Posted on 03/03/2023 12:33:51 PM PST by Red Badger
This giant lacewing may hint at hidden populations of the insect in Arkansas. Michael Skvarla/Penn State Back in 2012, entomologist Michael Skvarla stopped at a Walmart in Fayetteville, Arkansas, to pick up some milk. On the way in, he spotted a large, unusual insect on the side of the building. So he snagged it, took it shopping, brought it home and mounted it, thinking it was an antlion, a type of flying insect. Years later, he discovered it was something much rarer: an insect with an ancient history.
Penn State shared the story of Skvarla's find on Monday. Skvarla is director of the university's Insect Identification Lab. "The Polystoechotes punctata or giant lacewing is the first of its kind recorded in eastern North America in over 50 years -- and the first record of the species ever in the state," Penn State said in a statement.
Skvarla corrected the initial misidentification while teaching a Zoom class in 2020 where he shared his personal insect collection with the students. Together, they worked out the new ID, which DNA analysis later confirmed. The results appear in a study published late last year in the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington.
Researchers have found giant lacewing fossils dating back to around 165 million years ago during the Jurassic era. The one found in Arkansas has a wingspan of about 2 inches (50 millimeters).
Scientists are unsure why giant lacewings disappeared from eastern North America. Predators, urbanization or changes in the insects' forest environments may have played a role. "This discovery suggests there may be relictual populations of this large, charismatic insect yet to be discovered," the study said. Essentially, there could be hidden groups of giant lacewings flying under the radar in Arkansas. The one on the side of the Walmart may have been attracted to the store's lights at night.
This is a story of rediscovery, but also one about the joys of science. Penn State entomology doctoral student Codey Mathis remembers the class and the process of identification, saying, "It was so gratifying to know that the excitement doesn't dim, the wonder isn't lost. Here we were making a true discovery in the middle of an online lab course."
First published on Feb. 28, 2023 9:36 a.m. PT
LOL!
Haven’t seen one of those, but I’ve seen plenty of fattubofgoos walking around in stretchy pants.
Hey, thanks alot.
I’ve seen Luna moths (possibly the most beautiful critter in the class ‘insecta’) as big or bigger than this ‘giant’.
And bigfoot can’t possibly exist. /s
One summer in Kentucky, in the middle of farms and woodlands, I saw a bunch of different giant moths: Lunas, Cecropias, Ios, Polyphemous, and a few others. Tons of different butterflies, too. And green preying mantises easily seven or so inches long.
When I was growing up, we lived in a huge garden-apartment complex where the buildings surrounded enormous grassy courtyards. (It had originally been a big farm, and lots of fruit, nut and flowering things had been left.)
One summer, for some reason, nobody ever mowed. Everything got 2 to 3 feet high, and I’ve never seen so many butterflies in my life. I always remember it as weird and magical, and wished later that they’d just always leave it like that...
Life finds a way.
bkmk
lacewings are considered beneficial insects
they eat bad bugs
2” wing span on a lacewing is not earth-shattering ginormous
It probably heard WalMart was giving out free samples again ...
That’s beautiful, and very odd! I’ve never seen one.
There seem to be a lot of varieties; and they seem to be a big problem for some crops:
https://www.thoughtco.com/sphinx-moths-family-sphingidae-1968209
Giant? Yeah, wake me up when I gotta hide from it...
Skvarla is director of the university’s Insect Identification Lab.
Skvarla finds an “Antlion”.
8 years later, Skvarla shows it to students.
Student realize Skvarla is an idiot.
In the future no one will say it “tastes like chicken” because no one will have tasted a chicken.
LOL! Thanks martin_fierro.
The other GGG topics added since the previous digest ping, chrono sort:
That’s pretty original…permission to use that?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
