Louis Nastasi
@toomanywasps.bsky.social
PhD in Entomology, postdoc with Andrew Forbes at UIowa. Gall wasp systematics and more. Research proudly funded by NSF!
https://lfnastasi.wordpress.com/
https://lfnastasi.wordpress.com/
Pinned
Big news - I’ll be starting an #insect #systematics lab at University of Nebraska-Lincoln this coming academic year! I’m looking to #recruit #PhDstudents to work in #wasp systematics, especially gall systems, to begin Fall 2026. Please help me spread the word — more details on the flyer below!
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
happy birthday spheal
November 21, 2025 at 1:26 PM
happy birthday spheal
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
Big news - I’ll be starting an #insect #systematics lab at University of Nebraska-Lincoln this coming academic year! I’m looking to #recruit #PhDstudents to work in #wasp systematics, especially gall systems, to begin Fall 2026. Please help me spread the word — more details on the flyer below!
November 12, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Big news - I’ll be starting an #insect #systematics lab at University of Nebraska-Lincoln this coming academic year! I’m looking to #recruit #PhDstudents to work in #wasp systematics, especially gall systems, to begin Fall 2026. Please help me spread the word — more details on the flyer below!
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
November 13, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
Louis is really great to work with! Go measure antennomeres at his new lab to advance our collective scientific understanding of GALL WASPS - including those with large impacts on agriculture and forestry! 🧪
Big news - I’ll be starting an #insect #systematics lab at University of Nebraska-Lincoln this coming academic year! I’m looking to #recruit #PhDstudents to work in #wasp systematics, especially gall systems, to begin Fall 2026. Please help me spread the word — more details on the flyer below!
November 12, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Louis is really great to work with! Go measure antennomeres at his new lab to advance our collective scientific understanding of GALL WASPS - including those with large impacts on agriculture and forestry! 🧪
Big news - I’ll be starting an #insect #systematics lab at University of Nebraska-Lincoln this coming academic year! I’m looking to #recruit #PhDstudents to work in #wasp systematics, especially gall systems, to begin Fall 2026. Please help me spread the word — more details on the flyer below!
November 12, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Big news - I’ll be starting an #insect #systematics lab at University of Nebraska-Lincoln this coming academic year! I’m looking to #recruit #PhDstudents to work in #wasp systematics, especially gall systems, to begin Fall 2026. Please help me spread the word — more details on the flyer below!
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
Like Don Chandler’s books on pselaphines, the volume of writing is inversely proportional to the size of the insect
November 10, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Like Don Chandler’s books on pselaphines, the volume of writing is inversely proportional to the size of the insect
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
We are watching @toomanywasps.bsky.social’s award acceptance talk at SysEB and folks in the room are shaking their heads in disbelief at the SIZE of this dissertation
November 10, 2025 at 11:55 PM
We are watching @toomanywasps.bsky.social’s award acceptance talk at SysEB and folks in the room are shaking their heads in disbelief at the SIZE of this dissertation
UIowa put out a short news story about our lab’s gall wasp work! Take a look if you want to see the excellent work that our students are doing.
However small my role may be, I’m proud to be a part of this research! @lordforbington.bsky.social @toomanywasps.bsky.social @guerin-brown.bsky.social
stories.uiowa.edu/galls-thieve...
stories.uiowa.edu/galls-thieve...
Galls, thieves, and parasites: Iowa biologists unspool wild world of oak-dwelling wasps
Iowa biologist Andrew Forbes’ lab, with a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, is revealing the unknown ecological world of parasitic wasps, which have value to cataloging biological diver...
stories.uiowa.edu
October 19, 2025 at 11:02 PM
UIowa put out a short news story about our lab’s gall wasp work! Take a look if you want to see the excellent work that our students are doing.
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
However small my role may be, I’m proud to be a part of this research! @lordforbington.bsky.social @toomanywasps.bsky.social @guerin-brown.bsky.social
stories.uiowa.edu/galls-thieve...
stories.uiowa.edu/galls-thieve...
Galls, thieves, and parasites: Iowa biologists unspool wild world of oak-dwelling wasps
Iowa biologist Andrew Forbes’ lab, with a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, is revealing the unknown ecological world of parasitic wasps, which have value to cataloging biological diver...
stories.uiowa.edu
October 19, 2025 at 10:46 PM
However small my role may be, I’m proud to be a part of this research! @lordforbington.bsky.social @toomanywasps.bsky.social @guerin-brown.bsky.social
stories.uiowa.edu/galls-thieve...
stories.uiowa.edu/galls-thieve...
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
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
@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
August 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
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
@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
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
There's a new episode of the Arthro-Pod podcast out. We interviewed @toomanywasps.bsky.social about gall wasps, especially the understudied herb gall wasps.
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xcecc...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xcecc...
Arthro-Pod Episode 183: Gall wasps with Louis Nastasi
Welcome back Arthro-Poders! Today we chat with Louis Nastasi about gall wasps. Louis recently defended his PhD dissertation at Penn State, which focused on the herb gall wasps (Cynipidae: Aulacideini)...
www.podbean.com
July 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
There's a new episode of the Arthro-Pod podcast out. We interviewed @toomanywasps.bsky.social about gall wasps, especially the understudied herb gall wasps.
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xcecc...
www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xcecc...
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
New #gall #wasp paper in PESW! We provide an updated key, checklist, and commentary for the four tribes of “herb gall wasps” including some nomenclatural changes. Check it out here: bioone.org/journals/pro...
Review of Herb Gall Wasp Tribes (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Aylacini Sensu lato), with an Updated Key to Cynipid Tribes and a Checklist of World Species
We review the tribes of Cynipidae that are known to contain gall inducers on herbaceous plants, which are presently classified in four tribes: Aulacideini, Aylacini, Diastrophini, and Phanacidini. We ...
bioone.org
July 17, 2025 at 1:27 AM
New #gall #wasp paper in PESW! We provide an updated key, checklist, and commentary for the four tribes of “herb gall wasps” including some nomenclatural changes. Check it out here: bioone.org/journals/pro...
New #gall #wasp paper in PESW! We provide an updated key, checklist, and commentary for the four tribes of “herb gall wasps” including some nomenclatural changes. Check it out here: bioone.org/journals/pro...
Review of Herb Gall Wasp Tribes (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Aylacini Sensu lato), with an Updated Key to Cynipid Tribes and a Checklist of World Species
We review the tribes of Cynipidae that are known to contain gall inducers on herbaceous plants, which are presently classified in four tribes: Aulacideini, Aylacini, Diastrophini, and Phanacidini. We ...
bioone.org
July 17, 2025 at 1:27 AM
New #gall #wasp paper in PESW! We provide an updated key, checklist, and commentary for the four tribes of “herb gall wasps” including some nomenclatural changes. Check it out here: bioone.org/journals/pro...
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
RT for anyone who might want to know more about free flashcard software for memorizing things
Such as bug names
Such as bug names
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.
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/...
July 1, 2025 at 3:39 PM
RT for anyone who might want to know more about free flashcard software for memorizing things
Such as bug names
Such as bug names
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
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
I'm so bad at marketing... Uhhhhh... Buy my books...!
www.owlflyllc.com/publishing
June 23, 2025 at 8:32 PM
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
I'm so bad at marketing... Uhhhhh... Buy my books...!
www.owlflyllc.com/publishing
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
OH MY GOD it's online and it's free!! I made it for YOU keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/botw/
June 12, 2025 at 6:00 PM
OH MY GOD it's online and it's free!! I made it for YOU keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/botw/
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
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
June 3, 2025 at 4:28 PM
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
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!
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!
May 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
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!
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
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.
• 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.
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.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
A must read
May 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
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.
• 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.
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
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.
May 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
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.
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!
May 13, 2025 at 1:35 PM
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!
Just sent my dissertation to my committee... time to start preparing for my defense on May 30th!
May 12, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Just sent my dissertation to my committee... time to start preparing for my defense on May 30th!
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
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!
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!
May 7, 2025 at 4:47 PM
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!
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
Reposted by Louis Nastasi
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.
May 2, 2025 at 8:07 AM
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.