Varroa Brainteaser - QI

[redpola]

I watched an episode of QI the other day in which they posed the question of what animal has the same common name as its latin name. They could only find one - the Boa Constrictor.

I humbly submitted that our friend, Varroa Destructor is another such example.

Agree? Disagree?

I'm no zoologist / biologist / linguist, but it seems to me that "common usage" includes "what beekeepers talk about a lot", and "varroa" is surely just a truncation for brevity of the common name?

Thread here: http://www.qi.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=19162

Neil.

 

[justme]

 

[Brosville]

I am in deep admiration for anyone who can sit through an entire episode of that smugfest of pretension - I find that about 2 minutes of the entirely odious Fry is sufficient for me to be leaping for the channel remote (lest the TV suffer irreparable damage)
A few examples of common latin usage spring to mind - RATtus rattus, bovine, vulpine, canine..........

 

[drstitson]

latin faunal terminology in common usage is NOT the same as latin names:

bovine - you mean bos taurus

 

[Brosville]

late latin "bovinus"

and as a movie buff may phrase it "Tu, rattus turpis!"

 

[Black Comb]

I am in deep admiration for anyone who can sit through an entire episode of that smugfest of pretension - I find that about 2 minutes of the entirely odious Fry is sufficient for me to be leaping for the channel remote (lest the TV suffer irreparable damage)
A few examples of common latin usage spring to mind - RATtus rattus, bovine, vulpine, canine..........

 

[Hebeegeebee]

I find that about 2 minutes of the entirely odious Fry is sufficient for me to be leaping for the channel remote (lest the TV suffer irreparable damage)

So you don't follow Fry's tweets then.

 

[Brosville]

- he goes to prove that only twats tweet!

 

[BeeNice]

I hate opinionated people too!!

 

[itma]

I watched an episode of QI the other day in which ...

Don't make the mistake of thinking that they are authoritative.
Sometimes I think they must have got their info from Wikipedia!
The programme is 'light entertainment'.

On the other hand "Only Connect" is (in a good way) a challenge.

 

[Brosville]

And the quizmaster (mistress?) is certainly nowhere near as annoying, a lot easier on the eye, and actually does possess a sparkling intellect!

 

[greatbritishhoney]

Just to be contraversial....I actually quite like Stephen Fry. His current series on Language has been quite interesting (no pun intended) and I still find myself laughing at remembered scenes from A Bit of Fry and Laurie..

(Not very keen on QI though)

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwo8qxUit00[/ame]

 

[Brosville]

I'm afraid he's one of my "fingernails down a blackboard" TV presenters (wince-makingly awful - instant channel change job) - along with Jonathan Woss, Melvyn Bragg, and Harry Hill...

 

[greatbritishhoney]

I'm afraid he's one of my "fingernails down a blackboard" TV presenters (wince-makingly awful - instant channel change job) - along with Jonathan Woss, Melvyn Bragg, and Harry Hill...

I like Melvyn Bragg too In Our Time on R4 is excellent.
You can keep Wossy and Hill though.

My mum hates some TV presenters so much that she has to scribble out their faces on the TV guide (Ann Robinson - case in point)

 

[Storm™]

Stephen Fry - Rich, Intelligent, famous, beloved of the British and world alike and a total ambassador for many important things. Brosville - not so much. I can see why you hate him so lol. He speaks highly of you btw lol. Only kidding, but he is great.

However the OP was about QI - I watched that episode. The actual thing about it was, that the name did not change. So no, Varroa Destructor is known as Varroa in common parlance. Boa is not just referred to as Boa, but Boa Constrictor to define it from a feather Boa.

Wossy on the other hand would do well to shut up and let his guests actually talk. That not forthcoming I suggest we club together to have him shot.

 

[Arfermo]

I like Melvyn Bragg too In Our Time on R4 is excellent.
You can keep Wossy and Hill though.

My mum hates some TV presenters so much that she has to scribble out their faces on the TV guide (Ann Robinson - case in point)

Bar Melvyn bloody awful that lot.

 

[psafloyd]

- he goes to prove that only twats tweet!

I'd have thought that would be difficult using an instrument designed for digits...

 

[Drew]

I am in deep admiration for anyone who can sit through an entire episode of that smugfest of pretension - I find that about 2 minutes of the entirely odious Fry is sufficient for me to be leaping for the channel remote (lest the TV suffer irreparable damage)
A few examples of common latin usage spring to mind - RATtus rattus, bovine, vulpine, canine..........

Mr Keeeetle! Mr KETTLE! There is a Mr Pot here to meet you!

I don't mind if you don't like Mr Fry - each to his own but "Common latin usage"! You are kidding right?

 

[For want of a better word]

Whats Latin for DAVE then?

 

[tonybloke]

I like Melvyn Bragg too In Our Time on R4 is excellent.

a superb series, well presented by one of Britains great polymaths