Robert Kennedy
@dkbio.bsky.social
Scientist-educator, biology, environmental science, entomology, botany, protein structure and function. Amateur musician, soccer fan. Posts are my own.
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
December 7, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Huntsman spiders do not build webs instead, they hunt their prey. They are tropical, found in Indonesia, and terrific at camouflage. They come in different color forms but cannot change thier colors to match the background like squids can.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: November 26, 2025
Lichen huntsman spider
Pandercetes sp.
Araneae: Sparassidae
By Valentina Lyau, California, USA
#arthropodPOTW
Lichen huntsman spider
Pandercetes sp.
Araneae: Sparassidae
By Valentina Lyau, California, USA
#arthropodPOTW
November 26, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Huntsman spiders do not build webs instead, they hunt their prey. They are tropical, found in Indonesia, and terrific at camouflage. They come in different color forms but cannot change thier colors to match the background like squids can.
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Rosalind Franklin and the damage of gender harassment
Spurred by a recent report on sexual harassment in academia, our columnist revisits a historical case and reflects on what has changed—and what hasn’t
www.science.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Thinking only of Rosalind Franklin today, and what was stolen from her (and so many other female scientists alongside her).
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Only one predator species chooses its prey based on what it senses the prey has eaten. Specifically, it wants prey full of human (or other vertebrate) blood! Meet Evarcha culicivora, the spider that prefers blood-fed mosquitoes. Called the vampire spider, but this is misleading: it EATS vampires.
November 6, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Only one predator species chooses its prey based on what it senses the prey has eaten. Specifically, it wants prey full of human (or other vertebrate) blood! Meet Evarcha culicivora, the spider that prefers blood-fed mosquitoes. Called the vampire spider, but this is misleading: it EATS vampires.
The hosts, wood-boring beetle larvae, are typically found within trees. The female Rhyssella uses her long ovipositor to bore into the wood and deposit her eggs. When the wasp larvae hatch, they feed on and kill the host larvae. The black "tube" in front of the middle leg is the ovipositor.
Arthropod Photo of the Week: November 5, 2025
Parasitoid wasp
Rhyssella sp.
Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae
By Christian Brockes (wildmacro.de), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
#arthropodPOTW
Parasitoid wasp
Rhyssella sp.
Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae
By Christian Brockes (wildmacro.de), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
#arthropodPOTW
November 6, 2025 at 1:16 AM
The hosts, wood-boring beetle larvae, are typically found within trees. The female Rhyssella uses her long ovipositor to bore into the wood and deposit her eggs. When the wasp larvae hatch, they feed on and kill the host larvae. The black "tube" in front of the middle leg is the ovipositor.
If it bleeds, it leads they say.
Actual causes of death in the USA compared to populist media coverage ...
November 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
If it bleeds, it leads they say.
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Improving plant DNA #metabarcoding accuracy with ecological filters and #Angiosperms353: Field and pollen microscopy validation
New in #AppsPlantSci by Benkendorf, @sophietaddeo.bsky.social, Fant et al
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #botany #PlantScience #herbaria #ecology
New in #AppsPlantSci by Benkendorf, @sophietaddeo.bsky.social, Fant et al
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #botany #PlantScience #herbaria #ecology
October 31, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Improving plant DNA #metabarcoding accuracy with ecological filters and #Angiosperms353: Field and pollen microscopy validation
New in #AppsPlantSci by Benkendorf, @sophietaddeo.bsky.social, Fant et al
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #botany #PlantScience #herbaria #ecology
New in #AppsPlantSci by Benkendorf, @sophietaddeo.bsky.social, Fant et al
bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #botany #PlantScience #herbaria #ecology
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Arthropod Photo of the Week: October 1, 2025
Tailed cellar spider
Crossopriza lyoni
Araneae: Pholcidae
By Rodolfo Vega Littlewood (rvlfoto.weebly.com), Sonora, Mexico
#arthropodPOTW
Tailed cellar spider
Crossopriza lyoni
Araneae: Pholcidae
By Rodolfo Vega Littlewood (rvlfoto.weebly.com), Sonora, Mexico
#arthropodPOTW
October 1, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Arthropod Photo of the Week: October 1, 2025
Tailed cellar spider
Crossopriza lyoni
Araneae: Pholcidae
By Rodolfo Vega Littlewood (rvlfoto.weebly.com), Sonora, Mexico
#arthropodPOTW
Tailed cellar spider
Crossopriza lyoni
Araneae: Pholcidae
By Rodolfo Vega Littlewood (rvlfoto.weebly.com), Sonora, Mexico
#arthropodPOTW
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Arthropod Photo of the Week: September 17, 2025
Katydid
Species unknown
Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae
By Tomás Oliveira, Minas Gerais, Brazil
#arthropodPOTW
Katydid
Species unknown
Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae
By Tomás Oliveira, Minas Gerais, Brazil
#arthropodPOTW
September 17, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Arthropod Photo of the Week: September 17, 2025
Katydid
Species unknown
Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae
By Tomás Oliveira, Minas Gerais, Brazil
#arthropodPOTW
Katydid
Species unknown
Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae
By Tomás Oliveira, Minas Gerais, Brazil
#arthropodPOTW
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
A first for our back garden. A Migrant Hawker, posing for us this morning 💚 #Dragonfly #UrbanGarden #Limerick
August 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
A first for our back garden. A Migrant Hawker, posing for us this morning 💚 #Dragonfly #UrbanGarden #Limerick
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Weekend reading in the Journal of Insect Science: August 16 is #NationalHoneyBeeDay! 🐝
Learn more about these vital insect pollinators in this #OA special collection all about honey bee health, sociobiology, and management @oxfordacademic.bsky.social academic.oup.com/jinsectscien...
Learn more about these vital insect pollinators in this #OA special collection all about honey bee health, sociobiology, and management @oxfordacademic.bsky.social academic.oup.com/jinsectscien...
August 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Weekend reading in the Journal of Insect Science: August 16 is #NationalHoneyBeeDay! 🐝
Learn more about these vital insect pollinators in this #OA special collection all about honey bee health, sociobiology, and management @oxfordacademic.bsky.social academic.oup.com/jinsectscien...
Learn more about these vital insect pollinators in this #OA special collection all about honey bee health, sociobiology, and management @oxfordacademic.bsky.social academic.oup.com/jinsectscien...
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Happy Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus! May you find God in all things!
July 31, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Happy Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus! May you find God in all things!
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Long-Legged Fly (Condylostylus comatus). She's about 4mm long. North Haven, CT, USA, June 26, 2025.
🧪🌿🌎 #sciart #wildlife #scicomm #sciviz #sciphotography #sciphoto #scientificillustration #naturephoto #naturephotography #visualscicomm #sciviz #scicomm #insects #flies
🧪🌿🌎 #sciart #wildlife #scicomm #sciviz #sciphotography #sciphoto #scientificillustration #naturephoto #naturephotography #visualscicomm #sciviz #scicomm #insects #flies
June 26, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Long-Legged Fly (Condylostylus comatus). She's about 4mm long. North Haven, CT, USA, June 26, 2025.
🧪🌿🌎 #sciart #wildlife #scicomm #sciviz #sciphotography #sciphoto #scientificillustration #naturephoto #naturephotography #visualscicomm #sciviz #scicomm #insects #flies
🧪🌿🌎 #sciart #wildlife #scicomm #sciviz #sciphotography #sciphoto #scientificillustration #naturephoto #naturephotography #visualscicomm #sciviz #scicomm #insects #flies
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 143
On leaving the nest for the first time female #bumblebee workers thoroughly survey the surrounding landscape on long looping exploratory flights; stopping often to ‘sample’ #flowers until they discover a favourite patch.
#bees
#nature
🐝🌍
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 143
On leaving the nest for the first time female #bumblebee workers thoroughly survey the surrounding landscape on long looping exploratory flights; stopping often to ‘sample’ #flowers until they discover a favourite patch.
#bees
#nature
🐝🌍
June 21, 2025 at 8:41 PM
#theBeeAt3
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 143
On leaving the nest for the first time female #bumblebee workers thoroughly survey the surrounding landscape on long looping exploratory flights; stopping often to ‘sample’ #flowers until they discover a favourite patch.
#bees
#nature
🐝🌍
Basic bee facts every day at 3pm.
# 143
On leaving the nest for the first time female #bumblebee workers thoroughly survey the surrounding landscape on long looping exploratory flights; stopping often to ‘sample’ #flowers until they discover a favourite patch.
#bees
#nature
🐝🌍
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Harpalus affinis on a local common. Unusual for a ground beetle, this one stayed perfectly still for around a minute, giving me a photo opportunity.
#beetles #ento #UKwildlife
#beetles #ento #UKwildlife
June 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Harpalus affinis on a local common. Unusual for a ground beetle, this one stayed perfectly still for around a minute, giving me a photo opportunity.
#beetles #ento #UKwildlife
#beetles #ento #UKwildlife
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Arthropod Photo of the Week: June 11, 2025
Fly
Species unknown
Diptera: Family Unknown
Joseph Ferraro (@josephferraro.bsky.social), Michigan, USA
#arthropodPOTW
Fly
Species unknown
Diptera: Family Unknown
Joseph Ferraro (@josephferraro.bsky.social), Michigan, USA
#arthropodPOTW
June 11, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Arthropod Photo of the Week: June 11, 2025
Fly
Species unknown
Diptera: Family Unknown
Joseph Ferraro (@josephferraro.bsky.social), Michigan, USA
#arthropodPOTW
Fly
Species unknown
Diptera: Family Unknown
Joseph Ferraro (@josephferraro.bsky.social), Michigan, USA
#arthropodPOTW
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Actually, yes, this and a fantastic set of encyclopedias
June 2, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Actually, yes, this and a fantastic set of encyclopedias
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
ESA continues to track recent news about the New World screwworm—a species of parasitic fly kept out of the U.S. since the 1950s but which has reappeared here this year. (1/2)
June 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
ESA continues to track recent news about the New World screwworm—a species of parasitic fly kept out of the U.S. since the 1950s but which has reappeared here this year. (1/2)
Hover flies, not a wasp!
Scaeva selenitica looking devastatingly sexy on my red valerian this morning.
Happy hoverflying to you all this weekend.
Happy hoverflying to you all this weekend.
May 30, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Hover flies, not a wasp!
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
"The Usual Suspects"
Let's call this a pelican-scape for #EastCoastKin #scape day? 😁
#photography #birds #pelicans #ocean
Let's call this a pelican-scape for #EastCoastKin #scape day? 😁
#photography #birds #pelicans #ocean
May 23, 2025 at 1:27 PM
"The Usual Suspects"
Let's call this a pelican-scape for #EastCoastKin #scape day? 😁
#photography #birds #pelicans #ocean
Let's call this a pelican-scape for #EastCoastKin #scape day? 😁
#photography #birds #pelicans #ocean
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
Arthropod Photo of the Week: May 21, 2025
Green lynx spider
Peucetia viridans
Araneae: Oxyopidae
By Alfred Daniel Johnson, Tennessee, USA
#arthropodPOTW
Green lynx spider
Peucetia viridans
Araneae: Oxyopidae
By Alfred Daniel Johnson, Tennessee, USA
#arthropodPOTW
May 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Arthropod Photo of the Week: May 21, 2025
Green lynx spider
Peucetia viridans
Araneae: Oxyopidae
By Alfred Daniel Johnson, Tennessee, USA
#arthropodPOTW
Green lynx spider
Peucetia viridans
Araneae: Oxyopidae
By Alfred Daniel Johnson, Tennessee, USA
#arthropodPOTW
Hover Flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) eats pests as maggots and pollinate as adults. Amazing group of insects.
Yellow-girdled Brusheye on Marsh Marigold (Dasysyrphus tricinctus & Caltha palustris), Nuuksio National Park, Espoo, Finland 17.05.2007
#espoo #finland #nature #naturephotography #photography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #fauna #animal #insect #flora #plant #plants #flower #flowers #valokuvataivas
#espoo #finland #nature #naturephotography #photography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #fauna #animal #insect #flora #plant #plants #flower #flowers #valokuvataivas
May 17, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Hover Flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) eats pests as maggots and pollinate as adults. Amazing group of insects.
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
We're at the very end of the dry season here in this part of Costa Rica and there are #butterflies everywhere at @tapirvalley.bsky.social
This is a Deep-Blue Eyed-Metalmark, a less-common and beautiful butterfly here.
#costarica #bugsky 🌿
This is a Deep-Blue Eyed-Metalmark, a less-common and beautiful butterfly here.
#costarica #bugsky 🌿
May 8, 2025 at 8:22 PM
We're at the very end of the dry season here in this part of Costa Rica and there are #butterflies everywhere at @tapirvalley.bsky.social
This is a Deep-Blue Eyed-Metalmark, a less-common and beautiful butterfly here.
#costarica #bugsky 🌿
This is a Deep-Blue Eyed-Metalmark, a less-common and beautiful butterfly here.
#costarica #bugsky 🌿
Reposted by Robert Kennedy
