edanko 的日誌

We're happy to announce another online meeting next week! Here are the details:

The Zoom meeting will open at 3 PM EST on Sunday the 14th - if 7 PM will be better for some people we could talk about opening that up as well.

The plan is to focus on observations of the Common Greenbottle Fly. We'll start by taking a quick look at guide materials. After that, we'll spend most of the time individually going thru observations while discussing questions and interesting observations.

Join the Zoom Meeting here:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/71570784120?pwd=Z1MvbVQxa1pydzl0UzUyY0FkMm5UUT09

Meeting ID: 715 7078 4120
Passcode: diptera

You can leave a comment either to let us know if you're planning to come or to subscribe to be notified of future events! Questions are also welcome.

Guides to use at our meeting:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dsGdgo2DVcZ99AtunaOXw-hJ_ZRyANav_HJXTlk4T6k/preview#slide=id.g92a9a27271_0_288
Note that the Common Greenbottle Fly occurs throughout North America, and can be separated from other similar species throughout its range using the characters described at this link to the Southeastern guide. However, it is not necessary to separate from the Australian Sheep Blow Fly where this latter species does not occur in the Northern USA and Canada.

What we'll be identifying:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?order_by=random&verifiable=true&place_id=6712%2C1&taxon_id=128824

There are a lot of animals that like to roll in balls and are therefore adorable. If you spot any more groups or good examples to link, please leave a comment!

Mammals and reptiles
Pangolins
Armadillos_ come_ in_ all_ shapes_ and_ sizes!

When hedgehogs, tenrecs, and echidnas roll into a ball, their spines spread out and make them hard to bite.

Take note of the Armadillo Gilded Lizard!

Isopods
Isopods include the biggest groups of armadillo animals, although most isopods, although cute or just plain interesting, do not roll up.

Armadillidiidae_ are_ isopods_ that_ come in pretty_ varieties._ Their_ cousins_ in_ the_ family_ Armadillidae_ are_ arguably_ even_ cooler!
A few other less-widespread related families include Eubelidae, the awesome_Scleropactidae, Scyphacidae, and Cylisticidae.

Tylidae are a rare and handsome group of isopods, and I don't think they're closely related to the superficially similar Armadillidae and Armadillidiidae.

Other arthropods
Northern Pill Millipedes and Giant Pill Millipedes form yet another group of armadillo-like arthropods.

Trilobites.

Importantly, cockroaches in the genus Perisphaerus have the fascinating ability to roll up into a well-sealed ball!

Larvae of some beetles like Stethotrypes raffrayi are also worth mention, but I don't think they actually roll up.

Finally, some chitons apparently can also roll into a ball.