Welcome back to Arthro-Pod! On today's episode, we begin a deep dive into the long history of malaria and its interactions with humanity. World Malaria Day was last month on April 25th, which is a global day of recognition for the many efforts under way to try and eliminate one of our species' oldest foes. In this episode, you can join you can join Jonathan and Jody in listening to Michael elucidate the biology of malaria and the types that afflict humans. 




 Show notes-

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351184#overview 

• https://www.paho.org/en/topics/malaria 

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Hello vault dwellers and bug lovers! On today's episode of Arthro-Pod, the gang dips their toes into the cultural zeitgeist to talk about the video game/television show "Fallout" and more specifically about the horrible mutated arthropods that exist in that universe. Tune in to hear about the biology of giant "radroaches", feel the sting of the "stingwing", and maybe befriend your own mothman. It's a lot of fun to look at the entomological basis and designs of these critters and hash out which of them are the best from our buggy perspective. 

Show notes-
These notes will be most helpful since we are talking about some visual material in this episode! Look below for some pics of each monster we discuss. 
RadroachesRadroach from Fallout 4. Via Fallout Wiki.


Radroaches as seen in Fallout: New Vegas. Via Fallout Wiki.
Radroaches as seen in the Fallout television series (Season 1, episode 5: The Past). Via the Fallout Wiki.



BloatflyBloatfly as seen in Fallout 3. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Bloatfly as seen in Fallout 4. Via the Fallout Wiki.
Bloatfly as seen in Fallout 76. Via the Fallout Wiki.


Ants
Giant ant as seen in Fallout 2. Via the Fallout Wiki.



Giant ant workers as seen in Fallout 3. Via the Fallout Wiki.
Giant ant queen as seen in Fallout 3. Via the Fallout Wiki.
Giant fire ants in action, as seen in the Fallout 3 quest "Those!". Via the Fallout Wiki.


Giant ants as seen in Fallout 76. Notice how the design has changed between games. Via the Fallout Wiki.


RadscorpionRadscorption as seen in Fallout (1). Via the Fallout Wiki.
Radscorpion and albino radscorpion as seen in Fallout 3. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Radscorpions as seen in Fallout 4. Via the Fallout Wiki.




Various radscorpions as seen in Fallout 76. Via the Fallout Wiki.



Bloodbug

Examples of bloodbugs as seen in Fallout 4. Via the Fallout Wiki.
Bloodbug as seen in Fallout 76. Via the Fallout Wiki.


StingwingStingwings as seen in Fallout 4. Via the Fallout Wiki.
Details of a stingwing tail. Note how it is a stinger instead of clasping organs as in normal scorpionflies. Via the Fallout Wiki.
Stingwing nests, with a yellow honey-like substance. This is not based on real scorpionflies whatsoever. Via the Fallout Wiki.
Stingwings in Fallout 76. The design seems to have suffered quite a bit. Via the Fallout Wiki.


MirelurkA mirelurk, as seen in Fallout 3. This design is kind of a bipedal crab thing. Via the Fallout Wiki.
A mirelurk king, as seen in Fallout 3. This design is more fishman than bipedal crab. Via the Fallout Wiki.
A mirelurk as seen in Fallout 4. This design is more crab centaur. Via the Fallout Wiki.
A mirelurk hunter as seen in Fallout 4. Obviously based on a mantis shrimp, this is somehow the same species as the more crab-like mirelurks. Via the Fallout Wiki.
A mirelurk king as seen in Fallout 4. Another fishman design for the king. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Giant hermit crabA giant hermit crab, as seen in Fallout 4: Far Harbor.  One of the most realistic designs we've encountered. Via the Fallout Wiki. 

Honeybeast
A honey beast, as seen in Fallout 76. This is a pretty disappointing design considering the other arthropod-based creatures across the series. Via the Fallout Wiki.


Cave cricketA cave cricket, as seen in in Fallout 76. Via the Fallout Wiki.

MothmanClassic mothman in Fallout 76. Spot on design. Via the Fallout Wiki.
Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, as envisioned in Fallout 76. Via the Fallout Wiki.


Various mothman designs. The wing patterns appear to be inspired by real moth species. Via the Fallout Wiki.
"I am the night". Via the Fallout Wiki.
 

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Welcome bug lovers to our latest episode! Asa vast swath of the eastern US prepares for the "double brood" emergence of the various Magiccicada species, we here at Arthro-Pod got to meet up with engineer, entomologist, and author Alie Kratzer to talk about her new book, "The Cicadas of North America". See below for pre-ordering information. 

We talk all about how cool these bugs are, the inspiration for the book, and just how exactly Alie was able to draw all those wonderful cicada illustrations. Tune in to learn more!

Alie Kratzer

Show notes

Check out Alie's company Owlfly

Track down her other book "The Social Wasps of North America"

And finally, make sure you preorder the cicada book!!

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Hello lovers of bugs, as well as bugs who are in love! In today's episode, we take a journey through the world of nuptial gifts within the arthropods and find out why sometimes it is best to wrap a gift before trying to go on a date. Tune in to learn the basics of why nuptial gifts exist and how they can help facilitate the mating process and generation of the next generation. This one is a bit "spicy" so if you listen with kids, prepare for some biological talk!

Crickets preparing to mate after the exchange of a nuptial gifts (Photo by Biz Turnell, via https://entomologytoday.org/2020/02/14/nuptial-gifts-romantic-gestures-bug-insect-arthropod-world-valentines-day/)

Show notes

Insect (Order, Family)

Nuptial Gift

Purpose

Dung beetles (O: Coleoptera, F: Scarabaeidae)

Food in the form of a dung ball

https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/21/2/424/323090

Part of courtship display, dung ball is used for food source to help her and the offspring

Fireflies (O: Coleoptera, F: Lampyridae) some species

Spermatophore contains sperm and nutrients

https://now.tufts.edu/2016/12/22/firefly-gift-giving-composition-nuptial-gifts-revealed

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P8vKghAoh8

 

To obtain nutrients and fertilization occurs this way

Giant water bug (O: Hemiptera, M: Belostomatidae)

Small aquatic animals as prey (fish)

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eth.12416

Part of the courtship ritual, males carry the eggs

Aphids (O: Hemiptera, F: Aphididae)

“mating drop” droplet of nutrient-rich fluid

To obtain nutrients essential for reproduction

Crickets (O: Orthopera, F:

Laupala cerasina

Several nuptial gifts before transferring genetic material

https://www.mpg.de/9686444/nuptial-feeding-female-crickets

 

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00265-019-2705-9

Nuptial gifts improve the amount of genetic material successfully transferred from the final spermatophore to the female

Long-tailed dance flies (O: Diptera, F:

Rhamphomyia longicauda

Nutrients

https://www.jstor.org/stable/23734479

Females do not hunt so they relay on the nuptial gifts. They fill their abdomens with air to look like their eggs are more mature so males will seek them out

Imported cabbagworm butterflies (O: Lepidoptera, F:

Nitrogen

https://www.thegraphicleader.com/opinion/columnists/the-changing-rules-of-romance-for-the-cabbage-white-butterfly

 

Scorpion flies (O: Mecoptera, F: Panorpidae)

Dead prey item

https://www.jstor.org/stable/4536380

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22830480-100-heres-my-nuptial-gift-a-dead-planthopper-now-can-we-mate/

 

To appease the female and increase chances of successful mating

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Welcome back bug lovers! Today we venture into the world of worms, both segmented and unsegmented, to talk about jumping worms and hammerhead worms. While neither of them are arthropods, entomologists have been fielding inquiries on both over the last few years. We try to dispel some of the myths surrounding these wiggly wonders and discuss the possible negative effects they could have in the environment. So grab a bag of gummy worms and tune in!

Jumping worms are unique in color and texture
Hammerhead worms are captivating and oddShow notes

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Howdy bug lovers! Scale insects are simultaneously fascinating and sort of uninteresting. They are notoriously immobile for much of their life, making them the insect of equivalent of couch potatoes. But, with that comes intriguing questions about how they live, thrive, and survive. Today, Mike is flying solo to interview Scott Schneider all about this particular group of true bugs! Tune in!

Scott Schneider, scale expert extraordinaire and our interviewee for this episode.

 

Scott hard at work in the field.

Hard scales on the underside of a leaf. Note the hard covering ("test") that covers the insects and the diversity of sizes and life stages.

Pine needle scales (Chionaspis pinifoliae) are another kind of hard scale and show some of the diversity in test shape and color between hard scale species.

 

 

Soft scale on a Rubus. Note how the waxy covering appears softer than that of hard scales.

 

 Lac scales, from which products like shellac are produced.

Xenococcid scale insect that is associated with Acropyga ants. 

 

Acropyga queen holding a xenococcid scale in her mandibles before her nuptial flight. Photo by Jonghyun Park via iNaturalist, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

Acropyga worker moving a xenococcid scale. Photo by Jonghyun Park via iNaturalist, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

 

All photographs by Scott Schneider and used with permission unless otherwise noted.

 

Show notes

Sodano et al. 2024. Scale insect (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) morphology is transformed under trophobiosis.  Annals of the Entomological Society of America 117(1): 49–63, https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saad033

Schneider et al. 2018. Molecular phylogenetics of Aspidiotini armored scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) reveals rampant paraphyly, curious species radiations, and multiple origins of association with Melissotarsus ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 129: 291-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.09.003

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Hello bug lovers and welcome to a roach filled Valentine's edition of Artho-Pod! Jody and Jonathan meet up with Dr. Andrew Sutherland of University of California Extension. Andrew is an urban entomologist and an area IPM advisor for UC who serves the San Francisco area. As for today's topic, the Turkestan cockroach is an intriguing invasive species that is competing with other roaches, such as the oriental roach, for space. Due to a variety of factors, the Turkestan roach seems to be spreading and is also being noticed by people in the western US. All of that adds up to an interesting podcast episode filled with cockroach facts, thoughts on how the Turkestan roach is spreading, and possible management strategies. 

Love is in the air
Our guest, Dr. Sutherland
                                                        

Show Notes

Green Bulletinhttps://ipm.ucanr.edu/legacy_assets/pdf/pubs/greenbulletin.2019.summer.pdf
Pest World Magazinehttps://www.pestworldmag-digital.com/npmas/0419_july_august_2019/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=1498660#articleId1498660
Pest Noteshttps://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7467.html




Scientific Papers:
Paper by Kim & Rusthttps://academic.oup.com/jee/article/106/6/2428/813184
Residual Insecticides: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/8/477
Biological control parasitoid wasphttps://academic.oup.com/jee/article/116/4/1128/7179677

Questions? Comments? 

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Hello bug lovers and our new machine overlords and welcome to a new episode of Arthro-Pod. Today, Jody, Jon, and Mike, decide to swerve a bit out of their lane and discuss their thoughts about artificial intelligence, specifically the intersection of AI and entomology/Extension. There is a lot of clamor over what AI means for the future and what it means ethically. Extension is one area of the academy that seems like AI may have a profound impact on. The gang tries to slice through the hype and share their feelings as well as some reporting on artificial intelligence. Tune in to hear more and share your thoughts with the crew as well!

Show Notes

https://entomologytoday.org/2023/09/14/systematic-entomology-artificial-intelligence/

https://futurism.com/sports-illustrated-ai-generated-writers

https://extension.org/2019/04/23/using-artificial-intelligence-to-support-extension-services/

https://extension.org/tools/extbot/

https://agrilinks.org/post/revolutionizing-extension-models-artificial-intelligence-service-smallholder-farmers

https://www.ifpri.org/blog/can-we-trust-ai-generate-agricultural-extension-advisories

 Questions? Comments? 

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 Hello friends, and welcome back to Arthro-Pod! Today's episode is a look at a phenomenon many entomologists will encounter, even if they aren't ready to, known as delusory parasitosis. Also referred to as delusions of infestation and Ekbom's syndrome, this situation involves a person believing that their body and home are infested with some sort of biting or stinging pest, despite there being no evidence that is true. We're all predisposed to interpret certain signals as being caused by an insect or mite trying to crawl on us or bite us and unfortunately, sometimes this can further manifest as delusory parasitosis. Sufferers are often desperate for help and entomologists are often helpless to provide assistance. Today we wanted to outline some of the background of delusory parasitosis and talk about how entomologists can help, while also protecting themselves. 

Show Notes

Hinkle, N.C. 2000. Delusory parasitosis. American Entomologist 46(1): 17–25

https://academic.oup.com/ae/article/46/1/17/2389588

Hinkle, N.C. 2010. Ekbom Syndrome: the challenge of “invisible bug” infestations. Annual Review of Entomology 55: 77–94. Doi: 10.1146/annurev.ento.54.110807.090514

Hinkle, N.C. 2011. Ekbom Syndrome: a delusional condition of “bugs in the skin”. Current Psychiatry Reports 13: 178–186.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21344286/

 

Szepietowski, J.C., Salomon, J., Hrehorów, E., Pacan, P., Zalewska, A., and Sysa-Jȩdrzejowska, A. 2007. Delusional parasitosis in dermatological practice. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology 21(4): 462–465.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17373971/

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Hello bug lovers! We hope you have had a wonderful 2023 and are looking forward to 2024. To wrap our season for the year, we wanted to do something fun and make a bit of a news round up focused on arthropods (and some adjacent critters) and see what people were saying about our creepy crawly friends. We'll go from worm rain all the way through malaria and how to kill wasps with gas! We hope you'll tune in and that you'll join us again next year. 

Mormon crickets are just one newsworthy insect from 2023

Show notes 

Worm rain

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1N35P20W/

Yellow legged hornets

https://www.wtoc.com/2023/12/28/yellow-legged-hornet-arrives-2023/

Mormon crickets

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/crushed-crickets-are-blanketing-nevada-roads-with-slime-180982415/

Malaria in the US

https://time.com/6291002/locally-acquired-malaria-cases-usa/

Invasives on the move

https://news.yahoo.com/heres-expanded-box-tree-moth-164342473.html

https://news.yahoo.com/heres-expanded-box-tree-moth-164342473.html

Wasps and gasoline

https://www.countryliving.com/home-maintenance/cleaning/a44563522/tiktok-trend-gasoline-wasp-nest-extremely-unsafe/

Questions? Comments? 

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 Welcome back bug lovers and ho ho ho, happy holidays! On today's show we're diving into Christmas trees! When these trees are being grown, there are some pests that might make their way onto the leaves and twigs, so we're talking about their biology and management. However, most of our calls that involve trees are in regard to insects that have been accidentally brought inside with live trees that are now walking all over the presents so we touch on that too. Finally, Jonathan fished up some folklore revolving around arthropods and Christmas. Tune in to hear all about it!

A non-traditional Christmas spider 

Show Notes: 

Christmas tree pests, indoor and out: 

https://www.canr.msu.edu/christmas_trees/pest-management/

https://christmastrees.ces.ncsu.edu/christmastrees-pest-management-in-christmas-trees/

https://extension.psu.edu/insects-on-real-christmas-trees

https://kentuckypestnews.wordpress.com/2023/12/12/does-your-christmas-tree-have-bugs/

Christmas wasp: 

https://fdacsdpi.wordpress.com/2020/12/24/all-about-the-folklore-of-christmas-insects/

http://greydogtales.com/blog/folklore-origins-christmas-wasp/

Christmas spider:

https://agrilife.org/urban-ipm/2018/12/21/the-legend-of-the-christmas-spider/ 

Questions? Comments? 

Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_Podshow

Follow the hosts on Twitter @bugmanjon, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36

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