Ian Smith
@ecologian.bsky.social
Anthropic landscape ecology, building natural capital, and entomology.
Social media director of Australian Entomological Society. 🇦🇺🐜🌿
Social media director of Australian Entomological Society. 🇦🇺🐜🌿
Good chance of aurora sightings in Melbourne tonight.
November 12, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Good chance of aurora sightings in Melbourne tonight.
Just lost a job interview because it's a temporary position and I'm currently under a temporary position within the same organisation, even though they are completely different roles.
Well thought out law that one.
Well thought out law that one.
November 12, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Just lost a job interview because it's a temporary position and I'm currently under a temporary position within the same organisation, even though they are completely different roles.
Well thought out law that one.
Well thought out law that one.
Indigenous flowers in my garden.
October 27, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Indigenous flowers in my garden.
If you are looking for something to do this weekend, now's the time to go for a nature walk and see the wild flowers
October 24, 2025 at 2:21 AM
If you are looking for something to do this weekend, now's the time to go for a nature walk and see the wild flowers
My indigenous garden is starting to gain attention! Hopefully this blue tongue will help remove all the snails.
October 18, 2025 at 1:55 AM
My indigenous garden is starting to gain attention! Hopefully this blue tongue will help remove all the snails.
Reposted by Ian Smith
Bridesmaid no more. Congratulations to the Tawny Frogmouth 🏆
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Tawny frogmouth named 2025 Australian bird of the year winner
Perennial runner up finally claims the crown in the biennial Guardian/BirdLife Australia poll, ahead of Baudin’s black cockatoo and gang-gang cockatoo
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Bridesmaid no more. Congratulations to the Tawny Frogmouth 🏆
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Ian Smith
Guess which idiot is now seeking this induction pack under FOI?
The Albanese govt’s first term was the second most secretive on record.
Rather than changing their ways, they’re doubling down and tightening our FOI system to make it even harder to get information. Not a single expert or member of parliament outside of the Labor party has backed their new bill.
Rather than changing their ways, they’re doubling down and tightening our FOI system to make it even harder to get information. Not a single expert or member of parliament outside of the Labor party has backed their new bill.
October 12, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Guess which idiot is now seeking this induction pack under FOI?
Not sure what insect did these holes, how interesting.
October 12, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Not sure what insect did these holes, how interesting.
Anyone know what this plant is? 2 plants came from one tubestock and I can't recall what I brought.
October 11, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Anyone know what this plant is? 2 plants came from one tubestock and I can't recall what I brought.
Reposted by Ian Smith
Plume moth larvae, brought in to Australia to eat horehound. Lots around on my hound but they're not controlling it. Now what else can I do with horehound?
October 6, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Plume moth larvae, brought in to Australia to eat horehound. Lots around on my hound but they're not controlling it. Now what else can I do with horehound?
Common halfband hoverfly attracted to the indigenous cut leaf daisy.
Good for the garden as pollinator and preditor of aphids.
Good for the garden as pollinator and preditor of aphids.
October 1, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Common halfband hoverfly attracted to the indigenous cut leaf daisy.
Good for the garden as pollinator and preditor of aphids.
Good for the garden as pollinator and preditor of aphids.
How you can tell your soil has lots of insect activity. #birdsbeingbirds
September 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
How you can tell your soil has lots of insect activity. #birdsbeingbirds
My article I wrote for HortInsights is now published in their spring edition:
www.linkedin.com/company/aust...
www.linkedin.com/company/aust...
September 17, 2025 at 5:21 AM
My article I wrote for HortInsights is now published in their spring edition:
www.linkedin.com/company/aust...
www.linkedin.com/company/aust...
Shout out to the person in my neighbourhood who is burning plastic in their fireplace.
September 5, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Shout out to the person in my neighbourhood who is burning plastic in their fireplace.
Reposted by Ian Smith
The idea that mass immigration is to blame for the housing crisis doesn't stack up when you look at the data.
Over the past 20 years the amount of housing in Australia has actually increased faster than the population has grown! 📈
@elinorjohnstonleek.bsky.social #auspol
Over the past 20 years the amount of housing in Australia has actually increased faster than the population has grown! 📈
@elinorjohnstonleek.bsky.social #auspol
August 29, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The idea that mass immigration is to blame for the housing crisis doesn't stack up when you look at the data.
Over the past 20 years the amount of housing in Australia has actually increased faster than the population has grown! 📈
@elinorjohnstonleek.bsky.social #auspol
Over the past 20 years the amount of housing in Australia has actually increased faster than the population has grown! 📈
@elinorjohnstonleek.bsky.social #auspol
Melbourne Airport, are we sure Icarus is the best statue for an airport? Like if I recall the ending of the legend correctly...
August 23, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Melbourne Airport, are we sure Icarus is the best statue for an airport? Like if I recall the ending of the legend correctly...
Light brown apple moths are out. (and my grapevine doesn't even have leaves yet)
August 14, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Light brown apple moths are out. (and my grapevine doesn't even have leaves yet)
Helped out a primary school tree planting event, some kids asked about beetle larvae they found and I told explained. This cemented me as the contact point for all insects and when they left, the feedback of the day was insects were the best part... Didn't mean to hijack the environmental message 😅
August 13, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Helped out a primary school tree planting event, some kids asked about beetle larvae they found and I told explained. This cemented me as the contact point for all insects and when they left, the feedback of the day was insects were the best part... Didn't mean to hijack the environmental message 😅
Reposted by Ian Smith
The Bogong Storytellers project seeks to learn what bogong moths mean to people across Australia. Share your story and support conservation by completing their survey: buff.ly/pKca3Co
August 13, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The Bogong Storytellers project seeks to learn what bogong moths mean to people across Australia. Share your story and support conservation by completing their survey: buff.ly/pKca3Co
My olive harvest actually turned out well. Surprise surprise.
August 9, 2025 at 2:16 AM
My olive harvest actually turned out well. Surprise surprise.
Wattles are starting to bloom and I saw my first hoverfly of the season, spring is getting close. The ant is Chelaner kiliani, the 6th genus of ant I've found in my suburban backyard (7th if you include alates).
August 5, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Wattles are starting to bloom and I saw my first hoverfly of the season, spring is getting close. The ant is Chelaner kiliani, the 6th genus of ant I've found in my suburban backyard (7th if you include alates).
Funny how much widely reported ecology research is just "have you tried reducing the stocking rate and rotational grazing?"
Aspen trees are growing taller in Yellowstone thanks to wolves that prey on elk, which graze on trees.
Since wolves’ return, Yellowstone’s aspens are recovering, study finds
The researchers found a 152-fold increase in sapling and young-tree density.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 2, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Funny how much widely reported ecology research is just "have you tried reducing the stocking rate and rotational grazing?"
Apparently if you store okonomiyaki batter in the fridge overnight when using red cabbage, you end up with the most off putting vivid blue okonomiyaki 😂
August 2, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Apparently if you store okonomiyaki batter in the fridge overnight when using red cabbage, you end up with the most off putting vivid blue okonomiyaki 😂
Picked up my akubra from being resized in the city. Easiest way to carry it was to wear it. I imagine I looked like I'd jumped off the vline.
August 1, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Picked up my akubra from being resized in the city. Easiest way to carry it was to wear it. I imagine I looked like I'd jumped off the vline.
Reposted by Ian Smith
Only one week left to apply for AES Student Travel Grants!!
This grant is to support student attendance at the 5th Combined Australian and New Zealand Entomological Societies Conference.
⏰ Closing date: 8 August 2025 ⏰
For details visit: buff.ly/ZkKpoOL
This grant is to support student attendance at the 5th Combined Australian and New Zealand Entomological Societies Conference.
⏰ Closing date: 8 August 2025 ⏰
For details visit: buff.ly/ZkKpoOL
Student Travel Grants
Images provided by Peter Chew www.brisbaneinsects.com
buff.ly
July 31, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Only one week left to apply for AES Student Travel Grants!!
This grant is to support student attendance at the 5th Combined Australian and New Zealand Entomological Societies Conference.
⏰ Closing date: 8 August 2025 ⏰
For details visit: buff.ly/ZkKpoOL
This grant is to support student attendance at the 5th Combined Australian and New Zealand Entomological Societies Conference.
⏰ Closing date: 8 August 2025 ⏰
For details visit: buff.ly/ZkKpoOL