WSU Entomologist David James on Irish Podcast: Exploring The Lives of Butterflies

You'll want to hear Ireland scientist Éanna Ní Lamhna's RTÉ podcast featuring Washington State University entomologist David James, co-author of a newly published book, The Lives of Butterflies: A Natural History of Our Planet's Butterfly Life (Princeton University) with colleague David Lohman of the City College of New York.

The book was released in the UK on Oct. 3, 2023, and it will be released in the United States on Jan. 9, 2024.

RTÉ, or Raidió Teilifís Éireann, is an Irish public service broadcaster that produces and broadcasts programs on television, radio and online. Launched in January 1926 and headquartered in Donnybrook, Dublin, it is known as one of the world's oldest continuously operating public service broadcasters. 

At the onset of the 11-minute interview, an RTÉ announcer noted that The Lives of Butterflies "showcases extraordinary diversity of world's butterflies, while exploring their life histories, behavior, conservation and other aspects of these most fascinating and beguiling insects."

Listen to the butterfly podcast here: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22294525/

Who Are the Scientists? 

Éanna Ní Lamhna is a biologist, environmental consultant, radio and television presenter, author an educator. "She is one of the best-known public figures in Ireland in the area of nature and the environment, and was listed as one of Ireland's 'Influential 100' in 2012," according to Wikipedia. She is a mainstay on RTÉ's "Mooney Goes Wild." Lamhna holds a doctorate in botany from UCD--no, not the University of California, Davis, but University College Dublin.

David James, an associate professor atWSU, is well known in the monarch world for his work on migratory monarchs and his research publications. He studies the migration of Pacific Northwest monarchs to their overwintering sites along coastal California. James holds a doctorate in entomology from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. 

WSU biosketch: "David James developed a passion for entomology at the age of 8 in England by rearing caterpillars in his bedroom. He studied zoology at the University of Salford near Manchester, then migrated to Australia to work for the New South Wales Department of Agriculture on ways of controlling agricultural pests like locusts and mites. A PhD on the winter biology of monarch butterflies in Sydney followed and a career as a biocontrol scientist in horticulture blossomed." (See more here). He studies the migration of Pacific Northwest monarchs to the overwintering sites along coastal California.

What Did They Discuss?

• What exactly is a butterfly and how is it different from a moth?
• Are there more moths in the world than butterflies?
• How do butterflies hear?
• What's the largest butterfly in the world?
• What sets butterflies apart from other insects?
• What kind of digestive system do butterflies have?
• Why do some butterflies land on your arm and drink your sweat?
• Why do male butterflies feed on crocodile tears?
• Why did British scientist Miriam Rothschild call male monarchs "male chauvinist pigs?"
• How do you tag monarchs and what have we learned?

It's an excellent podcast--and you'll love listening to the lilting Irish accent of Éanna Ní Lamhna, coupled with the distinguishable English/Australian accent of David James.

And the answers to the above questions...