the most dramatic video I’ve ever taken

A close-up macro photograph of a tiny chalcid wasp on a bright green leaf. The insect has a large, rounded head with prominent brownish compound eyes, short antennae, and a compact black body. Iridescent reflections show on its wing surfaces, and a hint of orange appears near the thorax. The wasp’s head appears disproportionately large, giving it a stylized or cartoonish appearance. Its delicate legs are positioned firmly on the leaf surface, with shallow veins and textures of the leaf visible in detail.

Another view of the same or similar chalcid wasp on a different area of the same or similar green leaf. The insect is angled slightly to the left and rear, showing off the glossy sheen of its wings and the orange patch near the thorax. Its legs and antennae are mid-step, and the texture of the leaf beneath is clearly visible with subtle veins and small debris. The wasp’s large, rounded head is again a striking feature in this shot.

From afar I thought this was just an ant. But up close, it's the same mysterious chalcidoid wasp I spotted a few weeks ago , this time in a new location. I still think it's Encyrtus sp. Those oversized heads give them an adorably cartoonish look.

#Encyrtidae #Invert #entomology #hymenoptera 🪲🪳🌿

Ecologists are spending less time in the field. That could be a problem. Ecologists are spending less time in the field. That could be a problem. There was a time when an ecologist’s education was not complete without the mud of a marsh on their boots or the scent of damp ...

The concept of the “extinction of experience” has been used to describe the dwindling human connection with nature, often applied to the general public.

But ecologists themselves are not immune. Across universities and research institutions, field-based studies are in retreat.

mongabay.cc/w0Tc9L

Grassroots college leader group resists anti-DEI legislation Education for All, a grassroots network of mostly community college leaders, is spreading strategies for how to resist anti-DEI bills and rhetoric.

An inspiring article on courageous community college leaders who are *publicly* organizing and standing up against DEI attacks.. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

Ugh I have GOT to find Triops in the wild!!! 😩 so cool

Grants aside, our colleagues at the NIH, NSF, etc. are under tremendous and undeserved stress and it’s important that we support them as they do all they can to hold the line.

A screenshot of text from Project Moonshot. The text reads “Avoid anticipatory obedience- Research shows complying early helps authoritarians. Don’t submit info unless required, and don’t over-comply with vague orders.”

I’m not sure what the coming months, years will look like in academia, but we have already seen universities roll back any courses or programs that appear DEI related. We are all scared for our jobs, our research. This quote helped center me and remind me how important pushing back is

A Paratrechina queen and worker engaging in trophallaxis. Photo by François Brassard

How do complex social behaviors evolve and shape species' success? Here doi.org/10.1038/s420... we reveal how a key social behavior in ants - mouth-to-mouth food sharing #trophallaxis - emerged as ants opportunistically exploited new ecological niches as terrestrial environments changed.