Welcome back Arthro-Pod listeners! Chagas disease has been in the news this year after a recent paper stated that it should be considered endemic to the United States. But what does that mean, and what evidence is there for the claim? This week Michael leads the crew in a discussion about Chagas disease and the kissing bugs that vector the pathogen that causes it. We talk about where the disease is primarily found, potential evolutionary history of the pathogen and kissing bugs, non-bug transmission routes, and whether we should be concerned that it is endemic to North America north of Mexico.

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Two episodes in one week?! We wanted to make sure to drop this little treat off before the Halloween season officially passes. We hope you will tune in as Jody, Mike, and Jonathan discuss the 1997 cockroach horror film "Mimic". You'll never look at a Blattodean the same way again!

Show notes: 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119675/ 

https://kickseat.com/written-reviews/2011/10/5/mimic-1997.html

https://insessionfilm.com/film-at-25-mimic-a-rare-misfire-in-guillermo-del-toros-remarkable-career/

Get the show through Apple Podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcatching app!

Older episodes can be accessed through Archive.org.

If you can spare a moment, we appreciate when you subscribe to the show on those apps or when you take time to leave a review!

In this episode of Arthropod, hosts Jody and Michael delve into the unsettling topic of the New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, a pest that has made headlines due to its potential impact on livestock and human health. They explore the biology and life cycle of the screwworm, the implications of myiasis, and the historical context of eradication efforts. The discussion highlights the innovative sterile insect technique that has been pivotal in controlling this pest, as well as the recent outbreaks and the importance of ongoing monitoring and vigilance to prevent its return. The episode concludes with a call for awareness and resources for those in affected areas.

Resources:

Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm (COPEG)

USDA APHIS New World Screwworm

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association New World Screwworm Resources

CDC Clinical Overview of New World Screwworm

US FDA Information for Veterinarians

Texas A&M New World Screwworm Factsheets

Get the show through Apple Podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcatching app!

Older episodes can be accessed through Archive.org.

If you can spare a moment, we appreciate when you subscribe to the show on those apps or when you take time to leave a review!

Hello bug lovers! In today's pulse pounding episode, Jonathan unleashes his inner nerd to talk at Jody and Michael about the world of comic books and how insects have been used in this visual story telling medium. From the origins of the funny pages to the symbolism behind insects/spiders in super hero books, this episode take a lot of twists and turns. Face front true believer and jump right in!

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21504857.2021.1998173 

In this episode, Siavash Taravati, an IPM advisor in Southern California, shares his expertise on managing structural pests, including termites, ants, and cockroaches. He discusses the challenges of pest management, the value of integrated pest management (IPM), and the unique behaviors of pests such as the dark rover ant. Siavash also highlights his research on detecting termites with microwave technology and explores potential regulatory changes that could impact fumigation practices. The conversation underscores the complexity of pest control and why flexible, informed approaches are essential for effectively managing different pest species.

Resources and Links

Visit Dr. Taravati’s blog, Urban IPM So Cal, for details on the research projects and publications mentioned in this episode.

Learn more about detecting drywood termites using microwave technology in PCT or Journal of Economic Entomology (JEE).

Read about sampling red imported fire ants by volume in Entomology Today or JEE.

Arthro-Pod

Hey there fellow arthropod enthusiasts! In this episode, we talked with Sam Bolton, curator of mites at the Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Specifically, we asked "what exactly is a mite?" and picked apart the fact that "mites" aren't a real group. We also chatted about mite mouthparts and weird, wormy soil mites called nematalycids.

Howdy bug lovers! On today's episode, Jody and Jonathan talk about the green world and how insects have helped to form it. There's lot of discussion on plant and insect evolution and how an "evolutionary arms race" has heled to create the world as we know it. If you would like to read along with some of the papers referenced in the episode, here are some links that should provide free access. 

Ehrlich & Raven

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1558-5646.1964.tb01674.x 

Fraenkel 

https://2024.sci-hub.se/2234/108528be68834a7f1f6fd29ea6081f2a/fraenkel1959.pdf

In this episode of Arthro-pod, we explore the complex challenges of habitat restoration and species conservation through the lens of the endangered Salt Creek Tiger Beetle. Hosts are joined by special guest Dr. Gary Brewer to discuss the beetle’s unique ecological needs and the collaborative efforts to protect it—ranging from captive rearing and reintroduction projects to public outreach, community art, and the ongoing hurdles of conservation work.

Welcome back Arthro-Poders! Today we chat with Louis Nastasi about gall wasps. Louis recently defended his PhD dissertation at Penn State, which focused on the herb gall wasps (Cynipidae: Aulacideini), especially species of Antistrophus on Silphium. A number of the chapters have already been published, including a catalogue of North American herb gall wasps, key to herb gall wasps and their inquilines, and a revision of the Antistrophus rufus species complex. We start with an introduction to galls and gall wasps, then talk about some of the specifics of his work.

Show Notes

Hey there insect lovers! This episode is a real treat, Jody, Jonathan, and Michael are joined by Douglass Hughes and Skalla Resco, two members of the moderation team at r/bugidentification over at Reddit. These are two selfless people who spend their time making sure folks know what insects they are encountering indoors and out and they have so many stories to share!

Tune in to learn about the behind the scenes action of how a subreddit works, what are some of the most common insects people are asking questions about, and how reddit is a lot like Extension work!

Show Notes

https://www.reddit.com/r/bugidentification/