Agosach, cyfrol II

And now for the even more infrequently reoccurring series, vox populi! For those without scarring high school memories of latin class (through no fault of my teacher) I’ll bring you up to speedthe title roughly translates tovoice of the people”. Here is another old e-mail that I’ve been saving. It is a 100% real message, but of course I have redacted the real names and addresses to protect the innocent. Enjoy! I also highly encourage submissions of your own-

Winter 2008:

“Hi, I’m so glad I found you. Nawr, I hope you can help me. 1982, while camping at an old gold mining camp in the Mendocino National Forest I was bitten by a large brown spider. It took three days for the venom to pass through my system. On day three I was 95% blind, the bite swelled to a large grotesquely deep red bump on my arm. I’ll never forget the 12 hours the venom attacked me. The price I payed to survive this spiders venom was…….to loose absolutely all my body fat. I spoke with a doctor from Santa Rosa by phone from a friends place in (some small CA town). He knew about this spider and couldn’t believe I suvived the venom when I told him I lost all my body fat. He also told me it was impossible for someone to survive loosing all their body fat in 12 oriau. I reminded him that this was an impossible situation. He told me that this spider is being kept from the public. I believe this spider came from China or Russia. These spiders don’t share anything with other Cali spiders. They have big bodies and short stout legs. The female that bit me was about 4 inch’s and, had 5 males. Four years later, while living in the Hayward hills, I couldn’t believe my eyes, running across the floor, another one. This spider was about 6 inch’s. I know these spiders don’t climb walls or spin webs. They build nest’s, and obtain 4-5 males to protect her and find food. The female never leave’s the nest except…………when a larger female drives her out and, kills her males. This is when people are bitten by this spider, as she runs around looking for another nest. Bites are very uncommon. I wondered………….how big was the female that drove that 6 inch from her nest. Ac………….how big do they get. Can I find this spider on display at (your museum)? Is it possible to find all the information their is on this very dangerous spider?”

Continue reading Vox Populi, cyfrol II

Genius of the Press VIII

Welcome to volume eight of the inconsistently reoccurring series, Genius y Wasg. Deuthum ar draws yr erthygl hon recently regarding an endemic Puerto Rican butterfly. Who can tell me exactly why this report is misleading? It may be a little trickier than the standard GOP (I suggest discarding any previously associated acronyms with those letters). Hint, just telling me the butterfly in the picture is from Malaysia is not the answer I’m looking for!

Landscape Cover Map

I’ve always wondered how to find the correct terminology for land cover in a given area. Usually, I just ballpark something along the lines ofoak chaparral”. But now I can use this awesome new map brought to us by the USGS/National Biological Information Infrastructure. The level of detail is amazing, and you can specify the degree of accuracy with a drop down tab (1-3). Now with a high-def US topo map I can see exactly where the largest stands of monterrey pine are (actually it’s a California Coastal Closed-Cone Conifer Forest and Woodland) so I can optimally place my trap this weekend.

Continue reading Landscape Cover Map

Y Gwyfyn and Me #12

Welcome to The Moth and Me #12, and my first blog carnival. Despite blogging for a few months I have yet to take a look back and reflect on exactly how I became enamored with lepidoptera in the first place. Remembering a time or location where this happened is impossible, and like many of my colleagues and I’m sure many of my readers, I had a butterfly net andbug cagein hand as soon as I could walk. When it comes to entomology I believe almost everyone falls in love at first with a large and striking insect. For me it was a butterfly, naturally. I can remember staring for endless hours at the diversity of Ornithoptera and Papilio illustrated in Paul Smart’s famous book. Somewhere along the way in pursuit of something new I began to stray into the nocturnal world. Moths comprise the majority of the diversity of Lepidoptera; while there are nearly 11,000 species in the United States, only a few hundred are butterflies. This quickly opened a door (maybe into an abyss…) to the shocking abundance found everywhere around us. This amazing diversity has now drawn me deep into the biology and evolutionary history of the Lepidoptera. Editing these fourteen contributions of moth blogging together I just can’t help but to reflect back on some of my own mothing journey.

P.erhaps if I was a child in Europe this moth (Deilephila elpenor porcellus) would have been the first to catch my eye. Over at Urban Moths Ron Laughton has discovered the stunning diversity in his own back yard in much the same way as I did growing up here in the US. Take a look at the types of traps he has been using, most of which he constructed himself. One of the best behaviors of moths is their willingness to dive headlong into the light. Not too far from Ron, Mike Beale has been blogging british moths as well. It can be pretty amazing just how similar our two faunas are (a few moths actually are the same).

Continue reading The Moth and Me #12

Bioleg o Ghost

Grinter Gazoryctra sp

Mae'r gwyfyn yn unig yw mor brin fel ei o'r un enw paranormal (ac eithrio ei fod yn real) – mae'n sp Gazoryctra. yn y teulu Hepialidae. Maent yn cynrychioli llinach gwaelodol y Lepidoptera ac yn cael eu hadnabod yn gyffredin fel gwyfynod ysbryd neu gwyfynod cyflym. Ghost – oherwydd bod dynion o rai rhywogaethau hysbys yn cael eu i hedfan mewn llecynnau arddangos gwir, lle maent yn hofran i fyny ac i lawr mewn llennyrch glaswelltog wrth iddi nosi, ac mae'r benywod yn arsylwi. Mae'r rhain yn un o ddynion hefyd yn galw ar gyfer menywod gyda pheromones, yn dipyn o sefyllfa yn ôl gyda phryfed. Swift- yn hytrach hunanamlwg, ond mae rhywogaethau boreal wedi bod yn hysbys i fod taflenni pwerus.

Un o'r nodweddion sy'n helpu i nodi hyn fel llinach gwaelodol yn y lleoliad yr adenydd ar y corff, rhywfaint venation adain, lleihau neu absennol cegau a diffyg dyfais coupling adain cryf. Mae'r gwyfynod yn cael “Ystod”, sef bawd fechan fel amcanestyniad o ben y hindwing. Linachau eraill o wyfynod cael mecanwaith cyplu dynn a elwir yn frenulum a retinaculum, lle mae gwrych bachyn y ddwy adain gyda'i gilydd fel eu bod yn parhau i fod ynghyd yn ystod hedfan. Pan fydd yn gorffwys y jugum plygiadau o gwmpas ac yn ôl pob tebyg yn helpu i gadw'r adenydd at ei gilydd – ond nid tra yn hedfan; y forewing allan o sync gyda'r hindwing ac nid hedfan yn ddynamig (Scoble 1992).

Yn y bioleg Americas Hepialid ei ddeall yn wael iawn. Dim ond llond llaw o hanes bywyd yn cael eu disgrifio yn fyd-eang – pob un ohonynt yn ymddangos i fod endophagous (ddiflas) mewn systemau gwreiddiau planhigion. Efallai y bydd rhai larfa instar cynnar yn bwydo yn y sbwriel dail neu o dan y ddaear ar y system wreiddiau cyn mynd i mewn i'r rhisom. Awstralia yn ffodus i gael ffawna amrywiol a thrawiadol o Hepialidae – mae llawer ohonynt yn lliw yn wych ac yn enfawr (250mm neu hyd at 12 modfedd!), ac ychydig yn well a astudiwyd. Mae rhai larfae yn ddigon hyd yn oed yn gyffredin bod llwythau aboriginal wedi eu defnyddio fel ffynhonnell fwyd stwffwl.

Ond yn ôl at y gwyfyn hwn yn benodol. Casglais ei fod yn fy trap golau du fis Awst diwethaf i fyny yn y Sierra Nevada o gwmpas 10,500 traed. Mae'r rhywogaeth yn hysbys, ac efallai yn debygol o fod newydd. Mae'r rhan fwyaf rhwystredig yw mai dyma'r unig enghraifft hysbys i wyddoniaeth. Mae'r genws cyfan yn brin iawn, ac eithrio ar gyfer rhywogaethau un neu ddau cyffredin, dim ond ychydig o sbesimenau dwsin yn bodoli. Felly a yw'n benyw o rywogaeth a ddisgrifir yn unig o ddynion? Mae aberration freakish o rywogaethau hysbys fel arall? Neu efallai ei fod yn newydd mewn gwirionedd. Rwyf wedi cod bar DNA, sydd mewn gwirionedd yn dweud unrhyw beth i mi gan fod sero dilyniant o unrhyw rywogaeth sy'n perthyn yn agos. A dweud y gwir, cyn belled ag y gwn, Nid yw'r rhywogaethau eraill yn y Sierra wedi hyd yn oed yn cael eu casglu mewn degawdau felly ni allaf hyd yn oed gael dilyniant o sbesimen hŷn. Roedd y goron ar y cyfan yw eu hymddygiad. Maent yn anaml, os o gwbl, yn dod i'r amlwg – a allai fod o ganlyniad i'w hedfan crepuscular. Ar y noson iawn y gallant fod ar yr asgell i 20-30 cofnodion, fel arfer fenyw chwilio am ddyn, neu fenyw hedfan i oviposit (debygol jyst yn darlledu gwasgaru eu hwyau ar y ddaear). Felly dewch yn hwyr yma Awst byddaf yn dychwelyd at y Sierra uchel gydag ychydig o wirfoddolwyr o'r adran entomoleg yn y gobaith o weld un gwibio gennyf fi ar y llethrau serth. Os byddaf yn cael rhai yn fwy, gallai fod yn troi allan i fod yn rhywogaethau newydd trawiadol ar gyfer California.

Genius y Wasg VII

Who can see what’s wrong with yr erthygl hon?

Estimates of Global Species Diversity

This recent article in the American Naturalist has taken a second look at some of the famously inflated species estimates, some going high as 100 million (Erwin, 1988). Estimates conducted by the authors indicate that projections above 30 million have probabilities of <0.00001. Their estimated range is more likely to be between 2.5 a 3.7 million species (gyda 90% confidence). This seems somewhat reasonable given that these extraordinary estimates were based heavily on extrapolation. There are clearly many difficulties in assessing diversity based on tropical arthropod surveysthis paper again uses phytophagous (plant-eating) beetles for estimates. They are careful to point out that these methods do not account for non-phytophagous insects, but assume that they will follow traditional biogeographic patterns of diversity. This is somewhat of a new concept given that when I was in college I was taught that parasitoids are counterintuitively not more diverse in tropical regions. This hypothesis is more often than not being proven false in the light of more precise modern taxonomic methodology. Rather proudly I helped play a role with the parasitoid project at the UIUC. Yn fyr, host specificity is more extreme in tropical environments with hundreds of cryptic species hidden amongst rapidly radiating groups such as the microgastrine Braconids (Hymenoptera) – the same has held true across similar taxa.

One interesting note about the paper is their inclusion of a secondary estimation based on Lepidoptera canopy assemblages. They assumed that a) all Lepidoptera can be found in the canopy and b) that all leps are phytophagous. This is clearly a very conservative estimation given that not all Lepidoptera are found in the canopy and not all are phytophagous. While I do not have the numbers on hand, a certain percentage of lep diversity must have been excluded from these estimates. I will also go out on a limb and assume that the authors (Novotny 2002) did not include microlepidoptera morphospeciesand most likely estimated abundances with our current taxonomic understanding. However I do not have access to this 2002 paper, so I may be incorrect. Using these Lepidoptera numbers (from the same survey as the Coleoptera) a global diversity was estimated by Hamilton et. al. at around 8.5 millions arthropod species.

While I agree that extraordinary estimates of tens of tens (or hundreds) of millions of arthropod species are probably ridiculous; I am of the camp that current research is indicating that estimates of the lower tens of millions of species are possible. The authors have failed to include research that counterbalances their premise that tropical species exhibit a lower beta diversity (Novotny 2002, 2007). In the same journal, Natur 2007, Dyar et. al. have indicated that the American tropics exhibit a higher beta diversity than previously assumed. Either it can be said that estimates of beta diversity in the australasian tropics are incorrect, or they are incompatible with species assemblages of neotropical forests. All of this speaks to the difficulty in extrapolating estimations of species across all tropical regions. These estimates are based on comprehensive insect surveys of New Guinea, perhaps they do not accurately reflect the true diversity of American tropical forests, and these number ranges are low.

As a final thought, most assesments are focused on tropical arthropods. It seems all too possible that the total number of all species, including bacteria and archaea, can easily exceed tens of millions. But extrapolating those numbers is even more precarious than arthropods, given the extreme lack of knowledge we have.

D’oh!

Can’t find a way to link the direct video (not even VodPod), but here is the link to the Daily Show site. How many physicists pulled their hair out when they heard this one? Yikes, he is the newly appointed spokesman. Don’t worry Neil, you’re not going anywhere after this.

Having not aired yet I can’t tell exactly how apologetic the show yw, but it seems heavily focused on finding thecreator”. I can hear it in John Stewart’s voice when he pulls back from ripping into Freeman’sgod of the gapstheory. Perhaps there was an edit and we missed the question where John Stewart askedMorgan, can you define a logical fallacy for usperhaps the god of the gaps one?” I believe that any physicist who ever saysgod was responsiblesays it with no deeper meaning than when Einstein famously evoked god’s dice. That’s to say, a non-literal and non-personal god found only in the beauty and splendor of nature.

Brwydr Uphill

Os oes un peth a ddysgais yn y coleg, roedd yn sut i dynnu sylw fy hun yn hawdd. Dwi’n dueddol o gadw fy nheledu ymlaen yn y cefndir tra dwi’n gweithio ar fy nghyfrifiadur, yn enwedig yn hwyr yn y nos pan fyddaf fel arfer yn ymladd rhyfel buddugol yn erbyn cwsg. The other night something did catch my eye: a man holding dowsing rods in his back yard. Volume up, let the bullshit flow. It was just a flash of idiocy in an otherwise good program on home improvement. I’ve become accustom to crap-based TV on networks such as the History Channel or a Discovery network (quality of their shows include gems likeThe Haunted: ghosts and pets”), but I was a little surprised to see BS grace my local PBS station.

Over on theAmerican Woodshophost Scott Phillips was constructing a beautiful garden arbor. You can watch the entire thing here for free: Episode 1609: Period Architectural Moldings and Trim. There are no time stamps on the clip, but the dowsing comes in around the mid-point. While demonstrating the materials needed to secure the wood to the ground he cautioned against digging haphazardly into your yard without knowing where the underground water, electrical or gas lines were: solid advice. So in order to do this you should (paraphrased) “take pieces of coat-hanger, anything will do, turn them into an “Mae'r”. As I walk forward the bars cross – yno (they cross) – right there is the irrigation line. 9 allan o 10 people have this ability, but you should call in a professional if there is any doubt“. My translationOK guys, don’t worry about calling in some guy to do this, figure it out this way”. Please tell me what man who seriously watches a home improvement show at midnight would cede authority to someone else before giving it the good olcollege try? Even if we grant for a moment that 9 allan o 10 people could do this, what about that one guy who can’t? Isn’t it irresponsible to suggest that you can avoid power/water/sewer/gas only 90% o'r amser? Wps, hit that pesky gas line

Being a scientist, a skeptic and a procrastinatorI wrote Scott a message about this so I could avoid my work at hand. Today he kindly replied saying: (excerpt)

Our bodies are electromagnetic fields. Disrupt a field and things happen…. I learned the technique mentioned from a city worker that they used to find lines. Not from a charlatan. My team witnessed the objective use of this technique.”

Briefly, no, our bodies are not electromagnets. Everyone can hold a compass, or TVwithout screwing them up. Franz Mesmer coined the idea ofAnimal Magnetismin the last half of the 18th century (also inventedmesmerizationAKA hypnotism) – and had it abruptly debunked by Benjamin Franklin and others. I’m also a bit worried to hear that city workers are relying on dowsing to locate public lines! But to move onward, let us dig into the myths of dowsing. I agree that there seems to be somewhat of an intuitive truth when it comes to dowsing, however false it is scientifically, it remains compelling. Cadarn… electrical things underground effect sensitive wires above. And wow, look at all these guys who can find water, or power, neu… lost people… neu bombs? iawn, let’s stick to water for this conversation.

(continued)

Continue reading An Uphill Battle

Glöynnod Byw Mai (a gwyfyn)

Dim ond ychydig o ddelweddau o leps California cyffredin, a gymerwyd ar hyd yr arfordir ger Santa Cruz ychydig wythnosau yn ôl. Dechrau gweithio fy ffordd trwy ychydig o ôl-groniad lluniau…

Grinter Euphydryas chalcedona

Euphydryas chalcedona

Grinter Plebejus acmon

Plebejus acmon

Grinter Plebejus acmon

Plebejus acmon

Grinter Ethmia arctostaphylella

Ethmia arctostaphylella ymlaen Eriodictyon sp.

Un nodyn diddorol ymlaen Ethmia arctostaphylella – camenw yw'r enw, nid yw'n bwydo arno mewn gwirionedd Arctostaphylos (Manzanita). Ar adeg y disgrifiad yn 1880 Roedd Walsingham wedi dod o hyd i larfa yn chwileru ar ddail manzinata ac wedi cymryd yn ganiataol mai dyna oedd eu planhigyn cynnal. Ym monograff syfrdanol Jerry Powell o’r grŵp mae’n nodi y magwyd y gwyfyn hwn Eriodictyon – sy'n digwydd bod y blodyn y mae'r gwyfyn yn clwydo arno. Mae'r ddau blanhigyn yn tyfu ochr yn ochr, ac mae’n eithaf hawdd gweld sut mae lindysyn crwydrol yn canfod ei ffordd i gymydog.