iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 01/10/2026

Here, have a tiny leafmining moth (genus Stigmella) with shiny blue scale highlights (those aren't chromatic aberration camera artifacts)! #entomology

Tiny moth specimen. It's dark brown with a horizontal white stripe and blue reflections.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 28/09/2026

Post an image from your photo roll with your current mental state.

A white plastic card that inexplicably says "INTENTIONALLY BLANK"

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 26/09/2026

I finally got around to properly photographing this tiny firefly I found in my backyard over five years ago (the ONLY one I've ever seen there). It's Pyropyga minuta, also known as the Flower Elf. #entomology

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 24/09/2026

I love this crisp Autumn weather...

Weather app screenshot showing a forecast of 92 degrees and Mostly Cloudy. Yuck.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 09/09/2026

OK, I finally hit 500 insect species collected/observed in the yard... #entomology

Spreadsheet screenshot showing cells containing the text "Distinct species" and "500" circled in red.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 25/07/2026

Decided to try soloing One-Armed Bandit on Normal with a chip defense machine active to get the achievement and decor item... Success! #worldofwarcraft

WoW screenshot showing a dead slot machine boss and an achievement toast.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 23/07/2026

Another test drawing, this time of a small wasp (Pemphredon sp.)

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 18/07/2026

After years of looking (because I know they're fairly common around here) I finally found a woodpecker fly! #entomology #BugSky

Side view of a point-mounted fly specimen with a lumpy face and very long orange legs.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 11/07/2026

And another new raid boss solo: Heroic Soulbinder Naazindhri.

WoW screenshot showing a defeated raid boss.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 11/07/2026

New raid boss solo: Heroic Plexus Sentinel in Manaforge Omega.

WoW screenshot showing a large defeated mechanical raid boss.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 09/07/2026

Added a couple more drawings to the concept pile... Not Terribly happy with the little fungus-eating lady beetle, but the spotted wool carder bee is decent.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 08/07/2026

Added a common wasp to my practice/concept insect pieces.

Somewhat low-detail (intentionally) drawings of a red beetle, a black bug, an orange and black wasp, and a green and blue beetle.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 05/07/2026

Doing some insect concept art based on some of my photographed specimens. No particular reason.

Drawings of three insects: a red beetle, a green and blue beetle, and a black and white bug.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 03/07/2026

Some recent interesting insects from the backyard: Bembidion sp., Lebia viridis, and Aristotelia roseosuffusella. #Entomology #Bugsky

Small (and very blue) point-mounted beetle specimen

Small point-mounted moth specimen with brown, black, white, and pink (!) markings

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 03/07/2026

Not today, Satan. Not today.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 29/05/2026

Here are a couple from my phone...

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 29/05/2026

Here's that funky little fly: Asteia multipunctata (I think). It looks like it has a cartoonishly-white mouth, but it's really just a white stripe on its face. #Entomology

Lateral view of a point-mounted fly specimen. It's a yellow fly with a dark glossy thorax and striped eyes.

Front view of the head of a small fly specimen. It has striped eyes and a horizontal white stripe that makes it look like it's baring its non-existent teeth at us.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 22/05/2026

I just added the 450th species to my backyard insects book/catalogue, just in time for International Day of Biological Diversity! Here are a couple of interesting ones I added today: a shore bug (Saldula sp.) and a tiny water scavenger beetle (Cryptopleurum sp.)! #Entomology

Dorsal view of a point-mounted shore bug. It's a dark-colored bug with lightly-colored wings featuring dark spots and veins.

Dorsal view of a tiny point-mounted beetle. It's dark brown in color, changing to yellowish near the posterior region, and is covered in tiny punctures and hairs.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 15/05/2026

Is it Flyday, I mean, Friday, already? In that case, have one of my favorite fly photos: the hypnotic eyes of Eristalinus taeniops! #entomology

Close-up photo of the black-and-orange striped eyes of a fly.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 15/05/2026

Every so often I find an arthropod that I simply can't figure out. Does anyone have any clue who this might be? #entomology #Bugsky

Dorsal view of a strange little six-legged arthropod with no wings and tiny eyes.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 08/05/2026

A very small parasitoid wasp from the backyard. I believe it's Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis, introduced to southern California from Australia in 1933 to combat the long-tailed mealybug. #Entomology

Lateral view of a very small point-mounted wasp specimen. The wasp is dark metallic green with huge antennae and a large round dark spot on each forewing.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 08/05/2026

Here's a stylish striped weevil for your Friday enjoyment. #Entomology

Lateral view of a point-mounted weevil specimen. It's covered in light-colored scales, with a series of white and brown stripes on the elytra.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 30/04/2026

Advertise your account with a Simpsons image

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 21/04/2026

Nexus-King Salhadaar (War Within version) soloed.

WoW screenshot showing Nexus-King Salhadaar defeated.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 21/04/2026

Forgeweaver Araz soloed.

WoW screenshot showing raid boss Forgeweaver Araz defeated.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 21/04/2026

Soulbinder Naazindhri soloed.

WoW screenshot showing raid boss Soulbinder Naazindhri defeated.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 21/04/2026

Collected a couple of really cool and new (to me) insects this month: a red flat bark beetle and an oak treehopper! #Entomology

Photo of a red flat bark beetle specimen. As the name suggests, it's very red and very flat.

Side view of an oak treehopper specimen. It's yellow-white with black and red stripes and has an absurd pronotal projection protruding past its head.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 20/04/2026

Just soloed the first boss in Manaforge Omega.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 17/04/2026

I like the way that works! I've been wanting to redesign my garden anyway, so I think I'll replace my tiny square connecting room with a cross room for plants etc. Thanks for the idea!

WoW screenshot of a house floorplan focused on a tiny square room connecting a dining hall with a garden.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 21/03/2026

Rare photo of pre-sedated optiMSTie:

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 19/03/2026

I drew a bed bug during my lunch break today in an attempt to drown out the vicious brain weasels. It's smudgy and the proportions are off, but it's probably recognizable. Probably the first time I've sketched non-digitally in years. #entomology #bugsky #SciArt

Smudgy pencil and paper sketch of a bed bug.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 19/03/2026

YUCK. And this is 4 degrees cooler than it was earlier this afternoon.

23 degrees above average daily high, feels like 91 degrees.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 18/03/2026

At least my iNaturalist observations are on track.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 14/03/2026

Thinking about opening commissions to make ends meet... Is there any interest in custom insect art, 100% human-drawn (guaranteed no AI)?

Photo of a poster montage featuring four of my insect drawings.

Digital drawing of an endangered burying beetle.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 28/02/2026

Did a VERY quick sampling of the backyard today and came up with two new species: a barklouse (Ectopsocus californicus) and an ichneumonid parasitoid (Orthocentrus sp). That brings my backyard insect species count up to 426! #Entomology #Bugsky

Side view of a small point-mounted insect specimen. It's a chunky little insect with spotted wings.

Side view of a point-mounted parasitoid wasp specimen. It's mostly black, with yellow areas on the head and thorax and orange legs.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 10/02/2026

Yeah, I have that as well and it's tied to that mailbox decor.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 31/01/2026

Oh, here's a fruit fly I photographed during my lunch break today, Paracantha cultaris. #entomology #Bugsky

Close-up photo of the face of a fruit fly. It has large green eyes with rows of dark spots, large black and white bristles, and is generally light-brown in color.

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Matt Fossen @mattfossen.com · 28/01/2026

First completed art of 2026! It's a leafhopper assassin bug, Zelus renardii. #entomology #Bugsky #SciArt

Digital drawing of an assassin bug perched on some yellow flowers with orange centers.

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