Monthly Archives: December 2014

Kiss Me Slow

Posted on December 24, 2014 by jjneal

Ixapion variegatum, is a tiny weevil, first described by Wencker in 1864. It came to attention of the media in 2000 when a British Naturalist* found it feeding on mistletoe in August of 2000. The media hyped the discovery as … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Environment | 1 Comment

Living With Mistletoe

Posted on December 23, 2014 by jjneal

Mistletoe has a long history in England in cultural ceremonies. Mistletoe was adopted by Christians and incorporated into Christmas decorations of churches and cathedrals. Mistletoe, Viscum album, is also host to a few species of insect, some rare or endangered. … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Endangered Species, Environment | Leave a comment

Lacewing In Aphid Clothing

Posted on December 22, 2014 by jjneal

Ants can get sugar to supplement their diet by tending aphids and collecting honeydew. The honeydew is a waste product for the aphids who gain protection from aggressive ants at little cost. Ants recongize aphids by the lipids present on … Continue reading →

Posted in by badellin, Environment | 1 Comment

The Cockroach Invasion

Posted on December 21, 2014 by jjneal

In a third grade classroom at a Long Beach school, cockroaches suddenly swarmed out of the faucet in the back of the room. After catching and killing the cockroaches, the teacher, Sherry Meinberg, used the incident as a teachable moment. … Continue reading →

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

Bed Bugs: Do It Yourself?

Posted on December 20, 2014 by jjneal

Bed bugs cause rash, irritation, mental trauma and the bites can become infected. In the United States, much of the response to the bed bug problem at the federal level has been led by EPA. Their role is primarily a … Continue reading →

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

Friday Cat-erpillar Blogging: Eyespots

Posted on December 19, 2014 by jjneal

Many caterpillars have eyespots and other markings that adapt a caterpillar to its environment.  How is the shape and location of the eyespots determined?  The process involves gene regulation.  The Silkworm, Bombyx mori, has many color pattern mutations available for … Continue reading →

Posted in by jjneal, Caterpillar Blogging, Development | Leave a comment

Insecticides, Efficacy, and EPA

Posted on December 18, 2014 by jjneal

The US has a hands-off policy for most interaction between marketers and consumers. Caveat Emptor: Let the Buyer Beware! Consumers are often at a disadvantage. The seller knows how well their product works. The consumer often lacks the ability to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bed Bugs, by jjneal, Pest Management, Policy | Leave a comment