UIowa put out a short news story about our lab’s gall wasp work! Take a look if you want to see the excellent work that our students are doing.

However small my role may be, I’m proud to be a part of this research! @lordforbington.bsky.social @toomanywasps.bsky.social @guerin-brown.bsky.social

stories.uiowa.edu/galls-thieve...

Scientists!

@skypeascientist.bsky.social matches scientists with classrooms, libraries, & more for virtual Q&As! It's easy and fun!

We are looking for 750 more volunteers by 8/15

If you're down to chat with 1-5 classrooms this semester, sign up here
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html

There's a new episode of the Arthro-Pod podcast out. We interviewed @toomanywasps.bsky.social about gall wasps, especially the understudied herb gall wasps.

www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xcecc...

New #gall #wasp paper in PESW! We provide an updated key, checklist, and commentary for the four tribes of “herb gall wasps” including some nomenclatural changes. Check it out here: bioone.org/journals/pro...

New #gall #wasp paper in PESW! We provide an updated key, checklist, and commentary for the four tribes of “herb gall wasps” including some nomenclatural changes. Check it out here: bioone.org/journals/pro...

RT for anyone who might want to know more about free flashcard software for memorizing things

Such as bug names

I will be working more on oaks during my postdoc which I start in August - I’d be happy to receive some samples if you’re willing to send them!

Indeed a wasp gall! But it doesn’t appear to be a described species! More info can be found on GallFormers here: www.gallformers.org/gall/4590

I've been told that it's #InsectWeek and that I should plug my work.

I'm so bad at marketing... Uhhhhh... Buy my books...!

www.owlflyllc.com/publishing

OH MY GOD it's online and it's free!! I made it for YOU keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/botw/

@codeymathis.bsky.social pop quiz

I am an expert and top identifier for several difficult-to-recognize groups. I did not contribute my knowledge to this platform only for it to be scraped and contributed to misleading generative AI features. It’s not too late to reverse course! I assure you that your users did not ask for this.

Please enjoy this ridiculously cute butterfly, which was about the size of my pinkie fingernail. It's in the butterfly family called metalmarks (Riodinidae). Males, like these, have reduced front legs and perch using only the rear 4 (females can use all 6). Sarota acantus; Costa Rica 🐙🌿 #insects

My defense went extremely well, so it’s time to update your contacts to Dr. Nastasi!!! We recorded the seminar for anyone who was unable to attend over zoom- send me a DM if interested!

Probably still better than having to establish a dozen genera to fix a trash can genus?

I got hits for all four IDs in one server - thanks for sharing! We have a lot of people sharing art, writing, etc so keeping these bots at bay is super important

It's a good time to remind folks that you can't do the "high impact big picture studies" without the "not worth publication because it's only of regional interest" localities and the "merely specimen ID and taxonomy" research.

Hey folks, my #entomology doctoral #dissertation defense seminar is May 30th from 2-3pm Eastern / 6-7pm UTC! Join in person in at 118 ASI or via Zoom (info on flyer or DM me for a direct link!). Come learn about my five years of #gall #wasp #research!

Just sent my dissertation to my committee... time to start preparing for my defense on May 30th!

So my girlfriend is an amazing stop motion animator, and she recently did a medieval cat themed bumper for Adult Swim!

Sharing it here because she only has Instagram and I think everyone needs to see her animations. She's so freaking talented, y'alls. PLEASE go follow her!

Posting this rather colorful and snazzy-looking gall midge (Cecidomyiidae) I found in the Mojave Desert recently for #flyweek !

Thanks for your encouragement, folks. As always, it gives me a little shot of enthusiasm. Here's a look at some more of my concept pages. My idea was to have some general pages that explain the fundamentals, then focus on individuals.

Important to remind everyone that this is an ILLEGAL DIRECTIVE from the Executive Branch (impoundment).