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Angela Chuang

@arachnonaut.bsky.social

1.3K followers 730 following 140 posts

Invasion Biology, Arachnology, Ethology, Agroecology | Washington College | board game enthusiast and reviewer

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Angela Chuang @arachnonaut.bsky.social · Jun 4

If you ever wondered how spiders are beneficial to humans and ecosystems, you may be interested in our newest review of "Ecosystem services provided by spiders", led by @cardosopmb.bsky.social! 🕷️🕸️

Stefano Mammola @stefanomammola.bsky.social · Jun 4

🕷️🌍🕸️ Spiders aren't creepy crawlies—they're ecosystem heroes! From pest control to biotech inspiration to key figures in our collective culture, a new review reveals the many services spiders provide:

🔗 doi.org/10.1111/brv....

(drawing by @jmalumbresolarte.bsky.social)

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Jillian Kurovski 서정화 @bugsorbust.bsky.social · 1d

🧵Arachnophobia, while common, is unique amongst phobias bc often invokes an overlap of fear and disgust! This is not prevalent in other arthropod phobias. Interestingly, fear & disgust utilize the same neural network and have similar outputs, making them difficult to disentangle.

🦋 Alie of the Woods 🦋 @humanbyweight.bsky.social · 1d

Arachnophobia is interesting to me because it's so specific. Like, people generally aren't afraid of crabs, even though they're hairy and skitter around. And they're not afraid of bugs, even though they have about the same number of eyes. Most people will never even see a dangerous spider irl.

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Mart @beardybugmart.bsky.social · 7d

Day 3 of #arachtober. I can't promise I'll keep this up all month; I'll run out of photos soon, but for now here's another Araneus diadematus to delight you. This was a nice, dark form, but yet again, it was facing the wrong way 🙄 @britishspiders.bsky.social #macro #omsystem #macrophotography

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Jonathan C Slaght @jonathanslaght.com · 7d

super cool study found human artifacts in Bearded vulture nests, incl. "weaponry like a crossbow bolt and wooden lance, decorated sheep leather, and parts of a slingshot....a shoe made from twigs and grass is ~675-years-old." link to paper: doi.org/10.1002/ecy..... www.popsci.com/environment/... 🧪🌍🦉

Multi-generational vulture nests hold 700 years of human artifacts

Crossbow bolts, sandals, slingshots, and more.

www.popsci.com

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Arachtober @arachtober.bsky.social · 10d

Join us in celebrating Arachtober by sharing your #spider and other #arachnid photos all month. #Arachtober has spread around the web. We’ve created a basic site at Arachtober.com to explain what this is all about. Banner by @ashleymbradford.bsky.social, inspired by my recent linocut artwork.

Black and white line art of a jumping spider surrounded by morning glory flowers with text Arachtober 2025.

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Ana V. Leitão @anavleitao.bsky.social · 9d

Remembering Mark Elgar, a brilliant mind in #BehaviouralEcology. His work reshaped our understanding of animal behaviour, and his warmth and mentorship inspired generations. A true loss for science & community.
academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...

Obituary: Mark Elgar

Raoul A Mulder, Therésa M Jones, Devi M Stuart-Fox, Louise Barrett; Obituary: Mark Elgar, Behavioral Ecology, , araf111, https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ara

academic.oup.com

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Nathan Harness @nathanharness.bsky.social · 10d

I found this rove beetle friend on the rainforest floor. They are so so fast, you can imaging me chasing it around with my camera just rolling around in the leaf litter. Just unbelievable colors. In person the rainbow iridescence is stunning. It’s hard to say much here beyond just wow.

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Marc A. Milne @forthespiders.bsky.social · 10d

Thrilled our paper is finally out! A great collaboration between @mcaterino.bsky.social, Ernesto Recuero, and myself. We looked at endemism in spiders in southern Appalachia (largely NC).

This is also likely the most species-rich phylogeny (although just COI-based) of linyphiids yet published!

Michael Caterino @mcaterino.bsky.social · 10d

High elevation litter spiders of southern Appalachia show less local endemism than other arthropods - ballooning by spiderlings apparently overcomes geographic isolation. A great collaboration with @forthespiders.bsky.social & Ernesto Recuero

doi.org/10.1636/JoA-... (if paywalled write me for pdf)

One fourth of a phylogenetic tree of southern Appalachian spiders, with photos of three representative taxa along the right side, Wadotes hybridus (reddish brown cephalothorax with zig-zag stripey gray and white abdomen), Neon nelli (large-eyed gray jumping spider), and Antrodiaetus sp. (a large-jawed mygalomorph trapdoor spider, light tan with a reddish abdomen.

One fourth of a phylogenetic tree of southern Appalachian spiders, with photos of four representative taxa along the right side, Centromerus denticulatus and Centromerus tennapax (both mostly golden brown with gray abdomen, both males with enlarged palps), Bathyphantes bishopi (dark brown cephalothorax, long legs, dark gray abdomen), Tenuiphantes sabulosus (golden cephalothorax, long legs, pale dark-striped abdomen).

One fourth of a phylogenetic tree of southern Appalachian spiders, with photos of four representative taxa along the right side, Collinsia sp. and Collinsia oxypaederotipus (both with light brown cephalothorax, pale legs, gray-green abdomen, both males with enlarged palps), Ceraticelus laetabilis (stout, with brown cephalothorax and lighter brown abdomen, palps slightly enlarged), Ceraticelus fissiceps (orange cephalothorax with distinctly enlarged dark snout, lighter abdomen).

One fourth of a phylogenetic tree of southern Appalachian spiders, with photos of four representative taxa along the right side, Sisicus n. sp (not yet described, light brown round cephalothorax, with pale abdomen and legs, large male palps), Floricomus praedesignatus (dark tuberculate male cephalothorax, gray-green abdomen, pale legs), Blestia sarcocuon (anteriorly pointed cephalothorax, dark with long yellowish legs, impressive male palps), and Ceratinops carolinus (prolonged elevated, brown male cephalothorax, gray-green abdomen).

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Blue sky nice guy @rajandelman.bsky.social · 11d

The bees have discovered Brutalism

Cube Enthusiast @killhamster.bsky.social · 13d

Nature is healing

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Aussie Moths @wa-moths.bsky.social · 16d

It’s hard work changing your outfit when you’re a #spider🕷️

Caught this Knobbled Orbweaver (Socca pustulosa) in the process of moulting today. It hunkered down and took a well deserved rest after this
#ausinverts #wildoz #arachnids

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EZ Lab @ezlab.bsky.social · 16d

In a new publication, we focused on the little-known African spider Megaraneus gabonensis, in which females are 4x larger than males.

We provide an overdue taxonomic description, phylogenetic placement, and reconstruct the evolution of sexual size dimorphism.

www.ezlab.si/post/taxonom...

Taxonomy, phylogeny, and size evolution in Megaraneus

Many spider species show large differences in size between males and females, but biologists still do not fully understand how or why this evolves. In this study we focused on the systematics and evol...

www.ezlab.si

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Kayce Bell @kaycebell.bsky.social · 17d

Hi! We need lice for our diversity and adaptation project. Specifically, we need lice from zebras, camelids (camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, guanacos) & aardvarks. If you or someone you know might have lice, I'm happy to discuss our inclusive collaboration plans!
sites.google.com/nhm.org/anop...

Mammals & Lice

We are interested in understanding what drives host-parasite relationships. We are using the Anoplura (sucking lice) parasite and mammalian host system to generate a comprehensive sucking louse phylog...

sites.google.com

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Marshal Hedin @mhedin.bsky.social · 18d

let me share a little story about a remarkable wasp that I encountered yesterday in our local deserts

I stumbled across her, and scrambled to get a few crappy photos .... but then realized that she had a burrow, perhaps a better photo op was possible ??

here she is at her burrow entrance.

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Angela Chuang @arachnonaut.bsky.social · 17d

gotta be a long-jawed spider then!

photo credit: Richard Ong

Green Tetragnathid spider with extremely long, brownish chelicerae in the foreground on a green leaf. Picture by Richard Ong

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Angela Chuang @arachnonaut.bsky.social · 17d

imagining the beaver-sized incisors needed to gnaw through 6.5 cookies at once 😂

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ASAB Education Committee @asabeducation.bsky.social · 28d

Reminder! The deadline for our infographic competition is the 18th of October. The last day of #biologyweek You can find out more information here www.asab.org/education-news There are three age categories: 7-10 years old, 11-14 years old and 15-21 years old.

This 2025 competition is for young people to design a poster that contains images and information about the animal behaviour of one, or multiple species of non-human animals.

You can draw, paint, sketch or digitally create artwork that captures, describes and explains the behaviour of animals. There are no restrictions on the type of drawing, painting or poster that you create, it must include information on the behaviour of the animals you are highlighting. The winning infographic in each category will be published in our scientific journal Animal Behaviour.

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Ainsley S @americanbeetles.bsky.social · 27d

this is cheese phenetics and I won't stand for it

Luke Steuber @lukesteuber.com · 29d

EVERYONE STOP

cheese wheel of cheeses

A circular infographic chart categorizing cheeses by type of milk and texture. At the center, four sections are labeled cow, sheep, goat, and buffalo, radiating outward into concentric rings for textures: soft, semi-soft, semi-hard, and hard. Each cheese name is placed within its corresponding segment, with illustrated wedges of cheese circling the outer edge. Cow’s milk occupies the largest portion, featuring well-known varieties like Brie, Camembert, Taleggio, Havarti, Gouda, Cheddar, and Parmesan. Sheep’s milk includes cheeses such as Roquefort, Manchego, and Pecorino Romano. Goat’s milk features options like Chèvre, Crottin de Chavignol, and Humboldt Fog. Buffalo is represented by Mozzarella di Bufala Campana and Buffalo Blue. The cheeses are organized visually so that softer varieties appear closer to the center and harder ones toward the edge. Small colored drawings show each cheese’s texture, rind, and tone, from creamy whites and soft rounds to golden blocks, crumbly wedges, and blue-veined interiors. The background is a deep charcoal gray, making the warm oranges, yellows, and creams of the cheeses stand out clearly.

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Matt @xenomatt.bsky.social · Aug 31

It's #Invertefest, it's Saturday night, so... here's a couple of nudibranchs who are having a very good Saturday night indeed!

Chaimberlain's nembrotha (Nembrotha chamberlaini), Anilao

#MarineLife 🌿

Two nudibranchs on an algae-covered rock. One faces towards the camera, the other faces away. They have red rhinopores and gills, and a white body with a large irregular dark green patch on the back. There are small yellow patches around the edges of the green areas. They are joined by a purple tube, which is how nudibranchs mate; they are hermaphrodites and so each uses the tube between them to fertilize the other's eggs.

#WildlifePhotography #Wildlife #NaturePhotography #Nature #UnderwaterPhotography #Macro #Divesky

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Lauren @tinylongwing.bsky.social · Aug 27

Out in the CNMI here, where I currently am, the best answer I know of is the local Golden Huntsman, Olios sp. Relatively abundant among the spiders here, but undescribed regardless.

#InverteFest #spiders 🌏🧪

Photo of a pale yellow huntsman spider underneath a leaf. It is relatively small compared to most well-known huntsman species at about 1-2 inches in diameter. It has fuzzy legs, a gray abdomen, and a bunch of tiny black eyes on the front of its face.

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franz @franzanth.bsky.social · Aug 27

Ok #InverteFest, what's common in your area but likely new to science?

This slug moth caterpillar comes in the hundreds in my backyard, their poop accumulates on leaves. When the wind rustles, the poop comes pouring down and sounds like rain. Its identity is currently unknown beyond "Scopelodes".

a blob of long, chonky, green caterpillar covered in caltrop-like spikes. near the butt end is a band of white, yellow, and dark blue condensed together, almost like the stripe on commercial tooth paste.

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franz @franzanth.bsky.social · Aug 4

Greetings, chordate comrades. #InverteFest is upon us.

tl;dr: Over the last 7 days every April, August, and December, we invite you to show the internet your coolest bugs & slugs.

Go find critters, post your art, write wikipedia pages, do whatever you like to celebrate invertebrates with us!

What is #InverteFest?
It's a periodic event where we invite you to celebrate the overlooked invertebrate fauna around you and share the joys of discovery online. #InverteFest takes place every April, August, & December over the last 7 days of the month.

Going out?
1. Find invertebrates
2. Share observations online using the hashtag #InverteFest
3. Interact with others who are celebrating the event

NOT Going out?
- Post your squid painting
- Stream a game where you play as a crab with a knife
- Selfie with your 27 beetle enamel pins
- Write wikipedia pages

Questions?
ask franzanth / maureenbug / saimihanma

More info and ideas on:
invertefest.com

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Jeff Day @jeffday.bsky.social · Aug 22

enoshima aquarium in fujisawa is currently exhibiting a live chiroteuthis

新江ノ島水族館 Enoshima Aquarium @enosui.bsky.social · Aug 21

10年以上前、「幻の深海生物」としてユウレイイカの目撃情報や展示が日本中で話題になりました。
現在館内では、水中ドローンによって撮影に成功した動画でのみご紹介をしておりましたが…

本日8月21日木曜日、ユウレイイカをご覧になれます🦑

ℹ️展示を終了する場合がございます。ご了承ください。

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José Cerca @naturalselection.bsky.social · Aug 19

The 2025-26 Eco-Evo job list is out. Good luck to those applying!

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

ecoevojobs.net 2025-26

docs.google.com

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Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · Aug 16

This video is from a guest on my tour this week. I was busy taking stills. This is very much a wait for it video because the cutest part is at the end. It was absolutely magical to be able to watch these polar bear cubs and their mom just going about their day on the tundra in the rain. 🌿🦊🐻‍❄️

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Marshal Hedin @mhedin.bsky.social · Aug 16

a globally rare blind harvester (Speleonychia) moves slowly through the perpetual darkness of a shallow but lengthy lava tube, far southern Washington

yellow-orange harvester (Opiliones) without eyes and with extra long second legs moves over black basalt inside a perpetually dark lava tube

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franz @franzanth.bsky.social · Aug 5

This August, we're aiming for the ambitious number of 100 artists in the art book. Submit now while the form is still open! docs.google.com/forms/d/1KaR...

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