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Dr. Robert Breene
Last updated on Monday, December 23, 2002
Having earned a B.S. in entomology, a masters in soil and crop science, and a Ph.D. in entomology, all from Texas A&M University in College Station, Robert Breene is pretty sure that, "I are an triple aggie," but isn't absolutely certain. Breene teaches entomology, ecology, invertebrate zoology and other courses at the Carlsbad campus of the College of the Southwest. He is the editor "head honcho" of the American Tarantula Society (since 1991), the largest arachnid society in the world, which publishes a magazine, a scientific journal, and sells educational materials and arachnids. He has 35 scientific publications (including three books). Otherwise, Breene specializes in popular science articles, editorials, and satire with over 700 total articles (and three more books) published in many newspapers and magazines (this is cheating, because many ran in more than one newspaper and/or magazine, but he counts them all anyway).
Dr. Robert (Spider Bob) G. Breene III He is a consultant for some children's book publishers and wonders why they won't have him just write the whole thing instead of having to clean up all the messes those authors make. He is also chair of the Committee on Common Names of Arachnids of the American Arachnological Society. Breene lives in Carlsbad, New Mexico, because that's about as far as one can get from large quantities of humans, and deserts and caves are always a lot of interesting fun.
Books by R. G. Breene Available from the ATS web site:
Spider Bob's Animal Odysseys I: Tales of Arachnids: Spiders, Scorpions & Others. 1997 2nd Ed By R. G. Breene
Spider Bob's Animal Odysseys II: Tales of Myriapods & Magnificent Insects. 1997 By R. G. Breene
Tarantulas of Texas With Their Medical Importance and World-Wide Bibliography to the Theraphosidae (Araneae). By R. G. Breene, D. A. Dean, J. C. Cokendolpher & B. H. Reger
Common Names of Arachnids 2nd Ed. By R. G. Breene (Chair) Committee on Common Names of Arachnids of the American Arachnological Society. 1997Manuals Available from the ATS web site:
Widow Spiders of North America With a Bibliography. By R. G. Breene 1997
Recluse Spiders & The Hobo Spider in North America With a Bibliography. By R. G. Breene 1997
All About Fire Ants; What Your Entomologist Will Never Tell You. By R. G. Breene 1997
ATS Arthropod Medical Manual. By R. G. Breene 1998
Concise Care Guide For the 80 Plus Most Common Tarantulas. By R. G. Breene, & M. R. O'Brien 1998Articles by Robert Breene
The arachnid order of whipscorpions is a small one (called Uropygi, with about 130 species in two families worldwide). Of the two U.S. species, only one is common in places: Mastigoproctus giganteus, the giant vinegaroon, and it's also the largest species in the entire order. This species is supposed to extend throughout the southern states from Florida to California, but West Texas, Arizona and New Mexico are the places they are seen the most. Windscorpions (order Solifugae) got their name because they seem to "run like the wind." They're a hyper group of arachnids with about 1,000 species world-wide. Perhaps 120 or so species are present in then U.S., with most seen in the arid Southwest. Some species reach nearly three inches in length. This qualifies them as one of the largest arachnids. Most hide during the day and come out at night to scamper about in a frenzied search for food or a mate, but some species (mostly in Africa) are active during the day.
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