Bug Life & Death
Are They Really "Murder" Hornets?
Guest: Floyd Shockley, Collections Manager, Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
With mean-looking mandibles, a potent sting, and an impressively large wingspan, the Asian giant hornet certainly seems like a fearsome predator. Nicknamed “murder hornets,” these insects have recently popped up in North America, leaving many to worry about their influence on honeybee populations. But is this fear overblown? We spoke with Smithsonian entomologist Floyd Shockley to find out.
Bug Splats!
Guest: Mark Hostetler, Professor, Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, University of Florida
Ever wondered what kind of bug is the owner of that nasty splotch of guts on your windshield? Mark Hostetler did, and wrote a book about it, so you can fill your morbid curiosity to your heart’s content! (It's also an app!)
Honeybees Protect African Villages from Elephants
Guest: Lucy King, Head, Human-Elephant Co-Existence Program, Save the Elephants, and Research Affiliate, University of Oxford
Since the poaching industry has declined in recent years, elephant-human conflict is on the rise in both Africa and Asia. Foraging for food, elephants often battle against farmers trying to preserve their crop. Lucy King of Save the Elephants weighs in on how honeybees may be a natural and potentially life-saving solution.