Back in December I told you about the curse of the Albino Cockroach. Well, I told that story in my class this morning, and one of my wonderful students sent me this email:
Adrienne: One of my hissing cockroaches molted a couple of months ago, and I was able to notice before she darkened back up. I got a couple of good pictures of her. It was funny because my boyfriend noticed before me and started freaking out saying that an albino cockroach killed one of my roaches because he saw her skin sitting there all torn open and didn't realize that the "albino" roach was actually still her. I thought I'd share a picture with you in case you wanted to use it in a slideshow or something. I don't know, I just thought maybe you could use it or something. If not, that's cool.
So I thought I’d show it to all you (it is really a beautiful picture…)
–Adrienne
So entomologists have heroes. And when an entomologist discovers something he or she gets to name, those heroes usually come into play. (Did you hear about the wasp named after Yoda?) The latest example of the phenomenon is Orectochilus orbisonorum, a new species of whirly gig beetle that has been named after Roy Orbison and his widow Barbara by Quentin Wheeler of Arizona State University.
Mr. Wheeler attended a concert honoring Orbison, and made the announcement there, while presenting the family with a pop-art painting of whirly gig beetles. Apparently, the beetle was named such because “It almost looks like it’s wearing a tuxedo.” Ah, entomologists and our tributes.
–Adrienne
Ah, lice. Those annoyingly itchy insects that seem common in grade school and sleep away camps, yet cause panic among the parents of carriers. Who knew that something good could come of these buggers?
In a time when some are worried about jobs moving over seas, entrepreneurial wonders have taken a look at the market and answered a demand: high-class lice grooming. While critics claim these salons perpetuate lice myths to create business, the salons are booming none the less. Professional nit-pickers (hee!) charge a whopping $95 per hour to thoroughly comb and check hair, all the while getting rid of nits and adults.
While I don’t know the efficacy of the treatments, nor do I think they are always necessary, I can’t help but admire the genius behind the idea. Who would have thought parasites would create a multi million dollar business?
In today’s news of the weird, wild, and unusual (of which I love more than any other news), a company is selling
Dead Bug Funeral Kits, complete with 32-page eulogy book (poems and euligies written by children in the throws of dead bug greif), grave markers, casket, and seeds to pretty up the burial site.
As an entomologist, I always just pinned and displayed my short-lived buggy pets, but maybe this kit will help me create the insect-inhabited cemetary of my dreams!
