Natural Science Forum / Biology / Entomology / February 2004

A few properties I maintain have infestations of furniture beetle,
varying in degree from small areas to two or three rooms.
I have a few questions about the spread of infestations and eradication
of them.

I buy maggots from a local baiter, for food for my two African Flower
Mantids, but am having varied results in hatching them into flies.  
1)  How long can maggots be kept in the fridge?
2)  Can Maggots Cohabit with crickets?  Ie:  If I throw 10 maggots in my

I have had western conifer seed bug's come in my house ( especially in window
sills ) the last 2 years.  
I have also noticed beginning in December and continuing today, a organic type
smell seemingly coming from inside the walls of my home.  The smell is most

Hello Lepidophiles,
I am trying to put together a list of exotic moths that occur in eastern
North America. Does such a list already exist?
Here are the 10 species I could think of quickly, but I am sure many more

Minolta makes a 3.2 megapixel camera that has a 10x optical zoom and a
good (allegedly) macro lens for under $500. The camera can still be used
for normal photography. Can anyone who takes close up digital images of
leps (as full frame images) recommend any others, and what other ...

From 1999:
Message 4 in thread
From: Pollinator (pollinator@aol.com)
Subject: Re: Bee Sting Severity

Asked by a theologian what could be inferred about the mind of the
Creator from a study of His works, the British scientist J.B.S.
Haldane dryly replied, "an inordinate fondness for beetles."
http://www.palaeos.com/Invertebrates/Arthropods/Insecta/Coleoptera.htm

Richard, I use some flaked mothballs (naphthalene) and place them on or under
moistened tissues.  That has worked well for me for over 30 years and it is
cheap to get.
Ian Watkinson, Yuma, Arizona

The following may be of some help - go to
http://www.monarchwatch.org/update/082103.htm and scroll down to
imaginal discs.

All,
I was curious what others use in their relaxing chambers to keep
fungus at bay.  I have used PDB but the carcinogenic and other long
term effects are not good.  I have heard phenol is used but am not

I recently spotted this insect in the rain forest in southern Thailand.
Please help me ID it:
http://inet.uni2.dk/~nktcnktc/temp/insekt.jpg
TIA

We found either a black or brown widow spider in a cabinet on our
screened in porch.  We would like to take it to the wildlife refuge on
Thurs. but in the meantime would like to make sure it lives.  It is in
a small bug catcher with a magnifying glass lid.  We put a large leaf