Queen of the Sand Ants

Solenopsis pergandei queen and workers Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA Photo details: Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x macro lens on a Canon EOS 50D ISO 100, f/13, 1/250 sec, diffused twin flash

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The Global Ant Project summit in Chicago

Last week I attended a conference ambitiously titled “Global Ant Project synthesis meeting II“.  Partly, I went out of curiosity about what this “Global Ant Project” might be.  But mostly, I went for the chance to catch up with old myrmecological friends, eavesdrop on the latest ant gossip, and visit Chicago’s fabulous Field Museum of [...]

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Jack Longino unveils the new 2009 line of Pheidole species

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Millipedes that glow in the dark

The following is a guest post from millipede expert Paul Marek. I study millipedes in the family Xystodesmidae (order Polydesmida).  These millipedes contain hydrogen cyanide as a defensive chemical and use aposematic coloration to warn predators of their toxicity.  Coloration patterns in these species include bright yellows, oranges, reds, and violet. One nocturnal genus in [...]

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Sunday Night Movie: Miniscule flies with spaghetti

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Why no blogging?

Sorry. I’ve been really, really busy with projects around the house and in the lab. And for the next few days I’ll be away at the Global Ant Project meeting in Chicago. Blogging will resume after I return. With any luck there will be plenty of myrmecological gossip and photos to share of the meeting. [...]

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