Hymenopterist. Curator of an insect research collection at a midwestern U.S. university.
#Insects
#NaturalHistoryCollections
#Taxonomy
#Systematics
Males of all North American velvet-ant species are winged, although males of Myrmilloides grandiceps are brachypterous—the wings are present, but they're tiny and non-functional.
The intimidation factor of the large mandibles is offset by the derpy-looking wings, in my opinion. 😀
I thoroughly enjoyed the ECN/ESA meetings this year in National Harbor.
Is it too soon to be thinking about #ECN2024? 😀
the Eyes have it...
Here's a robber fly in the genus Holcocepha for #Flyday Friday.
Did you know...
filament for 3D printing is available in a variety of colors?
Including translucent white?
#NaturalHistoryCollections #Macrophotography #MakeYourOwnDiffuser
This might be a cause for concern in most other situations, but not in a natural history collection!
Yesterday, we picked up the second half of a specimen donation that will...ah...significantly increase our holdings of Odonata! 🐉🪰
#NaturalHistoryCollections #Curation #Entomology #Dragonflies #Taxonomy
It's National Learn About Butterflies Day. This one is called a Chryxus Arctic
(Oeneis chryxus), a species that makes its home in the boreal forests of Canada and the Great Lakes, as well as the Rocky Mountains. I saw this one near Brainerd Lakes in Boulder County, CO. The caterpillars eat alpine sedges.
Dr. Lu Musetti 🐝🐞🦋🐜🪰🪲
Andy Birkey