Tibial spurs are an ancient feature, found on most insects, from bees to moths, although in some species they have been lost or modified over evolutionary time to suit the adaptive needs of different groups. So the size and shape of this implement – rather like the blades on a Swiss army knife – is…
The subject of reduced or modified forelegs in butterflies might strike some people as being rather obscure, but it is – as I hope to demonstrate – a fascinating tale of evolution and adaptation. In addition, there is an awful lot of basic biology and behaviour which is not fully understood in many of our…
Phoresy, which is also called phoresis, is an association between two organisms, where one travels on the body of another, without being a parasite or causing it any harm. In this case, the hitchhiker is a mite, which attaches itself to a beetle, solely for the purpose of travel (above). The mite gains a free…
Ray Cannon's nature notes 