Louis Nastasi
@toomanywasps.bsky.social
340 followers 380 following 180 posts
PhD in Entomology, postdoc with Andrew Forbes at UIowa. Gall wasp systematics and more. Research proudly funded by NSF! https://lfnastasi.wordpress.com/
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Reposted by Louis Nastasi
sarahmackattack.bsky.social
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
a canva graphic that says "How it works Step 1:  Go to SkypeAScientist.com
Step 2: Click “Sign Up” then “Scientist
              Sign Up Form”
Step 3: Tell us about yourself
Step 4: Get matched with a classroom
Step 5: Connect with the teacher
Step 6: Make a kid’s day 
isn't that great?
@SkypeAScientist"
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
americanbeetles.bsky.social
RT for anyone who might want to know more about free flashcard software for memorizing things

Such as bug names
nicolecarpenter.bsky.social
This is a story I've been wanting to write for so long — how a teeny, tiny gaming controller became an essential tool for med students.
endlessmode.bsky.social
8BitDo's Micro gaming controllers have found an unexpected audience: medical students, who use them to study with the Anki flashcard program. @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social reports: www.endlessmode.com/video-games/...
toomanywasps.bsky.social
*Thesaurus.com is garbage and has been for a long time. Does anyone have recommendations for a better equivalent?
toomanywasps.bsky.social
I will be working more on oaks during my postdoc which I start in August - I’d be happy to receive some samples if you’re willing to send them!
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
humanbyweight.bsky.social
I've been told that it's #InsectWeek and that I should plug my work.

I'm so bad at marketing... Uhhhhh... Buy my books...!

www.owlflyllc.com/publishing
The cover of the book "The Social Wasps of North America". Many wasps of all shapes, sizes, and colors are arranged radially out from the center. The cover of the book "The Cicadas of North America". Many cicadas of all shapes, sizes, and colors are arranged radially out from the center.
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
americanbeetles.bsky.social
OH MY GOD it's online and it's free!! I made it for YOU keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/botw/
toomanywasps.bsky.social
I am an expert and top identifier for several difficult-to-recognize groups. I did not contribute my knowledge to this platform only for it to be scraped and contributed to misleading generative AI features. It’s not too late to reverse course! I assure you that your users did not ask for this.
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
tjalamont.bsky.social
Please enjoy this ridiculously cute butterfly, which was about the size of my pinkie fingernail. It's in the butterfly family called metalmarks (Riodinidae). Males, like these, have reduced front legs and perch using only the rear 4 (females can use all 6). Sarota acantus; Costa Rica 🐙🌿 #insects
A macro photo, front three-quarter view, of a little butterfly perched on a green leaf. The butterfly has pale green eyes with black speckles, legs covered in thick yellow fuzzy hair, and orange wings sprinkled with metallic light blue patches. It is very cute. A macro photo, side view, of a little butterfly perched on a green leaf. The butterfly has pale green eyes with black speckles, legs covered in thick yellow fuzzy hair, and orange wings sprinkled with metallic light blue bands and patches. It is very cute.
toomanywasps.bsky.social
My defense went extremely well, so it’s time to update your contacts to Dr. Nastasi!!! We recorded the seminar for anyone who was unable to attend over zoom- send me a DM if interested!
toomanywasps.bsky.social
Hey folks, my #entomology doctoral #dissertation defense seminar is May 30th from 2-3pm Eastern / 6-7pm UTC! Join in person in at 118 ASI or via Zoom (info on flyer or DM me for a direct link!). Come learn about my five years of #gall #wasp #research!
toomanywasps.bsky.social
Probably still better than having to establish a dozen genera to fix a trash can genus?
toomanywasps.bsky.social
I got hits for all four IDs in one server - thanks for sharing! We have a lot of people sharing art, writing, etc so keeping these bots at bay is super important
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
carlosfnorena.bsky.social
According to a 2021 report, the University of California system:

• generated $82B in economic activity in California

• supported 529K jobs in the state

• generated $21 in economic output for every $1 received

Public divestment from higher ed makes no sense, even in the narrowest economic terms.
guyintheblackhat.bsky.social
There is a false dichotomy drawn between "the ivory tower" and "the real world," and I'm here to report that in a post-industrial society, your real-world economy absolutely hinges on the university.

University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
andyfarke.bsky.social
It's a good time to remind folks that you can't do the "high impact big picture studies" without the "not worth publication because it's only of regional interest" localities and the "merely specimen ID and taxonomy" research.
toomanywasps.bsky.social
Hey folks, my #entomology doctoral #dissertation defense seminar is May 30th from 2-3pm Eastern / 6-7pm UTC! Join in person in at 118 ASI or via Zoom (info on flyer or DM me for a direct link!). Come learn about my five years of #gall #wasp #research!
toomanywasps.bsky.social
Just sent my dissertation to my committee... time to start preparing for my defense on May 30th!
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
aaronschmit.bsky.social
So my girlfriend is an amazing stop motion animator, and she recently did a medieval cat themed bumper for Adult Swim!

Sharing it here because she only has Instagram and I think everyone needs to see her animations. She's so freaking talented, y'alls. PLEASE go follow her!
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
caeculus.bsky.social
Posting this rather colorful and snazzy-looking gall midge (Cecidomyiidae) I found in the Mojave Desert recently for #flyweek !
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
martynwarren.bsky.social
Thanks for your encouragement, folks. As always, it gives me a little shot of enthusiasm. Here's a look at some more of my concept pages. My idea was to have some general pages that explain the fundamentals, then focus on individuals.
A view of 5 spreads from the book. The first looks at various wing types, including a moth, earwig and stick insect. The second shows the 2 types of growing, illustrated with grasshoppers and stag beetles. The third is a chapter front page showing a range of beetles, and the 4th and 5th are a stag beetle and harlequin beetle.
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
partialobserver.bsky.social
Important to remind everyone that this is an ILLEGAL DIRECTIVE from the Executive Branch (impoundment).
nature.com
Nature @nature.com · May 1
Staff members at the US National Science Foundation (NSF) were told on 30 April to “stop awarding all funding actions until further notice,” according to an email seen by Nature.

https://go.nature.com/44Ugf9V
Exclusive: NSF stops awarding new grants and funding existing ones
US science funder also plans to screen grant applications for compliance with ‘agency priorities’.
go.nature.com
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
standupforscience.bsky.social
🔔BREAKING🔔

The NSF has frozen all research grant awards—cutting off life-saving science midstream and demanding ideological screenings for future funding.

This is censorship disguised as oversight.

Here’s how you can help us spread the word ➡️🧵(1/3):
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: NSF stops awarding new grants and funding existing ones
US science funder also plans to screen grant applications for compliance with ‘agency priorities’.
www.nature.com