Arthro-Pod

Michael and Jody speak with Dr. Joanie King to talk about her love of ants, particularly the harvester ants. Discover fascinating insights into harvester ants, their behavior, ecological roles, and ongoing research from an experienced extension entomologist. This episode highlights the complexity of seed foraging, species diversity, and how ants contribute to ecosystems and land management.In...

Join us in this episode as we explore the inspiring journey of Dr. Louise Lynch-O'Brien, a dedicated entomologist, educator, and lifelong learner. From her early days in New York to her impactful work at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Louise shares her unique perspective on teaching, community engagement, and the importance of building relationships with insects and people alike. This...

Join Jonathan and Michael as they return to the pocket universe of Pokémon to revisit the various arthropods you could catch there. This one has some cultural explorations of video games and gamer identities as well as conversation about why Pokémon might appeal specifically to the entomologists of the world. Show...

Happy New Year, Arthro-Pod Listeners!In this episode, each of the hosts choose an intriguing and slightly bizarre insect-related news story to dissect. Among the stories include 1) the controversial topic of cyborg cockroaches being developed for military applications, 2) a disturbing lawsuit involving bed bugs on a plane, and 3) the implications of granting legal rights to stingless bees in...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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/...

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...