I have been hunting for some books on Amazon and remembered about Pemberley Books, a fantastic natural history bookshop based in Buckinghamshire that has an extensive range of well-priced entomology books.
They have an online shop which I would recommend as I’ve had efficient service from them before and the staff are very helpful.
Learn more about a different insect order for the new year!
I was checking the BWARS website for 2009 events and found a link to Hymettus, a website for the conservation of British and Irish Hymenoptera.
They have conservation information sheets for bumble bees, a grassland cuckoo bee (Nomada armata) and a saltmarsh bee (Colletes halophilus). These information sheets contain some general biology, the conservation status and global and local distribution. They also have reports which cover a range of species.
If you’re interested in insect conservation or Hymenoptera then you should have a look at the website.
Location: National Museum of Wales, Cardiff
This workshop will test run Graham Collins’ draft RES Pompilidae key and Rhian Rowson’s Coelioxys bee key
Location: BENHS, Dinton Pastures, Hurst, Berkshire
This workshop will test run Graham Collins’ draft RES Pompilidae key
Location: Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PW, UK.
Event description
This will involve preparation, preservation and curation of insect specimens, under the supervision of the University Museum staff. You can bring your own specimens or use the Museum’s. This is a special opportunity to find out how to properly look after your insect collection.
For more details check the Events Page of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society.
Last Friday (5th December) the London Lite newspaper wrote an article on a new range of snacks being sold at Selfridges, including some quotes from people tasting them:
“If someone gave that to me for Christmas I’d run out of the room.”
“It’s not as bad as it looks, once you get past the thought of it and the funny texture.”
What were they talking about?
A range of invertebrate snacks! You get to choose from*:
Barbeque-flavoured Worm Crisps, £2.75 (Tenebrio molitor!)
Chocolate Covered Giant Ants, £4.95 (Atta laevigata)
Mopani Worms, £11.95 (Imbrasia belina)
Oven-baked Tarantula, £15.99 (Haplopelma sp.)
Scorpion Vodka, £12.95 (Buthus martensii)
Thai Green Curry Crickets, £2.55 (Acheta domestica)
I think I’ll be making a trip with my girlfriend to Selfridges over Christmas to try some. Would you try any?
I think entomophagy is quite an interesting concept/topic because I remember reading (sorry, no citation at the moment) that the energy/protein conversion of insects is fairly good compared to most farmed animals. Are they tasty enough to eat as a regular dietary component? I shall report back…
*I found another site that listed more details about what I think are the same products as I couldn’t find them on the Selfridges website.
I’ve recently encountered the blog of Vince Smith, a cybertaxonomist who also works on parasitic lice (Phthiraptera) at The Natural History Museum (NHM), London . I came across his blog by accident whilst searching for articles on invasive invertebrates and ants. He has a number of posts about the NHM and a fusion of technology and biology.
Location: Dorothea Bate Room, Natural History Museum, London (map)
Description: Details will be in December newsletter.
See Phasmid Study Group for more details.
Today I added an events calendar and entered some of the Royal Entomological Society dates. I will add more dates over the weekend.
If I have missed any that you think should be on, or you notice an incorrect date, please let me know!
Location: Blacklett Lecture Theatre, Prince Consort Road, Imperial College, London. UK
Description: Applications of atmospheric science are relevant to a range of themes within science and society; application to entomology is the main focus of this meeting. The talks are designed to appeal to the broader scientific community by showcasing the areas of science that touch both disciplines. The audience will hear about exciting topics within weather and climate change, how they are applied to entomological science, and how insects can be used to advance atmospheric science.
For more information go to the RES meetings page or check the schedule.
