Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D.
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D.
@drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
3.5K followers 890 following 270 posts
Laughing Mantis Studio Pittsburgh, PA. breast cancer scientist, artist, woodworker, naturalist, native plant enthusiast, gardener, gamer, husband, dog dad. Full portfolio on IG @laughingmantisstudio
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Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Mar 26
Plant Milkweed!
#Monarch #Butterfly wood #intarsia is complete! Started this thing in Dec24! Made from 310 pieces of wood handcut on a scrollsaw. Ebonized black walnut, orange-dyed ash, American holly (all scavenged). + A bit of wenge, and painted metal cord antennae. #woodworking #nativeplants
Wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, made from 310 pieces of wood handcut on a scrollsaw. Wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, made from 310 pieces of wood handcut on a scrollsaw. Wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, made from 310 pieces of wood handcut on a scrollsaw. Wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, made from 310 pieces of wood handcut on a scrollsaw.
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Jul 2
Also, this continued video quality issue is the main reason I find myself going back to IG. @bsky.app :/
drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Jul 2
I may have a problem.
Nature photos for #iNaturalist
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Jun 1
This piece is called “Deer Resistant My Ass!”
We have a few painted rocks around our garden. After deer browsed my evening primrose literally the day I planted it, I thought about a rock with this quote. Then was like “wait. I have a bandsaw.” #nativeplants #starwars #failure Oenothera biennis
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · May 26
I found a dead fly in my yard. Turns out it’s zombie fly infected with a fungus that makes it find a high perch, spread its legs/wings, die, and release fungal spores below. I’ve found 3 now, with 1 shipped to @zombiflied.bsky.social at Harvard for science! Just in time for Last of Us finale! 😂
A fly infected with a zombie-making fungus, with the fungus erupted between abdominal segments. A fly infected with a zombie-making fungus, with the fungus erupted between abdominal segments.
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 25
Zebra swallowtail wing looks like pixel art. #butterfly #naturalist
Close up of a zebra butterfly wing. Lots of white, yellow, and cyan dots in a field of black.
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 24
Getting ready to release #4 that just hatched!
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 24
And this excellent @nextpittsburgh.bsky.social article by Andy Moore gives a lot more history, research, and context!
nextpittsburgh.com/environment/...
After 87 years, zebra swallowtail butterflies return to Pittsburgh thanks to pawpaws
Although its host plant is native to Pittsburgh, no sightings of zebra swallowtail butterflies had been reported in 87 years. Until now.
nextpittsburgh.com
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 24
This was my original story in @publicsource.org: www.publicsource.org/zebra-swallo...
Long-gone zebra swallowtail butterflies in my Pittsburgh pawpaws
Naturalists waited decades for the zebra swallowtail butterfly's return to the northern end of its habitat. My pawpaw trees bred hope.
www.publicsource.org
drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 24
It happened! At least 4 of the 32 zebra swallowtail #butterfly chrysalises that overwintered survived (maybe all). The 1st eclosed today! This shot was NOT planned. 3 more coming in the next 1-2 days. All offspring of this single mom: www.publicsource.org/zebra-swallo...
#pawpaw #nativeplants
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 18
Another tiny strip of lawn I’ll never mow again! The other side is neighbor‘s lawn. Shrubby St. John’s wort + foxglove beardtongue from seed. I’ve solarized w/cardboard/mulch around plantings before. Works well enough. If the deer strike and I need to replace, well the hard part’s done.
New garden bed being solarized around native plantings. New garden bed being solarized around native plantings. Turf lawn before-shot. With some holes dug.
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 15
Just perusing through your native plant photos. :) this one reminded me of some NE aster shots I took this week! Yes, really. I grew them from seed under light in my basement. Then took them in and out trying to harden them while avoiding freezes. They’re so confused 😵‍💫 😂. I was shocked.
Fall blooming New England aster… blooming in April. Fall blooming New England aster… blooming in April.
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 15
More great info! Thank you so much!
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 15
That’s great to know! Although these deer will keep coming back over and over. City deer… haha. I had read that oenothera are deer-resistant. That clearly does not apply to starved urban deer. 😂 or just bad internet info
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 15
Bonus: I get to make dog walkers laugh when they go by. 😂
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 15
Before and after. Evening primrose grown from seed in my basement. 😂 #nativeplants #gardening #eveningprimrose #deer
Beautiful evening primrose fully leafed out. A lonely evening primrose cane stripped of leaves with a sign hanging that says “Nice try, sucker! -DEER”
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 8
Yes the “stairs” were haphazardly thrown together today. Squirrels will ruin it regularly anyway.
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 8
Made a new #hobbit hole for our front garden. Partly to make kids/parents smile when they walk by. But mainly to make myself smile. Scrap fence cedar and acrylic paint. It’ll look better with real plants around it I think. Pieces cut on #scrollsaw. #woodworking #geekart
Blue painted hobbit hole nestled in the ground. Blue painted hobbit hole nestled in the ground next to the old yellow one. Blue painted hobbit hole. Cut pieces for the hobbit hole.
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 6
Wow. Here in Pittsburgh (6B), they haven’t even emerged from the ground yet!
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 4
Current vibe post Chewie’s “cryptorchid” surgery. Fun tangent: this lead to me learning that “orchid” means “testicle.” Hat tip to @metalmarks.bsky.social for sharing this illustration of why the plant is called an #orchid in our Pittsburgh #Naturalists signal chat. #DogsofBluesky
Chewbacca the tiny Wookiee (puppy). Apparently one of his 🏀s was up in his abdomen and took a second incision to get to. Diagram of an orchid. Complete with two fuzzy tubers.
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 2
Aw thanks for sharing, Kate! I appreciate you!
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 2
Happy to have this recent wooden monarch #butterfly piece shown at the University of #Pittsburgh #EcoArtisans Sustainable Art Expo today! Bonus materials showcasing #milkweed, #nativeplants, #pawpaw, and zebra swallowtails.
Exhibition of my wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, along with materials and references to milkweed, native plants, and the story of the zebra swallowtail in my backyard last year. Exhibition of my wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, along with materials and references to milkweed, native plants, and the story of the zebra swallowtail in my backyard last year. Exhibition of my wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, along with materials and references to milkweed, native plants, and the story of the zebra swallowtail in my backyard last year. Exhibition of my wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, along with materials and references to milkweed, native plants, and the story of the zebra swallowtail in my backyard last year.
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Apr 1
lol I took that same photo
A hand and a pawpaw flower bud
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Mar 27
Nice catch ;)
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Mar 26
Plant Milkweed!
#Monarch #Butterfly wood #intarsia is complete! Started this thing in Dec24! Made from 310 pieces of wood handcut on a scrollsaw. Ebonized black walnut, orange-dyed ash, American holly (all scavenged). + A bit of wenge, and painted metal cord antennae. #woodworking #nativeplants
Wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, made from 310 pieces of wood handcut on a scrollsaw. Wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, made from 310 pieces of wood handcut on a scrollsaw. Wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, made from 310 pieces of wood handcut on a scrollsaw. Wooden monarch butterfly intarsia, made from 310 pieces of wood handcut on a scrollsaw.
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drlaughingmantis.bsky.social
Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. @drlaughingmantis.bsky.social · Mar 22
Cold & rain makes for a great day to do my annual refinish of this inlayed patio sunflower table I made. Downside of oil-finish: yearly maintenance. Upside: it’s easy and much prettier than something like spar urethane. It stays on our porch so at least somewhat limited exposure to elements.
Patio table made from walnut & sapele, with bloodwood, yellowheart, & wenge sunflower inlay. Patio table made from walnut & sapele, with bloodwood, yellowheart, & wenge sunflower inlay. Patio table made from walnut & sapele, with bloodwood, yellowheart, & wenge sunflower inlay. Patio table made from walnut & sapele, with bloodwood, yellowheart, & wenge sunflower inlay.
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