Bugs Need Heroes

Throw Dirt at Bees with Dr Mathias Nordvig (NORDIC MYTHOLOGY)

This episode we interview Dr. Mathias Nordvig, Professor or Pre-Christian mythologies and Scandinavian folklore at the University of Colorado, Boulder. We chat about the differences between Norse and Nordic, bees in Nordic mythology, and why there is a general paucity of insect lore in Nordic mythology as a whole. Tangents include Loki, Amanda steps on a nail, Snorri Sturluson, Marvel's Thor and other animal lore. Dr. Nordvig has several books out about Nordic mythology (including a kid's book!) and has recently released his own translation of Völuspá: The Vision of the Witch, which Kelly read and loved. You can find it on https://www.hyldyr.com/.
Follow Mathias on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathiasnordvig/
Check out his website: https://mathiasnordvig.com/
Listen to his podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-sacred-flame/id1671438723
Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
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Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad with some assistance from Chelsey Bawden.
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music by Rolemusic.

Team Jacobaea (CINNABAR MOTH)

It's just about time for National Moth Week!
 
In this episode we talk about Producer Derek's favorite moth: the cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae). Finally, a rival for Isabella Tigermoth. And this moth isn't alone in her fight against the noxious Stinking Willie; her fellow biocontrol agents include the tansy ragwort flea beetle (Longitarsus jacobaeae) and the ragwort seed head fly (Botanophila seneciella). This moth and her team are basically Superman, but for cows. Tangents include Animorphs, Spider-verse, being a goth kid, and John Wick.
 
Check out NationalMothWeek.org to learn more about how you can participate in this citizen science initiative.
 
Field notes and artwork on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/team-jacobaea
Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/
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Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad with some assistance from Chelsey Bawden.
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music by Rolemusic.

The Bouncing Brute (SPOTTED LANTERNFLY)

In this episode we talk about Kelly's cat's favorite bug: the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). Kelly rants about honeybees. Amanda teaches Kelly the term "caked up." Tangents include Sir Arthur Conan Doyle believing in faeries, crocuses, and trying to remember Adrien Brody's name. Plus a bonus taste test that makes Amanda uncomfortable.
 
The spotted lanternfly smashing app is called Squishr.
The taste test was of "DoomBloom" from The Philadelphia Bee Company
 
Field notes and artwork on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-bouncing-brute
Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/
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Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad.
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music by Rolemusic.

The Harvestman as portrayed by Pedro Pascal (DADDY LONG LEGS)

In this episode, we discuss the arachnid order Opiliones, also known as Harvestmen or Daddy longlegs.  Easily confused with spiders, these detritivores have long had an urban legend about their mythical bite. But they are harmless and exhibit some impressive parental care. Also in this episode, Amanda talks about a car accident. Tangents include Bluey, Henry Cavill Sherlock, and a lot of talk about things dads enjoy (farts).
 
Kelly mentioned a video from Vine that showed the clumped up daddies. That has been rehosted here: https://youtu.be/JG3WXlykzhY
Kelly's Field Notes: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-harvestman-as-played-by-pedro-pascal
 
Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
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Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman
Editing by Derek Conrad with assistance from Chelsey Bawden.
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music by Rolemusic.

Bug Hero: Kaitlyn O’Donnell (WINTER MOTHS, BIOCONTROL, CATTAIL MOSQUITOES)

This episode with interview entomologist Kaitlyn O'Donnell to talk about a range of topics, but particularly her work with the invasive winter moth (Operophtera brumata) and her work at Norfolk County Mosquito Control. Tangents include the film Jupiter Ascending, bald eagles, and Amanda opens a can of worms called the biological species concept. Producer Derek highly recommends the documentaries Cane Toads: An Unnatural History and Ferrets: The Pursuit of Excellence but really any film by Mark Lewis is worth checking out.
 
Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/entomol_oh_gee/
Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/
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Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad.
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music by Rolemusic.

Across the Spider-People (MILES MORALES, JESSICA DREW, MIGUEL O’HARA)

We recorded this episode before the release of the 2023 animated film Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse to discuss the heroes we expect to see in the film (Miles Morales, Jessica Drew, Gwen Stacy, and Miguel O'Hara), what we love about these characters, and to make wild speculation about the plot based on some of the comics we have read. We previously published an episode about Peter Parker in September 2022 discussing how that Spider-Man's powers compare to real life spiders. Tangents include Disney's Encanto, the dystopian setting of Marvel's Spider-Man 2099, the trouble with multiverse stories, and what Brian Michael Bendis is like as a college professor (adjunct).
 
This episode contains minor spoilers for The Mitchell's Vs The Machines and Spider-Man: No Way Home but does not have spoilers for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse unless we got lucky.
 
Field notes and artwork on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/across-the-spider-people
Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/
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Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad.
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music by Rolemusic.

The Super Mom (EARWIGS)

The vocab word of the day is cerci. Amanda proves she has been paying attention in this episode about perhaps the buggiest bug who ever bugged. This episode discusses the soil beasts who you may find in your bathroom and their outstanding parental care. Tangents in this episode include the moral capacity for evil in dolphins, garter snakes, and the films of Don Bluth (both real and imagined). 
 
Field notes and artwork on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-super-mom
Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/
Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroes
Join us on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes
Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad.
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music by Rolemusic.

The Basic Bug (SILVERFISH)

Get ready to learn some entomology jargon! This episode is all about what a bug is. We discuss taxonomy, anatomy, how we are defining a "bug" in this podcast. If you've ever wondered if bugs are tasting you with their feet, this episode is for you. Tangents in this episode include eating ants, marine biology, and fiddler crabs in The Little Mermaid.
 
Field notes and artwork on our website: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-basic-bug
Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/
Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroes
Join us on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes
Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad.
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music by Rolemusic.

The Goth Moth (DEATH’S-HEAD HAWKMOTH)

The star of the cover of the VHS box art of the 1991 film Silence of the Lambs is here. This aesthetic insect has a dark secret! What relationship does she have with the bees, poisonous plants, and bad omens? Tangents in this episode include Ikea trips, targeted advertisements, and spoilers for American Gods by Neil Gaiman.
Episode notes and artwork: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-goth-moth
Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/
Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroes
Join us on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes
Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad.
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music by Rolemusic.

The Killer Queen (CICADA KILLER)

Introducing the final member of our "Bee Team". Fastidious and precise! Guaranteed to blow your mind! Although they look intimidating, Cicada Killers (Sphecius spp) have been described as "the gentle giants of the wasp world." These gregarious wasps have a surprisingly survival strategy. Also in this episode, Amanda forgets to turn off her discord notifications and learns about insect wings. 
 
Show notes and hero: https://www.bugsneedheroes.com/episodes/the-killer-queen
Send us questions and suggestions! BugsNeedHeroes@gmail.com
Join us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bugsneedheroes/
Join us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bugsneedheroes
Join us on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BugsNeedHeroes
Hosted by Amanda Niday and Kelly Zimmerman with editing by Derek Conrad.
Created by Derek Conrad and Kelly Zimmerman.
Character artwork by Amanda Niday.
Music by Rolemusic.