Category Archives: Insects

Biologists Need To Learn About Whole Organisms Too

Posted on December 19, 2018 by mikethemadbiologist

Recently, I wrote about how we are facing an insect biomass crisis. Well, this isn’t going to help (boldface mine): A new study published in the journal American Entomologist has some sobering news about insects and intro-to-bio books: They simply … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects | 1 Comment

Morpho

Posted on March 22, 2018 by mikethemadbiologist

Observed at the National Museum of Natural History, D.C.:

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Our Scientific Infrastructure Is Not Robust: The Entomology Edition

Posted on February 20, 2018 by mikethemadbiologist

Many moons ago, some asshole with a blog noted the following about our scientific infrastructure: One of the ridiculous things about many depictions of science in TV and movies is the notion that there’s this huge infrastructure: shiny labs (which … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Insects | 1 Comment

Cicada

Posted on September 12, 2016 by mikethemadbiologist

Observed on P Street NW, between 17th and 18th, Dupont Circle, D.C.:

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The Unlovely Necessity of Public Health Spending

Posted on March 3, 2016 by mikethemadbiologist

Public health efforts face a very difficult problem: they’re like car insurance. You hate paying it…until you get into an accident, then you’re really glad you have it. With that for prelude, we bring you this story about mosquito control–a … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects, Public Health, Viruses, We're Really Fucked | 4 Comments

Need a Belated Christmas Gift For That Special Toddler?

Posted on December 30, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

File this under ‘When web scraping goes horribly wrong‘: Probably not the best gift idea… (tip o’the hat to Alex Wild)

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The Cost of Misunderstanding How Money Works: So Long Invertebrate House

Posted on June 21, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

Like most people–and I’ve been a supporter of the National Zoo in Washington DC for nearly a quarter century–I was shocked to learn that the Invertebrate House will be shuttered for good this Sunday, June 22. Why? Budget cuts: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Fucking Morons, Funding, Insects, Museums etc. | 3 Comments

Phabulous Phasmids

Posted on April 23, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

Observed at the Insect Zoo at the Natural History Museum, Washington D.C.–can you find the two members of Phobaeticus serratipes, the Giant Malaysian Stick Insect? Each of them was about fourteen inches long–here’s an easier angle: Don’t worry, they’re plant … Continue reading →

Posted in DC, Insects, Museums etc. | 2 Comments

Crazy Ants and the Hidden Collapse of Scientific Infrastructure

Posted on December 9, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

One of the ridiculous things about many depictions of science in TV and movies is the notion that there’s this huge infrastructure: shiny labs (which are always neat and spacious), high-tech this and that, and an army of workers to … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Insects | 6 Comments

Moving Day

Posted on July 13, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

For some ants, that is: (observed in Cambridge) So what’s the ant equivalent of leaving a ratty old sofa out on the curb?

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