#wolf-pearl

[markscherz]

Ok. I know you're a herpetologist, but I've recently fallen down a rabbit hole while just trying to find out what the native gastropods of the great lakes are. Who do I ask about this? Why is this such an understudied area that the only research paper I could find on it had an entire section basically lamenting the lack of ither studies of what the native gastropods of the great lakes are?

I would recommend reaching out to relevant curators at nearby museums. For instance, reaching out to the gastropod team at UMich or the Field Museum would be the first place I would start. There is a decent chance that there is a whole book on the subject that cursory searching just doesn't turn up because it's only well known to experts.

Best of luck!

[onenicebugperday]

I have no idea what goes on in this room found in one of the older lecture hall buildings on my campus, but I want to know.

Looks like it's meant to be a cockroach? Perhaps that's the cockroach party room

[aimeelouart]

Help im thinking about Titus successfully saving his son again.

Good, keep thinking about it >:3c

[barid-bel-medar]

Plot twist, that WAS Claudia's revenge from beyond the lifestream.

LMAO

[dantelionwishes]

Hey so I'm looking into getting a digital art tablet and was wondering if you have any advice?? It's ok if you don't I just don't really know where to even start.

ah !!!! THATS COOL BEANS im not sure if I can give the best advice but:

if by tablet you mean a drawing tablet and not something like an iPad, I always suggest starting with a basic one!! im not the type to look for the cheapest option, and go with a product I know is good and will last me a long time. i’ve been using Wacom products since I was little, I say get an intuos if u want something with good quality + long lasting!! there are a lotta different sizes, so you can choose which one u like (depending on price or how comfortable you are with lugging it around)

[onenicebugperday]

Fam wake up new freshwater isopod just dropped and they're GORGEOUS

https://twitter.com/plazi_species/status/1730106172240208018?t=l_mW3BTXK3rZr693uCkbYw&s=19

Wow! Look at the little bits of iridescence in there. Pretty :)

[onenicebugperday]

So, I've been thinking about this one for a long while now. What purpose do ticks serve in ecosystems? Because they have always been the one thing I genuinely don't understand. They're incredibly tough to crack open when they're not engorged, to the point that as far as I am aware most things that would be willing to predate on something of a tick's size just wont go after ticks. The only organism I know of that goes after ticks before they are engorged is opossums, and they're not dependent on ticks for their food source. So then.... what is it that ticks do for the ecosystem?

Mosquitos are so much more than just the ones that drink blood and feed so many different species, leches also are prey animals. They have ecological roles. But I just don't understand ticks. And I really want to understand them.

I think you're looking at it wrong. No organism is there to serve a role in the ecosystem. It's there to serve itself by surviving and reproducing. But in general, parasites provide population control for their host animals.

If you want to learn more about them, check out this informational animated series about them:

There are three parts, this is just part 1.

[onenicebugperday]

Ok last question, what's your favorite peacock jumping spider? (Genus: Maratus )

I couldn't choose just one! A few of my favs:

Robinson's peacock, Maratus robinsoni, because COLORS:

Photo by benjc

Masked peacock spider, Maratus personatus, because FACE:

Photo by elusiveorchids

And this one, Maratus sceletus, because its common name is SKELETORUS:

Photos by waynew-m