Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes)

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · Aug 11

We need about 300 more scientists before we let teachers loose on the database!

Tell your colleagues, we need ya!

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · Aug 7

Scientists!

@skypeascientist.bsky.social matches scientists with classrooms, libraries, & more for virtual Q&As! It's easy and fun!

We are looking for 750 more volunteers by 8/15

If you're down to chat with 1-5 classrooms this semester, sign up here
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 23

Moth soup 🦋🍜, it's what's for breakfast!

Karl Magnacca @kmagnacca.bsky.social · Jul 23

Moths, the bane of my existence

Way too many moths in a Malaise trap sample, with their scales forming a broth in the liquid that obscures everything beneath them

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 22

Help my friend Ash get data to understand this Baffling behavior in tree crickets (see what I did there 😉)

Ashlesh Pattanaik @orthopterizzt.bsky.social · Jul 22

Tree crickets build megaphones, called "baffles", by chewing holes in leaves to attract mates. For my PhD, I am studying the evolution of baffling. Lil bit of phylogenetics, lil bit of citizen science. Follow the link to my new project on @inaturalist.bsky.social
www.inaturalist.org/projects/baf...

Baffling in North American tree crickets

This project aims to collect data on “baffling” behaviour in tree crickets (subfamily: Oecanthinae). Baffling is a strategy used by males to make themselves louder. They do so by calling from leaf edg...

www.inaturalist.org

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Reposted by Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes)

Erica McAlister @flygirlnhm.bsky.social · Jul 22

Today I’m databasing fleas.

Trying to learn more about their mammal hosts and now giggling at this creature - a giant root-rat which I have some unidentified fleas collected off one such animal from before I was born…

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 19

Saw this gorgeous man land in front of our car in the intersection at a red light last night. My partner held traffic as the light turned green while I was dashing out to save him. Male Microcentrum rhombifolium, he sang outside my window after he was released in my yard 😍🥰🥬🎶

A side view of a katydid on a wooden surface

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 19

I hate living in this country right now

Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · Jul 19

The EPA has eliminated its research division, which for decades has provided the science behind regulations on clean air, clean water, and toxic chemicals.

The US can afford to monitor, research, and regulate the impacts of industries on human and environmental health. We are just choosing not to.

EPA eliminates research and development office, begins layoffs

The Environmental Protection Agency said Friday it is eliminating its research and development arm and reducing agency staff by thousands of employees.

apnews.com

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Reposted by Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes)

Susana Wadgymar🌿🔬 @smwadgymar.bsky.social · Jul 18

These cuts will disproportionately affect PBS and NPR stations across many Native Nations, including many communities across Alaska and the Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico. Look at the map. 👀

Please donate to local stations in these areas! #PBS #NPR

Jeremy BOO! Yoder 🎃💀🕷️ @jbyoder.org · Jul 18

All of Public Broadcasting needs help to weather the Trump CPB rescission, but if you're already a regular donor in a big media market, maybe pick a vulnerable station in a less-resourced region to support

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Jul 18

President Trump’s proposal to eliminate federal funding for public broadcasters threatens scores of radio and TV stations across the U.S. Here is where the cuts threaten access to PBS and NPR.

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 17

I had so many interviews but only ended up with one offer for this second postdoc I'm on now. I felt the same way. And now I'm in that same boat w faculty positions - lots of interviews but no offers. Hard not to internalize but it's the system that is broken and should be embarrassed, not us!

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 17

What a great resource/idea! Check it out if you're looking to hire a postdoc, lots of great people are looking for jobs right now

Brooke Fitzwater, PhD (she/her) 🐟🪱🏳️‍🌈♾️ @oceanfilly.bsky.social · Jul 16

Are you a PI in a biology field looking for postdocs? Here is a Starter Pack of early career biologists currently seeking postdoctoral positions! (Also if you are searching for a postdoc, let me know if you want to be added!) go.bsky.app/8zZNEGV

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 17

What a cool resource, very ingenious! I tell people you have to be relentless, shameless, and creative in your networking/marketing these days with the job market as it is. Just wanted to give you a kudos for making this resource, hang in there! Its a hard time but you're doing everything right 🥰

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 17

BONUS: mating video with added commentary about how good the female must smell bc I forgot videos included my audio and I was babbling to myself

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 17

Its Cotinis season and it makes me so happy! 🥰

A gorgeous green beetle with yellow margins on the wing casing

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 17

I mean.. the livelihood of people in my community that operate vineyards seem worth the 2 seconds of effort? I'm familiar with the literature, 9 miles isnt that far compared to hitching a ride to a new state on a train or car.

Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 16

I figure slowing the spread (even incrementally) can give scientists more time to come up with solutions like pheromone traps

Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 16

I think it makes more difference near populated areas because they spread via hitchhiking on vehicles and trains! Thus I think smashing them in parking lots or at the amtrak station helps slow them from spreading a bit, but I don't think anything can stop the eventual total infestation

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 15

Doing my part to stop SLF (spotted lanternfly) from spreading further. They showed up in my town last year and are ABUNDANT this year. Keep your eyes peeled and report sightings if you're outside of the known range of established population

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 14

Yeah I guess my projects have always been small scale but we always just chuck the extras in ethanol and keep em on a shelf. Who knows when we will need that data for population / distribution type work?? To check your ID work? Kinda bonkers to me!

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 14

Omg WHAT. Thank you for publishing this so myself and the broader community can learn about what is happeneing in our own field, this is outrageous!

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 14

If anyone has questions I am based in Cville and work with Drosophila, happy to answer Qs about the town or dept!

Jessie Perlmutter @jiperlmutter.bsky.social · Jul 14

📢 There is a lab technician or lab specialist position available in my lab, starting fall 2025. The position will involve molecular biology, microbiology, drosophila work, and more. Please share with anyone who may be interested and apply here: jobs.virginia.edu/us/en/job/R0...

Biology Lab Tech 2 or Lab Specialist in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America | Research at University of Virginia

Apply for Biology Lab Tech 2 or Lab Specialist job with University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America. Research at University of Virginia

jobs.virginia.edu

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 14

Wow, today I learned some insect specimen are routinely destroyed after imaging??? Seems pretty obviously like irresponsible science practice to me...

Zach likes bees @zachportman.bsky.social · Jul 14

New paper out on an important issue — monitoring insects requires preserving the specimens. We explored this issue using data from the Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab, which has systematically destroyed most of their specimens for decades. A 🧵(1/10)

doi.org/10.1093/aesa...

Big data, changing taxonomy, and ghost records: permanent preservation of collected specimens is essential for insect monitoring

Abstract. Successful long-term biodiversity monitoring requires consistent identification of all specimens, both those newly collected and those collected

doi.org

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 14

Wow I had no idea this was even a practice... why in the hell wouldn't you keep pinned specimen?? I get they take up space but they're pretty easy to keep other than that!

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 14

Thanks for the inspiration! Hope you have some joy today

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 14

I'm here and I'm Queer (Non-Binary), enjoy this photo of me doing entomology in the field and be super excited about it. Love seeing other scientists represent 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

A person with short brown hair and glasses. They have a headlamp on and are cast in a greenish glow from a light bulb on the side of the picture. In the background you can see lots of moths on a white sheet. The person is smiling very large and clearly very happy

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Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes) @arthropodabbey.bsky.social · Jul 12

Working up a sticker / tshirt design for #CricketCourse because I don't want it to be over yet. I had the absolute best time 🥰

Two papers taped to a window. On the top paper you can see the tracing of a large cricket (Glaphyrosoma stephanosoltis) and on the lower you can see a large rhinoceros katydid (Copiphora rhinoceros)

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