Page 28 - atoday

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SCIENCEMonday 19 October 2015

Public has chance to name new moth species

ASTRID GALVAN This undated photo provided by Eric H. Metzler shows a new proceeds. auctioned off the naming
Associated Press species of moth, discovered by Metzler, that will be named by “I am not a rich man and I rights to a newly discov-
TUCSON, Arizona (AP) — the lucky winner of an online auction whose proceeds will ben- don’t have a lot of money ered type of sea lily.
An auction on eBay allows efit the Western National Parks Association, which has funded to give to charity but this is The university’s public af-
the public to make a dif- some of Metzler’s research. the way I could give them fairs department touted it
ferent kind of purchase. Up money in the form of ser- as a once-in-a-lifetime op-
for sale: naming rights to a Associated Press vice. I could use my brains portunity, suggesting it was
new insect. to help them,” Metzler said. the perfect holiday gift that
A moth that weighs less But Metzler wanted to give his research. So he asked The auction went live Satur- would also help benefit the
than an ounce (28 grams) back to the Western Na- the organization to start an day on eBay and ends Oct. school’s Oceanographic
and measures about an tional Parks Association, online auction for the nam- 23. Bidding starts at $500. Center. The winner of the
inch (2.5 centimeters) was which has funded some of ing rights and to take the “When are you ever go- auction, a Florida resident,
discovered eight years ing to have the oppor- shelled out $6,150. The sea
ago at White Sands Na- tunity to have your own lily hasn’t been officially
tional Monument in New moth named after you?” named yet as it’s still under-
Mexico by entomologist said Amy Reichgott, devel- going a peer-review pro-
Eric H. Metzler. opment manager for the cess, university spokesman
The rigorous process to Western National Parks As- Joe Donzelli said.
have a new species ap- sociation. The winner will Reichgott knows a moth
proved has taken several work with Metzler to Lati- may be even less appeal-
years, but now Metzler, nize the name. An interna- ing than a sea lily, so the or-
a volunteer at the park, tional organization has to ganization sent out emails
is ready to give his flying approve the name. Others reminding members and
friend a name. have auctioned off naming others that moths are but-
That honor is usually be- rights with varied success. terflies without the bright
stowed on the person who Last year, Nova Southeast- colors that fly at night, not
made the finding. ern University, for example, the daytime.q

Rat race: With complaints on rise, NYC redoubles efforts

MICHAEL BALSAMO ging a large cheese slice plaints she filed with the city quickly enough to rat com- rising complaint numbers
Associated Press down a subway stairwell. were closed after officials plaints, and the Metropoli- don’t mean there are more
NEW YORK (AP) — To many Nora Prentice, who lives on told her they were “working tan Transportation Author- rats, and they argue the
in New York City, the rats Manhattan’s Upper West on the problem.” ity, which runs the subways, rat population has actually
are winning The city’s com- Side, has repeatedly com- “It means you can’t lay for not cleaning stations been holding steady the
plaint hotline is on pace for plained to the city about a down and relax in that more regularly. Such break- past few years.
a record year of rat calls, colony of about 200 rats in park,” she said. “What kind downs, he says, have al- A Columbia University
exceeding the more than a neighborhood park. of an answer is this?” lowed rats to thrive. doctoral student using sta-
24,000 over each of the last “It’s like the Burning Man of Such gripes have found an “I’ve seen rats walking up- tistical analysis last year
two years. Blistering audits rats,” she said. “They’re just advocate in Comptroller right, saying, ‘Good morn- estimated the number of
have faulted efforts to fight sitting there in a lawn chair Scott Stringer, the city’s top ing, Mr. Comptroller,’” he rats in the city at 2 million,
what one official called a waiting for you. . I don’t financial officer, who has said. “It’s unsightly to see claiming to debunk a pop-
“rat crisis.” And even jad- know what the city can do taken on the self-appoint- rats running through neigh- ular theory that there is one
ed New Yorkers were both about this rat condomini- ed role of rat czar. In sepa- borhoods like they actu- rat for each of the city’s 8.4
disgusted and a little im- um. It’s really gross.” rate audits over the past ally bought a co-op some- million people. But scientists
pressed by “Pizza Rat,” the Prentice said that she two years, he has criticized where.” New York officials and city officials say it’s im-
plucky rodent in a recent vi- avoids the area because the city’s health depart- who have been fighting possible to accurately esti-
ral YouTube clip seen drag- of the rats and that com- ment for not responding the battle for decades say mate the number. q