DISQUS

Hi Boris! Thanks for the note. Isn't bugguide a great resource for entomology lovers?

My next upload will be the beetles I photographed in Nicaragua. Maybe you can help? I'll send you an e-mail when they're posted.

I wish I had better pics of that velvet ant. I couldn't get a good shot of the polka-dotted wasp before it scurried into the brush.

Hi JT - Brown widows spiders were introduced to Southern California sometime around 2003, most likely through commercial imports of plants, flowers, food or furniture. I too have been noticing a great number of the spiders and so have others I've talked to who live in the Los Angeles area. Luckily, they're not as aggressive as a Black Widow and usually curl up in a ball when threatened. From the info I've read online, it's hard to tell how venomous they are compared to the Black Widow, but some African studies show that their bite is as dangerous as a bee sting. Nonetheless, you should consult your physician if you are bitten. Thanks for commenting!

Thanks, Alex!

Hey Jonathan. Thanks! No, that last shot wasn't a composite. Taking that photo was one of the few times I appreciated SoCal light pollution.

Nooooooo! Actually, as long as it wasn't more than 40-50 years old, cutting up a National Geographic would be just as detrimental as cutting up a newspaper from the same time. In 1958, NatGeo was pumping out 2 million copies a month and the numbers kept climbing every year. Now, over 9 million are sold on stands in over 30 countries and 50 million subscribers find the yellow-bordered mag in their mailbox every month.

If you decided to test your book-binding skills on a map of Massachusetts from the first issue in October, 1888, then yes, I would be very disturbed. ;-)

You going to post your newly-founded bookbinding skillz on flickr?

Hi Kelly. I agree on both accounts. I used to put my travel "loot" into a box, label it, and store it away, being the pack rat that I am. But a trip to IKEA changed all of that: now I keep my treasures in a glass case. You can see the photos here.

Hi Tammey. It sounds like you need to see a doctor, especially if you are still experiencing reaction to the sting after two weeks. You might be experiencing a mild allergic reaction to the sting, or it might be a symptom of the type of wasp that stung you - either way, have it checked out!

Yeah, I'm sorry Laurie but the slideshow isn't working quite yet. I'm still figuring it out. In the meantime, you can view the Fog set at my gallery here.