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

Michael Magee wraps all things up by presenting and acknowledging all the work behind the different workpackages within TETTRIs. A living demonstration of team work and perseverance! 💪🏻

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

Now on stage! 🗣️ Representatives of some of the satellite projects funded by the TETTRIs cascade funding system explain the impacts of their work in a panel of the extended TETTRIs Ecosystem. #Arcade #SoilMATs #LUCE #IBOT-CAS #TETTRIsSatelliteProjects

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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

Teaching how to teach 🧐 - or the experience of training new trainers of future taxonomists, an interesting initiative within the TETTRIs framework presented by Iasmi Stathi.

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

How can we attract more young people to taxonomy 🧑‍🔬 ? How can we address gaps in taxonomic knowledge and training? Amelie Höcherl now on the stage 🗣️

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

🗣️ Next, a talk about academic component for taxonomic capacity by Thomas Pape.

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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

Next, INC-STEP's @tettris.eu consultants, Conrad Gillett and Marco Bonifacino, take a sneak peek into the reference collections created within the TETTRIs framework 🐝🦋

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

Now on air! 📹 An interesting panel on AI-based tools 💻 for taxonomy to start the Day 1 panel sessions.

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

🌍 By connecting collections, people, and data, SEN-PollColl will increase the visibility and scientific use of Spanish regional collections, support conservation actions, and contribute to a stronger pollinator research community in Spain. Stay tuned! 📡 📷 Photo credit: @carlosgarsan2.bsky.social

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

🎯 Our key objectives are: 1️⃣ Mobilisation of collection-based data on pollinators 2️⃣ Training and education of students and collection managers in best practices 3️⃣ Networking and long-term collaboration among institutions housing pollinators We intend to strengthen collaboration 🤝

Infographic: "3 Key Objectives: 1. Mobilisation of collection-based data on pollinators. 2. Training and education of students and collection managers in best practices. 3. Networking and long-term collaboration among institutions housing pollinators."

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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 · 13/10/2025

4️⃣ Antonio Ricarte delivered an oral presentation titled: 'The conservation of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Spain', in which he mentioned the important contribution of enterprises such as #INCSTEP to this cause. @ua.es

A. Ricarte delivers his plenary talk in the main auditorium of the Congress.

Source: M. París

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

3️⃣ Sergio Montagud presented a virtual poster entitled:'Who is who in #Pyrgus? Illustrated keys for identifying Iberian species', about creating a visual ID tool for one of the most challenging butterfly genus in our territory.

This picture shows M. París and S. Montagud standing in front of Sergio's virtual poster.

Source: M. París

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

2️⃣ Robert J. Wilson gave an oral presentation titled: 'Towards a national reference collection of pollinating insects in Spain', which aimed to publicise INC-STEP and other initiatives that exploit insect museum specimens! @robwilsonmncn.bsky.social

R. J. Wilson delivers his plenary talk on the role of NHCs in pollinator conservation. The moderators of the congress were at his side.

Source: M. París

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

1️⃣ Mercedes París presented a virtual poster entitled:' Challenges in creating a reference collection of pollinators'. She presented a preliminary analysis of the time spent on building our pilot reference collection at @mncn-csic.bsky.social.

This picture shows A. Ricarte, M. París and P. Aguado standing in front of Mercedes' virtual poster.

Source: M. París

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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

We have reached the end of the meeting! To conclude, Rob gives a brief summary of the day, the tasks carried out by all the consortium members, and the future possibilities of the project... To be continued? We hope so! 😉

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

Now it's the turn of Conrad Gillett, one of the consultants at @tettris.eu assigned to the INC-STEP 3PP project, to give us some insights into the work carried out by the consortium to date and its importance within the TETTRIs framework 📚.

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

Adrián and Irene, as the project's lead communicators, present how they have managed to communicate and disseminate 🗣️ information about scientific collections, taxonomy and entomological experts, and, of course, the results obtained so far by INC-STEP @tettris.eu

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

After lunch... More talks! 🗣️ Now it's Paco's turn to talk about the conclusions and impressions of those who attended the Workshop on Scientific Collections held at @ucm.es

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

A visit to the museum's permanent exhibition was a must! 😉 After lunch, we will continue with more talks 🗣️.

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

Sergio now presents Task 4: Mapping Spanish pollinator collections. The aim of this task was to find other public entomological collections in Spain with which to establish links and which could provide more material for the reference collection 🐝🪰🦋.

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

Now, Arturo gives us a “master class” on analyzing gaps in the reference collection 📊🔎. Which species are unique to each institution? Which ones are common to all INC-STEP partners? Which ones are missing? 🤔

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

Let's continue with more talks! 🗣️ Now it's Manuel's turn to update us on the progresses made on the Iberfauna website to implement specimens from private collections.

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

Next, Berta and Mercedes talked about the taxonomical review of the 5 collections (Task 1) and the protocol development and evaluation (Task 2).

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

Final round 🎬 We conclude today's journey with a #SWOTAnalysis (DAFO in Spanish) 🚦 There were lots of constructive observations, compliments and invaluable suggestions 🎉 Thank you to everyone who attended the workshop! And to those who followed this thread virtually! 🧵

Blackboard covered in post-its for the SWOT analysis: weaknesses are written in green on the top left, strengths in pink on the top right, threats in yellow on the bottom left, and opportunities in blue on the bottom right.

Sandra Grzechnik (UCM) summarising the answers written on the post-its for the concluding comments.

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

After the lunch break, we moved on to the participatory evaluation 🔍👥 of the #INCSTEP tools: 📄 ID-sheets, 🖥️ databases, 🗺️ RC distribution map... ❓ Participants need to respond: How can the tools in this project help you? 🙌 How can you contribute to them? 🤲 What improvements would you suggest? ☝️

A3 sheets provided to answer the questions mentioned above, which were discussed at a table with several participants.

General view of the room where the group discussions take place. Participants were asked to form four diverse teams.

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

Berta Caballero (MCNB) led the way in the first practical session of the day ‼️ @museuciencies.cat She presented some pilot #IDsheets 📄 for 6️⃣ selected species of #Eristalinae present in our territory! 🪰 Attendees were able to practise using real specimens to validate them! ✅

Berta Caballero presenting her contribution to the workshop.

Detail of some ID sheets, a stereomicroscope and pinned specimens that were used during the practical session.

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

Manuel Sánchez (MNCN) and Sergio Montagud (MHNUV) provided an update on the #Task4 📄prospection of alternative collections. Individual collectors and other institutions hold valuable specimens that need to be registered! 📍🏷️ 🙋🏻‍♂️ Link to the survey: iberfauna.mncn.csic.es/encuesta1.aspx

Both lecturers during their presentation of this preliminar survey.

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

Arturo H. Ariño and David Galicia (UNAV) have just finished their presentation on #INCSTEP preliminary results #GAPAnalysis 📊🕳️ @unav.edu As NHCs-based data is inherently patchy, so it is essential to identify our geographical 🌍, taxonomic 🧬 and phenological 📅 gaps in order to fill them!

Arturo H. Ariño giving his section of the presentation on database standardisation and preliminary results.

David Galicia lecturing the other section of the presentation on database standardisation and preliminary results.

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

Back from the coffee break! ☕️ Attendees received some wonderful gifts 🎁

General view of the attendees during the coffee break.

Gifts for attendees include a bookmark, a workshop panflet, a UCM tote bag and more!

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

The project's aims 🎯 and background were then introduced to the attendees. 'It is crucial to establish baseline standards from historical specimens in order to understand how change in insect populations is taking place' – @robwilsonmncn.bsky.social 💬 More ℹ️ #TETTRIsEU ⤵️ tettris.eu/3rd-party-pr...

General view of the assembly hall where the first part of the workshop is taking place. The attendees comprise more than 20 stakeholders from a variety of different backgrounds.

Robert J. Wilson presenting the objectives and background of the INC-STEP project during his talk. He also presented the aims of today's workshop.

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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 · 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 · 16/07/2025

Our reference collection comprises over 2,200 specimens from 32 different species! 🌍 The top two species are C. nigricans 🥇 and C. abeillei 🥈, with more than 400 specimens each! 📈 Nevertheless, other 24 species are represented by fewer than 50 specimens. 📉

Infographic illustrating some preliminary results our focal-taxa the genus Colletes (Hymenoptera, Colletidae). Its taxonomic difficulty is considered high (shown in red). The INC-STEP reference collection comprises over 2,200 specimens (2, photo of a entomological box) belonging to 32 out of 38 species (1, photo of a specimen). The species with the most specimens is 'Colletes nigricans' (3, represented by a photo of a live specimen over a flower).

Source: our own
Photo credits: MNCN Ent. Coll. & Owen Beckett

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

Classic labels usually offered only vague information about where something was collected. But GIS changed everything! 💻 Now we can: 📌 Record precise locations with GPS technology 🛰️. 📌 Retro georeference older records using online tools. It opens up a whole new dimension!

Graphic image of planet Earth with red location markers.

Photo source: AI generated (ChatGPT)

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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

Our partner institutions #INCSTEP together house >9.4K specimens belonging to 36 of the 38 recognised species in our territory! 🌍 The top species are B. #terrestris 🥇 and #pascuorum 🥈, with >2,000 specimens each! However, B. #flavidus and #gerstaeckeri are absent from our collection... 🫙

Infographic illustrating some preliminary results our focal-taxa the genus Bombus (Hymenoptera, Apidae).

Its taxonomic difficulty is considered high (shown in red). The INC-STEP referecen collection comprises over 9,400 specimens (photo of a entomological box, pic no. 2) belonging to 36 out of 38 species (photo of a mounted specimen, pic no. 1). The species with the most specimens is 'Bombus terrestris' (represented by a photo of a live specimen over a flower, pic no. 3).

Source: our own
Photo credits: MNCN Ent. Coll. & Joan Parera Riera (CC BY-NC-ND)

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

Historically, data on specimens in NHCs were kept in internal record books 📖. Today, institutions are working to make this information available online—not just historical records, but also photographs 📸🐝. This helps #democratize knowledge and makes it easier to share!

Screenshot of a page from one of the record books from the MCNB collection. Source: MCNB

An adult specimen of the hoverfly species Eristalis tenax from the MCNB. Photo credit: Irene Lobato Vila

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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 · 18/06/2025

Our holdings currently comprise > 3,300 specimens belonging to 150 hoverfly species! 📊 The most abundant species is #Eristalis tenax, with > 800 specimens. 🔝. However, our holdings do not include at least 140 Eristalinae species, revealing a significant gap in our material. ⚠️

Infographic illustrating some preliminary results regarding one of our focal taxa (the subfamily Eristalinae, order Diptera). Its taxonomic difficulty is considered to be medium (shown in yellow). The INC-STEP reference collection comprises over 3,300 specimens belonging to 150 out of 294 species (Photo 1 illustrate a specimen and Photo 2 an entomological box containing some other specimens). The species with the largest number of specimens is 'Eristalis tenax', represented by a photograph of a live specimen on a flower (Photo 3).

Source: our own
Photo credits: MNCN Ent. Coll and Michael Becker (CC BY-SA 3.0).

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

#Paratypes, #syntypes, #holotypes and more. There are many types of types! 😵‍💫 Despite their disparities, they all make it possible to properly identify species by comparison 🔎, and are fundamental when describing them 📜. And they are invaluable for reference collections! ❗️

The little drawers where the labels are stored are sorted by type of type. Each compartment hold one type of label. From top to bottom: holotype, lectotype, paralectotype, paratype and syntype.

Source: our own
Photo credits: A. Sánchez Albert

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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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