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I can answer most questions related to wasps, solitary bees, grasshoppers and katydids, beetles, cicadas, and spiders, and identification of "mystery bugs" in North America. No "what bit me?" or "what do I feed this bug in captivity?" questions please.
Principal author, Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. Professional entomologist employed previously at University of Massachusetts, Chase Studio, Inc., and Cincinnati Zoo; contract work for West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, Smithsonian Institution, and Portland (Oregon) State University.
Entomological Society of America, National Association of Science Writers
Author, Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, Missouri Conservationist magazine, Ranger Rick, Timeline (journal of the Ohio Historical Society). I have contributed to several books as well.
Oregon State University, undergraduate major in entomology, did not receive degree.
Principal author of the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America, Smithsonian Institution (contract), Cincinnati Zoo (employer), Portland State University (contract), Chase Studio, Inc (employer), Arkansas Museum of Discovery (guest speaker). Currently seeking employment in a highly creative work environment with a media corporation or non-profit.
Insects and related creatures are so diverse that it is impossible to become bored learning about them; and there is a great deal left to be discovered about them.
I am a writer/illustrator, and hope to publish more books and articles on natural history, especially insects and spiders.
You share over 20% of your DNA with common "fruit flies," genus Drosophila. You like bananas?:-)
Chemical insecticides do more harm than good in most cases. Returning agriculture to a smaller scale (largely doing away with agri-BUSINESS), would solve many pest problems without chemicals.
| User | Date | K | C | T | P | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kate | 11/06/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you for the information. |
| Karen | 11/05/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Thank you VERY much for your rapid ..... |
| Gordy | 11/02/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Prompt response |
| Justin | 11/02/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Exactly the answer I was looking for ..... |
| Carla | 11/02/09 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | The rating scale only goes to 10 ..... |
Cynthia: You don't say 'where' in the U.S. you live, but if it is in the northern half, then you are almost certainly describing the "western conifer seed bug," Leptoglossus occidentalis, which is now
Crissa: Thank you for including the image with your question. I can clearly tell what you have there.... The insects in the image are "thrips." Oddly, the name "thrips" is both singular and plural
Kate: Few insects are so distinctive that a written description leaves no doubt as to what a person is talking about, but this is one of them.... Your insect is an adult "wheel bug," Arilus cristatus
Hi, Karen: Take me with you when you next go down there, please:-) This is a planthopper in the family Fulgoridae, or at least something closely related. I happen to know the world authority on
Karen: Wow, that is really something! My hat is off to you for taking it the extra step. Nice work. I wonder if you would consider sending me that picture of yours as a jpeg attachment. I'd
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