An Inordinate Fondness

The monthly blog carnival devoted to beetles.

April 8, 2010 • 8:44 AM 2

Don’t wait…

Tetraopes femoratus on milkweed in the Black Hills, South Dakota.

…until “Fall To Climb” out of bed and submit your beetle-related post to An Inordinate Fondness #3. The Geek in Question at Fall To Climb will be hosting the next edition on April 18. Submission deadline is April 15 (Tax Day), so send your contributions (one is great, two is even better!) to TGIQ today. Use this handy blog carnival submission form, or contact TGIQ directly if you prefer.

Also, we are looking for volunteers to host future editions of AIF. May and June are already filled, but all months afterwards are available. Seriously, hosting a blog carnival is not only fun but a great way to introduce readers to your site and generate a little traffic. If you’ve never hosted before, why not give it a try? If you have, why not share your expertise with this fledgling blog carnival? Send me an email if you’re interested and indicate the month of your choice.

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Filed under: Cerambycidae, An Inordinate Fondness, beetles, blog carnivals, call for submissions

Past Issues:

#16 May '11: Dave Hubble's Ecology Spot
#15 Apr '11: The Dragonfly Woman
#14 Mar '11: Wanderin' Weeta
#13 Feb '11: The Dispersal of Darwin
#12 Jan '11: Bug Girl's Blog
#11 Dec '10: The Bug Whisperer
#10 Nov '10: Coleopterists Corner
#9 Oct '10: Beetles in the Bush
#8 Sep '10: Arthropoda
#7 Aug '10: Salagubang
#6 July '10: Insect Art
#5 June '10: the Marvelous in nature
#4 May '10: xenogere
#3 Apr '10: Fall to Climb
#2 Mar '10: Birder’s Lounge
#1 Feb '10: An Inordinate Fondness

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An Inordinate Fondness… for Beetles!

When asked by an English cleric what his studies of nature’s diversity had taught him about the Creator, 20^th Century British geneticist and noted evolutionary biologist J.B.S. Haldane reportedly quipped, "He has an inordinate fondness for beetles." While there is some uncertainty whether Haldane ever actually spoke these words, no one can argue with their truth.

In fact, nearly half of all insects and one quarter of all described living species are beetles—350,000 and counting. They occur in virtually every habitat imaginable and exhibit innumerable, often brightly colored—even iridescent—and architecturally elaborate forms. Their impacts on humans are also many, not only as pests and beneficial organisms, but also as cultural symbols and objects of passionate scientific and philatelic interest.

An Inordinate Fondness is a celebration of beetles—of their indescribable beauty, amazing forms, and astonishing diversity. We hope you will join us in this celebration every month, as we highlight the best that the blogosphere has to offer on this fascinating group of animals.

The administrator for An Inordinate Fondness is Ted C. MacRae, author of Beetles In The Bush.