Friday, May 20, 2011

Tarantulas Shoot silk From Their Feet

An amazing article detailing what researchers have recently discovered - that tarantulas have the ability to shoot silk from their feet when there is the threat of a fall. This is important to the survival of a tarantula, which despite their robust appearance are actually very fragile. A drop from even a short distance can mean serious injury or death.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110516075927.htm

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Tarantulas: Alive and Up Close — NewsWorks

Tarantulas: Alive and Up Close — NewsWorks

Here is some fantastic footage of Mariah Romaninsky, Education Manager at Delaware Museum of Natural History, talking about tarantulas. There's great footage of the T's as well!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Publication Day!


 Today is the day that an exciting new publication hits the stands. Wicked Bugs: The Louse That Conquered Napoleon's Army and Other Diabolical Insects is a fascinating look at the dark side of bugs, and Outhouse Exhibit Services is lucky enough to be developing a suite of traveling exhibits in its name. More on that in a minute....but first, an excerpt from the publisher's website:

"Amy Stewart, author of the New York Times bestsellers Wicked Plants and Flower Confidential, is back with her newest book, Wicked Bugs: The Louse That Conquered Napoleon’s Army and Other Diabolical Insects.  ....... And, as is typical with Stewart’s books, there’s been a wealth of national media attention, including a New York Times interview; a Fresh Air interview; and an NPR Weekend Edition interview.

Wicked Bugs is a darkly comical look at the sinister side of our relationship with the natural world. Stewart details over one hundred of our worst entomological foes–insects that infest, infect, and generally wreak havoc on human affairs.  With wit, style, and exacting research, she has uncovered the most terrifying and titillating stories of bugs gone wild. It’s an A to Z of insect enemies, interspersed with sections that explore bugs with kinky sex lives (“She’s Just Not That Into You”), creatures lurking in the cupboard (“Fear No Weevil”), insects eating your tomatoes (“Gardener’s Dirty Dozen”), and phobias that feed our (sometimes) irrational responses to bugs (“Have No Fear”). Intricate and strangely beautiful etchings and drawings by Briony Morrow-Cribbs capture diabolical bugs of all shapes and sizes in this mixture of history, science, murder, and intrigue that begins—but doesn’t end—in your own backyard."
Read this release in its entirety here:
Publication Day: <i>Wicked Bugs</i>
For us, we are looking forward to the launch of a small gallery show of the artwork from the book this fall, and have plans for a small-scale and large-scale traveling exhibit(s) that focus on the stories in the book, with a twist. Going beyond Wicked Bugs is our goal, so that the museum goer can gain an appreciation not only for the nefarious habits of these creatures, but also look beyond that to their amazing ability  to evolve and thrive under extremely bizarre circumstances.