Posted by Lauren in Creepy Crawlies, Science & Tech on 08 30th, 2008 | No Comments

Baby Bugs Bully Parents for Food, Protection

Baby bugs, known as larvae and nymphs, have no shame when it comes to begging. They will do everything from kicking their mother in the face to hitting her repeatedly with--- their antennae in order to receive food, protection and attention, according to a forthcoming...
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Posted by Lauren in Creepy Crawlies, Science & Tech on 08 30th, 2008 | No Comments

Diversity Among Parasitic Wasps Is Even Greater Than Suspected

A tiny wasp that lays its eggs under the skin of unwitting caterpillars belongs to one of the most diverse groups of insects on Earth. Now researchers report that its diversity is even higher than previously thought. By combining ecological and genetic data with...
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Posted by Lauren in Creepy Crawlies, Science & Tech on 08 29th, 2008 | No Comments

Scientists Discover Why Flies Are So Hard To Swat

Over the past two decades, Michael Dickinson has been interviewed by reporters hundreds of times about his research on the biomechanics of insect flight. One question from the press has always dogged him: Why are flies so hard to swat? "Now I can finally answer,"...
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Posted by Lauren in Science & Tech on 08 29th, 2008 | No Comments

Eyes Evolved For X-Ray Vision: Forward-facing Eyes Allow Animals To ‘See Through’ Clutter In The World

The advantage of using two eyes to see the world around us has long been associated solely with our capacity to see in 3-D. Now, a new study from a scientist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has uncovered a truly eye-opening advantage to binocular vision: our...
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Posted by Lauren in Animals, Creepy Crawlies, Science & Tech on 08 12th, 2008 | 2 Comments

Multi-tasking Maggots In Superbug Showdown

photo credit: kaibara87 Scientists at Swansea University (Wales, UK) have discovered a new type of antibiotic in maggot secretions that can tackle up to 12 different strains of MRSA, as well as E. coli and C. difficile. The research was funded by leading charity...
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Posted by Lauren in Uncategorized on 08 11th, 2008 | No Comments

City law really gets their goat

It's just not fair, said Peat Willcutt. How can it be legal to have goats, pigs and bees in St. Paul, but people in Minneapolis have to hide theirs? As urban agriculture booms in the Twin Cities area, Minneapolis residents are pressing their city to let them expand...
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Posted by Lauren in Uncategorized on 08 8th, 2008 | No Comments

Nine To Twenty Individual Fire Ant Queens Started U.S. Fire Ant Population

The current U.S. population of red imported fire ants--which infest millions of acres across the southern states--can be traced back to nine to 20 queens in Mobile, Ala. That's according to a genetic study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) entomologist D. DeWayne...
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Posted by Lauren in Uncategorized on 08 1st, 2008 | No Comments

Bugs save pest-controller’s life in Australian desert

An Australian pest controller who got lost in the desert while prospecting for gold survived by turning for help to the bugs he usually kills -- and eating them. Theo Rosmulder, 52, managed to stay alive in the harsh West Australian desert for five days by knocking...
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Posted by kittymowmow in Uncategorized on 07 28th, 2008 | 1 Comment

Dinosaurs Did Not Evolve Quickly In Last 50 Million Years, New Dinosaur Super-tree Shows

It has long been debated whether dinosaurs were part of the ‘Terrestrial Revolution’ that occurred some 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous when birds, mammals, flowering plants, insects and reptiles all underwent a rapid expansion. An international...
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Posted by kittymowmow in Uncategorized on 07 27th, 2008 | No Comments

Exploring the Wonderful World of Mantises

Mantises, Mantes, Mantids or whatever term you prefer to use for their plural form, are among the most fascinating and at the same time scariest insects in the world.The 2,300 species of praying mantises comprise an order of insects called Mantodea.The word ‘mantis’...
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