Comments for Biodiversity in Focus Blog

Comment on An Open Letter to The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau by Adrian Thysse

Adrian Thysse — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 21:04:18 +0000

Well said, Morgan. I took a trip out to Elk Island National Park today just to experience some quiet beauty and to clear my head of the gloom that was filling my head. Great to see this sensible message when I returned.

Comment on An Open Letter to The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau by Susan Walter

Susan Walter — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 18:57:02 +0000

Hear, hear!

Comment on An Open Letter to The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau by Glendon Mellow

Glendon Mellow — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 15:58:48 +0000

Thanks Morgan. Really needed to read these words this morning, and I hope our Prime Minister does too.

Comment on Monikers Only Matter for Vertebrates by Digging to Diamonds: common names in taxonomy and outreach – Mark D. Scherz, MSc

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 12:36:38 +0000

[…] An apt and appealing common name can literally mean the difference between the survival and extinction of a species. Karaffa et al. (2012) showed that an engaging name meant more interest in conserving the organism belonging to it. It is clear that taxonomists should be thinking about more than just the science of naming species, but also their conservation. We are increasingly including preliminary IUCN Red List assessments in our descriptions; adding a common name seems like only a little bit of work for a very measurable improvement in the conservation of the species (but see Morgan D. Jackson’s take on this issue here). […]

Comment on Trip Review: Heath River Wildlife Center Peru/Bolivia by Rich

Rich — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 02:04:28 +0000

Hi Morgan
I just returned from Peru, but your review/ stories have me wanting to get to S. America. Bolivia is still a country I have not gone to.
Here are my recent adventures to the Amazon (including the clay lick) … huge trees of the Tombopato Reserve and … the macaw clay-lick on the Tombopato River of Peru hope it adds to discussion

Comment on I’m Dreaming of A #BlackFlyDay by Gunnar Kvifte

Gunnar Kvifte — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 19:46:02 +0000

Great initiative!

Comment on I’m Dreaming of A #BlackFlyDay by Susan Walter

Susan Walter — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 16:33:38 +0000

Did you know that the Badger Brewery in Dorset, England make a beer called Blandford Fly? It’s named after Simulium posticatum, known in England as the Blandford Fly. The label describes the beer as ‘subtly spiced for extra bite’. I’ve had it on occasion and it is quite good.

Comment on Who’s really pollen their weight: Bees, or Flies? by The Unknowns – Uncovering the readers of Biodiversity in Focus blog › From The Lab Bench

Wed, 07 Oct 2015 14:46:50 +0000

[…] these two interests combine fantastically on his blog, with close-ups of Chinese scorpions and bee flies along with stories about their biology and odd facts about their life histories. "If it looks like […]

Comment on The Mystery of the Unexplainable Life History by Z.L. Burington

Z.L. Burington — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 19:34:22 +0000

Excellent, Morgan. Although, I see some differences in the size and shape of the pre- and post-gonites in those pictures, and the phallus. From those differences alone I would consider /all three/ different species. Calypterate flies often don’t differ much between sister species in their genitalia. In my sword flies, I’m seeing slight differences at best. So maybe S. dux is a species complex, not only the scorpion feeding one but also the more widespread carrion/parasitic feeders?

~Kai

Comment on Waved Sphinx Moth – Ceratomia undulosa #NMW2012 by Judith

Judith — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 03:31:45 +0000

Just found one on our screen door and didn’t know what it was. Amazing creatures!