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Reposted by Adrian Smith

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · 10d

🚨 Spicy gummy worm alert! 🚨 🐛

Though it may look delicious, the bright colors warn of its ability to sting. Kinda looks like it's wearing pajamas...

Thanks to @dradriansmith.bsky.social for hosting the specimen.

stinging rose #caterpillar
#Limacodidae: #Parasa indetermina
NC, USA

A squishy-looking caterpillar sits on a leaf. It has four thin black lines alternating with white running down its back, with alternating orangish-red and yellow stripes down the sides. Along its body are a few tentacle-like protuberances covered in stinging spines. There are smaller round, evenly spaced warts covered in spines along the body as well.

The squishy head region of a caterpillar can be seen curling around the edge of the leaf, its spiky protuberances can also be seen cresting the edge of the leaf.

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · 15d

We think there is a lot of room for natural history museums to produce interesting, unique, and informative content made for online audiences. A lot of those stories could be from the unique collections and research happening at these institutions. (research project led by @ruzimyrmex.bsky.social !)

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · 15d

in short, there is an opportunity gap for natural history museums in the US to use YouTube better! In particular, research and collections functions of natural history museums are often not featured in what they communicate via YouTube. We show this via surveying 400+ videos from 28 US museums.

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · 15d

We put out some social science research via preprint: "Natural history museums are missing an opportunity to present research and collections on YouTube" doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Natural history museums are missing an opportunity to present research and collections on YouTube

There have been repeated calls in the US for scientists to communicate the importance of biological collections to both a general public audience and to policy makers. Natural history museums that hou...

doi.org

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Reposted by Adrian Smith

The Kid Should See This @tksst.bsky.social · 20d

🐜⚡ These Indian jumping ants don't just jump for show – they use powerful leaps to pounce on prey like crickets. Researcher @dradriansmith.bsky.social 's slow-motion footage shows how these predatory ants hunt with the agility of much larger predators. #science #nature

👉 Learn more: zurl.co/kyQs1

A reddish-brown Indian jumping ant (Harpegnathos saltator) with large dark eyes grasps a pale yellow cricket with its mandibles and front legs on a white surface.

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Reposted by Adrian Smith

SciAnts Media @sciantsmedia.com · 23d

From fire ants in Florida to filming batflies in North Carolina, our latest interview is with @dradriansmith.bsky.social, who has built a career at the intersection of insect science and storytelling. 🐜🎥

#scicomm #science #sciants #stem #YouTube #twitch

youtu.be/xEXwFel5DEY

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · Sep 4

Very cool!

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · Sep 3

New video today! Megaloptera, owlflies, bioluminescent click beetles, and MORE!

youtu.be/lD8sKzA_FZU

Bizarre Bugs in Flight! Slow Motion - 14 species

YouTube video by Ant Lab

youtu.be

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Reposted by Adrian Smith

Bhamla Lab @ Georgia Tech @bhamlalab.bsky.social · Aug 23

How do tiny ripple bugs surf raging rivers? Check out our new work in @science.org

Work led by Victor Ortega-Jimenez, Dongjin Kim, Sunny Kumar, Changhwan Kim, Je-Sung Koh, and Saad Bhamla - a collaboration between UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, and Ajou University.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Ultrafast elastocapillary fans control agile maneuvering in ripple bugs and robots

Rhagovelia ripple bugs use specialized middle-leg fans with a flat-ribbon architecture to navigate the surfaces of fast-moving streams. We show that the fan’s directional stiffness enables fast, passi...

www.science.org

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Reposted by Adrian Smith

Mark Simmons @toysdream.bsky.social · Aug 11

I don't think I've ever posted this here on Bluesky, so have some bug-drawing tutorials... (1/3)

Let's Discuss: Bug Basics! Intro to insect body anatomy.

Let's Investigate: Insect Legs! In which we detour for some reason into talking about human hands.

Insect leg pattern 1: Bees, ants, and flies.

Insect leg patterns 2 and 3: Beetles and dragonflies.

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Reposted by Adrian Smith

Digital Naturalism Laboratories @dinalab.bsky.social · Aug 1

Here's a super cool documentary about the Mothbox!

Learn about the development and use of this fun #openscience #opensource tool for DIY biodiversity monitoring!

youtu.be/1LGz3aWpeVE?...

Mothbox - Wildlabs Award 2024

YouTube video by Digital Naturalism Laboratories (Andrew Quitmeyer)

youtu.be

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Reposted by Adrian Smith

Gil Wizen @wizentrop.bsky.social · Aug 8

This is such a good video by @dradriansmith.bsky.social. Not only does it show cool Harpegnathus jumping and stinging action, but it also features Gigantiops, one of my favorite ants, for a quick comparison!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hBX...

These Are the Best Ants. Seriously. (Harpegnathos saltator)

YouTube video by Ant Lab

www.youtube.com

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · Aug 8

New video today on one of the coolest ants, Harpegnathos! youtu.be/-hBXOAJ7l1I

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · Aug 8

Thanks, Gil!

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Reposted by Adrian Smith

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · Aug 5

Fluffy.
Sparkly.
Adorable.

These are not the things you usually say about a fly, but here we are.

Let this little creature warm your heart 🥰

#Psychodidae #Setomima nitida
North Carolina, USA (w/ @dradriansmith.bsky.social)

A small fly sits on a green leaf. It looks like a moth, with a very fluffy head and thorax to the right, and dark, fluffy wings held roof-like behind it. The wings are adorned with scattered, small, icy blue scales.

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Reposted by Adrian Smith

Alex Wild @alexwild.bsky.social · Jun 27

Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social is at BugShot Arizona, explaining how to tell stories.

Photo of a tall guy in a white t-shirt and jeans in front of a PowerPoint slide.

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · Jun 19

yeah, now I want to go through my wasp footage and see if their hind wings are also passively powered by the front ones too

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · Jun 19

New Ant Lab video out today: Ants mating and flying at the same time! youtu.be/bG9I9u-aM8g

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · Jun 6

Those are some red wings, wow!

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Reposted by Adrian Smith

SciAnts Media @sciantsmedia.com · May 29

We will be live tonight with a special SciAnts Thursday! We will be interviewing @dradriansmith.bsky.social, insect scientist and behavior expert, on his scientific journey, his incredible YT videos, and more!

9pm EDT

#scicomm #sciants #science #stem #twitch

www.twitch.tv/sciants_stre...

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Reposted by Adrian Smith

The Kid Should See This @tksst.bsky.social · May 27

🪲✈️ Slow-motion footage of 23 flying #insects by @dradriansmith.bsky.social explains the wide variety of flight mechanics out there. From beetles to stoneflies, each species developed different strategies.

👉 Learn more: zurl.co/OclZV

Two insects are shown in flight against a purple background with yellow text reading "INSECT FLIGHT" and black text reading "23 SPECIES!" - one appears to be a yellow-bodied flying insect on the left and a green beetle-like insect on the right.

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · May 26

Finally checked off "rove beetle wing folding" from my need to film list. New video up now: youtu.be/uvXxiUjw-xY

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · May 4

Quote tweeting myself because I ❤️ MAKING THIS VIDEO!!!

Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · May 3

"What's the Point of Natural History Collections?" is out today on the YouTube/AntLab check it out and long live basic research!!!!!!!!!!
youtu.be/dxUbTn7d6Fw

What's the Point of Natural History Collections?

YouTube video by Ant Lab

youtu.be

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Adrian Smith @dradriansmith.bsky.social · May 3

"What's the Point of Natural History Collections?" is out today on the YouTube/AntLab check it out and long live basic research!!!!!!!!!!
youtu.be/dxUbTn7d6Fw

What's the Point of Natural History Collections?

YouTube video by Ant Lab

youtu.be

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Reposted by Adrian Smith

Jen C Mars @jencmars.bsky.social · Apr 27

My favorite 🪲 lump

Acrylic ink & pencils on 3x4" hotpress

#InverteFest

Painting of a black and very rectangular warty leaf beetle. The beetle's exoskeleton is riddled with divots and lumps, with reddish-orange tint on its legs, face, mouthparts and antennae. It's somewhat stylized, and the rendering is very soft. The background is a light wash of brown

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