#nmnhintern

[56nightsatthemuseum]

Week 6, pt 1

I don’t even have any pictures from Monday because I was so exhausted from my whirlwind weekend in NY. 

However, Tuesday was full of fieldwork (!!!) so I have plenty of pictures from that!

pictured here is a cute lil leaf-footed bug. The genus is Acanthocephala, but I’m not sure of the species. There are 5 species in the US and they’re pretty abundant in the forests. These are large plant-feeding bugs with leaflike flanges on the hind legs. The males typically have thickened, spiked “thighs” for combat females. They also have a sharp odor to emit when molested. 

 We also saw numerous lady-bird beetles (more commonly known as ladybugs) munching on some aphids

next is a long horned grasshopper nymph enjoying the sunrise along with us

Of course, I love doing field work and find myself happiest out in nature, but I had to return to work after the traps were collected! 

Gates and I headed back to the museum where I continued to sort specimen, some of which I’ve featured here:

ceraphronoidea; dendrocerus

Chalcidoidea, leucospidae. Their wings characteristically fold longitudinally and their ovipositor is located above the dorsum. 

That wasn’t the only cool find of the day, though. I thought I had found a stephanoid (very rare), but turns out none of us are really sure what I found! 

This guy is some kind of rare diapriid that Dr. Gates and Buffington were both stumped by. 

Dr. Buffington explained some of the research he is interested in doing on these species with “strange head lumps.” The “thorns” you see on the head here are actually a result of the muscles that these little guys must use to move their massive mandibles. The funny part is, they don’t use these mandibles on a regular basis. They tend to only be used when emerging from the host, but not much after. So, they’re just flying around with these massive mandibles for seemingly no reason. Pretty interesting that evolution has cost-evaluated these giant escape-tools as worth it. 

Cool part was, I found 5 of these rare lil dudes! 

Anyway, Tuesday evening was full of poetry reading and more self exploration. Here is a poem I found especially moving, and one that I feel really captures my current state of mind. 

I think that’s all I have to say on that note, for now. I’ve been journaling a lot, separately, about my personal life here. This trip has facilitated so much personal growth for me, and it’s a little scary to unleash that on the internet, but once I feel that I’ve got the words coherently typed out, I promise to share. 

Anyway, Wednesday was also a great day, not as full of rare specimen, but close! I found this awesome member of the family Brachonidae (which I thought was a at first Stephanidae):

Other than that, Wednesday was pretty normal. I got to hang out with some of my intern buddies and have some fun around the museum!

With my internship coming to a close, I’m realizing how much this time here has meant to me and how much I will cherish this experience for the rest of my life. It is so nice to be around people so passionate and encouraging. Not that I don’t experience those same sentiments in Arkansas, but it’s a little easier facilitated in the number one research institute in the world. 

Hasta luego!

[56nightsatthemuseum]

Oodera’s and Awe’s

Hello again from the comfort of my dorm-room bed. The start to week 5 has been incredible and full of experiences that I would love to share with all of you!

Monday was a slow day, as most Mondays are. I’m not sure why I was so tired, seeing as I had a relatively restful weekend. Monday blues, maybe?

I managed to capture some photos of some sassy and colorful chalcids in my sleepy daze, so I hope you all enjoy as much as I do. 

I also took some time out of my lunch break to explore the museum a little more and even had time to watch an IMAX movie. The smithsonian shows these throughout the day, but one of the perks of being an intern is one free showing a week!

That’s right... Free. 

I got back to work and snapped a few more photos, so here are the best ones from my day:

And, Dad! I finally got that 8-point you’ve always wanted!:

I ended the day at home with my roommates. I made turkey loaf, brussel sprouts, and fruit salad for dinner (which we ate on the roof). Over all, Monday was a great, chill, day. 

My Tuesday was even better than Monday! I started off the day with a nice run around the monuments:

Followed by a morning of identifying and a tour of the Smithsonian’s very own SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) lab. It was fascinating to hear from the leaders in the field and hear about all the Smithsonian is hoping to do with not only SEM technology, but 3D technology as well. These combined open up research and outreach opportunities for the museum in a way that I’m not very good at articulating. Ultimately, the smithsonian hopes to be able to use SEM technology and 3D technology to make models of specimen/collections more available to those hoping to do research, and even more available to the public.

After this truly fascinating tour, it was time to head back to sorting. 

Once again, I found some really incredible specimen. Here are a few interesting chalcids:

and two really cool platygastroids! They have some awesome sheaths for their ovipositors:

Then!

Drum roll please...

I found a Oodera!

These guys are incredibly rare! There are only 2 genera ever documented, and Gates thinks this one might be different! You may be asking yourself, “what makes them so special?” See the mantis-like front legs? Well, that’s it. Chalcids usually have big hind legs, not front legs. Usually these would be used for hunting/predation, but we’re not really sure what they’re used for as of now. Gates said he’s reared one in the past and tried to get it to hunt with these awesome weapons, but the little dude just cleaned his antennae with them. Gates is sending the specimen off first thing in the morning to a specialist!

I stayed at work until 6:30 hoping to find another Oodera or other rare chalcid, but I ended up enjoying a cooler walk home instead. Maija and I enjoyed the evening in DuPont Circle and came home early to avoid the rain, which is supposed to continue for the next few days. 

I can’t wait to see what the rest of this week holds! 

[56nightsatthemuseum]

Hello, World! (Days 4, 5, & 6)

I’m sorry I’ve been scarce these past few days! Life moves fast here in DC, and I’m not quite used to it yet. 

Anyway, Thursday and Friday were just as great as my previous days at work, and I was finally able to move to liquids! I’m now working with specimen preserved in ethanol and have actually begun identifying specimen collected in Madagascar (the project I’m technically an intern on).

These are the specimen in ethanol! I use this tray to look through the specimen and sort them into super families or family. Luckily, they’re already all identified as Hymenoptera (although I did have a fly sneak it’s way in there).

This Evanioidea caught my attention because of it’s characteristic metasoma attached very high above the hind coxae on the propodeum.

Overall, Thursday was a very good day! I was able to sort a whole bag in the day and decided to walk home. The weather has been incredible here since the rain; it was an enjoyable walk, even in business attire, and I got to walk past The White House on my way. Casual, ya know?

Friday was also a great day! I got to talk over my sorting with Dr. Gates and ask him my numerous questions. I was able to finish my first bag of specimen by the end of the day! It was an incredible feeling and wonderful way to end the my first week. I finally feel like I am getting the hang of identification, which is especially relieving. (above: an especially appealing Chaicidoidea)

Dr. Gates and I were also able to take roughly an hour around lunch time to enjoy the farmers market in The National Mall! It was so beautiful and fun. For those of you that do not know me personally, cooking is a huge hobby of mine. Being allergic to most common foods has led me to some pretty creative eating habits. I tend to eat predominately fruits and veggies, so a farmers market was like my own little slice of heaven. I bought two bags of mushrooms (one of my favorites) and some fresh strawberries. It was so nice to have the opportunity to not only explore a little more of the city, but with my supervisor! I’m so thankful to have a mentor willing to spend so much time with me and educate me in every facet of life here in DC. Anyway, the fresh produce was absolutely beautiful, and tastes even better. Below are a few snapshots from the market:

Overall, a fabulous Friday! I also had the opportunity to participate in a tour of the MSC Fishes storage unit - so I essentially got to see the Museum’s storage unit (it’s HUGE) and got to explore hallways upon hallways of aquatic specimen, including this Tiger Fish collected by Teddy Roosevelt! 

We also got to see the Coelacanth, a living fossil that is believed to have been in existence for 400 million years and only recently rediscovered (1932). 

I must admit, it was fascinating to see all of the perfectly preserved oceanic critters, but they didn’t smell the best.

My Friday night was spent with my lovely roommate and a new friend, Jessica. I was able to experience a tid-bit of night-life in the big city, but seeing as I’m under 21, the real fun was left for the big kids. 

Today, Saturday, has been a blissfully relaxing day. Gabriela and I were able to sleep in and recuperate from our first week of being “real adults” - which I must say is exhausting. Working and being on your toes for 8 hours a day is tough, and this experience is making me excited for the next 3 years of college ahead of me - I don’t have to grow up just yet! I enjoy working and love the people I get to spend time with, but I always come home ready for a nap and maybe even a cup of coffee. But that may be my own fault, sleep should be more of a priority in my life in general. 

I cooked a lovely meal for the two of us (eggs with sautéed mushrooms, spinach, onions, and garlic - topped with avocado) and spent the next few hours cleaning the apartment and sharing stories, jokes, sorrows, joys, laughs, and tears with each other. I’ve never been one to share intimate information quickly, but Gabriela and I have come to the conclusion that we must have been separated at birth. Having someone to share your battles with and listen authentically to your daily struggles is so comforting. 

Our goal for the summer has become to live authentically, and truly embrace who we are in this incredibly diverse and opportunity-filled city.

We didn’t leave the apartment until roughly 5 p.m., which was so nice. We explored Downtown DC a little bit and ended un in China Town, where a street artist jumped over Gabriela and 3 other people! 

We’re now back home, enjoying the down-time. Like I said previously, life here moves so quickly. It seems like everyone is in a rush, regardless of the time of day. At times I appreciate this mentality, but sometimes I miss the “slow-ness” of The South, to quote the two people I’ve met that have actually been to Arkansas. 

These past three days have flown by, as I’m sure the next 7 weeks will. It’s unreal to think I have already been here nearly a week. I’ve met so many unique people here, all of whom have not only accepted my love for insects, but have been amazed by it. I grew up denying my fascination, thinking, “what’s weirder than a girl that loves bugs?” And while I require no validation in my passion, it’s so nice to see others excited by my enthusiasm. The only way I can adequately describe my love for bugs is to share the analogy I (apparently?) told Gabriela before falling asleep last night. 

While half asleep, I told Gabriela that love is like identifying a wasp. It’d be easy to just look at the wings and give it a go, but you can't stop there. You have to look at the shape of the head and layout of the mesosoma and pay special attention to the little details. You may think it’s one thing, and you may be 100% sure, but after a closer look, it turns out to be something else. And you can get frustrated and you can give up and you can stop doing what you love because you got one thing wrong, or you can learn from your mistakes. You can be more observant the next time around and just appreciate the wasp for what it is - beautifully unique.

I have to thank Gabriela for sharing this story with me, because I can honestly say I don’t remember saying any of it. I tend to say silly, but very honest, things right before falling asleep if prompted, so I was a little surprised by this seemingly coherent and literal pillow talk. Unconsciously making analogies between tough situations and my passions - I’m not sure I can be more validated than that.