Ento-musings from the University of Kentucky Department of Entomology


Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Armadillo Ants and Odd Moths

Now that I have reached something of a respite from the terrors of my summer class, I can take the time to post links to the two most recent offerings on my personal blog (Life, et al.). The first summarizes our knowledge of a tiny subfamily of rare ants (the Agroecomyrmecinae) which have received the epithet of "armadillo", owing to a most distinctive habitus: as with most rare ants, this knowledge is frustratingly scant.

The second was inspired by my collecting a nondescript grayish moth on the Ohio State University's main campus; it was trapped within the set of double doors leading into my favored cafeteria, which create an aerial suction that ensnares insectile flyers-by. I subsequently identified this moth as Fulgoraecia exigua, the caterpillars of which are noted for their peculiar custom of feeding on planthopper innards. As a result, I set out to post some information not just on F. exigua but concerning their strange family (the Epipyropidae) as a whole.