Arthro-Pod EP 143 Bugs Have Legs and they Know How to Use Them

Howdy bug lovers! Over the next two episodes, the Arthro-Pod gang is going to be talking about insect locomotion, how they move through the world. In part one today, we're covering insect legs from hip to toe or rather coxa to tarsi. Tune in to learn about insect leg anatomy, the different types of legs and their function, and how legs were evolved in the insects. 

Show notes

https://cronodon.com/BioTech/Insect_locomotion.html

https://academic-accelerator.com/encyclopedia/arthropod-leg

https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~rider/Pentatomoidea/Teaching%20Structure/Lecture%20Notes/Week%2007a%20Legs.pdf

https://genent.cals.ncsu.edu/bug-bytes/thorax/legs/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthropod_adhesion

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.20.427514v2.full

Questions? Comments? 

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Arthro-Pod EP 142: Exploring Alpha-Gal Part Two

 

We continue our deep dive into alpha-gal red meat allergy today by taking a closer look at Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, the carbohydrate at the center of this issue, and the ticks that carry it. To help us unpack such a complicated situation, we have two special guests, Dr. Paulina Maldonado-Ruiz and Dr. Yoonseong Park, both currently at Kansas State University. Join us to learn more about the origins of alpha-gal red meat allergy, the research into how ticks carry it, and what the future may hold for this allergy. 

Alpha-gal 

Show Notes

To find more about the research covered in today's show please consult our guest's websites-

Dr. Maldonado-Ruiz

Dr. Park

Questions? Comments? 

Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_Podshow

Follow the hosts on Twitter @bugmanjon, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36

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Arthro-Pod EP 141: Exploring Alpha-Gal Part One

Hello bug lovers! Over the next two episodes, the Arthro-Pod gang is going to explore the science behind alpha-gal, also known as the red meat allergy. This is a hot topic in the US right now, with many news outlets talking about the possible extent to which this is spread out across the country. This tickborne issue, associated with lone star ticks in the US, results in an inability to consume red meat such as beef, pork, and venison. For those who live with alpha-gal, life is very different from before. They may not be able to enjoy a favorite meal or be very anxious about dining out for fear of contamination, to say nothing of the actual health issues involved. Tune in today to hear from Cindy Cochran, a Nebraskan living with alpha-gal, as well as Dr. Cosby Stone Jr., a doctor and researcher from Vanderbilt who is a national leader on alpha-gal. 

An adult, female lone star tick. The white dot on her back gives the species its common name. Photo by Jim Kalisch, UNL Entomology

Show Notes

Dr. Cosby Stone Jr. our expert guest

https://search.vanderbilthealth.com/doctors/stone-cosby

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=-ash5VkAAAAJ&hl=en 

CDC Map on cases of alpha-gal in the USA

https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/stranger-than-fiction-tick-bite-could-lead-to-food-allergy/ 

https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/alpha-gal/index.html

Questions? Comments? 

Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_Podshow

Follow the hosts on Twitter @bugmanjon, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36

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Arthro-Pod EP 140: Setting Ticks on Fire with Jesse Evans

 

Hello bug lovers and uh, tick haters, to today's show! Today, the gang is joined by Jesse Evans, a master's student at Penn State. Jesse studies the intersection of ticks, wildlife, and wildfires- specifically controlled burns. People who have been dealing with surging tick populations seem to frequently wonder if fire could be to ticks what it once was to Frankenstein's monster, a potential deterrent. Tune in to hear Jesse discuss wild mice populations, how fickle fire can be for research, and how large-scale landscape changes may affect something like Lyme disease. 

Show notes
Student spotlight

Jesse's publication on citizen science projects and vector surveillance

Questions? Comments? 

Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_Podshow

Follow the hosts on Twitter @bugmanjon, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36

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Arthro-Pod EP 139: Insecticides 101

Howdy bug lovers! Today's episode is all about insecticides and some of the basics of how they work and are classified. These are ubiquitous pest control tools and despite their ease of use, the science behind them can be surprisingly complicated. Tune in to learn all about active ingredients, trade names, chemical classes, and modes of action and techniques we can utilize to best apply and preserve the technology behind insecticides. 

So many choices!

Show Notes

The Insecticide Resistance Action Committee

https://irac-online.org/ 

            IRAC Modes of Action List 

                https://irac-online.org/mode-of-action/classification-online/

National Pesticide Information Center

http://npic.orst.edu/ingred/ptype/insecticide.html

Introduction to Insecticides (4th Edition)

https://ipmworld.umn.edu/ware-intro-insecticides 

Questions? Comments? 

Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_Podshow

Follow the hosts on Twitter @bugmanjon, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36

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Arthro-Pod EP 138: Debunking Entomology Urban Legends

Welcome back bug lovers! Today, we put on our mythbusting aprons and tackle some of the various misconceptions, myths, urban legends, and internet pranks that involve insects. We're covering everything from pest control via tree fruits to the legality of mantis murder. If you have a favorite insect urban legend, sound off on Twitter and let us know it. Maybe we can do a follow up episode!

Nature's bug bombs?

Show notes

Ultrasonic pest control

https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/ultrasonicpestcontroldevices2020.html

Cockroach eggs in envelopes

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cockroach-eggs/ 

Earwig myths

https://www.popsci.com/environment/what-are-earwigs/ 

Hedge apples

https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/hedge-apples-pest-control-myth 

It's illegal to kill mantises 

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/kill-praying-mantis-illegal/ 

Butt spider attack 

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/two-striped-telamonia-spider/ 

Questions? Comments? 

Follow the show on Twitter @Arthro_Podshow

Follow the hosts on Twitter @bugmanjon, @JodyBugsmeUNL, and @MSkvarla36

Get the show through Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcatching app!

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Arthro-Pod EP 137: Mosquitoes Unmasked with Jennifer Gordon

Hey there bug lovers! Today, Jody and Jonathan meet up with friend of the show, Dr. Jen Gordon of Bug Lessons consulting to talk about one of the most reviled insects known to humanity; the mosquito. There are lots of opinions and myths floating around out there about these bloodsucking parasites, but what is the truth. Tune in to learn about mosquito biology, methods of mosquito preventions, and for some myth dispersal!

Aedes aegypti courtesy of “CDC/ Amy E. Lockwood, MS