Romance isn't dead. A new paper argues that a species of wood-eating cockroaches (_Salganea taiwanensis_) pair-bond by eating each other's wings. Then they defend their nest and care for their children all their lives.

📄 Paper: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.251992  
📰 News story: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/18/nx-s1-5749488/cockroach-pair-bonding-relationships-wing-eating

(via @globalmuseum)

#bugstodon #entomology #cockroaches #Blattodea #Blaberidae

seeing another round of "don't favorite posts on fedi"

folks it is a kind and lovely thing to favorite someone's post and anyone who tells you not to be kind and lovely has told you something about themself

it's true that it doesn't particulary increase the distribution of your post but the idea that we're all here to get things distributed as far as possible is pretty weird

Malayan Peacock-Pheasant

Odd-looking stumpy pheasant. Dull brown with iridescent green and blue eye-spots on the upperparts; these are much brighter and more prominent in the male. Also note male’s more thickset appearance, brighter red facial skin, and strange forward-pointing crest. Moves quietly through lowland rainforest; males give complex displays during the breeding season.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/mapphe1
Photo Location: Malaysia

Warbling Doradito

Small two-toned flycatcher, olive-brown above and yellow below. Note the rufescent crown patch. Found in tall-grass marshes, especially those with sedges. Typically difficult to locate, but during migration can be found in various areas with tall grass. The call is a series of nasal squeaky notes: “chek, chek, chek, chek-chick-chick-chiquetik.” The rather similar Dinelli's Doradito has a more olive-colored, less brownish back.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/wardor1
Photo Location: Argentina

Since I drew weevils for Valentine’s Day I figured I might as well draw White Day weevils too :)

Cliff Swallow

Compact swallow with a short, square tail. In flight, looks slightly less angular than other swallows, with more rounded wings. Note pale buffy-orange rump, which separates Cliff from most other swallows in range. Also look for dark throat and pale forehead. Widespread and fairly common, especially in western North America. Breeds under bridges, overpasses, and culverts. Winters in South America. Compare especially with Cave Swallow, which has a paler throat and orange forehead.

Link: https://ebird.org/species/cliswa
Photo Location: United States