Another week, another batch of entomophilic blogs, inspirational photographs, and spare-time diversions.<\/p>\n
General Entomology<\/strong><\/p>\n Are you an entomologist looking for a rustic home perfect for insect collecting? Then the Onion has a deal just for you<\/a>!<\/p>\n Entomologists aren’t always invited into ecosystem monitoring projects, but Chris Buddle shares his experiences with the Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity Monitoring Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n Diptera<\/strong><\/p>\n The spring edition of Fly Times<\/a>, the biannual newsletter for the North American Dipterists Society, is out and absolutely full of interesting information. Everything from cheap ideas for high-quality specimen photography to research updates, and even a technique for reconstituting eye colour patterns in dead & dried flies! I look forward to this newsletter every spring and fall, and my only disappointment with this edition is I have to wait another 6 months until the next!<\/p>\n Like CSI: Crime Scene Investigators and imagine a glorious life fighting crime in high fashion? Think again. The BBC has an excellent interview with leading UK forensic entomologist Dr. Martin Hall about his work and thinking like a maggot<\/a>.<\/p>\n The entomologists I know, including me of course, aren’t exactly the most fashion-conscious people out there (seriously, it can be pretty bad). But even I think these insect-repellent high\u00a0fashions are attractive<\/a>, especially as a great way to raise awareness about malaria!<\/p>\n What’s upside down and fuzzy all over? This great photo of a bee fly by Ted MacRae<\/a>! Also cool, the photo was identified by bee fly\u00a0aficionado and recent\u00a0University of Guelph PhD graduate\u00a0Joel Kits. I <3 the internet for cool connections like this!<\/p>\n Apparently this week was the week to feed deer flies<\/a>, as Brian Cutting also sacrificed his body for a chance to photograph a pangonine<\/a>!<\/p>\n Coleoptera<\/strong><\/p>\n Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis<\/em>) was discovered in Guelph last summer, and this year, the University of Guelph will be taking proactive steps to help protect the ash trees on campus and in the arboretum<\/a>.<\/p>\n There’s something soothing about watching fireflies in the summer, and photographer Kevin Adams has a nice piece detailing the behaviour, biology and biochemistry behind these little beasts<\/a>. Now that you know a little more about them, he’s got some excellent tips for photographing their dazzling shows this summer<\/a>!<\/p>\n Hymenoptera<\/strong><\/p>\n Bug Girl<\/a> has been handed the keys to the Scientopia Guest Blogge this week, and she’s taken the opportunity to explain why bees have it rough<\/a>, what is and isn’t CCD<\/a>, and of course, bees & STDs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Of course, bees can’t have it too rough if they have time to interrupt a baseball game with some of the best seats in the house…<\/a><\/p>\n Other Insect Orders<\/strong><\/p>\n Speaking of baseball (or softball in this case), find out how a youth spent hitting home runs helped the Dragonfly Woman prepare for a career as an entomologist<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pollination biology has been attracting a lot of research attention in the past few years. Of course thrips were into it way before any of us (105 million years ago actually)<\/a>, making them total thripsters.<\/p>\n I told myself I wouldn’t link to any of the photos Alex Wild posted from Brazil, because he was in Brazil and I wasn’t (nope, I’m not jealous at all), but he’s too damn good and these tree hoppers are just too damn cool<\/a>. You win this round Myrmecos…<\/p>\n Arachnida<\/strong><\/p>\n Chuck Norris is on to ticks and the diseases they spread<\/a>. In response, the IUCN listed the Ixodida as extinct and the WHO celebrated the eradication of Lyme Disease.<\/p>\n Since Chuck Norris has taken care of them, I suppose I shouldn’t be afraid of ticks and their ability to induce meat allergies in unknowing victims<\/a>, but my worst nightmare is a life without bacon. Here’s the original study if you need further proof that ticks are devil spawn<\/a>.<\/p>\n This spider photo by Jason Hogle of Xenogere blew. My. Mind.<\/a><\/p>\n Everyone knows about the red hourglass identifying female black widow spiders, but the males are pretty spectacular in their own right! Check out the pedipalp photo by Alex Webb.<\/a><\/p>\n Pop quiz hot shot: How many mites can you fit on a size 12, Times Roman typed period? Macromite has the answer with an awesome poster (and the answer might surprise you)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Taxonomy\/Phylogenetics<\/strong><\/p>\n Finally, someone has explained how the Linnean Classification system works<\/a>. Sort of. Well, at least it’s fun.<\/p>\n This discussion of the “controversy” surrounding Triceratops<\/em>\u00a0by io9 is actually a pretty good primer on the science of taxonomy<\/a>, with the only important missing piece being the principle of priority (which actually takes most of the controversy out of the story). Good thing Brian Switek was on it<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sure he was known for Lolita, but this photo of Vladimir Nabokov hunting for butterflies with his wife<\/a> belies his true love: Lepidoptera taxonomy.<\/p>\n Know why I love social media? Because how else would you get this discussion about the differences between phylogenetics and phenetics from such a diversity of researchers<\/a>!<\/p>\n Science Communication<\/strong><\/p>\n Science Blogs and social media made it into peer-review twice this week. First, a scientific paper about science blogs which discuss and report on scientific papers.<\/a> Meta.<\/p>\n Then, Christie Wilcox<\/a> had a great editorial published on the obligation scientists should have for communicating their research to the public, with an emphasis on social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you’re unsure of Twitter (or know someone who is), I highly recommend you check out this great post by Ruth Dawkins explaining what makes Twitter such a valuable resource for pretty well anyone<\/a>!<\/p>\n Photography<\/strong><\/p>\n Ch-ch-ch-Chia! Growing your own photographs<\/a>.<\/p>\n You’ve probably seen photos of star trails before, but I doubt you’ve seen a photo of star trails AND Earth trails. An amazing photograph by Don Pettit, an astronaut stationed on the International Space Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n Want to see beautiful people turn into over-exaggerated caricatures right before your eyes? Then check out this crazy optical illusion spotted by Why Evolution is True<\/a>.<\/p>\n