Parte Aquamoth 3

A continuation of the aquamoth series, this time with video from Science Friday! Sì, I have to link it because wordpress won’t embed… Grazie Ted, figured it out!

Rivers of Gold

A few images from my weekend mothing trip down to Shell Creek, San Luis Obispo County. Early spring along the central coast is stunning, and the back roads were packed with flower watchers. There were dozens of cars occupied by families out for a weekend drive, many had packed lunches and sat to watch the . . . → Per saperne di più: Rivers of Gold

Troppo tempo libero?

Che piega te stesso un insetto.

Queste opere d'arte sono la creazione di Robert J. Grazie. Le probabilità sono se avete visto qualche origami folle di quanto non fossero la sua creazione. Sì, coloro che sono in realtà realizzati da un unico pezzo di carta non tagliata. Egli fornisce il modello di piega per la maggior parte dei suoi disegni, ma in realtà pieghevole . . . → Per saperne di più: Troppo tempo libero?

E ora sapete il resto della storia

For those who saw the FOX interview with MSU entomologist Dr. Cognato (Ok, 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 (scusa, it’s annoying but I couldn’t find it anywhere else) and read a response to the interview by . . . → Per saperne di più: E ora sapete il resto della storia

Parte Aquamoth 2

Mi sono imbattuto il full-text PDF dell'articolo falena anfibia e estratto l'albero che mostra la radiazione di questo gruppo di specie e probabile evoluzione delle caratteristiche anfibie. Interessante notare la forma del caso, e ogni falena è endemica al proprio vulcano dell'arcipelago hawaiano.

This is a Bayesian analysis of . . . → Per saperne di più: Parte Aquamoth 2

Answer to last week’s Genius of the Press

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).

. . . → Per saperne di più: Answer to last week’s Genius of the Press

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. . . . → Per saperne di più: 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 . . . → Per saperne di più: California Spring

Genio della Stampa, 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 . . . → Per saperne di più: Off with their heads!