#Tag · bonfire.cafe

Has world news got you thinking an eternity with Pinhead and the Cenobites actually sounds quite pleasant?

Well then why not go support the Hellraiser mite in this year's New Zealand Bug of The Year competition! You get three votes, and there's also a GIANT earthworm... nudge nudge, wink wink.

https://www.bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/vote-here-2026/

#Entomology #Nature #Acarology #Arachnology #MacroPhotography

A photograph of a round-bodied mite, with many long spines projecting from all over its body.

https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz

Vote Here for 2026 Bug of the Year!

Frank Ashwood

@frankashwood@flipping.rocks · last week

Has world news got you thinking an eternity with Pinhead and the Cenobites actually sounds quite pleasant?

Well then why not go support the Hellraiser mite in this year's New Zealand Bug of The Year competition! You get three votes, and there's also a GIANT earthworm... nudge nudge, wink wink.

https://www.bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz/vote-here-2026/

#Entomology #Nature #Acarology #Arachnology #MacroPhotography

https://bugoftheyear.ento.org.nz

Vote Here for 2026 Bug of the Year!

Global Museum

@globalmuseum@mastodon.online · 2 weeks ago

Which insect can grow larger than a mouse & has mandibles strong enough to snap a pencil in half?

That would be the titan beetle. At up to 6.5 in (16.5 cm) long, scientists think this enormous insect is about as big as a beetle can get. It can be found in parts of South America.

American Museum of Natural History
@AMNH #globalmuseum #insects #Entomology

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Ele Willoughby, PhD

@minouette@spore.social · 4 weeks ago

Day 22 #artAdventCalendar my bee (and other pollinator) propaganda I made for Manufactured Ecosystems. Thinking about the future of pollination and seeking solutions from technological and nature-based knowledge. This is essentially my conclusion: we can aid our beleaguered pollinators with technology but their continued success is vital. 🧵

#linocut #printmaking #sciart #typography #insects #entomology #ecology #pollinators #nativeBees #butterflies #moths #manufacturedEcosystems #mastoArt

As described this 16” x 20” linocut print combines gold text in a central circle reading “OUR FATE” arching upwards, “IS TIED” horizontally across the middle, “TO THAT OF THE INSECTS” arching downwards in two lines with insects. Clockwise from top: two leaf cutter bees (Megachile relativa and M. brevis), the Imperial moth (Eacles imperialis), the Virgin Tiger moth (Apantesis virgo), an Isabella’s Longwings butterfly (Nymphalidae Eueides isabella), a blue orchard mason bee (Osmia lignaria), a firefly (Photinus pyralis), the rusty patched bumblebee (Bombus affinis), a white underwing moth (Catocala relicta), an eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica), a sweat bee (Agapostemon sericeus), a hummingbird clearwing moth (Hermaris thysbe), the common eastern bumblebee (B. impatiens), a long-horned bee (Melissodes sp.), a monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and centre: eastern snail-shell nesting bee (O. conjuncta).

Ele Willoughby, PhD

@minouette@spore.social · 4 weeks ago

#linocut #printmaking #sciart #typography #insects #entomology #ecology #pollinators #nativeBees #butterflies #moths #manufacturedEcosystems #mastoArt

Angela Antunovic boosted

Jon Sullivan

@joncounts@mastodon.nz · 2 months ago

I spent yesterday at Travis Wetland, Ōruapaeroa, which is a large wetland restoration site in eastern Ōtautahi-Christchurch, NZ. One of my MSc students, Tommy, is embarking on an invertebrate survey of the wetland, and we spent the day setting up Malaise traps (to catching flying insects) and pitfall traps (to catch invertebrates on the ground).

Tommy is repeating a survey done back in 1995–1996, when the wetland (then mostly wet farmland) was being purchased from a housing developer by the City Council.

We expect a lot to have changed (hopefully mostly for the better) as the vegetation of the wetland is much more diverse and native than it was.

Stay tuned over the summer for insect discoveries.

#entomology #wetland #restoration #InsectSurvey #insects #nz #LincolnUniversityNZ #research

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A photo of Tommy (left) and Max (right) digging in one of a series of pitfall traps to sample ground dwelling invertebrates. Tommy is doing his Lincoln University Masters research this summer repeating a 1995–1996 invertebrate survey of Travis Wetland, to see how the invertebrate community has changed.

My full-res photo is on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mollivan_jon/54943934477/ — A photo of Tommy (left) and Max (right) digging in one of a series of pitfall traps to sample ground dwelling invertebrates. Tommy is doing his Lincoln University Masters research this summer repeating a 1995–1996 invertebrate survey of Travis Wetland, to see how the invertebrate community has changed. My full-res photo is on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mollivan_jon/54943934477/

Tommy (left) is doing his Lincoln University Masters research this summer repeating a 1995–1996 invertebrate survey of Travis Wetland, to see how the invertebrate community has changed. Here Tommy and Max are putting in one of a series of Malaise traps to sample flying invertebrates. Malaise traps look like open sided tents. Insects fly in, hit the middle barrier mesh, then fly up to get caught in a cup at the top.

My full-res photo is on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mollivan_jon/54945126160 — Tommy (left) is doing his Lincoln University Masters research this summer repeating a 1995–1996 invertebrate survey of Travis Wetland, to see how the invertebrate community has changed. Here Tommy and Max are putting in one of a series of Malaise traps to sample flying invertebrates. Malaise traps look like open sided tents. Insects fly in, hit the middle barrier mesh, then fly up to get caught in a cup at the top. My full-res photo is on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mollivan_jon/54945126160

A photo of Tommy, smiling, as he wades through the wetland towards one of our sampling sites, where we set up a variety of invertebrate traps.

My full-res photo is on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mollivan_jon/54943934457/ — A photo of Tommy, smiling, as he wades through the wetland towards one of our sampling sites, where we set up a variety of invertebrate traps. My full-res photo is on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mollivan_jon/54943934457/

A photo of Lincoln University summer scholar Max going the extra muddy mile helping set up an invertebrate monitoring project at Travis Wetland. The mud is up to his waste, and he's smiling.

My full-res photo is on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mollivan_jon/54945126155/ — A photo of Lincoln University summer scholar Max going the extra muddy mile helping set up an invertebrate monitoring project at Travis Wetland. The mud is up to his waste, and he's smiling. My full-res photo is on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mollivan_jon/54945126155/

Jon Sullivan

@joncounts@mastodon.nz · 2 months ago

Tommy is repeating a survey done back in 1995–1996, when the wetland (then mostly wet farmland) was being purchased from a housing developer by the City Council.

We expect a lot to have changed (hopefully mostly for the better) as the vegetation of the wetland is much more diverse and native than it was.

Stay tuned over the summer for insect discoveries.

#entomology #wetland #restoration #InsectSurvey #insects #nz #LincolnUniversityNZ #research

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Joseph Nuthalapati :fbx: and 3 others boosted

Frank Ashwood

@frankashwood@flipping.rocks · 2 months ago

The cover art is finished for my new book and I LOVE IT!

This safari tour of the life in soil and what it means to us, is now available for pre-order as ebook, soft and hardcover in the UK and Commonwealth. Published in August next year (US date soon), I hope it'll entice everyone to fall in love with soil!

So far there will also be German, Polish and Japanese language versions too!

#Science #SciComm #Literature #Book #Soil #NatureBooks #SoiBiodiversity #Entomology

A book cover featuring artwork of winding roots and soil animals, entitled 'THE WORLD BENEATH OUR FEET', with roots winding around the text.

Frank Ashwood

@frankashwood@flipping.rocks · 2 months ago

The cover art is finished for my new book and I LOVE IT!

So far there will also be German, Polish and Japanese language versions too!

#Science #SciComm #Literature #Book #Soil #NatureBooks #SoiBiodiversity #Entomology

Chip Butty boosted

Jon Sullivan

@joncounts@mastodon.nz · 2 months ago

I love how delightfully diabolical evolution can be.

A new article in Annual Review of Entomology is about the plant pathogens that are vectored between plants by herbivorous insects. These plant pathogens invade plant tissues and make plants sick. To get between plants they hitch a ride inside plant-feeding insects. The healthier the insect the more plants it will feed on.

So, what do the microbes do? They manufacture chemicals that make their insect hosts stronger. Several ways that they do this have been discovered "from balancing a nutritionally deficient diet" to "upgrading its defensive biochemistry against natural enemies."

Wild!

"Plant Pathogens Moonlighting as Beneficial Insect Symbionts" by
Aileen Berasategui and Hassan Salem

https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013411

#entomology #SpeciesInteractions #mutualism #ecology #PlantPathogens #Herbivory #insects

Jon Sullivan

@joncounts@mastodon.nz · 2 months ago

I love how delightfully diabolical evolution can be.

Wild!

"Plant Pathogens Moonlighting as Beneficial Insect Symbionts" by
Aileen Berasategui and Hassan Salem

https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013411

#entomology #SpeciesInteractions #mutualism #ecology #PlantPathogens #Herbivory #insects

Angela Antunovic boosted

Frank Ashwood

@frankashwood@flipping.rocks · 6 months ago

Yesterday we had earthworm cocoons, today I bring you springtail spermatophores!

Springtails, like many other soil invertebrates, reproduce by a male leaving these structures (a blob of sperm-rich fluid on a stalk), which the female will sniff out, collect and use to fertilise her eggs. Very romantic!

#SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Entomology #Macrophotography #Nature #NaturePhotography #Collembola #Soil

A photograph of a springtail spermatophore: a thin transparent stalk with a glob of clear fluid on the top.

Jonathan Schofield boosted

Jon Sullivan

@joncounts@mastodon.nz · 2 months ago

OK. Four more moths. These are the four species that were new to our garden this spring.

I've been consistently putting out the moth light four nights every season since July 2021 and I'm still finding new species.

Blackheaded Leafroller, *Ctenopseustis obliquana*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798689

Golden-brown Fern Moth, *Musotima nitidalis*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764

*Tingena melinella*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798772

Golden-brown Fern Moth *Musotima nitidalis*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764

They're all native moths. Welcome to our garden.

#mothodon #moths #Lepdidoptera #entomology #insects #nz

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A photo of a small pale brown moth with darker brown blotches.

I've identified this as the Blackheaded Leafroller, Ctenopseustis obliquana.

For my full-res photo and observation details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798689 — A photo of a small pale brown moth with darker brown blotches. I've identified this as the Blackheaded Leafroller, Ctenopseustis obliquana. For my full-res photo and observation details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798689

A photo of a small moth with triangular wings that it splays out above its body in an odd post. The wings have an elegant brown and cream pattern.

This is the NZ Golden-brown Fern Moth, Musotima nitidalis

For my full-res photo and observation details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764 — A photo of a small moth with triangular wings that it splays out above its body in an odd post. The wings have an elegant brown and cream pattern. This is the NZ Golden-brown Fern Moth, Musotima nitidalis For my full-res photo and observation details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764

A photo of a small yellow moth with a brown head.

I've identified this as the NZ endemic moth Tingena melinella.

For my full-res photo and observation details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798772 — A photo of a small yellow moth with a brown head. I've identified this as the NZ endemic moth Tingena melinella. For my full-res photo and observation details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798772

A brown moth with a pale horizontal line across it, making it look like a leaf.

This is the Golden-brown Fern, Moth Musotima nitidalis.

For my full-res photo and observation details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764 — A brown moth with a pale horizontal line across it, making it look like a leaf. This is the Golden-brown Fern, Moth Musotima nitidalis. For my full-res photo and observation details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764

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Frank Ashwood

@frankashwood@flipping.rocks · 2 months ago

It's week 3 of fatherhood, and today I was granted special dispensation from shopping, housework, nappies and feeding, to do a brief spot of macrophotography in the sunshine, brilliant!

The highlight was this incredible Oribatid mite, sporting long defensive spines (Neotrichozetes spinulosa). I've nicknamed it the Hellraiser mite, which seems to be catching on - feel free to use it too!

#Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Acari #Entomology #Nature #NaturePhotography #Acarology #Mite

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A face-on photograph of a brown, round-bodied mite covered in long feathery spines.

A side-on photograph of a brown, round-bodied mite covered in long feathery spines.

Jon Sullivan

@joncounts@mastodon.nz · 2 months ago

OK. Four more moths. These are the four species that were new to our garden this spring.

I've been consistently putting out the moth light four nights every season since July 2021 and I'm still finding new species.

Blackheaded Leafroller, *Ctenopseustis obliquana*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798689

Golden-brown Fern Moth, *Musotima nitidalis*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764

*Tingena melinella*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798772

Golden-brown Fern Moth *Musotima nitidalis*: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324611764

They're all native moths. Welcome to our garden.

#mothodon #moths #Lepdidoptera #entomology #insects #nz

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Jon Sullivan

@joncounts@mastodon.nz · 2 months ago

More moths? Yes, more moths!

The first moth is Chloroclystis inductata and it's an unusual colour morph of it. For all the variation in this one species from our garden so far, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations?place_id=150600&preferred_place_id=6803&taxon_id=407383&user_id=jon_sullivan&verifiable=any

The names of the others are in the alt-text.

#nz #mothodon #lepidoptera #Christchurch #insects #entomology

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A photo of a pale green moth with blotch brown markings. This species, Chloroclystis inductata, is unusually variable in its colour markings.

For my full-res photo and details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324845524 — A photo of a pale green moth with blotch brown markings. This species, Chloroclystis inductata, is unusually variable in its colour markings. For my full-res photo and details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324845524

A photo of a pinkish brown moth with a backward curved abdomen and splayed out wings. It's an odd pose for a moth.

This is the Australian Wattle Gall Moth, Gauna aegusalis.

For my full-res photo and details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798785 — A photo of a pinkish brown moth with a backward curved abdomen and splayed out wings. It's an odd pose for a moth. This is the Australian Wattle Gall Moth, Gauna aegusalis. For my full-res photo and details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324798785

A photo of a triangular moth with a long snout. It's wings are an elegant pattern of swirling creams and browns.

For my full-res photo and details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324845508 — A photo of a triangular moth with a long snout. It's wings are an elegant pattern of swirling creams and browns. For my full-res photo and details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324845508

A photo of a large triangular moth with a complicated pattern of dark and pale browns.

This is the NZ Barred Pink Carpet moth, Xanthorhoe semifissata

For my full-res photo and details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324845460 — A photo of a large triangular moth with a complicated pattern of dark and pale browns. This is the NZ Barred Pink Carpet moth, Xanthorhoe semifissata For my full-res photo and details, see https://inaturalist.nz/observations/324845460

Frank Ashwood

@frankashwood@flipping.rocks · 2 months ago

It's week 3 of fatherhood, and today I was granted special dispensation from shopping, housework, nappies and feeding, to do a brief spot of macrophotography in the sunshine, brilliant!

#Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #SoilEcology #Acari #Entomology #Nature #NaturePhotography #Acarology #Mite

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