Lesson1

an impatiens that has been flattened like a pancake.

Ach, now I think I understand. Being completely ignorant about bees (well, maybe I could have come up with the genus), I know impatiens as the pretty pink flowers -- which seemed like a strange simile.

I can't log onto my insect geeks anymore so I have not gotten to talk to you since... Summer. Hope all is going well for you :)

The only Polistes that they have around my campus is dominula >:( I found a nice maculifrons nest that I will be excavating on campus though

I've missed talking to you. Things are going great! I found some huge P. annularis nests at the place my dad works, and I'm going to get them this winter!

How's college been? Are you taking some fun classes? I'm taking Introduction to Insects and Medical and Veterinary Entomology. They were two of the only entomology classes for undergrads, so I felt that I needed to get them. :D

I saw my first up close P. dominula this summer. I went to Louisville for a beta club thingy and there they were! It was the best part of the week. :)

Right now I am just taking a whole bunch of the required courses that have nothing to do with my interests. Algebra, university seminar, Concepts of Bio, Political science, ect. Actually I did not get to pick them. Hopefully it gets better after frshmen year. The only course that this school offers that is related to my interest is called "Entomology", and I am going to see if I can take it next year

Wow P. annularis nests? We have got to see photos of those when you get them :)

There was a question dealing with flightless female cockroaches on my one exam yesterday, and I drew a little picture of one of the Parcoblatta that I have been raising and labeled it with the scientific name. Hope I get extra credit! Noone would ever guess that I have Parcoblatta living in my dorm room... hehehe

I'm taking a bunch of required stuff, too. French I, Honors forum, and Theater practicum. I've got a pretty fun semester, but next semester I've got algebra. I had a test in medical entomology day before yesterday, and I drew a cartoonish little roach on it!

I'm going tomorrow to get pictures of them while they're still active. I can't wait to show them, they're amazing!

Wow, i'm not the only one smuggling bugs into the dorms! I've got a Carolina Mantis, an Argiope aurantia, a Giant Water Bug, and some wasps hidden in my desk! No one knows. I sneak crickets in from outside to feed them. :D hehehe

Does your college offer Graduate level entomology?

Wow you have a lot of insects in your dorm. My roommate is just about the opposite of me in every aspect. He doesn't like any kind of bugs at all so um... The roaches have remained a secret

Nope, no Grad level entomology at my school. I will have to go to a different school for that.

I wasn't able to go see them like I had planned. I'll hopefully get them this weekend, as this is Fall Break.

I'm lucky, my sister is my roommate, so I can keep my bugs.

Have you considered which school to attend? There are several with really good programs.