Bugs Blood and Bones

I was recently asked to give a talk to some high school students about possible careers in the sciences.  Specifically, Entomology and related areas.  I had my not-so-trusty phone with me and was able to record my presentation.  I hope you enjoy.   New Episodes Coming Soon!   Music: The Underscore Orkestra

Season 2 starts off a little well, a little off. I had the bright idea to have a theme for the coming season and that theme starts here. What does entomology, parasatism, and Star Trek have to do with one another? Can a podcast host create a very thin link between the ideas of parasites as metaphor for confronting our own mortality or giving into base, reptillian desires? Find out in this weeks episode! Music is normally by the Underscore Orkestra.  Not today, but you should definitely go check them out. Live Long and Prosper

In todays episode of random thoughts of entomo-interest, I was philosophical about the implications of the arthropod pet trade, whether the beetle will win or my cats, and what that might mean for the smaller infestations that crop up along the way.   Stay tuned to the very end for a brief snippet of what is to come in future episodes! Please check out the Underscore Orkestra, an amazing group deserving of all of our praise.   New Jersey Dept. of Ag Info on H. longicornis NYT Article Mentioned That Python in the Pet Store May Have Been Snatched From The Wild Wildlife Laundering Through Breeding Farms More on the Tick  

If you were to conduct a random sampling of entomologists, you would find that there are a number of issues in which we firmly divide ourselves when it comes to important, life decisions.  What are the best IPM methods? Who is better: The Beatles or The Scorpions? Would you be willing to host a bot fly in your body?  You know, for science. And would you eat a bug?  And it's here that we land today.  So let's dig in, and get a taste of the history of insect eating.  Some pros, cons. and downright weird.    Further Reading: A Brief History of Entomophagy The Natural History of Cheese Mites 7 Upscale Insect Dishes From Around the World The 1903 Cheese Mites Film History Cheese Mites Film Nutritional Value of Insects from Around the World  

**Re-Upload...I have the editing skills of Keyboard Cat.  Errors had to be fixed** Well hello again! Today we have the final half of my interview with Chris about Smallpox, Ebola, and the realities of being an epidemiologist.  Tl;Dr - All guts, no glory, but a cool story to tell.  Epidemiology is a fascinating field where disease, culture, and history all converge and inform the decisions of the present and the future.   Get in touch with Chris von Csefalvay through his Website Here or through his Twitter @chrisvcsefalvay   Some recommendations from the podcast are The Imortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. I also found myself thinking about this great video by Caitlin Doughty about Ebola, Death, and Death Customs.    Show Music: Underscore Orkestra ....Go get their music HERE! If there's one thing that I took away from this conversation it was Love the One You're With.