Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Seirian Sumner

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 3d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · 4d

Aww so happy to hear this! The wasps are thanking you 🥰

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Stephen Frost @sfrost.bsky.social · 18d

“Prompting people to actively notice birdsong, plant textures and smells can significantly improve wellbeing…”

Interesting study that suggests simple and small interventions, eg signage, that encourage people to notice nature can boost people’s wellbeing.

Open access article below.

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · 24d

Spectacular but what a lot of effort! Tell them to nest somewhere cooler next time 😆

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Cintia A. Oi @cintiaoi.bsky.social · 26d

I had a fantastic time this week at #Ento25 in Glasgow organized by @royentsoc.bsky.social. I presented a poster based on data generated our PhD student @femi-benny.bsky.social (with @waspwoman.bsky.social)! Thank to @ucl.ac.uk and @uclcber.bsky.social for the funding Research Progression Grant!

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · Sep 9

This is infuriating. What is the point of a Marine Protected Area if trawlers are allowed to keep ploughing it?
Yet again, the government has succumbed to commercial lobbying.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Bottom trawling to continue in English protected waters, government rules

Defra says blanket ban on ‘destructive’ fishing practice disproportionate as MPs urge minister to reconsider

www.theguardian.com

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Henricus Peters @learnfromnature.bsky.social · Sep 6

Why we should love #wasps @waspwoman.bsky.social

Jerome Beetz @beetzjerome.bsky.social · Aug 20

Thanks @waspwoman.bsky.social for writing this inspiring book. Although feeling guilty as being part of "ying" (a bee-guy 😉), I always enjoy observing "yin", i.e., sandwasps and adore their episodic spatial memory. Wish I could breed them in the lab.

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Sep 4

Despite the rapid onset on autumn, wasps are still building their nests! The show goes on! #WaspLove

Steve "Whistling Joe" Everett @whistlingjoe.bsky.social · Sep 3

Wasps are still collecting wood fibres to expand their nests along #DiggerAlley @rspbminsmere.bsky.social
@waspwoman.bsky.social

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Sep 4

Thanks for your kind words about my book! 🥰🥰 I hope your friend enjoys it!

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Aug 30

#HamOrJam #PicnicWaspSurvey

Offered ham (aka protein) and an apple (‘jam’ aka sweet) - It’s ‘jam’ for this wasp today!

Pls submit your wasp food choices at your picnic!

Help us reach 500 records for August!

Read about it & submit data here:
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/au...

@uclcber.bsky.social

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Aug 28

What do wasps eat? First molecular data for native zone Vespula Yellowjackets.

So happy to see this out, finally!
Started in 2018.. or maybe 2017.. 🫣involving @uclcber.bsky.social MRes (Ben Bellekom) and MSci (Georgia Law) students @ucllifesciences.bsky.social
@dr-bob-brown.bsky.social

Insectes Sociaux @insectessociaux.bsky.social · Aug 28

New short communication! 📄

Drinkwater, @waspwoman.bsky.social et al. used metabarcoding to analyze the gut contents of 554 wasp larvae, revealing their diverse diet and their role as predators 🐝
🔗 doi.org/10.1007/s000...

#SocialInsects #WaspEcology #ArthropodRegulation #NativeEcosystems #Vespula

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George McGavin @georgemcgavin.bsky.social · Aug 26

Does anyone in the South of England have a wasp nest in their garden they would wish removed anytime in the next five weeks? This research led by Dr Bob Brown @dr-bob-brown.bsky.social, is helping with control of invasive wasps in New Zealand.

Entomologist, wearing protective clothing, excavates the nest of a social wasp.

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Steve @stevetypesstuff.bsky.social · Aug 26

An old video, so I haven’t added it to this year’s data but a reminder of this gentle little wasp taking ham from my fingers.

#WaspLove

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Aug 26

More on the #HamOrJam #WaspPicnicSurvey, how to dine peacefully with wasps and where to submit your wasp observations at picnics:
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/au...

Ham or jam? Help scientists by recording wasp food preferences

The next time a wasp visits your picnic, if you make a note of whether it goes for protein or sugar, you can help UCL scientists better understand the wasp life cycle.

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Aug 26

Thrilled to see data flying in for #HamOrJam #WaspPicnicSurvey today after my interview on #BBCRadio2 #JeremyVine show!
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/au...

Media wasp narrative has changed over the summer: wasp science now supercedes scaremongering 🥳.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
@uclnews.bsky.social

BBC Radio 2 - Jeremy Vine

Jeremy Vine and guests discuss the news headlines and talk to the people making them

www.bbc.co.uk

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Aug 23

We are 3 records short of 400!!
Please submit your picnic wasp food observations!
More info on how and why here: theconversation.com/what-to-do-w...

@theconversation.com

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Syma Khalid @sykhalid.bsky.social · Aug 23

Wasps come in many varieties - some are indeed gruesome. We talked to a world expert @waspwoman.bsky.social about her work on wasps - you can watch the interview here: Science Of The Times Ep 24 Waspish Behaviour
youtu.be/QUcSYRKAHOo

Science Of The Times Ep 24 Waspish Behaviour

YouTube video by Science Of The Times Podcast

youtu.be

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Aug 23

If a wasp visits your picnic this wknd, what’s she after?
#HamOrJam?

Worker wasps hunt protein for the larvae but need sugar themselves.

Help us learn about their food preferences-tell us what wasps want at your picnic.
#CitizenScience
#WaspPicnicSurvey

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

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Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Aug 20

So fab to hear these stories of dining with wasps!
PLEASE submit your observations on the #HamOrJam #WaspPicnicSurvey to help us learn more about how wasp preferences change with season and location. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
@uclnews.bsky.social @uclcber.bsky.social
#WaspLove

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Maximum Scary @maximummary.bsky.social · Aug 20

Cool thing I learned today. Be chill and the wasps will stay chill.

More interesting wasp survival tips:

Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Jul 28

It's a bumper-wasp year: here are my top tips on how to dine alongside wasps, without getting stung.

GET INVOLVED! Tell us what wasps want at YOUR picnic: www.sumnerlab.co.uk/wasp-picnic-...

theconversation.com/what-to-do-w...

@uclcber.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social @uk.theconversation.com

What to do when wasps crash your picnic – a scientist’s guide to dining safely with these insects

Did you know wasps switch from ham to jam foraging during the late summer?

theconversation.com

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Lydia @coyoteprince.bsky.social · Aug 20

Omg... my partner and I had a lunch outside a while ago and seeing a wasp trying to go at our chicken, offered her her own piece which she peacefully took. Just watched her in fascination as she used her mandibles, dining with her. Still a special memory. Great animals.

Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Jul 28

It's a bumper-wasp year: here are my top tips on how to dine alongside wasps, without getting stung.

GET INVOLVED! Tell us what wasps want at YOUR picnic: www.sumnerlab.co.uk/wasp-picnic-...

theconversation.com/what-to-do-w...

@uclcber.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social @uk.theconversation.com

What to do when wasps crash your picnic – a scientist’s guide to dining safely with these insects

Did you know wasps switch from ham to jam foraging during the late summer?

theconversation.com

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Jerome Beetz @beetzjerome.bsky.social · Aug 20

Thanks @waspwoman.bsky.social for writing this inspiring book. Although feeling guilty as being part of "ying" (a bee-guy 😉), I always enjoy observing "yin", i.e., sandwasps and adore their episodic spatial memory. Wish I could breed them in the lab.

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Mark Simmons @toysdream.bsky.social · Aug 20

Useful and practical advice for dealing with picnic wasps! I didn't know "wasp offering" was an official term; I just love feeding them because they're so cute.

Seirian Sumner @waspwoman.bsky.social · Jul 28

It's a bumper-wasp year: here are my top tips on how to dine alongside wasps, without getting stung.

GET INVOLVED! Tell us what wasps want at YOUR picnic: www.sumnerlab.co.uk/wasp-picnic-...

theconversation.com/what-to-do-w...

@uclcber.bsky.social @uclnews.bsky.social @uk.theconversation.com

What to do when wasps crash your picnic – a scientist’s guide to dining safely with these insects

Did you know wasps switch from ham to jam foraging during the late summer?

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Seirian Sumner

Larisa @thelolrus.bsky.social · Aug 20

People act like wasps are aggressive, but they’re really not. If you flail around and try to swat them, they might go on the defensive. But if you ignore them, they’re perfectly happy to ignore you. And they can be cute like any other creature!

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Larisa @thelolrus.bsky.social · Aug 20

I gave them the piece of salmon that one was crawling on, and by the end of the meal there were 7 or 8 wasps on there and they had taken away like half of it. It was impressive!

Here’s that first one cutting off a chunk. It’s like a leafcutter ant but with fish!

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