http://www.amentsoc.org/about/news/ Latest updates from the Amateur Entomologists' Society. en Copyright 1998-2012 Amateur Entomologists' Society 2012-02-08T22:15:22-00:00 contact@amentsoc.org contact@amentsoc.org Amateur Entomologists' Society news - This feed details the activities of the Amateur Entomologists' Society. monthly http://www.amentsoc.org/about/news/0173/?rss Books in the 'Tales and Truths about garden minibeasts' series are now on the best sellers list at London's Natural History Museum. To celebrate, the AES is offering a special best sellers discount during February - buy one, get one half price. If you buy two or more of the three books available from our online shop then, after receiving your order, we will refund you £2.75. The books: * Basil the Beetle's Scary Adventure * Eddie the Earthworm saves the day * Woody the Woodlouse who forgot how to roll into a ball The offer is limited to the three books are available from the AES shop (Basil, Eddie and Woody). The fourth book, Crystal the Small Miracle, is not part of the offer but is available from Butterfly Conservation. Author Sonia Copeland-Bloom pictured with the books by the best sellers shelves at the Natural History Museum Author Sonia Copeland-Bloom pictured with the books by the best sellers shelves at the Natural History Museum. 2012-02-01T00:00:00-00:00 http://www.amentsoc.org/about/news/0172/?rss Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo is a film that delves into the ineffable mystery of Japan's age-old love affair with insects. A labyrinthine meditation on nature, beauty, philosophy and Japanese culture that might just make you question if your 'instinctive' repulsion to bugs is merely a trick of western conditioning. Like a detective story, the film untangles the web of influences behind Japan's captivation with insects. It opens in modern-day Tokyo where a single beetle recently sold for $90,000 then slips back to the early 1800s, to the first cricket-selling business and the development of haiku and other forms of insect literature and art. Through history and adventure, Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo travels all the way back in time to stories of the fabled first emperor who named Japan the "Isle of the Dragonflies". Along the way the film takes side trips to Zen temples and Buddhist Shrines, nature preserves and art museums in its quest for the inspirations that moved Japan into this fascination while other cultures hurtled off towards an almost universal and profound fear of insects. After many excellent screenings throughout the world the film is now available to own: Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo at Amazon 2012-01-16T00:00:00-00:00 http://www.amentsoc.org/about/news/0171/?rss In addition to the talks and other activities at our Young Entomologists' Day in February, we are also inviting children to bring their insect drawings with them on the day to display in the museum. The drawings will be judged by British wildlife artist Cath Hodsman and prizes will be awarded for the best drawings. This is open to all children attending the event, not only to those giving a talk. 2012-01-03T00:00:00-00:00 http://www.amentsoc.org/about/news/0170/?rss The highly acclaimed Tales and Truths series of books now comprises four books: * Basil the Beetle's Scary Adventure * Eddie the Earthworm saves the day * Woody the Woodlouse who forgot how to roll into a ball * Crystal the Small Miracle Three books are available from the AES shop (Basil, Eddie and Woody). The fourth book, Crystal the Small Miracle, is available from Butterfly Conservation. All books in the Tales and Truths about Garden Minibeasts series are aimed at young children of primary school age. In addition to the story, the book contains factual information on woodlice and other minibeasts, including how to look after them as pets; where to obtain pet minibeasts; and where to go for further information. There is even a glossary of entomological terms at the back of the book. Widely acclaimed by many well known naturalists, this series by Sonia Copeland Bloom brings a new approach to engaging children with the natural world, and every first edition is signed by the author. 2011-12-21T00:00:00-00:00 http://www.amentsoc.org/about/news/0169/?rss This is a quiz put together each year by AES member Graham Wenman. The answers to the clues are names of different butterflies and moths (mostly their English names, but 11 of the answers are scientific names). Prizes ------ * 1st Prize: one year's membership of the AES to include all three AES periodicals (normal cost £48 in the UK). * 2nd Prize: one year's membership of the AES to include any two periodicals of your choice (choose any two from the AES Bulletin; Bug Club Magazine; Entomologist's Record). * 3rd Prize: one year's membership of the AES to include one periodical of your choice. Entry Fee --------- There is no prescribed entry fee but a donation to the AES would be appreciated for each entry. You can donate online or by post to: AES, PO Box 8774, London SW7 5ZG. Closing Date ------------ The closing date for the quiz is 16th January 2012. The answers should be sent by email to gjwenman@yahoo.co.uk (from whom 'hints' to some of the answers may also be obtained!). The Quiz -------- 1. Elegant bra Dan's undone (14, 3 words)* 2. Where Tom allows kippers to hide (13, 2 words) 3. Indian (or African) raptor? (12, 2 words)* 4. Easy Row five mixed (8, 2 words) 5. Ragged deer reversed after switching vowels (10, 2 words) 6. Jaundiced view of an egg? (11, 2 words)* 7. Ewe, Dolly could be cloned (13, 2 words) 8. Bully found battered in hole (9, 2 words) 9. Make Rome snail free (13, 3 words) 10. Does it need mess clearing daily? (13, 2 words) 11. Bowl led particle – the opposite (12, 2 words) 12. Lost in Bermuda? (8) 13. "The Hoople", rocking lumbered (12, 2 words) 14. Oxbridge sportsman is after Aphrodites' lover (10, 2 words) 15. Argentine nimbus? (11, 2 words) 16. Explosion that our guns make? (11, 2 words) 17. Shivering, icy-clad and Hornby? (9, 2 words) 18. Through his legs! (6) 19. Used to be paired with treacle (9) 20. Hear Tom ranting! (7, 2 words) 21. If you catch one, Lemsip is recommended! (8)* 22. A wayfarer? (9) 23. Snooker's Jimmy after most of golf's Tiger (9, 2 words) 24. Strike at Audi America (13, 2 words) 25. Nails bent round famous "bender" (8) 26. Capone amongst cows, he proclaims (6) 27. Turn the green dial for me! (9) 28. PC only works on minor crime? (11, 2 words) 29. Mix Reg Fry's "E" up? (10, 2 words, apostrophe) 30. I get laid when the nobs are about! (9, 2 words) 31. One of the gnioptera perhaps? (9, hyphen) 32. Once I was a dishclout! (15, 2 words) 33. Created by John H Pepper (5) 34. Moffet's Admirable (10, 2 words) 35. "Irregular" - a maul, soon (9) 36. Ellie or Eliza has lice – destroy! (19, 2 words) 37. New rental? (6) 38. Phantom male miler, running (16, 2 words) 39. Discovered by wee taverner? (11, 2 words) 40. Perspex skies fluttering (12, 2 words) 41. Domino (with double six) scores 8, and is ...... (11, hyphen) 42. The Marmoress (12, 2 words) 43. Black Pig's captain goes about after losing west (6, 2 words) 44. "Old Ford model" has our queen cuss about it (18, 2 words) 45. Brute Burt bashed? (9) 46. Found in an intercom manual? (5) 47. Angels shiver before Hell? (11, 2 words) 48. Chaos when Fiona calls on us (14, 2 words) 49. K9? (9, 2 words, apostrophe) 50. Lost in a tunnel? (7) 51. Where to find London, Paris, Rome, etc (11, 2 words) 52. Sounds like Yusuf Islam's jewel (11, 2 words, apostrophe) 53. I emerged from oily wallet! (10, hyphen) 54. My aunt's son is from Berlin! (12, 2 words)* 55. Shock find! Bra in red Polo (10, 2 words) 56. This little one is a Friend! (11, 2 words) 57. You can 'plug me in pip' (apparently) (11, 2 words) 58. What valets may become (not footmen!) (6) 59. S & D art? (8, 2 words) 60. Moses Harris's, Grand Surprise (16, 2 words) 61. I'm from Durban! (6, hyphen) 62. Hand (in Welsh) reversed (4) 63. Danger terror to X is abroad (17, 3 words) 64. Ancient loo key is lost! (13, 2 words) 65. Botched law allows it (11) 66. 'Ice flyer' Waring identified? (14, 2 words) 67. A geisha maybe? (11, 2 words) 68. Does it hold up a holster? (16, 2 words, hyphen) 69. Form of Ephraim's a high angel (8) 70. I run game badly and get 3rd place medal (14, 2 words) 71. Polypodium for example (4) 72. Samantha was on page 3 (3) 73. Town Blair exploited (9, hyphen) 74. Echium vulgare (13, 2 words, apostrophe) 75. Are you being served Captain? (7) 76. In Hell, you can drink here, it seems (8) 77. Loeb's i/o accident is unusual! (17, 2 words) 78. Confine to school goalie (10) 79. What a nice Arran might produce (9, 2 words) 80. H.I.M. (13, 2 words) 81. Cure, or fester (8) 82. Change starters of mud, both (7, 2 words) 83. Allows, back to front (6) 84. Dance that is lazy tango (Scotch) (11, 2 words) 85. Yan Song was one (16, 2 words) 86. I.R. vaccination (sic) went wrong (16, 2 words) 87. Duchess of Lugo's mother (12, 3 words) 88. Sarah Whitehead, the Black Nun? (7, 2 words) 89. Mugs play rave (and it's "mixed with grey") (12, 2 words) 90. Finish flag with "herrings" tail to head (16, 2 words) 91. If I buffer yours, will you .......? (10, 2 words) 92. Stuttering p-petal (6) 93. Hear anger strike maybe? (15, 2 words) 94. Gordon (PM) and 'Sir Alan' fired! (10, 2 words) 95. 'Angleps' dog left, disturbed (11, 2 words) 96. Can it make a pie in Paris? (10, 2 words) 97. Run nude on pitch (6) 98. The result of a silly pub tiff (7, hyphen) 99. She got the needle in London! (9) 100. Smite wall in a Spooner trap? (10, 2 words) Clues marked with an asterisk (*) were suggested by the following people: G Tordoff, D Lewis and K Norris. Many thanks. 2011-12-13T00:00:00-00:00 http://www.amentsoc.org/about/news/0168/?rss The AES has teamed up with Dorling Kindersley to present the All About Bugs quiz. The quiz is an online test of your entomological knowledge and is also a race against the clock. You get points for answering questions correctly but the faster you answer the more points you get. Why not see if you can top the leaderboard on the All About Bugs quiz. 2011-10-11T00:00:00-00:00 http://www.amentsoc.org/about/news/0167/?rss It is the 2011 AES Annual Exhibition and Trade Fair this weekend. On Saturday the 1st October the AES will hold its annual exhibition at Kempton Park Racecourse, near London. The exhibition is one of the largest of its kind and attracts traders and visitors from all over the world. The Annual Exhibition and Trade Fair hosts a mixture of societies' stands and traders selling entomological equipment, livestock, mounted specimens, books and cabinets. The exhibition is the place to buy entomological ephemera, meet fellow enthusiasts and have a great day out. The exhibition is open to members of the public and not just members of the AES. Should you wish to join the AES then you can do so on the day but you don't have to be a member to attend. Further details can be found in our event listing for the Amateur Entomologists' Society Exhibition and Trade Fair 2011. 2011-09-27T00:00:00-00:00 http://www.amentsoc.org/about/news/0166/?rss OPAL, a nationwide nature project for which the Natural History Museum in London is a lead partner, is in the final of the National Lottery Awards as Best Environment Project and needs your vote. The Bugs Count project, asking the public to help the museum understand how British bugs are doing in urban and rural habitats, has been nominated for the award. The aim of Bugs Count is to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to get outside and explore their local environment, and thousands of people have taken part so far. Please vote for OPAL before midday on 26 September. 2011-09-16T00:00:00-00:00 http://www.amentsoc.org/about/news/0165/?rss A team at Queen's University Management School in Belfast want your help! They are conducting a study that looks at the kind of outdoor activities people do or do not take part in. They are asking members of associations, like the Amateur Entomologists' Society, to take part in this study to explore what people do, why they participate and general behaviours. This research study is funded by the British Academy, and all participant information is kept confidential. You only need to leave an email address if you want to be considered for one of the 30 prizes available. Understanding the kind of outdoor activities people take part in and how this relates to lifestyle choices is an important part of promoting such activities and the associated positive impacts. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes and when you participate you could win one of 30 prizes. Prizes on offer include membership of the National Trust, a compass, a wind-up torch or the adoption of a tiger! They hope to get a good representation from people who enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities. If you would like to take part please click on the link and follow the instructions on screen: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/outdooractivities_queens The survey is open until 31st October 2011. 2011-09-02T00:00:00-00:00 http://www.amentsoc.org/about/news/0164/?rss The UK Government's Justice Department has announced that the new work programme for the Law Commission will include a review of all Wildlife Law. A consultation paper will be produced in summer 2012 for discussion with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and a final report and draft Bill is expected to emerge in summer 2014. Further information can be found in the Eleventh Programme of Law Reform (213K PDF). 2011-08-16T00:00:00-00:00