Hey there! We’re taking you behind the scenes of our news show, Natural News, where we explore fascinating stories about natural history. But today, we’re diving into something different with Ask Emily. Let’s get started!
Warning! This might be a bit creepy! Botflies are part of the Oestridae family, with around 150 species. Most of them need a mammal to complete their life cycle, and yes, one species even uses humans as hosts!
Botflies that target squirrels lay their eggs on tree branches and leaves. When a squirrel passes by, the larvae latch onto its fur and find a way into its body. Once inside, they burrow under the skin, creating a pocket called a warble. This warble has a breathing hole, and if you look closely, you might see the larvae moving inside. They feed on dead cells and other materials from the host. After about a month, the larvae leave the host, drop to the ground, and pupate.
In Florida, botflies thrive due to the climate, which isn’t great news for the local animals and pets.
Coelacanths are super exciting! Until 1938, these fish were only known from fossils and thought to have gone extinct 65 million years ago with the dinosaurs. But then, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, a museum curator in South Africa, discovered a living coelacanth!
Now, we know there are two species of coelacanths alive today, found near the eastern coast of Africa and the Indian Ocean. The genus, Latimeria, is named after their discoverer. Finding a coelacanth is like discovering a Velociraptor in your backyard, making them a big deal for scientists. We even have three of them in our collection, plus a model from the Paris Museum (though they accidentally installed its fin upside down!).
Here’s a quick history lesson! After the 1893 World’s Fair, the Palace of Fine Arts became the Field Columbia Museum. These buildings weren’t meant to last, and by 1905, they were falling apart. The museum needed a new home, so they built it on a massive pile of dirt by Lake Michigan.
During construction in 1918, the US government wanted to use the building as a home for soldiers returning from World War I. Luckily, the war ended, and the building opened to the public in May 1921. Imagine what the original builders would think about us creating a YouTube studio in their historic structure!
In the 1970s, Monk Parakeets from South America started appearing in Chicago. No one knows exactly how they got there, but they adapted well to the Midwest climate. Now, a population lives in Hyde Park, near the museum.
While many people enjoy seeing these birds, they can cause problems. In Florida, their large nests on electric utility structures have led to damage and costly repairs. In New York, these nests even caused electrical fires in 2009.
Monk Parakeets don’t need much encouragement to stay in an area, but if they start causing trouble in Chicago, people might not be as fond of them. It’s important to keep an eye on their numbers and impact before taking action.
Our meteorite collection might be small, with 12,000 specimens, but it’s the largest of any private organization in the world, second only to NASA. It even includes the museum’s tiniest specimen: a vial of pre-solar grains from the Allende Meteorite, which is about 4.567 billion years old! That’s a pretty big idea!
Thanks for joining us on this adventure through natural history. Until next time, stay curious!
Using clay or playdough, create a model of the botfly life cycle. Include stages such as egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Label each stage and explain how the botfly interacts with its host. This hands-on activity will help you understand the unique and sometimes unsettling life cycle of botflies.
Imagine you are Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer discovering the coelacanth. Write a short script and perform a role-play with classmates about the discovery. Discuss the significance of finding a “living fossil” and how it changed scientific understanding. This activity will engage your creativity and deepen your appreciation for scientific discoveries.
Create a timeline of the Field Museum’s history using poster board or digital tools. Include key events such as its founding, relocation, and current exhibits. Add images and descriptions to make your timeline visually appealing. This project will help you learn about the museum’s evolution and its role in preserving history.
Research the habitat needs of Monk Parakeets and create a presentation on how they have adapted to urban environments like Chicago. Discuss the potential challenges they pose and propose solutions for managing their population. This activity will enhance your research skills and understanding of urban ecology.
Design a mini-exhibit showcasing the Field Museum’s meteorite collection. Include information about the Allende Meteorite and its significance. Use images and models to illustrate your exhibit. This task will help you explore the wonders of space and the importance of meteorites in understanding our solar system’s history.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hey! We’re behind the scenes on the set of our news show, called Natural News. It’s a new show about natural history news. This isn’t that show. This is Ask Emily. [The Brain Scoop theme plays]
Warning! This content may be a bit unsettling! Bot flies belong to the family Oestridae, and there are about 150 known species, most of which require some type of mammal to complete their life cycle. There’s even one that uses humans as a host. [Dramatic music]
The adults of the botflies that infest squirrels lay their eggs on tree branches and leaves. The hatched larvae wait for a squirrel to stop by so they can attach themselves to its fur and make their way into an orifice. From there, the larvae burrow under the skin, and the animal reacts by creating a pocket around the larvae, called a warble. This warble has an open breathing hole, and if you get close enough, you might see the larvae moving inside. They wait and grow, feeding off dead cells and other material from the host animal. After about a month, the larvae climb out of the breathing hole, drop to the ground, and bury themselves to pupate.
As for their abundance in Florida, well, that’s just unfortunate for you, your pets, and the squirrels there. Botflies prefer the climate.
I am really excited about coelacanths! Up until 1938, this group of fish was only known from the fossil record and had never been found alive. It was thought they went extinct about 65 million years ago, wiped out with the dinosaurs. Then one day, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, curator of the East London Museum in South Africa, visited the harbor and discovered a coelacanth. Further discoveries revealed that there are two known species alive today, found off the eastern coast of Africa and another species from the Indian Ocean. The genus, Latimeria, is named after their discoverer.
Finding a coelacanth is like discovering a Velociraptor in your backyard, making them appealing to scientists and research museums. We have three of them! Plus, a model on display that we got from the Paris Museum. Here’s a fun fact: they accidentally installed its pectoral fin upside down.
This topic could be an episode in itself, but here’s the short version. After the 1893 World’s Fair closed, the Palace of Fine Arts building became the Field Columbia Museum. However, those buildings were created solely for the fair and weren’t meant to last more than six months, leading to quick disrepair. By 1905, fences had to be erected to prevent visitors from being hurt by crumbling mortar. Around that time, the museum’s board and staff began seeking a site for a new building but couldn’t find one. So they decided to create one by extending the shore of Lake Michigan to build the museum on a massive pile of fill dirt, 30 feet deep.
Interestingly, in 1918, while the building was under construction, the US government informed the museum’s trustees that it would have to serve as a convalescent home for soldiers returning from World War I. This came with altered plans for the building, including adding bathtubs and showers. Thankfully, due to the European armistice, this plan never had to be realized, and the building we are in today opened to the public in May 1921.
What do you think those original builders would have thought about us creating a studio for a YouTube show in their historic structure? I think it’s pretty cool!
Backstory: In the 1970s, a group of exotic Monk Parakeets, indigenous to South America, started appearing in Chicago. Nobody’s really sure where they came from; speculations range from pet owners letting them go or perhaps they escaped a shipment at O’Hare Airport. Unusually for tropical birds, Monk Parakeets can withstand the Midwestern climate and even stay through the winter. In recent decades, a population has established itself in Hyde Park, a neighborhood south of the museum.
While many people in Chicago enjoy seeing the birds, they can cause problems in urban areas. A 2002 study discussed some issues arising from their population in Florida. Monk Parakeets build bulky nests out of sticks, and they’ve begun constructing these on electric utility structures. Because they nest in large groups and build on top of previous nests, these nesting sites can become quite large and unwieldy. This has caused damage to electrical structures and increased time and money spent on repairs, affecting about 21,000 people over a five-month period. In New York, these nests caused electrical fires in 2009.
So, back to your question: it doesn’t seem that Monk Parakeets need much encouragement to stay in an area; they’re clearly good at adapting to urban environments. However, if they start causing problems for electrical companies and customers in the Chicago region, residents might not view these birds as favorably. Either way, it’s important to continue observing their numbers and their impact on our cities before taking drastic action to remove them.
Although it’s one of our smallest collections, with only 12,000 specimens representing 1,200 distinct individuals, the Field’s collection of meteorites is the largest of any private organization in the world. The only institution with a larger collection is NASA. Our meteorite collection even contains the museum’s smallest specimen, a vial containing billions of pre-solar grains. These tiny diamonds, only about 2 nanometers across, consist of 1,000-2,000 carbon atoms and were extracted from the oldest known materials ever discovered, the Allende Meteorite, which is about 4.567 billion years old! And that is a pretty big idea!
I chose you, Pikachu. [The Brain Scoop theme plays]
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Botflies – Insects known for their larvae, which can live as parasites inside the bodies of mammals. – Example sentence: The botflies lay their eggs on the skin of mammals, where the larvae burrow and develop.
Coelacanths – A rare order of fish that were thought to be extinct until they were rediscovered in the 20th century. – Example sentence: Scientists were amazed to find living coelacanths, as they were believed to have disappeared millions of years ago.
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. – Example sentence: The giant panda is a species that is native to China and is known for its distinctive black and white fur.
Climate – The weather conditions prevailing in an area over a long period. – Example sentence: The climate in tropical regions is typically warm and humid, supporting diverse ecosystems.
Larvae – The immature form of an insect that undergoes metamorphosis before becoming an adult. – Example sentence: The butterfly larvae, also known as caterpillars, feed on leaves before transforming into adult butterflies.
Mammals – Warm-blooded vertebrates that have hair or fur and whose females produce milk to feed their young. – Example sentence: Humans, whales, and elephants are all examples of mammals.
Adaptation – A change or the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment. – Example sentence: The thick fur of polar bears is an adaptation that helps them survive in the cold Arctic climate.
Population – A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area. – Example sentence: The population of monarch butterflies migrates thousands of miles each year to escape the cold weather.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, but can also refer to the background of a species or ecosystem. – Example sentence: The history of the Galápagos Islands is closely linked to the study of evolution and natural selection.
Environment – The surroundings or conditions in which an organism lives and operates. – Example sentence: Protecting the environment is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the survival of various species.
