Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 10/10/2026I also made these stained glass ornaments and plant stakes 010
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 10/10/2026I made four of these little stained glass spiders with pipe cleaner legs 100
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 25/09/2026It never went to court because of my report on the findings but it was interesting to work on this case. I also went to the nursery and examined the rest of the shipment that came from the grower and didn't find any evidence of beetles on the remaining trees that weren't sold. 110
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 25/09/2026...to determine the stage of infestation. There were only nuptial galleries and no larval galleries indicating a recent attack. They couldn't prove any older insect activity. The trees were heat stressed, thirsty, and then went through transplant shock. All of which would attract wood borers. 110
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 25/09/2026I kind of got to do this once! A nursery sold trees to a landscaper (order was well over $10k) and the landscaper left the bnb trees above ground for over 2 weeks before planting. They found beetles infesting the trees and wanted a refund so they sent the logs to me and I peeled off the bark... 110
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 25/09/2026How do you people have your artwork from 30+years ago? Lol. I don't think I have anything of mine older than 10 years and definitely nothing older than 15 years. 110
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 22/09/2026This is what it felt like describing something in the old Pteromalidae before it was revised. That's also why I like to joke that I used a pseudonym on those papers to hide my true identity (it was the last name from my first marriage). 🤣 I usually used the term dumpster taxon... 010
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 21/09/2026And here's the other two. I cut the glass for these months ago, well before my move to New Mexico, so it's nice to get them finished. 040
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Because my move it's been a while since I've soldered etc. so I started with a few small pieces to get back into it. 020
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 19/09/2026That makes more sense to me since I would expect the females to to be out right now but there are so many misIDs out there that an overwhelming majority of matching photos that I found pointed towards burrowing wolf spiders. Thank you!!! 210
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 19/09/2026The neighbors keep telling me about the tarantulas being out and about but I haven't seen one yet. 000
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 19/09/2026It's apparently large spider season in my new home. I found not one, but two large female burrowing wolf spiders on my porch the other morning. They didn't move a bit all day but they were both gone the next morning. I'm used to wolf spiders but these were striking because they were solid black. 260
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 11/09/2026Be careful, Mapquest hasn't been able to get me with 1.5 miles of any location that I tried searching for. 😭 It leaves me in random neighborhoods and abandoned lots. 120
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 11/09/2026I would guess Gymnosoma sp. but I'm not familiar enough with that group to know which species. 122
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 09/09/2026As I'm unpacking my galls I'm craving gall art. I really love making these little macrame+gall ornaments and wall hangings but the gall-bedazzled mini-frames are also calling to me. I loved using the piñon galls with the oak galls. 020
Reposted by CynipidEllen O. Martinson @waspvenom.bsky.social · 08/09/2026The Martinson lab is looking for new PhD students! We have so much cool data and need help making sense of it all! If interested please contact me! 14026
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 29/08/2026When I used to play I had a cool staff called Hymenoptera that had an insect in amber at the top. 110
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 23/08/2026I've been volunteering at the local library here in Cochiti Lake and I made some more wasp paper bookmarks to put out for the patrons. Some feature tassels others have a leather cord with a gemstone hanging from them. 1111
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 29/07/2026I love using predatory nematodes to control fungus gnats in my house plants. There are few species used for biological control. 000
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 29/03/2026You're not supposed to look at the back until you reach the perfectionist-recovery stage of being proud of your imperfections! It's like looking down when traversing a high bridge. 120
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 04/03/2026I also like the idea of making angry cries and moans as I search through my clean laundry to find them... 010
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 04/03/2026I've been modifying wool dryer balls and it has been extremely therapeutic given everything. I wanted to share these in case others think this coping method might help them. FYI felting involves stabbing the piece repeatedly with serrated needles that make a very satisfying crunch sound. 130
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 01/03/2026Ah! There's the beautiful desert that tried to kill me 😍🥲 The top right photo is amazing and exactly what I remember the morning after I almost died. My photo from that morning does not do that desert justice so I'm hoping I could purchase a copy. I didn't see it in your shop though. 110
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 20/02/2026Her name was technically Saraneth but we always just called her Kitten. 010
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 20/02/2026She will forever be Kitten. 2010-2026 Sleep sweet baby, my dearest Kitten. 110
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 18/12/2025I ended up further modifying my tooth fairy habitat. I have plans for a few more improvements but I think they are pretty happy for now. 040
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 16/12/2025This is why I avoid doing odonates in stained glass. ⬆️ complexity = more solder, more copper, more grinding, and the piece would have to be huge to capture all the veins. To avoid the insanity I only do small ones so that the texture of the glass can provide enough of an impression of wing venation. 160
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 09/12/2025Ugh... The memories of shaking on the hospital floor humming random sounds because I had to make noise as an outlet for the pain. It was an unrelenting, constant, deep pain that I'll always remember. 020
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 09/12/2025... getting worse by the minute. The rash didn't show up for another 18 hrs but l was in the hospital by this point because the pain was so bad. I still have permanent nerve damage in that shoulder and to this day if I let myself get too stressed the nerve pain returns to haunt me. 110
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 09/12/2025You do not want shingles!! To add to the shingles experience stories: I had it during my PhD and when it first hit (I was in a meeting with my advisor) my body went into fight or flight mode because the pain was so bad. I'm talking heart racing, can't hold still, pure panic because the pain was... 130
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 02/12/2025Dying to know which nudi will get the centerfold. However I do like the idea of a "Coffee Table Book of Perfectly Decent Nudis" 120
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 02/12/2025They generally look confused and disappointed when I actually have an answer but its name is 9 syllables long and they didn't recognize any of the words that just came out of my mouth. 000
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 02/12/2025This would make a spectacular coffee table book. I'm so in love 😍 110
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 30/10/2025Look at this stupid face! Stupidest face ever. So cute, it hurts... I hope this shared pain has improved your day. 040
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 10/10/2025I have a new addition to my collection of earrings based on the forms of insect antennae. I started with serrate; then I did pectinate. The latter were my favorite and recently broke so I am recarving them and also did this lamellate set (bottom pair). Loving them! 051
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 08/10/2025I'll talk to Chuck Harp... He might be able to find a source for more leaves and if it's for the Lep Soc I know he'll be persistent. He could probably also bring them to the meeting since he's generally involved with the planning/set-up 010
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 08/10/2025I'm always up for people sending pressed leaves for their own bookmark. 010
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 08/10/2025If you have a source/supplier then I can definitely do my part to create the bookmarks. I'm thinking that this type of bookmark might be more of a limited quantity type of thing unless I happen to find a lab that regularly discards leaves with serpentine mines that is willing to partner with me. 110
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 08/10/2025The wasp paper bookmarks are easier for higher volumes. Anything with leaf mines is completely dependent on suppliers (1) existing, (2) being willing/able to collect the leaves, and (3) the insects need to exist on properties where we can obtain permission to collect. 110
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 08/10/2025Thank you! The other side has more mines. I tend to get distracted from reading and end up staring at the leafmines instead. 010
Cynipid @cynipid.bsky.social · 08/10/2025I'm interested in acquiring zigzag feeding damage on leaves for similar projects so let me know if anyone knows of a good source! 000
