#Museum Royal of Ontario

[fashionsfromhistory]

Riding Habit

c.1770-1780

England

Royal Ontario Museum (Object number: 2013.17.3.1)

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach - Gromphadorhina portentosa

With this set of insect images, all pictures from the ROM for the year 2023 are proudly displayed on this blog for you to enjoy. I've already gone at length discussing these feisty beans and their habits, behaviors and routines. While many onlookers may not see these armored insects as appealing, I take great joy knowing the role that they play within their own ecosystems and the opportunities they provide for eager minds to learn (about nature and science), whether as pets or in exhibits. If you're not a Roach fan, it's worth remembering that it could be worse in terms of insect encounters. Since this specie lacks wings, it can't suddenly startle you by becoming airborne and (unintentionally) buzzing towards you... and then subsequently slam into their terrarium's glass. They can run rather quickly, however, so that may be unsettling! Nevertheless, there are many more exhibits to enjoy at the ROM if looking at exotic Roaches (and other arthropods) isn't your idea of a good time. For me, I enjoy seeing what they've gotten up to.

Having visited the ROM's "Natural World" exhibit many times before, it would be a great benefit to have additional information displayed regarding these curious insects. Although simple, there's so much to learn about them, and many myths that could be dispelled so as to not treat all Roaches as "dirty insects" (admittedly this specie does consume debris and rotting material as they are decomposers by nature). Decomposers play crucial roles within their ecosystems, and it would do well to remind people that forests, parks and jungles are born not just from their plant-life, but also the material that is broken down to sustain them. An interactive series of hissing samples would provide a lot of insight. Specifically for how these Roaches interact and communicate with each other and any other creatures they encounter. Recordings would suffice, even if hearing it live is more authentic, but in a carefully curated environment such as this one, agitating the exhibit denizens for spectacle isn't a good idea. Besides, a sudden hiss from such a small creature is quite startling the first time, especially if you're not expecting it. You may prod, but it's up to the Cockroach to determine how aggressively it will press air from its spiracles to spook you.

Pictures were taken on December 19, 2023 with a Google Pixel 4. Come and see the many insect exhibits of the Royal Ontario Museum if you happen to be in town.

[silkdamask-blog]

#SackBackSaturday: In general, I lean toward bright sunshiny colors, especially with the reduced daylight of our New England winter days….so sharing a gown which will bring a dash of light. A gorgeous Spitalfields brocaded silk (with silver metallic threads), c. 1750s Via Royal Ontario Museum, ROM2004_1034_6

[dianeaarts]

secretary bird (At the ROM)

[fashionlandscapeblog]

Daniel Libeskind

The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal at the Royal Ontario Museum, 2007

Photo: Source

[eggplantpurplemoves]

Streets of Toronto

[sad-clown]

i forget what dinosaur this is but i like the picture :3

[dwellerinthelibrary]

The beautifully drawn, stunningly gilded Book of the Dead of Amenemhat.

[An Egyptian papyrus, brown, with figures painted in black, red, and yellow. Anubis and Horus work the scales while the Devourer sits on a black and yellow plinth. Thoth stands before Osiris with his scribe's tools. Gold has been applied to the papyrus to highlight details such as Thoth's moondisc.]

When: Ptolemaic Egypt

Where: Royal Ontario Museum

[sheltiechicago]

One of Canada’s Most Hated Buildings is Beautifully Divisive

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) became one of the most divisive buildings in Canada when it was overhauled in 2007. With an old meets ‘super-new’ mishmash, the museum’s identity was forever changed. Let’s dive in.

Since the museum’s establishment in 1912, the ROM has evolved to become one of the largest museums in North America, housing a vast collection that spans natural history, art, and culture from around the globe.

[baebeylik]

Tomb or grave cover (cenotaph) with Shi'i inscriptions. Muhammad b. Ahmad. Iran, 11-12th Century CE.

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

[fashionsfromhistory]

Knitted Jacket

1630-1650

Italy

Royal Ontario Museum (Object number: 2007.28.1)

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach - Gromphadorhina portentosa

They're back!

Despite how many postings I've made about the ROM's insects (and this specie's exhibit in particular), there's always something new to talk about or share. For today, I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that this insect home is now longer, essentially taking up the space of 2 live-insect exhibits. That's quite an upgrade from when I saw them last year! It's for the best that these Roaches received a terrarium upgrade given that not only are many individuals sharing real estate area, but there are many nymphs scurrying about. A Hissing Roach nymph looks very similar to the full-grown adult, especially since all stages lack wings. However, you can tell them apart as nymphs are smaller in size and leg-span, and their exoskeleton may have a lighter coloration with thinner armor. Inside their exhibit, they have access to good nutrition and protection from predators, so naturally they will molt and grow larger over time. This is good for individual longevity, but if the Roaches cluster, it could instigate competition for space in the terrarium! Particularly among the hardy, fully grown males. Speaking of, there's one specific "handsome" specimen highlighted in Picture 4 (and a total of 3 large males in Picture 1) with a robust form and prominent horns. He would easily batter his rivals, but more room may allow him some peace, so long as other males keep their distance. While the "handsome" males are certainly eye-catching given their large size and pronotum knobs, the showstopper today is a young male.

Although his horns are little more than exoskeletal bumps, the young nymph showcased a lot of promise and strength with his remarkable ability to climb the side of his terrarium. Despite the surface being vertical, his tarsal claws have a strong grip, allowing him to scale up the wall with ease and then move to the right. How he gets down from there is anyone's guess. Moreover, as he moved to the right, his feet were faced with a new obstacle for his climb: glass. While the images capture the beginning of the moment, they don't fully demonstrate just how much effort this insect put into gripping the glass. As the young male stretched out his limbs, the tarsal claws slipped and slid until they found a spot to grip. Like a mountain climber without a line trying to find a foothold, the young Roach was very diligent and careful. He did eventually manage to put more legs on the glass, but couldn't move further to his right very much, so he turned back around to the textured wall. It's still an impressive feat, and it allowed patrons of the museum to receive a good long look at his underside (Picture 9). You can even see his "neck" which is normally concealed beneath his pronotum! It's utterly remarkable how different they look on their underside. Not to mention how fine the sensory hairs along their legs are.

Pictures were taken on November 19, 2024 with a Google Pixel 4. Come and see the many insect exhibits of the Royal Ontario Museum if you happen to be in town. There will be a video follow-up to this point in the future to showcase how the nymphs move and interact with their terrarium roommates.

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

At the Battle of Marathon, a vastly outnumbered force of Greek hoplites saved Athenian democracy and protected the course of Western civilization.  

Credit: Royal Ontario Museum

[zoexanthellea]

when lorde said "supermodels all dancing 'round a pharaoh's tomb" that wasn't even a metaphor because why were people posing infront of literal mummy at the ROM

[romanceyourdemons]

kind of fucked up how i was reading about seventeenth century ming general zu dashou and how his surrender to the manchus is considered a significant moment in the fall of the ming dynasty and the establishment of the qing, and then i see that his tomb is in toronto