A couple weeks ago I posted about how butterfly evolution proceeds at different rates on the top and bottom of the wing. After all, each surface serves a different purpose, visually. So they respond to different environmental pressures. Now a friend has brought my attention to a butterfly whose evolution took a massive shortcut: It’s invisible [...]
The boring side of butterfly wings? And the bright side? Two different uses. And two different rates of evolution! Hadn’t thought of either one, but that’s why we have scientists. To review: When butterflies are just hanging out, resting, or sleeping, or perhaps warming up, they close their wings. (Oops — another thing I [...]
Bees can count to four. Well, not really. But like humans in many cultures without formal education, honey bees instinctively differentiate two objects from three; and three from four. Beyond that, both the bees and the humans seem to throw up their hands/legs/antennae and conclude “lots.” (The article.) This was interesting enough when it [...]
