Author Archives: David Maddison

The legacy of a taxonomist

Posted on 9 February 2014 by David Maddison

I have recently been looking through the notes of Kenneth W. Cooper, a renaissance entomologist who wore many hats, one of which was as someone passionate about the same beetles I love, the genus Bembidion.  Kenneth and I began corresponding … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Taxonomic Process | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Sheep Creek in the Cascades of Oregon

Posted on 28 December 2013 by David Maddison

Here’s a lovely creek in the Cascades of Oregon.   This part of Sheep Creek is at 795m elevation.  It has a rich bembidiine fauna living in the gravel patches along the shoreline.  In addition to two species of Lionepha … Continue reading →

Posted in Collecting Site of the Day | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Programming Zephyr

Posted on 11 December 2013 by David Maddison

My brother Wayne is visiting, and we are making very good progress on Zephyr. Programming is especially appealing when the outside world is covered in quiet snow. Zephyr is a package for Mesquite that links Mesquite to phylogeny inference programs. … Continue reading →

Posted in Mesquite, Software Development | 2 Comments

Dreaming of Saint Helena

Posted on 7 December 2013 by David Maddison

Saint Helena is a small island in the Atlantic Ocean that is a very long way from any continent. It is approximately 1850 km from Africa, and about 3290 km from South America.  It is only 16 km by 8 … Continue reading →

Posted in Tree of Life | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

The Group Photo

Posted on 27 November 2013 by David Maddison

One of the required products of a weekend field trip is a group photo. On our Big Loop Trip this summer, we joined up with the Essig Museum group for one weekend in the southern Sierras, and had a very … Continue reading →

Posted in Fieldwork, Musings | Leave a comment

My favorite phylogeny

Posted on 22 November 2013 by David Maddison

In a previous post, I showed my second-favorite phylogeny. Well, here’s my favorite one, posted on the wall outside my lab. Not that you can really see any details in this picture, but you get the idea:  it’s big.  It … Continue reading →

Posted in fun stuff, Tree of Life | 2 Comments

Art.Science: Shedding a Scenic Tear

Posted on 18 November 2013 by David Maddison

Last week I had what I hope will be a life-changing experience. This fall I had the honor of being a juror for an exhibit of insect-inspired art, called ECLOSION, hosted by  Art.Science.Gallery. in Austin, Texas.  The event was organized by … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings, Scientific Illustrations | Tagged , | 4 Comments

(Almost) my favorite phylogeny

Posted on 16 November 2013 by David Maddison

I recently reported on my favorite beetle illustration.  In the same collection as that illustration was a favorite phylogeny of mine: This drawing was also done by my daughter Julia at age 3 or 4; perhaps she was depicting what … Continue reading →

Posted in fun stuff | 3 Comments

BotW: Thinopinus pictus

Posted on 30 October 2013 by David Maddison

In honor of Margaret Thayer and Al Newton’s visit to the PNW this week, the Beetle of the Week is a staphylinid.  It’s Thinopinus pictus, a large rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) that lives on the sandy beaches of the Pacific Ocean. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beetle of the Week | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Examining name-bearers at the USNM

Posted on 27 October 2013 by David Maddison

I’m at the Smithsonian Institution for the next three days, working in the United States Museum of Natural History (the “USNM”).  My main goal is to look at type specimens, especially Casey types, so that I can figure out what … Continue reading →

Posted in Revising Bembidiina, Taxonomic Process | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment