How to correctly write scientific names/ooth display
- Thread starter Rick
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ismart
Well-known member
It's #3
PhilinYuma
Well-known member
Or if you're feeling really fancy, Rick, Stagmomantis limbata 
The italics are fancy Phil!
Now, next question. If you were making an ooth display in a display case how would you do it? Just looking for ideas. As we all know, ooths vary in size. I was thinking of just putting them in at random. Or I could put like size ones together, but that may not work since more will be added.
Now, next question. If you were making an ooth display in a display case how would you do it? Just looking for ideas. As we all know, ooths vary in size. I was thinking of just putting them in at random. Or I could put like size ones together, but that may not work since more will be added.
ismart
Well-known member
I would probally put them from smallest to largest, or largest to smallest. I know you said you would be adding more, but the ones that are already in there are they removeable?
batsofchaos
Well-known member
I'd arrange them smallest to largest. Maybe if I had ooths from several closely-related species, I'd arrange those together regardless of size to compare/contrast the differences between them. Like, if I had a ton of Stagomantis sp. ooths, I might group those together and have a smallest to largest of the rest.
PhilinYuma
Well-known member
This a really cool project Rick. Here are a cupla thoughts.
I assume that the display is meant to be educational, but it won't educate if folks don't look at it. I would suggest that you arrange them in an eye catching display, rather than just gluing them onto a white board. I don't have an artistic bone in my body, but I have plenty of friends who do, and I'm sure that you could find someone to help you right here on the forum, if you are similarly afflicted.
Putting them in a light box on black velvet (complementary texture) say in a spiral with either the largest or smallest in the center would be eye catching, like some of those commercial beetle and butterfly collections. To satisfy the scientific requirement of the display, you could give each ooth a number and key that to the second display where you show a sectioned ooth and put a small pic of each mantis to illustrate the names in the key.
Now, if you find that the drab color of most of the ooths makes the display a bit dull, take some bottles of food coloring, and...
I assume that the display is meant to be educational, but it won't educate if folks don't look at it. I would suggest that you arrange them in an eye catching display, rather than just gluing them onto a white board. I don't have an artistic bone in my body, but I have plenty of friends who do, and I'm sure that you could find someone to help you right here on the forum, if you are similarly afflicted.
Putting them in a light box on black velvet (complementary texture) say in a spiral with either the largest or smallest in the center would be eye catching, like some of those commercial beetle and butterfly collections. To satisfy the scientific requirement of the display, you could give each ooth a number and key that to the second display where you show a sectioned ooth and put a small pic of each mantis to illustrate the names in the key.
Now, if you find that the drab color of most of the ooths makes the display a bit dull, take some bottles of food coloring, and...
joossa
Well-known member
Large to small is eye catching. However, I think alphabetical order (by genus of course) would be the most formal/professional.
PhilinYuma
Well-known member
Why? 99% of the folks who admire Rick's display don't know what a genus is, and you want them alphabetical?
Yep. Bugfest is 85% children. Maybe I will rearrange it later when I get bored.Why? 99% of the folks who admire Rick's display don't know what a genus is, and you want them alphabetical?
But children must be educated correctly, as old habits die hard. Many people (even seasoned zoologists) get it wrong and it is terrible: Binomial names are only correct if the genus name is capitalised, the specific name is NOT capitalised, and both names are either underlined or italicised.
Creobroter gemmatus is not correct.
Creobroter Gemmatus is not correct.
creobroter Gemmatus is not correct.
Creobroter gemmatus and Creobroter gemmatus are correct.
This way we all understand each other and people get used to writing them like that. Remember you are educating future entomologists! Best of luck, I think it's brilliant what you are doing. Your display certainly has some interesting specimens. Arranging them with similar looking ones together is in my view the most effective way, I guess large to small as well would work and look good.
All the best!
Maria
Yes, we determined that early on. The names are correct on the display. We were talking about the order in which the ooths are in.
