Field Journal: Socially Distant Spidering

We’re starting to get the odd day of genuine nice spring weather—and people are flocking to the outdoors. Many parks are closed and the Martin Goodman Trail is packed. So those in search of a nice out-of-the-way spot need to get a little creative. Continue reading Field Journal: Socially Distant Spidering

Arachnews: May 12, 2020

Arachnews is back after a short depression-hiatus! In this week’s roundup of arachnid-related art, news, and science:

  • new drugs derived from spider and scorpion venom
  • some intriguing spider observations on social media
  • an update on that viral tarantula tea party photo
  • how “natural” pesticides affect arachnids
  • new species
    …and more!

Read it on Medium.

Arachnews: April 6, 2020

In this week’s roundup of everything arachnid:

  • cool photos of as-yet-undescribed species
  • which conferences are postponed, which are still going ahead
  • the Great British Cellar Spider Survey
  • mite-eating thrips, nematode-eating mites, scorpion-eating scorpions
    …and more!

Read it on Medium.

Field journal: March 29, 2020

The pandemic has changed remarkably little about my daily life, aside from not going to coffeeshops. I am just staying inside more. This past Sunday it was finally decent-ish weather and, along with far too many other people, I headed down to the lake.

Continue reading Field journal: March 29, 2020

Arachnews: March 23, 2020

In this week’s round-up of everything new with spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks:

  • scientific conferences postponed due to COVID-19
  • 3D jumping spider models
  • 20 years’ worth of new scorpion species
  • spiders with noses and harvestpeople with horns
  • …and more!

Read it on Medium.

Arachnews: March 16, 2020

In this week’s roundup of arachnid art, news, and science:

  • amazing nature photos (including two possibly undescribed species!)
  • the latest developments
  • breaking down that mouse vs. scorpion fight from Netflix’s Earth at Night
  • a new genus of (adorable) African jumping spiders
  • the “are horseshoe crabs arachnids?” debate returns

Read it on Medium.