mutillidae - Network

Males of all North American velvet-ant species are winged, although males of Myrmilloides grandiceps are brachypterous—the wings are...

Males of all North American velvet-ant species are winged, although males of Myrmilloides grandiceps are brachypterous—the wings are present, but they're tiny and non-functional.

The intimidation factor of the large mandibles is offset by the derpy-looking wings, in my opinion. 😀

I thoroughly enjoyed the ECN/ESA meetings this year in National Harbor.Is it too soon to be thinking about #ECN2024? 😀#EntSoc23 #ECN2023...

I thoroughly enjoyed the ECN/ESA meetings this year in National Harbor.

Is it too soon to be thinking about #ECN2024? 😀

#EntSoc23 #ECN2023 #NaturalHistoryCollections

the Eyes have it...Here's a robber fly in the genus Holcocepha for #Flyday Friday.#NaturalHistoryCollections #Taxonomy

the Eyes have it...

Here's a robber fly in the genus Holcocepha for #Flyday Friday.

#NaturalHistoryCollections
#Taxonomy

Did you know...filament for 3D printing is available in a variety of colors?Including translucent white?#NaturalHistoryCollections...

Did you know...

filament for 3D printing is available in a variety of colors?

Including translucent white?

#NaturalHistoryCollections #Macrophotography #MakeYourOwnDiffuser

This might be a cause for concern in most other situations, but not in a natural history collection!#NaturalHistoryCollections #Entomology...

This might be a cause for concern in most other situations, but not in a natural history collection!

#NaturalHistoryCollections #Entomology #Insects

Curation Station.#NaturalHistoryCollections#Taxonomy #Insects

Curation Station.

#NaturalHistoryCollections
#Taxonomy
#Insects

I've been playing around with new diffusers for our focus-stacking system. I like how this image turned out.#Insects #Entomology...

I've been playing around with new diffusers for our focus-stacking system. I like how this image turned out.
#Insects #Entomology #Taxonomy #Ochodaeidae #Macrophotography

Yesterday, we picked up the second half of a specimen donation that will...ah...significantly increase our holdings of Odonata!...

Yesterday, we picked up the second half of a specimen donation that will...ah...significantly increase our holdings of Odonata! 🐉🪰

#NaturalHistoryCollections #Curation #Entomology #Dragonflies #Taxonomy

So, I'd really love to connect with more entomologists on this platform. Please feel free to follow if you love insects (or are...

So, I'd really love to connect with more entomologists on this platform. Please feel free to follow if you love insects (or are insect-adjacent).
#Entomology #Hymenoptera #Taxonomy #Insect #CanYouIdentifyThisFamily

This is a lovely, lovely beetle.This species of spider beetle is considered a cosmopolitan pest of natural history collections.It's a...

This is a lovely, lovely beetle.

This species of spider beetle is considered a cosmopolitan pest of natural history collections.

It's a amazing creature, none the less.

#Insect #Beetle #NaturalHistoryCollections
#Taxonomy
#Macrophotography

So, who got the coolest Christmas gift this year?Me. The answer is me. 🍷🦇

So, who got the coolest Christmas gift this year?

Me. The answer is me. 🍷🦇

CW: Very awesome insect picture behind the blurry screen.This is a mosaic gynandromorph. I think bilateral gynandromorph images are shared...

CW: Very awesome insect picture behind the blurry screen.

This is a mosaic gynandromorph. I think bilateral gynandromorph images are shared more frequently—maybe because bilateral gynandromorphs are more obvious? Anyway, females of this species of velvet-ant are almost entirely orange-ish. The black head on this specimen looks like the males of the species. Also, in this family of insects, only males have ocelli (simple eyes) on the top of the head.

#Insects #Macrophotography

OK, where shall I start the bidding for this fine pair of forceps? 😀 #Entomology#Curation #NaturalHistoryCollections#CollectorsItem

OK, where shall I start the bidding for this fine pair of forceps? 😀

#Entomology
#Curation
#NaturalHistoryCollections
#CollectorsItem

I am giving a talk this Saturday at the annual meeting of the Entomological Collections Network (ECN). This is by far my favorite annual...

I am giving a talk this Saturday at the annual meeting of the Entomological Collections Network (ECN). This is by far my favorite annual meeting go to each year.

I'll be discussing the importance of mid-sized, regional #NaturalHistoryCollections when looking at occurrence data (for insect specimens, in this case).

I think this image captures the impact regional collections can have on filling species' data gaps.

This is a close-up image of an insect.Yay! I CAN share images. You were right, @Cyborgneticz , the server(s) was being upgraded over the...

This is a close-up image of an insect.

Yay! I CAN share images. You were right, @Cyborgneticz , the server(s) was being upgraded over the weekend.

This is is fairly typical of the types of posts I will likely make, i.e., close-up shots of #insects, often in the order #Hymenoptera, although really all insects are fair game.

#Macrophotography #NaturalHistoryCollections #Mutillidae

Deleted original and redrafted with CW, as requested! #MastodonNewbie

Apparently I cannot post images. I haven’t been able to successfully attach an image via a browser on my computer. I tried using different...

Apparently I cannot post images. I haven’t been able to successfully attach an image via a browser on my computer. I tried using different computers and different browsers. I just tried via the phone app and it seemed promising—I uploaded an image and added alt-text—but the ‘publish’ button is grayed out! When I delete the image, the publish button is suddenly active. So frustrating. Apparently I am not smart enough to master a new social media platform. I am just so so tired.

I'm the curator of an insect collection at a midwestern U.S. university. I enjoy posts and discussions about #NaturalHistoryCollections...

I'm the curator of an insect collection at a midwestern U.S. university. I enjoy posts and discussions about #NaturalHistoryCollections , #Taxonomy , #Insects , and pretty much all biology & science. #introductions