Arthro-Pod

Arthro-Pod EP 194: Ice crawlers

Happy 2025, Arthro-Pod listeners. We hope this year has treated you as well as it could have and that 2026 is better. During this cold wintery season, Michael and Jonathan say down to talk about ice crawlers, otherwise known as grylloblattids, those enigmatic insects that are associated with glaciers and high mountain environments. Or are they? Listen to the episode to find out why these insects are so cool, and how they deal with the cold.
 
 
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Arthro-Pod EP 193: Insects as Producers

Hey there bug lovers! On today's episode, Jody, Michael, and Jonathan sit down and talk about the many wonder products that we can harvest from insects. This isn't just about eating insects, seasoned or not, but about the insects that make something for their own use that we have been able to figure out ways of harvesting and using as well. We talk honey, carmine, and more!
 
In addition, today we honor Bradon Coy of Lil' Dudes Insect Academy. Bradon has sadly left us, but his impact and dreams remain. If you have the means, you can honor his legacy by visiting https://www.lildudesinsectacademy.com/memorial and making a donation. 

Arthro-Pod EP 192: Insects and Mythology

Hello bug lovers! Apologies for the delay but we hope you will enjoy this dive into insects and mythology. Jonathan takes us through the meaning of myth and religion before the while crew shares a story from a mythology that involves insects and they all dissect it. You can find a lot of different publications on this topic and it is a fruitful discussion to consider all the wats that insects and their relatives have affected religion. 
 
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Arthro-Pod Episode 191: Chagas disease

Welcome back Arthro-Pod listeners! Chagas disease has been in the news this year after a recent paper stated that it should be considered endemic to the United States. But what does that mean, and what evidence is there for the claim? This week Michael leads the crew in a discussion about Chagas disease and the kissing bugs that vector the pathogen that causes it. We talk about where the disease is primarily found, potential evolutionary history of the pathogen and kissing bugs, non-bug transmission routes, and whether we should be concerned that it is endemic to North America north of Mexico.
 
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Arthro-Pod Episode 190: Mimic (1997) for the Halloween Spectacular

Two episodes in one week?! We wanted to make sure to drop this little treat off before the Halloween season officially passes. We hope you will tune in as Jody, Mike, and Jonathan discuss the 1997 cockroach horror film "Mimic". You'll never look at a Blattodean the same way again!
 
Show notes: 
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119675/ 
https://kickseat.com/written-reviews/2011/10/5/mimic-1997.html
https://insessionfilm.com/film-at-25-mimic-a-rare-misfire-in-guillermo-del-toros-remarkable-career/
 
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Arthro-Pod Episode 189: New World Screwworm

In this episode of Arthropod, hosts Jody and Michael delve into the unsettling topic of the New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, a pest that has made headlines due to its potential impact on livestock and human health. They explore the biology and life cycle of the screwworm, the implications of myiasis, and the historical context of eradication efforts. The discussion highlights the innovative sterile insect technique that has been pivotal in controlling this pest, as well as the recent outbreaks and the importance of ongoing monitoring and vigilance to prevent its return. The episode concludes with a call for awareness and resources for those in affected areas.
Resources:
Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm (COPEG)
USDA APHIS New World Screwworm
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association New World Screwworm Resources
CDC Clinical Overview of New World Screwworm
US FDA Information for Veterinarians
Texas A&M New World Screwworm Factsheets
 
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Arthro-Pod Episode 188: Insects and Comic Books

Hello bug lovers! In today's pulse pounding episode, Jonathan unleashes his inner nerd to talk at Jody and Michael about the world of comic books and how insects have been used in this visual story telling medium. From the origins of the funny pages to the symbolism behind insects/spiders in super hero books, this episode take a lot of twists and turns. Face front true believer and jump right in!
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21504857.2021.1998173 
 
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Older episodes can be accessed through Archive.org.

Arthro-Pod Episode 187: Structural Arthropods of California with Dr. Siavash Taravati

In this episode, Siavash Taravati, an IPM advisor in Southern California, shares his expertise on managing structural pests, including termites, ants, and cockroaches. He discusses the challenges of pest management, the value of integrated pest management (IPM), and the unique behaviors of pests such as the dark rover ant. Siavash also highlights his research on detecting termites with microwave technology and explores potential regulatory changes that could impact fumigation practices. The conversation underscores the complexity of pest control and why flexible, informed approaches are essential for effectively managing different pest species.
Resources and Links
Visit Dr. Taravati’s blog, Urban IPM So Cal, for details on the research projects and publications mentioned in this episode.
Learn more about detecting drywood termites using microwave technology in PCT or Journal of Economic Entomology (JEE).
Read about sampling red imported fire ants by volume in Entomology Today or JEE.
Arthro-Pod
Get the show through Apple Podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcatching app!
If you can spare a moment, we appreciate when you subscribe to the show on those apps or when you take time to leave a review!
 
Older episodes can be accessed through Archive.org.

Arthro-Pod Episode 186: Interview with Sam Bolton, curator of mites

Hey there fellow arthropod enthusiasts! In this episode, we talked with Sam Bolton, curator of mites at the Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Specifically, we asked "what exactly is a mite?" and picked apart the fact that "mites" aren't a real group. We also chatted about mite mouthparts and weird, wormy soil mites called nematalycids.
 
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Older episodes can be accessed through Archive.org.

Arthro-Pod Episode 185: Introduction to Plant-Insect Interactions

Howdy bug lovers! On today's episode, Jody and Jonathan talk about the green world and how insects have helped to form it. There's lot of discussion on plant and insect evolution and how an "evolutionary arms race" has heled to create the world as we know it. If you would like to read along with some of the papers referenced in the episode, here are some links that should provide free access. 
Ehrlich & Raven
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1558-5646.1964.tb01674.x 
Fraenkel 
https://2024.sci-hub.se/2234/108528be68834a7f1f6fd29ea6081f2a/fraenkel1959.pdf
 
 
Get the show through Apple Podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcatching app!
If you can spare a moment, we appreciate when you subscribe to the show on those apps or when you take time to leave a review!
 
Older episodes can be accessed through Archive.org.