iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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EntomoDaily @entomodaily.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Hola a tothom! Feia molt de temps que no passava per aquí (opos, molta feina...), però avui us vull regalar aquesta foto que vaig fer d'un exemplar de Syritta pipiens, una mosca de les flors de la subfamília Eristalinae (Syrphidae) 🌼🪰. Voleu conèixer-la una mica més? 👀👇

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

The 3rd and last day of the @tettris.eu Final Event has arrived! But we still have a lot of interesting panels ahead today! Stay tunned 🔜

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Starting the 2nd day of the @tettris.eu final meeting! What about to have a delicious coffee while looking and discussing some interesting posters? ☕

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Good evening, Brussels! 🤗 About to start the TETTRIs Final Meeting! Organized by CETAF and @naturalsciences-be.bsky.social at RBINS 🦕🦋🐝🌿. A real honor to attend this event with all the TETTRIs community to share the outcomes of our project!

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TETTRIX @tettrix.eu · 26/04/2026

🚀 Tomorrow the TETTRIs Final Event kicks off in Brussels 🇪🇺 Organised by @eurotaxonomy.cetaf.org & @naturalsciences-be.bsky.social , bringing together experts, researchers & policymakers to share insights and shape the future of taxonomy in #Europe (Apr 27–29).

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Do you remember our announcement about our side project? Well, SEN-PollColl now has its own account! Follow the project on Instagram! 📷⬇️ www.instagram.com/senpollcoll/

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

We are taking flight! 🪰 🌱 We are pleased to announce the start of SEN-PollColl, a project funded by IUCNSOS and firmly grounded in the taxonomy network, workflows, and experience developed under the INC-STEP project. #EUPollinators

Infographic: "What is SEN-PollColl? (Supporting and Enhancing a Network of Pollinator Collections throughout Spain). SEN-PollColl is a European project based in Spain and derived from previous project INC-STEP (TETTRIsEU) to build a reference pollinator collection in Spain. This project aims to strengthen collaboration among regional pollinator collections and enhance their role in research and conservation."

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

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TETTRIX @tettrix.eu · 22/10/2025

🇪🇺These projects help establish open access to collections data, design and test novel AI and molecular tools, test training frameworks, and involve citizen scientists in monitoring biodiversity hotspots. This community-based perspective is fundamental to the entire ethos of TETTRIs. #Taxonomy 🧵👇

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

Last week, some #INCSTEP members participated in the XXI Iberian Entomology Congress. The focus this year was on #pollinators! 🪰🐝🦋 Our initiative presented two virtual posters and two oral contributions! 🎓 #NameItToSaveIt #TETTRIsEU

Conference poster. It provides information on the dates, location, organising institutions and a QR code for accessing the website.

Source: Congress organisers

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

The INC-STEP final meeting is over! It has been a very productive day, and we are very satisfied with the results. We leave with the hope of continuing to collaborate 🤝🏻 and making this pilot project something even bigger 🔝. Result: Success! ✅ @tettris.eu @museuciencies.cat

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Today we held the final INC-STEP @tettris.eu meeting at @museuciencies.cat! 🗣️ To kick off the meeting, we had an opening talk by @robwilsonmncn.bsky.social, who gave us an overview of the project.

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Hey! How are you coping with the post-holiday blues? We're ready for anything! 🏁 Take a look at @robwilsonmncn.bsky.social contribution to #Ento25 in Glasgow. It's another chance to show off our progress on the #INCSTEP reference collection! #NameItToSaveIt 🐝🪰🦋

Robert J. Wilson stands with a hot cup of tea in front of his poster, 'Developing a National Reference Collection for Pollinating Insects in Spain'.

Source: R. J. Wilson

A general view of the Congress's poster room.

Source: R. J. Wilson

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TETTRIX @tettrix.eu · 30/07/2025

Take a look to what @incstep.bsky.social did yesterday in the workshop held in #Madrid !! 👇👀 It was focus in #pollinators conservation to foster coneections and raise awareness of #TETTRIsEU and #INCSTEP 🐝 #taxonomy #biodiversity

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Starting up! 🙌☀️ Opening words from Domingo Marquina (UCM), Isabel Rey (MNCN-CSIC) and Rafael Zardoya (MNCN-CSIC) 🗣️ The focus is on #pollinator declines 📉 and the importance of collaborative projects like #INCSTEP in addressing them! 🐝🪰🦋 #NHMs and reference collections are key to monitoring them!

From left to right:

Isabel Rey, Domingo Marquina and Rafael Zardoya in the assembly hall of the Biology Faculty at the UCM, during the opening talk of the day.

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

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Carlos 🐾 @carlosgarsan2.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

📷 Chupaleches (Iphiclides feisthamelii)

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

🚨'Pollinators: Towards a National Network for Their Management' Next week, #INCSTEP is organising the first meeting of pollinator reference collections, aimed to build connections between national entities related with #pollinator conservation! 🎉 #NameItToSaveIt 🦋🐝🪰

Poster with information about the event. It features an illustration of a butterfly (genus Iphiclides) on a flower. The background is cream yellow.

The poster reads: ‘First Meeting of Scientific Reference Collections. Pollinators: Towards a National Network for Their Management.’ It provides information about the date and location of the event. It also displays the logos of all the participating and collaborating entities, as well as the organising project.

Source: our own

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Today we bring you the last concept in our #TaxonomicBites series: Georeferencing 🌍🛰️! The most vital data for specimens in NHCs are the PLACE (where) and YEAR (when) of collection. These provide us with spatial and temporal distribution information needed for biodiversity studies!

Labels of a Xylocopa valga female specimen from the MCNB collection.

Photo credits: Sergi Gago Carrión

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

It's time for our bumblebees! 🐝 The #Bombus genus is charismatic yet under threat, so taxonomic support is vital! #NameItToSaveIt Take a look at our brief report below 📊, as well as the presentation we created for this group some time ago. ⤵️ x.com/INCSTEP_EU/s...

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Let's introduce another key concept to our #TaxonomicBites series! Today: #Digitization! 💻 The information contained in NHCs has remained hidden from the general public for decades. But thanks to communications technology, collection data can now be shared worldwide 🌍🔄! @tettris.eu

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

This week, we present another edition of our #TaxonomicBites series. This time: type material! Among the samples #NHCs hold, type specimens stand out for their important role: setting the base for species delimitation. 🧩 They are usually highlighted with red labels! 🔴🏷️

Red labels are used at the MNCN-CSIC Ent. Collection to label type specimens. The image shows sheets with syntype (sintipo), paralectotype (paralectotipo), paratype (paratipo) and holotype (holotipo) labels.

Source: our own
Photo credits: A. Sánchez Albert

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Buzzy bee (FélixTorres) @buzzy-bee.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

🐝 Ya está disponible el Curso de Formación Permanente sobre Abejas Polinizadoras que hemos organizado desde el GTC Biodiversidad Agrícola y Urbana @usal, en el marco del Proyecto #Asilvestra. 📅 30 junio y 1 julio 🧑‍🦰 Plazas limitadas 💻 Inscripciones: eventum.usal.es/136191/detail/…

eventum.usal.es

Introducción al conocimiento de abejas polinizadoras: Técnicas de muestreo e identificación

Curso presencial dirigido a aficionados y profesionales interesados en el conocimiento de la biodiversidad sobre todo de antófilos (abejas silvestres). No se exige acreditar nivel académico ni son nec...

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Here's another look at our preliminary results! 🚨 This time, we're looking at a butterfly family that is more taxonomically challenging: the #Hesperiidae family! 🦋 Are you ready for the big numbers? 📊 #INCSTEP In case you don't know them ℹ️⤵️ x.com/INCSTEP_EU/s...

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Reference collections are key to present and future science (learn more reading our previous post 👇), but none of them would be possible without the taxonomic experts behind them. Let’s meet their work in this new post of #TaxonomicBites! 👩‍💻🦋🐝 bsky.app/profile/incs...

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ABIES @asociacionabies.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Estamos afrontando una crisis mundial de taxónomos. Cada vez hay menos expertos en clasificar e identificar nuevas especies, y muchos de los que quedan están cerca de jubilarse. Sigue leyendo para entender por qué esta crisis pone en riesgo la biodiversidad. #taxonomy #taxonomia 🌍

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Today marks the 318th anniversary of Carl Linnaeus's birth 🎂, and to celebrate, we present our favourite species: Eumerus petrarum! 🎉🔝 🪰This recently described hoverfly species (subfamily Eristalinae) likes to bask on rocky outcrops — hence its Latin name! #NameItToSaveIt

Photographic montage showing a side view of the holotype of Eumerus petrarum (male), which was recently described by Aguado-Aranda, Nedeljković, and Ricarte (2023).

It is a small, entirely black hoverfly with a characteristic orange first segment on its abdomen.

The photograph is surrounded by a Taxonomy Recognition Day sign and the logos of TETTRIsEU and INC-STEP, as well as a dorsal view of the same specimen.

Source: our own
Photo credits: P. Aguado Aranda

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Dr.BioBlogo @drbioblogo.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

1) Hoy se celebra el #DiamundialdelasAbejas ... esas abejas melíferas que son "el ser vivo más importante" porque son "las polinizadoras" de las plantas, ... esas abejas "en peligro de extinción" que, si desaparecieran, "a los humanos nos quedarían 4 años de vida". ¿Y SI TODO ESO FUERA FALSO? 😜🤓

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

During last months, you’ve probably heard about #INCSTEP pollinator reference collection… 🐝 But, do you know what a Reference Collection (RC) is? 🤔 Today we kick off a series of knowledge capsules to unpack this and other key concepts in taxonomy! #TaxonomicBites 📚

Close-up of one corner of an organised entomological box containing 'Bombus' specimens from the Iberian Peninsula (Hymenoptera: Apidae). The specimens are organised with a pinned ID label at the start of each row to facilitate subsequent cataloguing.

Source: MCNB
Author: I. Lobato

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TETTRIX @tettrix.eu · 07/05/2025

🌍 #TETTRIsEU Taxonomy Recognition Day – May 23! 🌿 Let’s celebrate the vital role of #taxonomy in protecting #biodiversity on Earth! 📸 Snap a photo of your favourite animal, plant, or mineral 🔤 Identify it with its taxonomic name (we’re happy to help!) 📱 Share it on social media using #NameItToSaveIt

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Exciting news! 📢🆕 After all the hard work, we can finally report some preliminary but promising results from the #INCSTEP reference collection! Starting today, we will be revealing some of them over the next few weeks. Let's get started with #Xylocopa! 📡🐝 #NameItToSaveIt

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EntomoDaily @entomodaily.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

¿Quién dijo que en Europa estaba todo descubierto? 📄 ¡Nuevo artículo recién salido del horno! 🐝 Se describen 9 nuevas especies de abejas de la familia Megachilidae para Europa, 5 de las cuales presentes España 😮 👀 Enlace al artículo, para l@s más interesad@s: mapress.com/zt/article/v...

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Instituto de Investigación en Cambio Global @iicg-urjc.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

⚠️Escasean los expertos para estudiar la diversidad de insectos en España⚠️ 🪲Un equipo de especialistas, liderado por los investigadores del #IICG Fernando Cortés-Fossati, Marcos Méndez y Elvira Caro-Miralles, ha documentado el descenso de tesis doctorales sobre insectos en las últimas décadas.

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EntomoDaily @entomodaily.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Las moscas florícolas (Syrphidae) son insectos altamente beneficiosos: mientras que los adultos polinizan, sus larvas contribuyen al reciclaje de la materia orgánica 🍂 o al control de plagas agrícolas. Os dejo aquí una lámina genial con las especies del género Eristalis de la península ibérica 😉👇

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Our colleagues from @mncn-csic.bsky.social are in Wageningen (Netherlands) 🇳🇱, presenting the #INCSTEP project to the lepidopterist community! Marina González (poster) and Robert J. Wilson (oral presentation) spreading the word about the importance of NHCs and taxonomy! #NameItToSaveIt 🦋💪

M. González posing in front of her poster titled "Illustrating the challenges of creating a pollinator reference collection using skipper butterflies and carpenter bees".

Source: our own
Author: A. Sánchez Albert

RJ. Wilson on the stage during his talk, in which he emphasised the importance of reference collections in supporting entomological research.

Source: our own
Author: A. Sánchez Albert

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Dr Will Leo Hawkes @willleohawkes.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

It's published! The largest research work I've ever undertaken: Lords of the flies: dipteran migrants are diverse, abundant & ecologically important Published in Biological Reviews: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... Thanks so much to co-authors @koralwotton.bsky.social & Myles Menz 1/x

Screenshot from the cover page of the paper

A map of the world showing fly migration study locations and estimated routes

A close up photo of Eristalinus taeniops the stripey eyed hoverfly on a yellow flower in Cyprus

A close up photo of the locust blowfly Stomorhina lunata on a rock. My favourite fly

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Sadly, we say goodbye to this short survey section today, but in good company! 🙌🏻 Piluca Álvarez turned her passion for insects into a career, becoming a renowned fly and bee taxonomist in the Iberian context! 🪰🐝

Piluca Álvarez kneels on a green meadow with a butterfly net, looking for insects.

Source: P. Álvarez
Author: unknown

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ABIES @asociacionabies.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

¿Cómo podemos aprender a identificar una especie que no hemos visto nunca? Tener una colección bien conservada e identificada que poder consultar es clave. Hemos podido ver en el stand del @mncn-csic.bsky.social en la #MadridEsCiencia algunas colecciones con las que trabajan @incstep.bsky.social

Stand del @mncn-csic.bsky.social en la feria de Ciencias de Madrid con una colección de insectos y un marcapaginas con insectos ilustrados

Un escarabajo preservado con una ilustración de la anatomía de un escarabajo en el stand del @mncn-csic.bsky.social en la feria de Ciencias de Madrid

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Once again the #INCSTEP @mncn-csic.bsky.social team representing the Natural History Collections! 🏛️🎉 This time at the XIV Feria de Ciencias de Madrid, with many surprised faces to get to know part of our pollinator entomodiversity! #MadridEsCiencia 🪰🐝🦋

Photo of the stand with educational material. It should be noted the display of two entomological boxes: one representing general iberian entomodiversity and another exhibiting INC-STEP focal taxa.

Author: A. Sánchez Albert
Source: our own

Mercedes París, curator of the Entomology Collection at MNCN-CSIC attending a visitor.

Author: A. Sánchez Albert
Source: our own

Marina González, curator assistant of the Entomology Collection at MNCN-CSIC presenting the project to attenders.

Author: A. Sánchez Albert
Source: our own

Adrián Sánchdez, curator assistant of the Entomology Collection at MNCN-CSIC pointing at specimens while chatting with some visitors.

Author: A. Sánchez Albert
Source: our own

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

We have a new interview fresh out of the oven. Let's meet Lorena León! I: What is/has been your connection with natural history collections? LL: "Summer '24 I had the opportunity to see how work is done in an entomological collection during my internship at the @mncn-csic.bsky.social" @tettris.eu

A photo of Lorena Leon sitting in front of a work desk with two entomological boxes full of carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.).

Author: Adrián Sánchez Albert (MNCN)

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Today we have the pleasure to chat with Helena Barril! 🗣️ She is a biologist and research technician specialised in hymenopteran identification and pollination ecology. At #INCSTEP she has been one of the people in charge of identifying Bombus and Xylocopa specimens! 🐝

Photo of H. Barril sorting bee specimens in an entomological box at the MCNB.

Author: I. Lobato

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WildPosh Project @wildposh.eu · 14/03/2025

👋 Say hello to this week’s #WildPoshSpecies: Eristalinus aeneus! Also known as the common lagoon fly, this species of syrphid fly is fairly common throughout the United States and Europe. Explore all species on our website: buff.ly/6b5jOWf #WildPosh #ProtectThePollinators

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

All good things come to an end... and so does the #KnowYourBees course! Four amazing days with 15 excellent trainees and teachers that ended with a visit to the Arthropod collection of the @museuciencies.cat. This is not goodbye, it's just a see you later for now!

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

The fourth (and final) day of the bee identification course is about to start! 🐝 Last but not least, the family Megachilidae! In contrast to other bees, the members of this family have their pollen-carrying structure (scopa) restricted to the ventral surface of the abdomen 😯. #KnowYourBees

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Third day of the bee training course, here we go! 🐝 Oscar is now presenting the Andrenidae family, and Alejandro (@alexnunez23.bsky.social) will follow with Colletidae. Did you know that the genus Andrena encompasses more than 1,300 species worldwide? 🌍 #KnowYourBees #NameItToSaveIt @tettris.eu

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INC-STEP Reference Collection @incstep.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Good morning! Let's start with the second day of the bee course held at the Jardí Botànic de Barcelona @museuciencies.cat 🐝🐝🐝 #KnowYourBees #BeeCourseBarcelona @tettris.eu

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