#insect topics

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Insectopedia, by Hugh Raffles

Do not judge this book by its cover! Despite what the name would suggest, this is not a comprehensive encyclopedic volume that encompasses insect knowledge related to matters like species, classification, diets, orders and general factoids. No, no, this is a different branch in the world of insect exploration. The passages, stories and analysis of 'Insectopedia' are more philosophical, anthropological (based on human society and culture) rather than locked into a box of science and research (though they do play a big part of this book). Compared to the previous literature showcase, 'Sting of the Wild', this book is far more unconventional and explores a wider range of topics, but having read it twice now, I think it offers something that very few other works can. It's one thing to outline insect facts, research, discoveries and their place in the world; it's another thing entirely to examine how insects impact the world & humanity, how humanity impacts insects, how cultures, traditions and ideas can be shaped through our hexapod friends. This book embraces the eclectic and shares it as a multitude of essays and stories that truly highlight how curiosity and fascination can develop into passions, discoveries, introspections, livelihoods and in some cases, obsessions. This collection of musings and insight is also reinforced by a citation heavy note section and bibliography and countless anecdotes across 26 chapters (named alphabetically).

In a sense, it resonates like a collection of short stories or a scientific journal publishing with a great scope of content and findings to comb through. My personal favorite chapters are the ones on 'Languages' (see Picture 5) and the 'O' chapter (not pictured), which deserves to be experienced fresh. All I'll leave you with is the name of that chapter, 'On January 8, 2008, Abdou Mahamane Was Driving through Niamey...". Both are among the longest chapters this work has to offer, but there are many more bite-sized chapters that offer stories that are short and sweet. There's little to no connectivity between each chapter and though the material may bounce back and forth wildly and some chapters barely reference insects (though nature is still an important focus), reading earlier chapters will likely reinforce appreciation for the subject material in the later sections. All that said, I think this book would be best recommended for those entering high school or university and to those who like their material dry and matter-of-fact, but also engaging (somewhat like a passionate lecture). Once again, the subject matter is the onus for a small age-gate or maturity-gate for this book, but it is a small gate. In particular, chapters C, J, Q and S are intended for more mature readers, but if you can understand and handle the subject matter, great knowledge will be your reward (for example, Chapter 'C' is 'Chernobyl', featuring a woman who examines radiation-induced insect deformities).

I know I've been somewhat vague on the exact information that can be gleamed from Insectopedia, but this is a deliberate choice. The material in this book should be read with an open mind and there shouldn't be any spoiled surprises for the journeys and insights discussed from cover to cover. If you seek examples for the type of material this book has to offer, Pictures 3-9 offer the tiniest gate to sample what Insectopedia can offer (and as prefaced at the beginning of the book, "The minuscule, a narrow gate, opens up an entire world" - Gaston Bachelard). You will not find identification guides in it nor will you find ways to distinguish one insect order from another, but it may grant some enlightenment or stir passion, discussion or a curiosity to further explore the ideas presented within and how they've evolved since the book's publishing in 2010. This may provide a great starting point for any students in need of a thesis topic! I suppose Picture 10 (presented by the Knight and a glow-in-the-dark Caterpillar) summarizes it far better than I could. I may have expected something more conventional in the beginning, I am definitely recommending this book and I'll be reading it again after I explore some of the papers within the bibliography. For me, this was the surprise of the year, and while there are times where I think it may be to eclectic (nearing "all over the place"), I was exposed to many new areas of study and I appreciate the stories and points of view I would never have heard had I stuck to only the usual material.

For additional insect literature, you may visit the Blog Resources page.

[scribblyspaceskeleton]

Speaking up and educating people on why the most hated life forms on the planet are important and meaningful is a thankless task.

How do we reach out and get people to care about insects and spiders when the average reaction is either "EEWW KILL IT WITH FIRE" or blind panic?

Arthropods are crucial to the survival of life as we know it. Yes, even commonly vilified bugs like wasps and mosquitoes have ecological niches that the world CANNOT do without.

I cannot overstate their importance.

[onenicebugperday]

Trilobite beetle, Platerodrilus ruficollis?, Lycidae

Photographed in Malaysia by nadjabaum

[dazzelmethat]

Caterpillars are babies to me. My favorite toys when I was 5 were plastic caterpillars. I see one and I want to take care of them. Remember to plant milkweed for a baby near you!

[mothscotch]

ils m'ont tué pour la raison égoïste de m'aider

[starvingsketches]

Random sketch to keep this blog alive-

Also a traditional one that I kind of just scribbled during class (his little speech bubble is censored because classmate name and privacy and stuff.)

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Little background info regarding this picture (Yep there's lore to it)

This is the fursona(or antrho version? Idk) of my class's pet fly that we decided to name Zsizsi. (I have no idea how to translate that name to english. Zhizhy, maybe?)

He was cool and actually very friendly, like he followed me everywhere(I don't stink THAT much, okay? ToT) and was pretty much just chilling on my desk in general. One of my classmates even sprayed him with her deodorant once and the mf survived. That's why I drew him with a gas mask in the first place.

Anyway I actually fed him and he was pretty much the best class pet we ever had. Well, for two days only cuz he kind of just disappeared, so he's probably dead. :(

Just look at the precious bby💖

May draw this guy hungry in the future-👀

[lauraciello]

I follow some tarantula keepers online, and recently I've noticed a very specific pattern when it comes to a certain feeder species... XD

[sorrcha]

made a quick visual of the BDFB life cycle for my experimental design class project. figured it looked nice enough to share here ^^

there's only four stages (egg -> larva -> pupa -> adult), but i decided to make the graphic with more detail bc it's relevant to my project :-)

[darkhersheys]

MY BOYFRIEND GAVE ME A LITTLE BLOCKY HERCULES BEETLE AND I'M EXPLODING BECAUSE IT'S SO CUTE I LOVE HIM

It wasn't even so hard to set him up, but I love puzzles

Look at 'im

It's such a good feeling having someone who knows exactly how to make your day better

(It's currently 3 am and I should be asleep but I couldn't sleep until it was done, I'm too anxious, now good night)

[locusfandomtime]

okay I saw a post around with the Mounders as ants and stuff and since I have Bug Autism I have thoughts about it. (this is not critique btw that person is a very cool artist and can do whatever they want. I am just weird about bugs and want an excuse to talk)

Bdubs - I genuinely think the best fit for him is a male velvet ant (not actually an ant). Probably red velvet ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis). Male velvet ants, unlike females, have wings and also don’t possess the iconic sting. I feel like this fits Bdubs well, he is a good player but often underestimated and feels like he has something to prove. If you want an actual ant, a mimi worker leafcutter ant fits well. Mimi workers are VERY tiny (so work with short Bdubs) and leafcutter ants whole thing of transforming plants and building up a fungus (imagine: replace fungus with moss) garden… it all feels very Bdubs. (Just ignore that mimi workers tend to mainly do nest stuff)

Mumbo - as in original post, common black ant. No additions. He is just a guy who is a bit scared. Black colour scheme works well too.

Pearl - if we’re going by any insect, a moth species for sure. However, this is about ants. For her, there are a variety of options depending on what you most admire about Pearl. If you are thinking of her DL era, a female red velvet ant works nicely (solitary + scarlet colours + extremely powerful sting), though once again, whilst closely related, velvet ants aren’t ants. If you admire her technical skill as a builder, a weaver ant could work well, as they construct impressive nests using silk from larvae. A termite (not an ant, they’re cockroaches, but very similar social structure) could also work, as termite nests are massive and incredibly well constructed - and to an extent, look like Pearl’s tower mound thing.

Joel - not a Joel viewer but from what I know he’s very aggressive and sporadic. I think a bull ant (maybe Myrmecia pilosula or Myrmecia pyriformis) could be fun, with the tendency to sting and the massive mandibles and eyes. They’re one of the most “dangerous” ant species (in quotes because most deaths are due to allergies as opposed to the ant being lethally toxic itself). If you want to focus on him being Lizzie’s loving husband, perhaps they would work as a termite king and queen. If you want a Boat Boys joke, fire ants can gather as a colony and form a raft to survive flooding, so he would literally be a boat boy as a fire ant.

Side note: all worker ants are females. So, unless specified otherwise, all the men here would be trans! :)

[that-one-dork]

Holy shit I hope I’m not being annoying as fuck to my friends and family WHAT WHO SAID THAT

[sylkys0f7]

hottest babe at the oddities convention (they/them only)

[filia-floris]

An attempt to not forget about the sketchbook

The doodles are better as always

[fyodorsushankaaa]

You have a fear of bugs and insects? You exact opposite of me then. In kindergarten I picked up a butterfly because it was hurt and I also use to play with worms during recess.

I like to pick up insects & bugs :3

yea i have TwT

omg i can't believe how others can touch those thingies. even thinking about that makes my flesh crawl ToT

[smile-files]

i do find it funny how whenever i bring up entomology and a scientific fascination with butterflies people are like "yeah they're so important to the environment!" and that's true. but that's not what i care to study about...

[logorrhea5mip]

Inspired by this post, I'm officially announcing:

Formicidae 🐜 Fridays

So, i won't be getting to the actual list in a few more weeks, while i go over the numerous reasons why they are my favorite animal.

I do not promise that I'll post every Friday, that i won't make mistakes, or that this will not get into unhinged rambling territory, but i do promise you'll learn way more about these interesting critters than anyone normal would want to :3