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New species named in honor of Elizabeth Bangs Bryant (1875–1953)

August 15, 2023

MCZ PhD candidate Richard (RJ) Knecht (Naomi Pierce Lab, Entomology) and co-authors describe two new species of whip scorpions from the Carboniferous Narragansett Basin of Massachusetts.

Parilisthelyphonus bryantae is named in honor of the late American arachnologist Elizabeth Bangs Bryant (1875–1953...

biologists working in the field, smiling for the camera

Naomi Pierce elected to the National Academy of Sciences

May 3, 2023

Congratulations to MCZ Curator of Lepidoptera, Naomi Pierce, on her election into the National Academy of Sciences! Elected members are recognized for their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Scientists discover a host of reasons for the evolution of social parasites in ants

September 29, 2021

Specimens and data collected by Stephan Cover, safe keeper of our ant collection for many decades before retiring earlier this year, was instrumental in research headed by Christian Rabeling at Arizona State University. Rabeling began the project as a postdoc at the MCZ working with Edward O. Wilson and Naomi Pierce.

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Open position in Entomology - Curatorial Assistant

August 12, 2021

Come work with our 7 million entomological specimens, including the world's largest and most historically important ant collection! The MCZ is accepting applications for a full-time Curatorial Assistant in our Entomology collection. Visit https://bit.ly/2VIPCDl for more information and to apply.

Understanding how evolution shaped the insect visual system

February 25, 2021

Marjorie Liénard and MCZ Faculty-Curator of Entomology, Naomi Pierce, led a study to develop an in vitro method for probing what colors an insect sees. The research was pulished in PNAS and featured in the... Read more about Understanding how evolution shaped the insect visual system

Wilson’s Long-fingered Bat, by Piotr Naskrecki

New bat species named for Edward O. Wilson

August 18, 2020

A new species of bat has been named in honor of Edward O. Wilson, Faculty Emeritus in the MCZ. Wilson’s Long-fingered Bat, Miniopterus wilsoni, is named in recognition of Prof. Wilson's support and facilitation of biodiversity research at Gorongosa National Park over the past decade. The new species is described in the journal Acta Chiropterologica.

Infrared photographs of butterflies, where brightness correlates with the capability of radiative cooling

Living portions of butterfly wings prevent overheating

January 31, 2020

A recent study from MCZ Faculty-Curator of Lepidoptera, Naomi Pierce, and collaborators, looked at tissues in butterfly wings that are supplied by circulatory, neural and tracheal systems, indicating that the wing is a dynamic, living structure. Behavioral assays show that butterflies use wings to sense visible and infrared radiation, responding with specialized behaviors to prevent overheating of their wings. The study is published in... Read more about Living portions of butterfly wings prevent overheating

Congratulations to Naomi Pierce, awarded the prestigious International Prize for Biology!

August 22, 2019

MCZ Faculty-Curator Naomi Pierce was awarded the 2019 International Prize for Biology, one of the most prestigious honors a natural scientist can receive. The focus of this award varies each year, this year focusing on the field of insect biology.

From the news release, "Scientists typically...

Naomi Pierce elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

April 18, 2018

MCZ Faculty-Curator Naomi Pierce has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Class of 2018. You can read more about the honor in the press release. Read more about Naomi Pierce elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

The Origins of Creativity

March 6, 2018

MCZ Faculty-Curator Emeritus E.O. Wilson discusses his latest book, The Origins of Creativity, with the Harvard Gazette. Read more about The Origins of Creativity

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Entomology