Category Archives: insect

Time out for Chewing Lice!

Posted on July 19, 2011 by swarm

Several plates from “Das Buch Der Welt”, an 1845 tome by Carl Hofmann. The context-free plates were found here, along with other pretty butterflies and beetles. I am of course fondest of the plate depicting several Mallophaga, or chewing lice.  … Continue reading →

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House Beautiful

Posted on July 13, 2011 by swarm

For July 4th I went adventuring with friends in Mendocino, CA, where late rains have kept things green well into Summer. On a hike in Van Damme State Park, we stopped by a bridge to watch for fish, birds, and … Continue reading →

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Manuscript Call for Insects and Art

Posted on June 22, 2011 by swarm

While I love it when artists talk about science, I really enjoy scientists talking (and publishing)  about art:  Bug Girl has the scoop on an open-access scientific journal called Insects that will have an entire issue edited by Jennifer Angus, … Continue reading →

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The Hidden Treasures of Elizabeth Goluch

Posted on June 17, 2011 by swarm

Elizabeth Goluch is a metalsmith from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her gallery contains (frustratingly small) images of well-loved, despised, and under-appreciated invertebrates wrought in precious metals and gemstones.  Goluch’s insects have working hinges, and each holds within them a tiny treasure, … Continue reading →

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Will the FDA-Approved Chapuline Please Stand Up?

Posted on June 9, 2011 by swarm

So apparently the SF Health Department has prohibited a local San Francisco restaurant from selling chapulines (Mexican grasshoppers) to the public, because the source was not FDA approved. This isn’t the bad news. I had no idea that I could … Continue reading →

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The swarming paper of Kristi Malakoff

Posted on June 6, 2011 by swarm

Swarms, whether fish, foul, or flies, are a constant source of wonder and fascination for humans, as well as a frustration. We lack lateral lines or instinctive reactions, and  so our attempts to swarm usually result in chaotic crowds and … Continue reading →

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Katherine McDowell Patterson

Posted on June 1, 2011 by swarm

Plenty of butterflies and spiderwebs (and vertebrates, if that’s your thing) by Katherine McDowell Patterson

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Covered in BEES pt. 2

Posted on May 16, 2011 by swarm

Last Friday I visited my friend Darrel at his place in El Sobrante.  His land was alive with inventive sustainable architecture, beautiful bamboo, and insects of course! In addition to getting a tour of all the species of bamboo on … Continue reading →

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The True Bug Blues

Posted on May 12, 2011 by swarm

If there’s one vernacular name that drives me crazy, it’s “Bug”.  An ancient word still in use today that can refer to an insect, spider, woodlouse, centipede, lobster, bacterium, computer error, or a pug/Boston terrier mix. Or just possibly, it … Continue reading →

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Glow Little Glow-Worm

Posted on April 8, 2011 by swarm

Happy Friday! the Mills Brothers bring us this love song to a Lampyrid, courtesy of my dearest hive-mate, who’s been singing it all week: Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer. Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer. Lead us lest too far we … Continue reading →

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