In this episode, botanist Nathanael Pilla sits down with naturalist Charley Eiseman to dive into the curious, often overlooked world of sawflies. In this conversation Charley and Nathanael highlight why thinking deeply about the natural world can lead to some incredible discoveries and how little we actually know about the world around us.

Make sure to follow Charley at www.charleyeiseman.com or support him through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/bugtracks

In this episode, botanist Nathanael Pilla joins in a conversation with entomologist Dr. John Heraty as they explore the spectacular superfamily of Chalcidoidea.

These tiny wasps are out-of-this-world with their specialized evolutionary relationships and stunning morphology! In this episode, John shares his infectious enthusiasm for these incredible creatures, focusing on the really cool life cycle of the Eucharitidae and their highly specialized relationships with ants.

Dr. John Heraty is the co-editor and an authors of the new book “Chalcidoidea of the World” (CABI, 2025).

Make sure to check out the Chalcid 101 website too!

What does orchid mimicry, rock music, and vanilla have in common? All three are topics of this week's episode. Join botanist Nathanael Pilla as he converses with orchid specialist and author Adam Karremans. They dive deep into the world of orchid sex, the science of why vanilla tastes so good, and the reason rock song titles found their way into Adam's latest book.

To purchase Karremans' book, "Demystifying Orchid Pollination Stories of Sex, Lies and Obsession", click here or wherever you buy your books.

Make sure to check out his ongoing research at https://www.adamkarremans.com/research/