Alex Wild on insects, science, and photography
Yesterday’s mystery ants were Mycocepurus and Proatta. The inclusion of this pair in the Monday Mystery series echoes a long-standing debate in the myrmecological literature about the relationship between the exclusively American fungus-growing attines (including Mycocepurus) and the tropical Asian Proatta.
Covered by the Globe & Mail: The morphological taxonomist, engrossed in a single group and identifying its members by visual inspection, is increasingly an emeritus professor or someone near retirement. Younger scientists are drawn to molecular taxonomy, where powerful new techniques in the study of DNA have revealed interspecies connections never before suspected. Such advances, [...]
If you haven’t seen the amazing SEMs of insect eggs in this month’s Nat Geo, or read the accompanying text by ant guy Rob Dunn, you’re missing out… Bear in mind that some of the beauty- the color bits- are added later. Scanning Electron Microscopy cannot record color, so the striking hues are interpretations of [...]
A personal weblog by Illinois-based biologist and photographer Alex Wild.
Myrmecos- derived from the ancient greek word for "ant"- hosts Alex's musings about these and other little creatures that share our planet.
Questions? Comments? Email alwild [at] myrmecos.net
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