!!!
initially thought they were an oribatid beetle mite... then freaked out upon taking a few photos - realizing they were BAEUS - a *tiny* (~600µm) parasitic wasp!
Lost them after trying to stop lens down for a bit more depth of field! Underneath a log, NE Oklahoma
Meet the Flower Crab Spider 🕷️
Misumena vatia is a striking ambush predator, waiting on flowers to snatch unsuspecting pollinators. It’s also revealing secrets about plant–predator–pollinator interactions 🌎 🧪
FREE talk w/ @envirosyment.bsky.social on 2 June.
🔗 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1915221742...
2/2...we're busy behind the scenes of spider-spies with even bigger and more exciting things than last year. So keep your eyes peeled (whether that's one pair or four) and if you want to catch up on how our first year went, check it out here: foragingecology.com/spider-spies/
Despite the slightly frosty mornings we've had up in Newcastle, Spring is definitely on the way! This also means in the coming months, Flower Crab spiders will be setting up camp on their chosen flowers. Whilst the spiders are waking up from their winter slumber... 1/2
So excited for the bees to come back! All the early bulbs are starting, and spring is sooooo close
We are a go! The student forum will be held at my very own Newcastle University this year, and we've got some cracking talks from some brilliant entomologists lined up for the key note spots, some fab workshops and as always we'll have the ENTOquiz! So please send your abstracts over #entomology
So excited to be giving this talk in June, be ready for everything commensalisms, crab spiders and community science! 🌼🕷️🧬
Not only will you be getting first hand experience in how societies are run behind the scenes but all the connections and opportunities that come will the role are unmatched!
@idrisadams.bsky.social and I will be ready to bring you up to speed on everything to do with the position! 🪲🐝🐞
This was my final straw today, thought I could perfectly consolidate these samples into one box, but my ability to hold it together at the end of this field season is being tested
So it's been a minute, July was busy! I finished up my Cornwall fieldwork, drove 500 miles back to the north, had some leave, did my night time spider surveys, graduated from my master's in cardiff, had one car die and bought my first car in my own, and then started my candy stripe spider fieldwork
It's #insectweek !! Here's some of the Flower Crab spiders I've seen this field season, but don't forget to submit your photos to foragingecology.com/spider-spies/
The awaited day two of field work! Come with me to collect in my community data sample and do some nectar sampling 🕷️🌼
#fieldwork #comewithme #flowers #spiders #entomology #arachnology #phdlife #phdstudent #womeninstem
If you're finding them elsewhere that's also great information!
Glow worms
What is spider spies? Speaking a bit about the project, what goes into the kits, and what your participation goes towards!
Link for the page: foragingecology.com/spider-spies/
#communityscience #arachnology #entomology #womeninstem #research #spiders #networkecology
Come and do some fieldwork with me!
#entomology #spiders #arachnology #womeninstem #fieldwork
This is the kind of Jurassic park I'd be keen for
A very well matched and green cucumber spider, Araniella, tucked away by it's web @britishspiders.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk
Such beauties, I'm always amazed by just how green they are
oh that is good to know! I will make sure they are secured next time, sorry for that inconvenience
Also there was a fee? Did the post office say why? Sorry to ask just want to see if that will be a consistent problem
That's amazing to hear! But yes the weather hasn't been great down in Cornwall either
Phidippus richmani male jumping spider giving an "I cm large spood" display; he's got his fancy 1st leg pair spread wide like an airplane, showing off his impressive floof. The 1st segment of his 1st leg pair have large tufts of floof, soft grey-green below and a bright white streak above. His face has two dark red stripes just outside his two large eyes, and below has vertical white bands which make it look like he has teeth. He's on an oak twig, doing his display at you
#EmotionalSupportSpood 🥹
Had to dig up some old spood pics for a friend, found this Phidippus richmani lad 🖤
Ask away!
It was absolutely rammed and gorgeous, with so many pollinators! The bumblebees were loving it. Here's the full clip🐝🪻
Welcome to my PhD...
#entomology #spiders #arachnology #womeninstem #neurodivergentinstem
Hi Wayne! Looking forward to talking soon!
and working out how one records a voiceover for a fieldwork based Tiktok/reel, hey #PhDs are about learning but safe to say I've picked up a lot of skills I wasn't expecting just in the first 9 months
Back in the field this week after some very turbulent weather, the spiders are still kicking though!
I've now received records across 8 counties for #spiderspies including records from both England and Wales, this weeks task is learning some programming for a nice interacting map for the website!
It's always a joy but the tiniest bit frustrating when I find these guys away from my fieldsite. I spent all afternoon walking fields searching to find one female, and then I'm just walking around my parents farm checking on foals and spot this bright yellow #misumena
#arachnology #spider
