Hey there bug lovers! On today's itchy episode of Arthro-Pod, the gang discusses the ABCs of chiggers. Chiggers are immature mites that feed on mammals and create itchy, red spots. Tune in to learn about how they melt your skin and drink it up and find out why nail polish isn't gonna help! Plus, how do you keep them off you in the first place? All that and more in the 48th episode of Arthro-Pod! I want to drink your skin! Photo by Jim Kalisch; UNL EntomologyShow notes An extension circular from UNL about chiggers Info from Texas A&M on these mites      It's been a bad year in Texas for Chiggers Chigger bites on ankle. Photo by Jim Kalisch; UNL Entomology Questions? Comments? Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_PodshowFollow the hosts on Twitter @JLarson_UNL, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36Get the show through iTunes!Subscribe to our feed on Feedburner!  We're also on Stitcher! This episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Beginning/ending theme: "There It Is" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Howdy, howdy bug lovers! Today's episode of Arthro-Pod features Jody and Jonathan covering the risque topic of insect mating! Insects are the most successful animals on earth and their reproduction is part of the reason why. Join us for a PG-13 episode where we discuss insect anatomy, how insects court one another, and how mating probably isn't all that pleasurable to bugs!  A private moment between two grasshoppers (Photo by Ivy Orellana) Show Notes If you want to enjoy National Pollinator Week, check out their site: http://pollinator.org/pollinator-week Insect courtship can involve the use of sound. Learn more about insect sounds here:http://songsofinsects.com/ Ask an Entomologist has discussed some of the same topics on their website and we used them as a resource for this recording. Check out their awesome work here: Courtship:https://askentomologists.com/2018/02/15/insect_courtship/ Insect Sex:https://askentomologists.com/2016/03/15/insect_coitus/Here is a male moth's coremata in action. You'll have to listen to learn what it's for! Questions? Comments? Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_PodshowFollow the hosts on Twitter @JLarson_UNL, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36Get the show through iTunes!Subscribe to our feed on Feedburner!   We're on Stitcher too!  This episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Beginning/ending theme: "There It Is" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Howdy there bug lovers! On today's episode of Arthro-Pod, Jody and Jonathan meet up with Dr. Travis Bourret of Creighton University to talk about ticks! These blood sucking arachnids are a source of consternation and fear every summer, mainly due to their disease vectoring capabilities.  In this show the gang talks about what ticks are, how they get pathogens inside of them, why not every tick carries every pathogen, and the many types of illness you could contract. At the end, some tips are shared on tick prevention. Tune in! Know your ticks! Different species can be vectors for different diseases. If you would like to contact our guest to discuss ticks, here is some contact info Instagram: tickdrTwitter: @drbourretCreighton Website: https://medschool.creighton.edu/faculty-directory-profile/101995/travis-bourret Lab Website: http://drbourret.wixsite.com/bourretlab An American dog tick questing at the tip of a blade of grass. It waits for to host to walk by and then they give them a big hug! In Nebraska, we mainly deal with American dog ticks or this species- the lone star tick. Questions? Comments? Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_PodshowFollow the hosts on Twitter @JLarson_UNL, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36Get the show through iTunes!Subscribe to our feed on Feedburner!   We're on Stitcher too!  This episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Beginning/ending theme: "There It Is" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Two American dog ticks who are just plum full!

Howdy, howdy bug lovers! On today's show our intrepid trio of hosts discuss just how scientists name a species of animal. Mike has named several new species himself and helps to discuss just what the rules are for the process and what changes have been happening! Tune in! Linnaeus, who created the binomial nomenclature system we are discussing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Linnaeus Here are some show notes if you are interestedhttps://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/b/Binomial_nomenclature.htmhttps://www.amentsoc.org/insects/glossary/terms/binomial-naming-system Questions? Comments? Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_PodshowFollow the hosts on Twitter @JLarson_UNL, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36Get the show through iTunes!Subscribe to our feed on Feedburner!   We're on Stitcher too!  This episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Beginning/ending theme: "There It Is" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Howdy, howdy bug lovers! When we talk about insects and other arthropods, many of our conversations are about their status as pests. On today's Arthro-Pod though, we are talking about them as PETS! From cockroaches and beetles, to spiders and scorpions there are lots of different kinds of arthropod animals you can have as a pet. With our guest, Sarah Triplett of the Butterfly Pavilion, we talk about which ones are easiest, which ones to avoid, and tips/tricks for helping your pet live a long and happy life with you! Tune in! Rosie the Rose-hair tarantula prepares to feed Sarah Triplett is a professional arthropod caretaker! She serves as the lead zookeeper at The Butterfly Pavilion.The Arthro-Pod gang with some pet arthropods! If you would like to reach out to Sarah, she invites questions on arthropod care! You can reach her on the following platforms:  Twitter: @s_e_triplett Butterfly Pavilion on twitter: @B_flyPavilion      Instagram/facebook: @butterflypavilion·     Email: [email protected] Questions? Comments? Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_PodshowFollow the hosts on Twitter @JLarson_UNL, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36Get the show through iTunes!Subscribe to our feed on Feedburner!   We're on Stitcher too!  This episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Beginning/ending theme: "There It Is" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

On today’s show, Michael Skvarla talks with Julie Urbanabout spotted lanternfly, a new invasive pest in Pennsylvania that is poised to spread across the country. They discuss how, when, and where SLF was introduced, current research efforts, and some practical measures that can be taken to control it. If you have spotted lanternfly on your property, consult this calendar to properly time different control strategies. One control method is destroying eggs, which is demonstrated here. For additional information, see the Penn State Extension website for various fact sheet. Live adult spotted lanternfly. Photo by Lawrence Barringer, PA Department of AgricultureEarly instar spotted lanternfly showing the black with white polka-dot pattern. Photographer unknown, from here. Late-instar nymph showing red with white polka-dot pattern. Photographer unknown, from hereSpotted lanternfly egg mass. The eggs are laid and then covered with a substance that hardens by the female. Note the eggs in the bottom left that were missed by the covering. Photo: Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State.Sticky bands on tree-of-heaven, which catch and kill nymphs as they move up the trunk. For more information about tree banding, see this Penn State fact sheet. Photo: Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State. Questions? Comments? Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_PodshowFollow the hosts on Twitter @JLarson_UNL, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36Get the show through iTunes!Subscribe to our feed on Feedburner!   We're on Stitcher too!  This episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Beginning/ending theme: "There It Is" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Howdy, howdy bug lovers! Today's show is part two of our series on women in entomology.  In this episode Jody has 4 guests she speaks to individually, May Berenbaum, Karen Walker, Marianne Alleyne, and Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris. They represent a different sectors of our science, different time points in careers, and different passions for insect science. Tune in to hear their stories and perhaps understand a little bit more about the challenges that women have faced in science and issues we all still need to work on.  Clockwise from top left: Dr. May Berenbaum, Dr. Marianne Alleyne, and Dr. Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris Find our guests on twitter: Rebecca: @PhytoseiidMay: @MayBerenbaumMarianne: @Cotesia1 Questions? Comments? Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_PodshowFollow the hosts on Twitter @JLarson_UNL, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36Get the show through iTunes!Subscribe to our feed on Feedburner!   We're on Stitcher too!  This episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Beginning/ending theme: "There It Is" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Howdy, howdy bug lovers! On today's episode we step back from entomology a bit and talk with Kristie Reddick of The Bug Chick about framing "your why". If you are a student or are struggling at work to keep slogging through a difficult time, thinking about why you are doing what you are doing can sometimes help get you back in the flow. As Kristie says in the episode "what makes us go, can help us grow."  It's an uplifting episode and you should tune in! After you sit down and think about your "why" for why you are on social media, why you do research, why you like insects, share it with us on Twitter with #mysciencewhy Our guest Kristie Reddick and her arthropod friend Be sure to find Kristie and Jess online at https://thebugchicks.com/ You can also find them on Twitter a @thebugchicks and on Facebook Kristie and Jess are out there doing great work, check out their site and hire them! Questions? Comments? Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_PodshowFollow the hosts on Twitter @JLarson_UNL, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36Get the show through iTunes!Subscribe to our feed on Feedburner!   We're on Stitcher too!  This episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Beginning/ending theme: "There It Is" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Jody and Jonathan take Arthro-Pod on the road and head up to Wisconsin! There, they take part in the Entomological Society of America's North Central Branch meeting and interview entomologists as they go through the Extension Share Fair.  At our podcast booth we had our equipment and a large die for volunteers to roll. After getting a number they answered the corresponding questions. Tune in to find out what!  Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth and to swap stories! Questions? Comments? Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_PodshowFollow the hosts on Twitter @JLarson_UNL, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36Get the show through iTunes!Subscribe to our feed on Feedburner!   We're on Stitcher too!  This episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Beginning/ending theme: "There It Is" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Howdy, howdy bug lovers! Today's show is part one of a two part series on women in entomology as we celebrate Women's History Month. For this episode your three regular hosts get together to introduce the topic and get the conversation going and the second episode we will feature guest interviews about current issues for women in entomology.  We start our discussion today though by talking about two luminaries in entomological history, Maria Sibylla Merian and Edith Patch. After that, Jody solicited stories from scientists of today to hear about mentors and issues that persist in our field. We also discuss the role of social media in breaking down barriers, as we saw with #BugsR4girls. We hope you enjoy and learn a little something about our history and how we can still work towards a more equal tomorrow.   Maria Merian (left) and Dr. Edith Patch are our two historical luminaries for today's episode!Show notes: To learn more about Maria Sibylla Merian, check out these resources https://entomologytoday.org/2015/02/26/famous-female-entomologists-part-4-maria-sybilla-merian-the-mother-of-entomology/http://www.themariasibyllameriansociety.humanities.uva.nl/ https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/01/the-woman-who-made-science-beautiful/424620/http://public.gettysburg.edu/~ketherid/Merian%201st%20ecologist.pdf https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/science/maria-sibylla-merian-metamorphosis-insectorum-surinamensium.html To learn more about Dr. Patch, check out these resources Entomology Today - Looking beyond Edith Patch's CV by Katie ToddEntomology Today - Remembering Edith Patch, the First Female President of the Entomological Society of America by Amanda ClarkWikipedia - Edith PatchBiography: Without Benefit of Insects: The Story of Edith M . Patch of the University of MainePhotos of Patchiella (under a CC BY 3.0 license) Friends of Edith Patch - “non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and continuing the legacy of Dr. Edith Marion Patch, a pioneering entomologist whose scientific, educational, and environmental work expanded the ecological understandings of scientists, educators, children, and families around the world.” We also want to thank everyone who retweeted, favorited, or responded to Jody on Twitter! Your responses were very helpful in making our Women in Entomology Series! Questions? Comments? Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_PodshowFollow the hosts on Twitter @JLarson_UNL, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36Get the show through iTunes!Subscribe to our feed on Feedburner!   We're on Stitcher too!  This episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Beginning/ending theme: "There It Is" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0