iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Ash Whiffin

Entomological Collections Network @entcollnet.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

#SaveTheAcademy Our position in regard to the resolution about the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. This issue deeply affects our community, with many members having visited or worked closely with the academy over the years. We stand with @savetheacademy.bsky.social

The Entomological Collections Network is a society dedicated to uplifting natural history collections around the globe. We are deeply affected by the sudden announcement to close the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Museum, which is the oldest natural history museum in all the Americas. We stand behind the critical importance of not only safeguarding research collections for scientific use but also making outreach and educational displays that are available to all. At its core, a museum is a bridge to the community connection with the collections. And this connection is perhaps more important now than ever because of the continual threats to biodiversity around the globe and rising documented disconnect between the public and nature. It is through this institution and so many like it that we all can spark wonder and cultivate joy in the natural world, for an untold number of people of all ages and walks of life.

Shuttering a museum that provides a tangible connection to the natural world sends a shocking statement about what priorities are being set with regards to education and caring for the community in which we live. Although Drexel has expressed its intention to retain the research collection, it has presented no plan for the monumental task of safely moving their more than 19 million specimens and establishing a suitable facility to house it. As a Society we urge the City of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, and Drexel University to do what is best for the Academy of Natural Sciences’ collections, research, and public museum by exploring any creative avenue to ensure that this center of education and exploration can continue to inspire for generations.

From the Governing Board of the Entomological Collections Network
Isa Betancourt
Patrick Gorring
Adam Haberski
Andrew Johnston
Oliver Keller
Pete Oboyski
Ashleigh Whiffin
Jack Whisenant
Chris Wirth

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Patrick Barkham @patrickbarkham.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I've written Joe Harkness's obituary for the Guardian. I hope it pays good tribute to a wonderful man who was brave, honest and made the world a better place. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

Joe Harkness obituary

Writer, teacher and naturalist who explored the effects of the natural world on neurodivergency

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Clare Boyes @pickeletto.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

It's 5 years since Douglas died. Some lovely friends organised a fundraiser for their birthdays with the proceeds going to the Diarsia fund run by @savebutterflies.bsky.social to fund research into UK lepidoptera declines. Feel free to contribute here. Thank you. www.justgiving.com/page/tom-ter...

justgiving.com

Tom & Tereza's fundraiser for Butterfly Conservation (The Diarsia Awards)

Help Tom Hayek raise money to support Butterfly Conservation

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Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Please repost! Drexel announced that it will close the Academy of Natural Sciences public museum- the oldest nat history museum in the US. There are 2 petitions to support the academy. Please sign both & come to our rally Tues. actionnetwork.org/petitions/pe... www.change.org/p/the-academ...

A poster featuring the T-Rex at the cognitive natural sciences, which says save the Academy natural sciences, museum rally in front of the academy 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, Tuesday, September 8 10 AM. The T-Rex is saying tell Drexel keep the museum open. There’s an RSVP QR code and then the logos of Philly Science Action Skype scientist In Philly on the bottom.

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Erin Biba @erinbiba.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

A country actively hostile to science has enabled Drexel to close a 200-year-old museum for “financial reasons”. I personally refuse to believe they had no choice but to do this. Money always flows in the direction where priorities are set. This is devastating.

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🍁 Alex Smith 🍁 @alexsmithants.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

🧪 🪲🐜🐛🦟🦗🐞🦋 How many insect species & why it matters. Have a listen to @dirch3.bsky.social speaking with #CBC radio about our recent @pnas.org paper about raising old insect diversity estimates! doi.org/10.1073/pnas... www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

cbc.ca

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

How do you digitise 325,000 insect specimens? Put them on conveyor belts! 🪰🐝🦋📸 Earlier this week, I went behind the scenes at the NMNH to see this mass digitization set-up in action! Thank you @tdikow.bsky.social & the Picturae team for hosting me! Find out more here: m.youtube.com/watch?v=-OSe...

Insect specimens with labels removed and placed on holders ready to be moved around on conveyers and taken for imaging. System designed and run by Picturae.

Digitiser working at one of the specimen stations to return specimens to their original location in the drawer and prepare and send out a new specimen.

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

We currently have TWO collections-based vacancies at National Museums Scotland! As part of the upcoming DiSSCo UK program, we’re seeking a Digitiser and Senior digitiser to work with our insect collection: careers.nms.ac.uk/vacancies (Apply by 31st August) #Digitisation #Insects #MuseumJobs

Preserved bumblebee specimens with data labels below each individual

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Entomological Collections Network @entcollnet.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Do you work with insect collections? Yes?! Then we hope to see you at #ECN2026! 🪲 When: November Friday 6 - Saturday 7, 2026 Where: Columbus Hilton Downtown hotel, Ohio That’s right folks, we’re trialling something new and starting a day earlier than usual. We really hope you can join us!

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Craig B @mutillidae.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Here's the working prototype of my setup. It's a 3D-printed black block with a socket to hold a watch glass, and a 3D-printed diffuser that sits on top of the block. Recessing the glass greatly reduces stray light & glare. #NaturalHistoryCollections #Macrophotography #FocusStacking #DIYImagingStage

This is a close up of the imaging set up I made to image the water penny. There's a 3D printed black block with a socket to hold a standard watch glass on the left, with an actual watch glass sitting atop the block on its right edge. On the right edge of the block is a off white 3D-printed diffuser, roughly shaped like a hollowed out hemisphere, with large circular openings on the top and bottom. The bottom rim of the diffuser fits into a recess on the top of the block holding the watch glass. The pieces are setting on a light grey bench top in front of a white wall.

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Beetles reign supreme! 😆🪲

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

This DAZZLING beauty is a Ruby-tailed wasp (also known as a Jewel wasp), in the family Chrysididae. They’re a real treat to watch but on a hot day, boy are they FAST! Their incredible iridescent bodies might catch your eye, but it can be hard to keep up… #InsectWeek

A tiny wasp rests on my thumbnail. Its head and thorax is metallic blue and its abdomen is a golden pink.

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Schnoz to schnoz 👃🏻 Adult Drinker moths (Euthrix potatoria) are always a joy to see, with their chunky fluffy bodies, those rich warm tones of orange and brown, big black eyes and their adorable little snoots. I couldn’t resist going nose to nose with this one recently. Happy #InsectWeek!

Cheeky selfie with a Drinker moth perched on my nose

A side view of the Drinker moth on the top of my finger

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Royal Entomological Society @royentsoc.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

#InsectWeek is back and bigger than ever 🪰 Whether you're fascinated by butterflies, curious about beetles or simply want to spend more time connecting with nature, there's something for everyone! Join us in celebrating the little things that run the world 🔽 buff.ly/gCVYfHw #StandTallForTheSmall

buff.ly

Insect Week 2026 Expands Across Five City Hubs to Inspire a New Generation of Nature Champions

The Royal Entomological Society announces ambitious nationwide programme for Insect Week 2026 On the leadup to a big week in the insect science community, the Royal Entomological Society has unveiled…

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Adrián Sánchez Albert 🐛 @adsalbert.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Between error and discovery ⚖️ #NHMs house lots of labelled specimens; some representing occurrences outside spp known distributions! 🗺️🪲 But, how do we know we are seeing an actual collection event rather than a mislabelling error? Today we talk about an unresolved case! ⤵️ doi.org/10.7717/peer...

A collage of two images showing a high-resolution dorsal photograph of a brownish beetle (Acentroptera norrisii), and the screenshot of the cited article titled: "The enigmatic historical record of the leaf beetle Acentroptera norrisii in Spain: failed biological introduction or curatorial artefact?".

Source: my own
Photo credits: A. Sánchez Albert and MNCN-CSIC

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Dendroxena quadrimaculata (AKA the Caterpillar hunter) is one of our most distinctive British beetles, and what a beauty it is! It likes to hang out in ancient woodland on Oak trees and Hawthorne, where it hunts its prey 🐛

Dendroxena quadrimaculata (also known as the Caterpillar hunter) sitting in the palm of my hand. It is one of our most distinctive British beetles with warm golden-brown elytra, adorned with 4 perfectly formed black dots.

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Plantlife @plantlifeuk.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Some #NoMowMay blooms to make you smile.😍🌸 By letting pretty flowers like this grow you’re creating a biodiverse haven for wildlife in your garden or green space. And add your name to the growing community letting it grow for the No Mow Movement.🙌 👉 loom.ly/ay3YcNA

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Plantlife @plantlifeuk.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Meet one of the UK’s rarest beetles that has been found in some temperate rainforests in the South West! 💙🪲 It loves damp woodlands, with lots of veteran trees and deadwood, which provide the sheltered hiding places it depends on. Are you one of the lucky few to have seen one? #BlueMonday

A metallic Blue Ground Beetle with long legs and textured wing cases crawling across bright green moss.

Rotting wood partially covered by vivid green moss.

A dense, moss‑covered woodland with twisted, lichen‑clad tree branches and large mossy boulders, creating a lush, damp temperate rainforest scene.

A close-up of a metallic Blue Ground Beetle with large pincers at the front.

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The Doctor (Commissions open) @lucidillusions.in · 19/01/2026

Adding this beautiful Blue Ground Skimmer (Diplacodes trivialis) for #BlueMonday #Invertebrate #Macro #Photography 📸📸 🌿🖌️ #dragonfly #MacroMonday #EastCoastKin

A small dragonfly with bluish eyes and pruinosed blue body. Clear wings, without apical or basal markings.

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Kat Dahl @wildkatdahl.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

For #BlueMonday an electric turquoise and cerulean Blue Cuckoo Wasp from the fabulous walled garden @kneppwilding.bsky.social #bluebugs #bugsky @ashwhiffin.bsky.social @waspwoman.bsky.social

A tiny metallic blue wasp on some old wood.

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Agnes Kreiling @agneskreiling.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

The shiny metallic blue beetle Necrobia rufipes was one of the many new insect records for the Faroes in 2025. #BlueBugs #Tjóðsavnið #Coleoptera

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Moira O'Donnell @naturelark.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

For @ashwhiffin.bsky.social's #BlueBugs, here is a gorgeous male Adonis Blue I had the good fortune to meet at Folkestone Warren last summer. 💙

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Every year I try to repurpose #BlueMonday (which we all know is a load of 💩) and advocate for #insects by showcasing some beautiful BLUE BUGS! Please join me by sharing your photos or artwork with the hashtag #BlueBugs 🦋🩵 📷 Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

A male Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) rests on a flower.

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Steph Skipp @stephskipp.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

Cool idea! The perks of having a brother with a 3D printer 😁

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

I’m sorry BlueSky, I have been neglecting you.

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Steven Hammer, one of our regular collection users, co-developed a new #insect pinning block, with staff and volunteers from the museum. It’s 3D-printed and open source, so you can try it for yourself: cults3d.com/en/3d-model/... #ECN2025

cults3d.com

Entoblock step

An improved pinning block for entomological collections. It has five steps at different heights for quick and accurate label setting. The steps are visible from both sides, making it suitable for lef...

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Entomologists of Color @entopoc.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Are you a POC student, early career researcher, or professional entomologist from a country in the Global South? We are now funding memberships! Apply from October 1st to December 15th. More info: www.entopoc.org/apply.html Apply: docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLS...

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Rebecca Wang 王思寧 @rebeccawang.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Original Riker mounts by inventor Clarence Riker held at @denvermuseumns.bsky.social , presented by Genevieve Anderegg! 😍 The cabinets are just as intricate as the insects held within!Though lacking in collection data, lots of educational & natural history research value once imaged! #ECN2025

Two mahogany cabinets, 20 drawers each with 1,675 insects.
Donated by Riker's grandchild Marcia Rissland in 2000

Close up of the hardware holding the glass on a Riker mounted butterfly and cabinet drawer mechanism.

An example of Riker mounted moths at different life stages.

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Reposted by Ash Whiffin

Natural History Collections and Museomics @nhcm.pensoft.net · 09/11/2025

We're at #ECN2025 in Portland, Oregon! We're passionate about entomological collections, which is why we published some of last year's ECN in a special topical collection: nhcm.pensoft.net/topical_coll... Check out the @pensoft.net stand for our latest news!

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Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

It's almost the weekend! 🥳 If you're looking for something for you and/or your kids to do, I've recently re-uploaded my arthropod coloring guide 🎨 Please feel free to share, print, and [definitely] have fun with it!!! drive.google.com/file/d/1V59i...

A few panels from the coloring guide: a scorpion, an isopod, and a tachinid fly (along with their info).

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

If you attended the @entcollnet.bsky.social meeting last year in Phoenix, you may have met some of our youngest attendees, Connor Hsu & Cole Crammer. Here they are with @drfirefly.bsky.social! They’re now in 11th grade and this year they’re back to deliver their first ever ECN talk! [1/3]

ECN president Oliver Keller with Cole & Conner at ECN 2024.

The duo at the podium delivering a talk about their work.

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

How the creation of a school insect collection project, led to the discovery of Amblycheila cylindriformis in Montana… bioone.org/journals/the... Marian Kirst reminds us of the value of being a “filthy generalist” and the importance of building strong local connections. #ECN2025

Image montage of the tiger beetle and Marian holding one.

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

🧡 @americanbeetles.bsky.social has really delivered again, with stickers for our meeting. Behold… the most adorable Rain beetle you have ever seen! 😍 #ECN2025

An utterly adorable illustration of a cartoon Rain beetle, complete with an orange umbrella and yellow rain boots.

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

This was such a fascinating and uplifting story of the evolution of a collection. What Chris has managed to achieve for the Oregon State Arthropod Collection is remarkable. 🥹👏 #ECN2025

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Entomological Collections Network @entcollnet.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Next year we will have speed trials for assembling Chris Wirth’s portable focus stacking camera system

Satisfying but intimidating layout of disassembled imaging system. It’s Linux for photography

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Super useful tips & tricks for insect specimen imaging from @andrewjohnston.bsky.social! He shares how to build an affordable focus stacking system on your own. Handy guide available here: www.insectid.org/post/focus-s... #ECN2025 📸 🪲

Camera set up with Schmitt box for sense of scale. Photo credit: Andrew Johnston.

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

It’s time for #ECN2025 - my favourite annual meeting, entirely focused on #insect collections! This year we’re in Portland, Oregon. 🪲 Follow @entcollnet.bsky.social to keep up with the hot topics of the weekend. (🤫 Yes, I’m a board member but no I am not biased!)

Printed program with a cute Rain beetle on the cover.

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Entomological Collections Network @entcollnet.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Huge welcome to all you lovely folks joining us today, both in-person and online! Great to have so many first-timers! Let’s get to it, with a welcome from our President @drfirefly.bsky.social! #ECN2025

A sea of ECN attendees taking their seats.

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Lorna Mitchell @lmitch.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Great to see nominations here for the wonderful @ashwhiffin.bsky.social and Lauriston farm as well as the great work being done by the Community Engagement team @thebotanics.bsky.social

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Dr Jess Stokes @jess-stokes.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Interested in communicating your science to a wider audience? 🔍🐝 Then this is for you! @royentsoc.bsky.social Outreach Special Interest Group meeting is in beautiful #Edinburgh 22nd Nov With workshops by @ashwhiffin.bsky.social, the bug farm, TVs Nick Baker & many more 🎉 (& the Xmas markets on!)

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The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Tired of stepping in it? Dung beetles, like this rainbow scarab, evolved to be experts at breaking down dung and evening burying it in the soil! 💩🪲 Discover the many types of dung beetles, why they are in trouble, & how we can help ⤵️ xerces.org/blog/all-abo...

xerces.org

All About Dung Beetles and Why They Matter

Dung beetles are a key component of a healthy ecosystem, in both natural and agricultural areas!

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Royal Entomological Society @royentsoc.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

⏰ Abstract deadline extended - join the programme by submitting your research by Friday 24 October 🦋 Join us at our Outreach, Culture & Education SIG to network with like-minded people and plan your next outreach venture. 📍 National Museum Scotland 📅 22 Nov 2025 Register now 🔽

buff.ly

Outreach, Culture & Education SIG Event 2025

Submit your abstracts on insect outreach and citizen science for a chance to share your research at the event.

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Ash Whiffin @ashwhiffin.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Back in June, we hosted a team from #GardenersWorld to share how we’ve been improving the grounds of the National Museums Collection Centre for biodiversity. 🎬 🐞🪰🌿🌼 Catch it here: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis... #NMCCbiodiversity

Behind the scenes from our day of filming. Here I’m crouched down in one of the grassland areas looking at an orchid, with camera operator Gavin and producer Charlotte.

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Andy Banthorpe @vc30moths.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

@ashwhiffin.bsky.social excellent film just now on Gardeners World. Great encouragement to enhance the biodiversity of sites

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Scottish Environment LINK @scotlink.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

We're pleased that the @parliament.scot Rural Affairs and Islands Committee has backed proposals in the Natural Environment Bill to introduce statutory targets to restore nature. Nature targets are a key demand of our Scotland Loves Nature campaign. Read more: www.scotlink.org/msps-back-na...

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