And now you know the rest of the story

For those who saw the FOX interview with MSU entomologist Dr. Cognato (சரி, for those who didn’t, here it is), you will be interested to hear his side of the story.

[YouTube =: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7f52y4Nq4E&feature=player_embedded]

Take the time to register (மன்னிக்கவும், it’s annoying but I couldn’t find it anywhere else) and read a response to the interview by . . . → மேலும் படிக்க: And now you know the rest of the story

Aquamoth பகுதி 2

I came across the full-text PDF of the amphibious moth article and extracted the tree showing the radiation of this species group and probable evolution of the amphibious traits. Interesting to note the case shape, and each moth is endemic to its own volcano in the Hawaiian archipelago.

This is a Bayesian analysis of . . . → மேலும் படிக்க: Aquamoth பகுதி 2

சென்ற வார பத்திரிக்கையின் மேதைக்கான பதில்

For all those who abstained from voting (I want to assume some readers must have known the identity of our mystery caterpillar, but were too lazy to comment), here is the answer (after the break).

. . . → மேலும் படிக்க: சென்ற வார பத்திரிக்கையின் மேதைக்கான பதில்

Aquamoth!

Another amazing animal from Hawaiia completely amphibious caterpillar (published in the March 22 PNAS). While there are a few aquatic Lepidoptera, all of them have gills that keep them restricted to the water (mind you, we are talking only about the larval stage). If their stream dries up, so does the caterpillar. . . . → மேலும் படிக்க: Aquamoth!

California Spring

Spring has come to northern California and moths are on the wing. I took a quick trip up to the Sierra foothills over the weekend and hiked up the steep slopes above the American River. Above is pictured Xanthothrix ranunculi f. albipuncta (Noctuidae: Stiriinae). It happens to be sitting on a beautiful california . . . → மேலும் படிக்க: California Spring

பிரஸ் ஜீனியஸ், v.III

Yet another installment of my favorite series, the genius of the press. This article comes from ABC news, who can identify this caterpillar? It is decidedly NOT a gypsy moth.

Fellow entomology blogger Myrmecos had a similar story last week.

Off with their heads!

(photo credit)

The monarchs have started their spring migration north and you might even see one soon (not exciting if you live in FL or HI where there are year-round residents, or in CA where there are separate overwintering spots). Reports from their winter locations in Mexico however are dismal; with possibly the lowest . . . → மேலும் படிக்க: Off with their heads!

Genius of the press, part II

Published in the Santa Barbara News Press, Winter 2009. Who can tell me what’s wrong with these captions?

Page scan credit: Stuart Wilson.

வாரத்தின் பட்டாம்பூச்சி

Not the typical butterflybut this is the protein folding structure from a South American hemorrhagic feverthe Machupo virus. The article was found on Science Daily. A striking resemblance to a butterfly, maybe even a Hesperiidae (photo from Butterflies of America).

. . . → மேலும் படிக்க: வாரத்தின் பட்டாம்பூச்சி

அதிர்ஷ்டவசமாக, I’m not a beetle

Because I would have been subjected to this. Talk about animal cruelty! சரி, just kidding, but this story is a bit ridiculous. The article states that the scientists had used the voice of Limbaugh because it wasreadily available”, not because they hated him. Well that turns out not to be true, they chose Rush . . . → மேலும் படிக்க: அதிர்ஷ்டவசமாக, I’m not a beetle