Théotime Colin
@theotimecolin.bsky.social
1K followers 400 following 39 posts
Ecology, Agriculture, Social insect biology, R stats and macrophotography. Will post bug pictures mainly.
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theotimecolin.bsky.social
We developed a simple method to detect bee colony failure using a single temperature sensor per hive and that is not dependent on the season. Tested on 96 bee colonies from three apiaries.

#honeybee #beeresearch #science #sensors #ecology

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Temperature as an early warning signal of honeybee colony failure
How to identify ecological systems at risk of failure is a central question of modern biology and agriculture. Due to human impacts and global change,…
www.sciencedirect.com
theotimecolin.bsky.social
We don't know much about these odd-looking Zasphinctus ants, except they seem to raid other ant nests, steal their larvae and eat them... Their narrow elongated bodies probably help them enter small galleries.

#ants #myrmecology non #armyants #fourmis #science
theotimecolin.bsky.social
Finally found a nest of Polyrhachis semiaurata, definitely one of the most beautiful ant species. It's really hard to take good photos of them because of their iridescence and general body shape.

#ants #fourmis #myrmecology #entomology
Reposted by Théotime Colin
docteur-drey.bsky.social
Nous lançons "Chroniques Sauvages", une collection chez Tana dédiée au comportement animal 🐾
Dans le premier opus, Mathieu nous embarque dans le monde des insectes 🐝🪳et nous fait voyager de son rucher toulousain aux terres irradiées de Fukushima 😱
#Science #Ecologie
theotimecolin.bsky.social
A Velvet Worm. They can spit adhesive slime to capture a prey. Velvet worms have short, stubby legs called lobopods, that don't have joints. They have a really complex muscular system that allows them to move, partly by changing the pressure of the fluids inside their limbs.
A velvet work, close-up on the head. A velvet work, close-up on the head. A velvet work, close-up on the head.
Reposted by Théotime Colin
danielkronauer.bsky.social
(7/12) Megaponera has some amazing adaptations. Here’s a raiding party returning home. Note how the large workers carry the termites, and the small ones don’t? However, two of the large workers are carrying small workers instead. Megaponera rescues injured combatants and even disinfects the wounds.
theotimecolin.bsky.social
Pony ants often have amazing metallic colours to help other animals like me remember how painful their sting is. It works just fine. This is Rhytidoponera confusa.

#ants #fourmis #myrmecology #nature #wildlife
theotimecolin.bsky.social
The intricate cuticle of a Botany Bay Diamond Weevil is a complex blend of trying to be seen by other weevils, trying not to be seen by weevil-eaters, and preventing parasitic mites from attaching.

#weevils #entomology #nature #bugs #macro
theotimecolin.bsky.social
Epopostruma wardi, one of my favorite ant species because of the unusual triangular shape of their head.

We don't know too much yet about their biology.

#ants #fourmis #myrmecology #insects #bugs #nature #macro
The head of a queen of Epopostruma wardi A queen ant, Epopostruma wardi
Reposted by Théotime Colin
deevybee.bsky.social
Wow, just wow.
V different approach reveals numerous problems in Scientific Reports - cf deevybee.blogspot.com/2024/10/an-o...
I do hope @springernature.bsky.social will start to publish reviewer reports and editor info as we suggested
theotimecolin.bsky.social
Mayriella overbecki is one of the smallest ant species living in Australia (~2mm). They have large grooves on their heads, called antennal scrobes, to protect their antennae when in danger.

#ants #macro #macrophotography #myrmecology #insects
Mayriella overbecki worker and larvae Mayriella overbecki worker and larvae Mayriella overbecki worker and larvae
theotimecolin.bsky.social
This Endoxyla encalypti moth got attracted and "trapped" by the lights of a train station. Light pollution is still a big issue.

Took close-ups of the scales on the wings and moved the moth to a darker place.

#moth #lepidoptera #macro #macrophotography #science #nature #entomology #insects #bugs
Close-up on the head of a moth Close up on the scales of the wings of a moth Close up on the scales of the wings of a moth Close up on the scales of the wings of a moth
theotimecolin.bsky.social
Probably the largest caterpillar I have found so far (Chelepteryx collesi or batwing moth), perfect for close-ups of the prolegs and their claws, and the spiracles that open up to the tracheal system of insects.

#macro #nature #science #macrophotography #lepidoptera #entomology #insects #bugs
Close-up on the body of a caterpillar. Close-up on the prolegs of a caterpillar. General view of a large caterpillar. Ultra close-up of a spiracle.
theotimecolin.bsky.social
Hi Frank, would you mind adding me?
theotimecolin.bsky.social
Fair enough, I feel like this too most of the time but removing noise is one of the applications where AI makes a bit more sense to me. Either way, great photos, mirrorless cameras are a game changer.
theotimecolin.bsky.social
That looks great ! Lightroom/Camera raw has a new AI denoise feature that is quite useful for bird and macro shots where increasing the ISO is unavoidable. I know how that sounds but since trying it I always use it for my best shots.
theotimecolin.bsky.social
There are many non-honeybee insects that pollinate flowers, but not a lot of images showing it clearly. I got lucky to accidentally catch this beetle literally depositing pollen on a flower's pistil.

#pollination #insects #bugs #photography #science #pollen
A beetle deposits pollen on the pistil of a flower. A beetle deposits pollen grains on the pistils of a flower, close-up macro picture.
theotimecolin.bsky.social
A #honeybee from one of my research hives, which are currently packed with hive sensors to help me understand how temperature and humidity correlate with colony health.

#bee #beekeeping #entomology #science #apiculture #macro #photography
A close-up of the head of a honeybee on a hive frame.
theotimecolin.bsky.social
Ah I don't, I'll try to take one and send it to you. It is good for extreme close-ups in the field (what I am mostly interested in), for larger insects there are probably cheaper and lighter options using a cobra flash.
theotimecolin.bsky.social
For those wondering, #Nikon Z7ii and 4xR1 flashes with #Laowa 5x macro, everything held in place on a smallrig camera cage with a handle and a magic arm. Also a focusing light and a lot of packaging foam to diffuse the light.