Category: Insects and Arachnids

#121: Metamorphosis: The Actor Who Became a Butterfly Scientist – Liam O’Brien

September 30, 2025

Liam O’Brien’s metamorphosis from stage actor to butterfly artist and scientist is nothing short of extraordinary. He trades the spotlight for the delicate study of lepidoptery, discovering profound beauty and creativity in nature. His book, “Butterflies of the Bay Area,” captures this journey, urging all to recognize the wonder around them. … More #121: Metamorphosis: The Actor Who Became a Butterfly Scientist – Liam O’Brien

#106: Why Ants Might Be the Most Interesting Creatures on Earth with Chloe Jelley

November 25, 2024

Ants are the amazingly interesting, but overlooked heroes of our ecosystems, outnumbering us in staggering numbers and exhibiting complex social structures. Their surprising behaviors, from farming fungi to constructing vast colonies, challenge the notion that viruses and microbes dominate our world. Dive into the captivating world of ants with researcher Chloe Jelley. … More #106: Why Ants Might Be the Most Interesting Creatures on Earth with Chloe Jelley

#105: From Fear to Fascination: Kevin Wiener on His Journey at All Bugs Go to Kevin

November 4, 2024

Step into the world of insects and arachnids with Kevin Wiener (creator of All Bugs Go To Kevin), who transforms fear into fascination through his passionate advocacy for spiders and insects. Discover the oft-overlooked roles these creatures play in our ecosystem, and learn how community can help us overcome our apprehensions. It’s time to embrace the beauty of bugs! … More #105: From Fear to Fascination: Kevin Wiener on His Journey at All Bugs Go to Kevin

#95: The Rare 2024 Cicada Double Emergence with Dr. Chris Simon

April 22, 2024

Periodical cicadas emerge on 13 or 17 year intervals, but offset depending on the location. But 2024 features a DUAL emergence, with billions of cicadas coming out at the same time.

How do they know to emerge at the same time? Where will the emerge, and how can you see them? Dr. Chris Simon, the world’s top cicada expert shares all of this and more. … More #95: The Rare 2024 Cicada Double Emergence with Dr. Chris Simon

#68: Spring Galls: Nature’s Master Geneticists – a Conversation with Adam Kranz

April 10, 2023

Summary If you’re a long-time listener, you’re already familiar with the remarkable world of galls and the “Gall Week” community science events that have taken place in the past. But today, we’re taking a fresh look at galls with a specific focus on the importance of spring galls, which our guest Adam Kranz of gallformers.org, … More #68: Spring Galls: Nature’s Master Geneticists – a Conversation with Adam Kranz

#66: Krystle Hickman’s Quest to Raise Awareness about Native Bees

March 13, 2023

Summary Today’s guest is Krystle Hickman. Krystle is a TEDx speaker, artist, photographer, and community scientist. However, it is her passion for native bees that has led her to appear on Nature’s Archive today. Krystle has combined her tenacity and photographic talent to make a number of discoveries about native bees. She’s determined to raise … More #66: Krystle Hickman’s Quest to Raise Awareness about Native Bees

#50: Dr. Brian Brown – Phenomenal Phorid Flies, Hyperdiversity, DNA Barcoding, and more

July 18, 2022

Summary Today’s guest is Dr. Brian Brown, Curator of Entomology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. A native of Toronto, Canada, Dr. Brown did his undergraduate and masters work at the University of Guelph. During the latter, under the tutelage of well known entomologist Steve Marshall, Dr. Brown took up the study … More #50: Dr. Brian Brown – Phenomenal Phorid Flies, Hyperdiversity, DNA Barcoding, and more

#47: Field Guide to Field Guides with Cricket Raspet, Allen Fish, and Michael Hawk

May 30, 2022

Summary Warning – listen to this episode at your own risk! If you aren’t careful, you may find yourself out a few hundred dollars. Why? Today we’re talking field guides, you know, the books and apps that help you identify, find and learn about all kinds of amazing creatures. There are so many amazing field … More #47: Field Guide to Field Guides with Cricket Raspet, Allen Fish, and Michael Hawk

#44: Eric Eaton – Insectpedia, Insect Ecology, Wasps, and the Future of Entomology

April 18, 2022

My guest today is entomologist extraordinaire Eric Eaton. Learn about Eric’s non-traditional path to entomology and writing. And do you know what a fly belt is? As a hint. I’ll tell you it’s not a leather strip used to keep it flies pants on. Joking aside, you’ll hear exactly what the fly belt is and how the tsetse fly is filling a preservationist role. You’ll hear an amazing story about how a certain wasp targets, yellow jacket wasps, but only indirectly through a third party caterpillar – prepare to have your mind blown. … More #44: Eric Eaton – Insectpedia, Insect Ecology, Wasps, and the Future of Entomology