iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

My 5000th #iNaturalist observation! A Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) in Ventura County. #LookCloser

Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Ixodes pacificus nymphs are in full swing in NorCal. Jelly Bean Jar Game time! How many nymphs in my 3 vials? 2 people flagging, 1 flag each side of the trail. Approximately 1 mile flagged. Final number shared tomorrow. Winner gets bragging rights. #TickTalk #VampiresIRL #DoTheDamnTickCheck

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

‘Tis the season! Adult Western Black-Legged Ticks are out and about in CA! Ticks remain active as long as the temperature is above freezing. #DoTheDamnTickCheck #MedEntoAF #VampiresIRL

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Mammograms save lives. If you’re at risk and/or over 40 - do the boob smash. Get it done. #BoobSmashDay

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

My 4000th iNaturalist observation was this #Lorquin’sAdmiral today! #EntoAF #NatureNerd #LookCloser

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Nerdy worlds collide! Built the Lego Deer Tick today and I’m squealing with excitement! #COES #MedEntoAF #VampiresIRL #TickTalk #BuildIt

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Routine Plague Surveillance in Yosemite National Park today! Normally I’d also be TyVeked up - but we caught a manageable number of animals and I pulled note-taking and animal release duty! #ProtectPublicHealth #PublicHealthMatters #CAStateScientistsAtWrk

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

My first CA State Butterfly - Sonoma Country, 7/8/2025 - The California Dogface, Zerene eurydice. #EntoAF

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Still picking up Ixodes pacificus nymphs in California’s North Coastal counties. 39 of these #vampiresIRL at Jack London State Park yesterday. #medentoAF #dothedamntickcheck

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Just saying as a person who works in public health- I am terrified right now.

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Pacific Coast Ticks (Dermacentor occidentalis) are peaking here in CA! #DotheDamnTickCheck

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Engorged Ixodes pacificus nymph, flat I. pacificus nymph, and I. pacificus larva collected 5/29 in Napa County. Tiny vampires - pinky nail for scale. Do your tick checks CA! #medentoAF #vampiresIRL #dothedamntickcheck

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Reposted by Dr. Megsquito

Geraldine @everywhereist.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

*me, lying facedown on the bed, yelling into the mattress: "WHY DO THOSE OF US WHO DIDN'T FUCK AROUND ALSO HAVE TO FIND OUT"

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Wild Forget-Me-Not Moth caterpillar (Gnophaela latipennis) in San Mateo County today. #entoAF #frass

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Dealing with an aphid problem on my roses so I went to a little weedy patch I know and grabbed a dead leaf covered with lady beetle pupae. Hooray for biocontrol! #ladybeetles

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Tired of the current Oregon Trail vibes… No, I DO NOT want to die while forging a flooding river OR from the measles OR from dysentery. Also don’t want to be associated with colonial imperialistic values. (And for reference my family took a wagon train to Oregon back in the day)

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Backyard Naturalist - California Darner (Rhionaeschna californica) on my roses. #naturenerd

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Took a little adventure to North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve for waterfalls and wildflowers. Worth it! #naturenerd #HikeCA

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

A volunteer program that has bipartisan support for 400m a year is in the crosshairs? As an RPCV I can say that this would be a DEVASTATING blow for our foreign relations. Stop killing what makes us great.

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Sometimes you just need a happy pic… #RoyGuillermoLeFloof celebrated his 14th birthday yesterday! #dogsofbluesky #bestboy

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Did my first #SkypeAScientist today and had a blast talking to students at a virtual HS about my job and #ticks! I should do this more often to boost my ego bc among the comments was the feedback “You are an absolute queen and your job is so cool sounding.” 😁

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Apparently my 16 yo cat is exhibiting signs of dementia… I just thought she was old and deaf… She’s still sassy though. And has excellent visual acuity. #CatMom

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Just want to share a snoozy shot of my best buddy #RoyGuillermoLeFloof! 🐕 He’s turning 14 in 2 weeks! 😭😍😭

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

I have a spider that lives above my ring doorbell. At certain times of the year it consistently sets it off resulting in me checking my security settings. It’s looking out for me.

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

A bit of brightness on the Monday following Daylight Savings… A Western Fairy Slipper - Calypso bulbosa occidentalis. #nativeorchids

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Love a river otter in a coastal tide pool! 🤩

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

I’m so very tired these days…

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

A flock of mute swans? Haven’t seen this before in the marsh…

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Today Governor Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order requiring State Employees to return to the office 4 days a week. This is alarming on many fronts: (A thread)

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

@gavinnewsom.bsky.social doesn’t care about the cost to the environment by putting more cars on the road each day to get to the office. Set up AFFORDABLE public transit that accounts for employees’ commutes. You won’t pay for gas or tolls so make a change before you make us return to office.

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

@gavinnewsom.bsky.social ‘s return to office executive order is both ill-timed and ill-conceived - many federal workers who were teleworking were the first to get fired. California should be leading the way with flexible options based on performance- not office time.

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

We are living in dark times. If you’re not scared, you’re not paying attention. #DystopianReality

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

45 is an embarrassment to the United States and the world.

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Just a reminder that Lyme disease is the most common VBD in the USA…

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Hey Hive Mind, Any of you fabulous friends a driver of a hybrid SUV? Which one and what makes it rad? Looking to upgrade and can’t go to a full EV. Thanks in advance!

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Feeling like we all need a round of applause for making it through Wednesday.

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Turned in letters of recommendation today for an awesome candidate for programs that have strong DEI values… The person I’m writing them for is an exceptional scholar, wants to go to grad school, and is working hard for that opportunity. I really hope that the programs are funded.

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

W.T.F. I really hate this timeline…

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Sometimes you (literally) catch them in the act… Always fun killing the vibe by separating mating Ixodes pacificus. 🤣 #ticktalk #medentoAF #vampiresIRL

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Fun bycatch while tick collecting today - a rake-legged mite (L)! They are approximately the same size and general shape as nymphal Ixodes pacificus (R), so they sometimes end up in our vials. However upon closer inspection they’re little weirdos! #acarology #eightlegs

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

All I can say is resist. Anti-vaxxers do NOT have the power. It’s actually shameful that vaxxed parents who have SURVIVED possible DEATH are saying their kids don’t need vaccines. The truth has consequences.

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Dr. Megsquito @megsquitophd.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

I want to go back to the time where it was shameful to be a Nazi. 🤢

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