by Kate Redmond
Bugs in the News XV
Howdy BugFans,
Here are four articles about bugs from the excellent Smithsonian newsletter, which also covers archaeology, birds, current science news, creatures of the deep ocean, etc. Enjoy.
Many queen BUMBLE BEES overwinter in tunnels underground, and they develop these sites into nests in spring. What happens in wet spring? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hibernating-bumblebee-queens-can-survive-underwater-for-up-to-a-week-study-finds-180984175/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&spMailingID=49668960&spUserID=ODg4Mzc3MzY0MTUyS0&spJobID=2682036985&spReportId=MjY4MjAzNjk4NQS2.
Although preliminary reports say that MONARCHS overwintering in Mexico were found over a larger area this year than last year, there’s alarming news about some of our favorite insect ambassadors https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/us-butterflies-are-disappearing-at-drastic-rates-with-one-in-five-gone-since-2000-180986188/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&lctg=91269370.
One problem with current surveys of insect species – indeed, surveys of any living thing – is that the people who conduct today’s counts may have little acquaintance with yesterday’s populations (remember all the bugs that used to hit the windshield in days of yore?). It’s called “Shifting Baseline Syndrome (SBS)” – what looks like a lot of butterflies may actually be only a fraction of what was counted 50 years ago. Insects are particularly susceptible to SBS because few people were interested enough in, say, bumble bees, a century ago to count them in any systematic way https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/intrepid-team-bee-lovers-doing-everything-save-rare-native-species-extinction-180986181/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&lctg=91269370
When asked what his studies had taught him about the nature of his Creator, the great British biologist J.B.S. Haldane is said to have replied that “God has an inordinate fondness for beetles.” https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-do-so-many-beetle-species-exist-180984100/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&spMailingID=49646610&spUserID=ODg4Mzc3MzY0MTUyS0&spJobID=2681166215&spReportId=MjY4MTE2NjIxNQS2
Kate Redmond, The BugLady
Bug of the Week archives:
http://uwm.edu/field-station/category/bug-of-the-week/