper

Posted on March 26, 2014 by jjneal

Outbreaks of large swarms of Grasshoppers in the US were not uncommon in the past. Under the right conditions plagues of grasshoppers could descend on an area and consume most of the vegetation. Harrison E Smith* wrote about the 1913 … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment | 2 Comments

Goldenrod Galls

Posted on March 25, 2014 by jjneal

One of the most prominent galls in Indiana is made by the goldenrod gall fly, Eurosta solidaginis. At this time of year, unplowed fields will have brown stubble, the new green growth is not yet emerged. The tall stocks of … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment | 1 Comment