Ento-musings from the University of Kentucky Department of Entomology


Thursday, January 24, 2013

"Margarinefly": Will it Catch On?

Some readers may recall a mention of "butterflies of the Jurassic" back in a July post on the Daily Entomologist. Dramatically resembling modern macrolepidopterans, these Mesozoic lacewings (Kalligrammatidae) were far more akin to antlions (doodlebugs, if you're a Southerner). You'll be able to find out more about them here (http://gentlecentipede.blogspot.com/2013/01/butterflies-before-butterflies-flowers.html)—and discover what a "margarinefly" is.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

At Last: Mantidflies

One of my favorite insects...the epitome of strangeness (perhaps) within the Insecta. If you don't know about them already: what kind of ignoramus are you? No, seriously, you can be initiated into the mantidfly-adoring subculture by going here (http://gentlecentipede.blogspot.com/). I also highly recommend perusing the post whilst listening to this arrangement of Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkFoPGRM4t4&feature=endscreen&NR=1); I think it captures the chic grotesqueness of the Mantispidae quite well.