iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Matt Bertone

James Gryboski @jgryboski.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

A former raccoon lounging on the beach #SpookyNature

2313

Reposted by Matt Bertone

invertebrate @crevicedwelling.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Ever seen an earthworm swim?

210424

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Jolyon Troscianko @jtroscianko.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

🦋 Butterfly wing patterns create motion illusions that protect them from predators! Our new study (8 years in the making) is out in Nature today doi.org/10.1038/s415... @grahancock.bsky.social @esbriolat.bsky.social @scienceanna.bsky.social @lauraakelley.bsky.social @uniexecec.bsky.social

12259128

Reposted by Matt Bertone

James Emerson @norwichbirder.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Whilst walking into the city today I noticed a Dandelion with swellings in the flower-stem. These galls turned out to be fungal, with the causer presumably Protomyces pachydermus.

A section of green Dandelion flower stalk, showing several swellings, one of which has started turning purple.

A section through one of the galls, showing that there is no cavity inside.

Some round fungal cells alongst the gall structures.

A close-up of some of the round fungal cells.

3297

Reposted by Matt Bertone

🦋 Alie of the Woods 🦋 @humanbyweight.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I found a cricket leech after work today! :0 Cricket leeches are the larval form of solitary wasps in the family Rhopalosomatidae, which is the ancestral branch of all paper and potter wasps.

A photo of a dark bean-like entity stuck to the side of a cricket between its body and left hind leg. The cricket's posture looks like if a basketball player was trying to hide the fact that they got bit by a tick the size of a poodle, carrying it casually under one arm. The wasp may not directly kill its host, but the loss of so much hemolymph will likely reduce the cricket's lifespan.

A photo of the same unfortunate pair from further away, so you can see the scale of the parasite. The cricket is gravid and will likely lay her eggs soon, parasitic wasp be damned. #girlpower

710917

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Tylan Berry @tylanberry.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

One of the most incredible photos I have ever been sent, courtesy of Chloë James of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Seagrass Restoration Team. Yep, that's Philodromus margaritatus...under seawater using...an air bubble to breathe and move about. I am utterly speechless!! @britishspiders.bsky.social

16818

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Phil Knutson, PhD @philknutson.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Lignin chemistry!! I’ve drawn a line tree with the lignin polymer behind it. I’ve drawn it as one single polymer throughout! This messy, highly irregular biopolymer gives plants structural strength and helps protect their cell walls. #sciart #chemsky

313534

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Moth mural is happening now!! So excited to see this project come to life oh. my. GOD.

a cercropia moth has been painted in, the luna moth not yet, on a park building in a city park

1654569

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Brandon Bird @brandonbird.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It's that time. "I am the Night," oil and pencil on canvas, 2008

Child in a Philip Seymour Hoffman Halloween costume.

647585

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Rebecca Gelernter @nearbirdstudios.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

In case you haven't been furious yet today

Screenshot from Upwork with added highlights:

Vector Illustrator Needed for Botanical & Scientific Plant Illustrations x 10

Posted 5 days ago
Worldwide

Summary
We are seeking an (highlight)experienced vector artist and illustrator to create a set of 10 highly detailed, botanically accurate plant images.(end highlight)

The final deliverables must be versatile, scalable, print-ready vector files.

Artistic Direction: (highlight) The artwork must reflect the craftsmanship of scientific illustration rather than modern flat clip art or cartoony graphics. (End highlight) Please review these references for the quality and stylistic benchmark required for this project:

(Highlight)
- Scientific Accuracy & Precision: NTBG: The Science of Art (focus on accurate leaf venation, structural geometry, and growth habit).

- Master Style Benchmark: Botanical Art & Artists (inspired by traditional line engraving, fine hatching, and classic field guide illustration). (End highlight)

- Elegance & Polish: Tipton & Hurst (high-end floral presentation and refined color palette).

Scope of Work: You will create master illustrations for 10 plant species:

1. Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa)
2. Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
3. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
4. Fiddle-Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
5. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
6. Adanson's Monstera (Monstera adansonii)
7. String of Pearls (Curio rowleyanus)
8. Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
9. Pink Princess (Philodendron erubescens)
10. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

(Highlight) AI generated are acceptable (End highlight) as long as quality and detail is met.

NOTES:
- images must not have backgrounds
- text should be its own vector layer, i.e. Common Name in nice bold font and Scientific Name in italic.
- Cohesive color scheme for this set.

(Highlight) $40.00 (End highlight)

(Highlight) Expert (End highlight)

Remote Job

97211

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Catherine (Katie) Schretter @ceschretter.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Excited to announce our new pre-print (www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...)! This collaborative work (co-led by Adriane Otopalik and Gerry Rubin) examines how neuronal circuits regulate social behaviors, like courtship🫶 and aggression🥊, across sexes. #neuroscience #Drosophila #WomenInSTEM 🧪1/

35432

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Anita Devineni @anitadevineni.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The Emory Biology department is hiring a tenure-track ecologist at any rank. Deadline is Nov 1, link below! As I've said many times before, I couldn't ask for a more supportive department. Our faculty colleagues, dept chair, and admin staff are truly awesome ❤️ apply.interfolio.com/191783

2115145

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Journal of Hymenoptera Research @jhr.pensoft.net · 28/09/2026

🥑 A gall midge species, Bruggmanniella perseae, has been identified as the cause of fruit deformation in avocado crops in Mexico, with six parasitoid species discovered that naturally control this damaging insect pest: doi.org/10.3897/jhr.99.200280

0308

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Jitte @jittebug.nl · 28/09/2026

OK, one more: #VespaVelutina coming right at ya 64x slomo/1920fps with P40Pro+probe, upscaled #InsectsInSlomo

44410

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Natural History Collections and Museomics @nhcm.pensoft.net · 28/09/2026

🔬 For the first time, a scientific study has systematically examined what causes deterioration in the chemical mountants used to preserve insect specimens, revealing that slide degradation is driven by multiple complex factors rather than a single culprit: doi.org/10.3897/nhcm.3.194995

0145

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Dan of the Year @downwithdan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Ah yes the circle of life

• Dispatched
Sep 25 23:03 pm
In Transit
Sep 26 09:52 am
Delayed
Sep 26 10:57 am
Held By Carrier
Sep 26 15:07 pm
Destroyed
Sep 26 15:08 pm

14298041643

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Miles Zhang | 张远濛 @ymilesz.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

We described a new species #Eurytomidae in the ##Aximopsis s.l. from Hainan 🇨🇳 named it qiong (琼) which is the one-character shorthand for the province. This is the second confirmed record of parasitism on #Ceratina 🐝, and first record of the genus in 🇨🇳. 🧪

3304

Reposted by Matt Bertone

invertebrate @crevicedwelling.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

some spooky glowing millipede stuff

a set of Aniulus garius posterior gonopods. they’re two-branched, looking like two long thin overlapping blades with the upper pair longer and hooked at the end with tiny serrations, shorter lower pair ending in a fine point

a set of Aniulus garius posterior gonopods. they’re two-branched, looking like two long thin overlapping blades with the upper pair longer and strongly bent at about 2/3 from the base, shorter lower pair ending in a fine point

Aniulus garius anterior gonopods: a short, scoop-shaped blade that’s folded over on itself, with a fuzzy lobe in front

Aniulus garius anterior gonopods: a short, leaf-shaped blade with a fuzzy lobe in front

516030

Reposted by Matt Bertone

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation @xercessociety.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Every year we make the case for keeping leaves, branches, & plant stems in your yard. Bugs need them for shelter! That’s not to say you can’t tidy up: rake leaves into garden beds, around trees, or just in a pile out of the way. All we ask is that you #LeaveTheLeaves! 🍂🐝 xerces.org/blog/leave-t...

xerces.org

Leave the Leaves!

One of the most valuable ways to support pollinators and other invertebrates is to provide them with the shelter they need to survive the winter. Thankfully, all you need to do is do less yard work.

2243149

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Joanna🌱 @rainbowofcrazy.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

My art vibe is usually colourful and cheerful, but SPOOKY SEASON IS HERE. So my skull animals have transformed into stickers for the first time 💀 They'll be making their debut at Bamtori's K-Fest Market. Hope to see you there! #artshop #supportartists #art

2279

Reposted by Matt Bertone

La Brea Tar Pits & Museum @tarpits.org · 26/09/2026

Digging through the archives! Do you have a favorite #TarPits memory? 📸 @paleohyun

Instagram user @paleohyun taking a selfie with the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum sign.

Harlan's ground sloth previously on display at La Brea Tar Pits.

Instagram user @paleohyun taking a photo in front of the dire wolf wall previously on display at La Brea Tar Pits.

8356

Reposted by Matt Bertone

ascalaphid @ascalaphid.com · 26/09/2026

brother ignatz where the hell did you get those sausages from

this bittern's got way too many snausages

211237270

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Too many #beetles? Never enough beetles. Alice holding as many #Diplotaxis as she can. Reminds me of this: knowyourmeme.com/memes/limes-... #Scarabaeidae Raleigh, NC, USA

Two hands with black nail polish holding several (6) medium sized black shiny scarab beetles.

A shiny black scarab beetle in the genus Diplotaxis, with small punctures all over the body, sits on a white sheet.

070

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Ivel ☀️🔥 || lizor, of the hongry kind @ivelleviathan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Lizard of the day: Pink-tongued skink! Okay so imagine a blue tongued skink but they have a pink tongue. A semi-arboreal Australian species that live in forests and mainly feed on snails and slugs! They're viviparous and can have up to 30 babies per gestation!

412828

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Ainsley S @americanbeetles.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

okay botanists what are you up to this time

Wikipedia photo of the strictly estuarine plant genus Ruppia, whose common name "widgeon weed" explains nothing. It is a spindly grass-looking thing with a terrifying long noodly appendage that looks like an olde timey telephone cord

55814

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🚨 JOB ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨 Please share! We're looking for an entomologist to join our dept.! I'm excited as it's broadly advertised to find someone who can build a stellar teaching program w/research on insect ecology. Deadline is tight (end of Oct.). Read more & apply at jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/235...

Flyer that says:

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY
AND PLANT PATHOLOGY

We're hiring!

The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology is seeking applications for a nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Insect Ecology (60% teaching/40% research). The position will play a central role in the department’s undergraduate curriculum, including ENT 201: Insects and People, as well as additional undergraduate and graduate courses. The position also provides an opportunity to build a nationally recognized research program in insect ecology, secure external funding, and mentor undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead instruction for ENT 201: Insects and People and teach additional courses using effective, technology-enhanced approaches. Mentor undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs.

Establish a nationally recognized, externally funded research program in insect ecology (e.g., behavior, plant–insect interactions, community ecology, conservation, or global change biology). Publish in peer-reviewed journals and engage students in research.

Contribute to departmental, college, and university service, engage with scientific societies, review manuscripts and grant proposals, and participate in outreach.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

Demonstrated teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.

Expertise in one or more areas of insect ecology (e.g., IPM, invasive species, pollination biology, vector ecology, trophic interactions, global change, or molecular/community ecology).

Ph.D. in Entomology or a related field, with a proven publication and funding track record (as PI/Co-PI or lead author).

JOIN OUR TEAM!

For more information and to submit your application, please visit:
https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/234875

03149

Reposted by Matt Bertone

franz @franzanth.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Beetle 4/11 - Anthaxia #Art #SciArt

illustration of a dark green-turquoise iridescent beetle with two big streaks of vivid red and two dark blue on the wings. The entire animal's surface is visibly mottled with fine hair on the legs.

318548

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Mr. Escher A. Bug, MSc @escherbug.art · 25/09/2026

As a taxonomist I will always be a little miffed that people who make comics are cartoonists and people who make cartoons are animators and people who make jokes on stage are called comics

48622

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Veeloxxy Bites @the-episiarch.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Termitodesmidae is an elusive family of millipede that lives exclusively in the fungal chamber of termite nests where they get to chow down on an all-you-can-eat fungal buffet 🧪 link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Ceylondesmus kistneri in the fungal chamber of a termite mound.

Dorsal (top) and ventral (bottom) view of Ceylondesmus escherichi

816041

Reposted by Matt Bertone

taenia @taenia.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I don't have the energy to process pika photos tonight but please enjoy this small criminal who was trying to figure out how to conduct a trail mix heist while I was taking pictures.

610215

Reposted by Matt Bertone

VC40Ladybirds 🐞 @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Uploading the Dot Ladybird (Stethorus pusillus) with 7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) again, just because I like it!! 😆 From August in Shropshire #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

24811

Reposted by Matt Bertone

ascalaphid @ascalaphid.com · 25/09/2026

noot noot Lecontellus byturoides

522443

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Evelyndroid's Aperture Science and Bugge-Finding 🏳️‍⚧️🕷️ @apsciencebylyn.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Anybody wanna see some freshly hatched baby ogres 😍 #EmotionalSupportSpood Deinopis spinosa

Little crowd of like 30 tiny ogre-face spiders, all stretched out in stick mode

Closer shot of 10 of them, you can see their tiny big ogre eyes

815633

Reposted by Matt Bertone

D. Allan Drummond @dadrummond.art · 23/09/2026

“Mom, there’s a monster under the bed!” 😳 “Don’t be silly, go to sleep” 😱

A bunch of brilliant orange baby milkweed bugs snuggle on an old milkweed pod mattress. Below them, a large black jumping spider (Phidippus audax male) lies in wait.

111430

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Frank Ashwood @frankashwood.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I’m delighted to share that my book has won the @britishecologicalsociety.org Book of the Year Award! 🪱📚🎉

4333

Reposted by Matt Bertone

franz @franzanth.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Moth 4/12 - Brenthia #Art #SciArt

Illustration of a black and white moth in front view, legs spread out, wings open like a peacock. The far end tips of the wings, which are on top of the image, have little dots resembling eye spots lining the edges. The side wings are striped in black and white in L-shaped repeating pattern like the legs of a bigger bug.

317354

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Ainsley S @americanbeetles.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

in what unjust world is there Mops mops and Boops boops but no Blaps blaps? Get your act together, tenebrionid systematists

wikipedia's beloved photo of the fish species Boops boops. It is a startled-looking but otherwise unremarkable silver fish.

wikipedia's photo for the tenebrionid genus Blaps, but NOT Blaps blaps because there is no Blaps blaps.... YET

428780

Reposted by Matt Bertone

DipteristsForum @dipteristsforum.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Diary Date - 2027 Dipterist Forum spring identification workshop will be on... Dolichopodidae! This hugely popular annual event will run 12th -14th March with tutors Martin Drake (author of the new RES Dolichopodidae Handbook) and Dave Brice (DF training officer). dipterists.org.uk/events/dipte...

01711

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Dipterists Society @dipterists.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

🚨REMINDER🚨 We are still looking for speakers for the Dipterists Society meeting at @entsocamerica.bsky.social this November. Please submit your fly talks or share for more visibility!

0114

Reposted by Matt Bertone

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Reposting this would be very helpful. We're having a tough month at Skype a Scientist between much of my energy being devoted to Academy of Natural Sciences stuff. I need help!!

5212203