Bug Bytes

Eat It – The Argument for Entomophagy

Fri, 13 May 2011 15:40:26 -0500

Entomophagy is a growing trend here in the U.S. but let’s face it – for the majority, the “ick” factor prevails. In this episode of Bug Bytes, we take a bite out of the main reason people aren’t cool with bugs as food and some of the people working to change their minds.

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Links:
David George Gordon, The Bug Chef:  http://davidgeorgegordon.com/ 
Daniella Martin: http://girlmeetsbug.com/ 
Rosanna Yau: http://minilivestock.org/

Queen of the Sun

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:27:38 -0500

In our kickoff for Season 3, we interview the director and producer of the new film Queen of the Sun, an artistic and uplifting look at the honeybee crisis known as CCD. It’s not too heavy on the science, and explores organic and “biodynamic” beekeeping. We also look at the new phenomenon of backyard beekeeping, just in time for Earth Day.

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Upcoming Screenings:
http://www.queenofthesun.com/screenings/

Links:

http://honeybee.tamu.edu/page4/page4.html

http://www.beeculture.com/

http://backyardhive.com/

http://www.backyardbeekeepers.com/

Holiday Lights - Insect Style

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:11:23 -0600

This episode of Bug Bytes will get you into the holiday spirit – with click beetles! Find out about insect bioluminescence and the click beetle’s unusual decorating habits.

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Images:

Iridescent termite mounds
http://p6.hostingprod.com/@pantanalbirdclub.org/emas.html

Adult click beetle
http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/foltz/eny3005/lab1/coleoptera/Elaterid.htm

Ode to the Microscope

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:17:57 -0600

The microscope is an essential tool and scientists are pretty devoted to them. Learn a bit about the history of the scope and why looking through the lens can be an eye-opening experience.

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Photos and Cool Links:

Molecular Expression at FSU
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/anatomy/introduction.html
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/olympusmicd/galleries/butterfly/index.html
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/micro/gallery/beer/beer.html

Make your own Leeuwenhoek Microscope!
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/physics/optics/OpticalInstruments/Microscope/Leeuwenhoeks/Leeuwenhoeks.htm

Dennis Kunkel (World Famous Photo-microscopist)
http://www.denniskunkel.com/

Toil and Trouble

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:27:30 -0500

Look out, Harry Potter - this Halloween edition of Bug Bytes is all tricks, no treats! See how cultures around the world have used insects for centuries in magic and divination.

Links
Information about the Black Witch Moth
http://www.texasento.net/witch.htm

Information and photos about insects in Traditional Chinese Medicine http://www.chinavine.ucf.edu/barney_and_loye/nonflash/folk_medicine/

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iTouch, uTouch

Thu, 7 Oct 2010 14:26:26 -0500

iPhones, iPods, Blackberry Touch. Multi-touch interface is everywhere, and people are loving it. But bugs did it first! Bug Bytes explores the insect origins of this technology and provides a special gift for our listeners. Check out the insect apps below and download our eBook to read a special version of this podcast on your iPad!

Links:

Multitouch Insect Apps for phones and mobile devices

iTouch, uTouch e-Book Click on the above link. Once it downloads, drag the file into Books when the iPad is connected to iTunes.

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Mascots with Sting

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:15:59 -0500

Are you ready for some football?? The Bug Bytes team looks at what it takes to make a great mascot, and why yellow jackets are the most popular insect mascot. Hut!

Photos:

http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/youth/bug/bug151.html 
http://accguide.com/georgiatechmascot.html 
http://www.insectimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1227008

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Hold The Lettuce

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:48:20 -0500

Human obesity rates are soaring here in America. We take a very Bug Bytes look at how scientists are solving the problem, using insects! You’ll be surprised how insect regulate their body size and fitness. Do 10 jumping jacks and listen to this!

Photos:
Dr. Spence Behmer’s Lab Poster

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Scrub a Dub Bug

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:24:29 -0500

Think bugs are dirty, gross and downright nasty? Think again. Insects are master bathers. This episode of Bug Bytes takes a look at some insects that puts human hygiene to shame!

Alex Wild’s Blog

Pictures and Video: 
Hoverfly Cleaning Itself
http://www.mattcolephotography.co.uk/macro/Hoverfly%20cleaning%20itself.jpg

Fleshfly Cleaning Itself Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn3j9SxGGck&feature=related

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Chill Out

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:14:10 -0500

As summer boils we turn to the engineers of the insect world for a little inspiration on how to keep cool. World renowned architect Mick Pearce joins us from Zimbabwe to talk about the Eastgate Center’s unique connection to termites.

Photos:

http://www.environmentteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/african-termite-mound-and-eastgate-center-in-Zimbabwe.jpg

Eastgate Center Facility Overview(pdf)

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Filthy Rich

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 13:21:48 -0500

Recycling isn’t just for glass and plastics. In the underground recycling world, the popularity of composting is steadily on the rise. With the help of Matt Slaughter, Director of the Soil Foodweb Lab in Oregon, we’ve taken a look at what goes into a healthy compost pile - including the fantastic bugs that help turn organic trash into filthy rich soil conditioner.

Links

One Cubic Foot by E.O. Wilson
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/02/cubic-foot/wilson-text/1

http://oregonfoodweb.com/soil-biology/in-depth.html

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Gaga For Bugs

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:25:22 -0500

To kick off Season 2 of Bug Bytes, we’re exploring performance art in the insect world and we pose an insect challenge to one of the hottest pop artists today, Lady Gaga.

Photos:

http://www.mnh.si.edu/highlight/cicadas/pages/tymbal.htm

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Buzz Off!

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:24:28 -0500

Summer is right around the corner, and with the season comes mosquitoes. This podcast is dedicated to giving you the low-down on some of the most popular insect repellents, both chemical and natural, to keep you healthy and itch-free this season!

Photos:
http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/bimg220.html

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20080611/Note2.asp

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Reach Out

Thu, 1 Apr 2010 11:01:02 -0500

In this podcast we tackle scientific outreach and why it’s important and necessary to make science accessible to everyone. We’ll also highlight 3 Texas A&M Entomology students who have made outreach a big part of their work.

Links:

http://soltiscentercostarica.tamu.edu/

http://www.scienceoutreach.org/

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Luke, I am your Larvae…

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:36:42 -0500

Ever wonder where Hollywood gets some of its creatures for science fiction? Or if any of it could be true? This podcast explores some of the science behind the fiction, and why bugs are such popular scapegoats as the bad guys.

Photos:
http://www.starwars.com/databank/creature/sarlacc/

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:Sarlacc_Body.jpg

http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/Antlions.shtml

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International Year of Biodiversity

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 14:04:47 -0600

2010 is the United Nation’s International Year of Biodiversity! And we’ve dedicated a podcast to learning more about the issue. We take an “insect’s eye view” and explore what biodiversity loss really means.

Click here for transcript

Links:

http://www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/

http://www.iucn.org/

Locomotion

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:34:46 -0600

Think insects have nothing to do with medicine? Think again. Scientists are using some of the most unlikely bugs to do great things in human medicine. Here we explore an insect we love to hate and how it can help the science of prostethic limbs.

Click here to download the full transcript

Photos:
http://medix.marshall.edu/~zill/

http://medix.marshall.edu/~zill/Publications.htm

On The Fringe

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 15:07:00 -0600

You think you know what moths do at night, but there are some that operate outside the norm. And don’t even get us started on caterpillars. We’re looking at counter culture and strange societies in the insect world on this episode of Bug Bytes. So turn on the porch light and press play.

Photos:
http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/noctuoidea/noctuidae/calpinae/calyptra/index.html

http://www.hawaii-forest.com/natural-history/essays/1997-02.asp

Click here to view the transcript

Bugging Bees

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:25:37 -0600

In this episode of Bug Bytes, we explore new technologies for tracking insects as they are on the move. In South America, orchid bees are wearing radio backpacks, Bees are some of the most important organisms on the planet, and scientists have devised an interesting new way to find out more about them.

Click here to download the full transcript

Photos:
http://www.entomology.umn.edu/museum/links/coursefiles/JPEG%20images/Hymenoptera%20web%20jpeg/Eufriesia.jpg
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/11/081114-bees-radio-tracking-missions.html

Break A Leg

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 09:14:04 -0600

Parasitoid wasps are usually considered beneficial insects because they attack common pests. But according to research by the Scottish Crop Research Institute, there’s one species that may be causing more harm than good. When a good guy goes bad it’s bound to get interesting.

Click here to download the full transcript

Photos:
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/gallery/showimage.php?i=33073

http://www.harlequin-survey.org/factfile/enemies.htm

Sticky Stuff

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:03:10 -0600

Bug Bytes explores the competitive world of spider silk research. Cutting edge research is dissected and we breakdown some silk basics. From metal enhanced silk to some startling work with goats, you’ll quickly get caught in the web.

Click here to download the full transcript

Photos:

http://www.ssc.army.mil/about/pao/pubs/warrior/97/nov/silk2.jpg

http://news.mongabay.com/2009/1020-hance_golden_orb.html

The Insect’s Christmas

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:46:45 -0600

For our first podcast, and just in time for the holidays, we explore the insect stop motion animation work of Ladislaw Starevitch, a Russian insect enthusiast. He created The Insect’s Christmas, a lovely short film that’s perfect for the season. So leave out some cookies for Santa and some crumbs for the beetles and join us on Bug Bytes.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls2WtJakgo0
Photos:
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/starewitch1.jpg
http://www.awn.com/heaven_and_hell/STARE/stare9.htm

Click here for a complete transcript