We saw 22 male European stag beetles in flight this week. My ability to get a good video matched their ability to fly.

#Lucanuscervus is protected in many European countries because its larvae depend on decaying wood, especially oak and lime.

#StagBeetle #scicomm #bugsky 🪲 #entomology #beetles

This looks like a dragonfly and flies like a butterfly!

It's neither.

This is Libelloides macaronius, an owlfly. These are daytime aerial predators that use huge UV-sensitive eyes to spot prey against the sky👀⚡🪰.

#scicomm #Owlfly #bugsky #InsectPhotography

The leaf fragments are headed underground to a giant fungus farm.

Workers carefully chew the 🍃 into a pulp, add their cultivated fungus, remove unwanted molds, and actively maintain the garden.

#Ants #LeafcutterAnts #fungus #skybugs #bugsky 🪲 #scicomm #bugs

Happy moth Monday! #mothmonday #teammoth #bugsky #skybugs #insects #entomology

The bottom of our mason bee house has reeds we wanted to open and remove the mason bee pupae for cleaning. For next year, we will use this space to put the pupae after washing. #bugsky #masonbee #bees #blueskybugs #insects #stewardship #masonbeestewardship #scicomm

Alright, let’s talk about pubic lice—yes!
Pubic lice are ectoparaaites on humans and mainly chill in the hair down there and feed on your blood. They’re lowkey impressive, though, because they’ve evolved to absolutely thrive in this environment.
#scicomm #ValentinesDay    #insects

We were looking at our atlas moth and felt it looked familiar...
#alf #moths #bugsky #entomology #insects

Caterpillars and sawflies are often confused.

Here are some tips!

It's all in the abdominal prolegs! Caterpillars have 4, and sawflies have 7!

#entomology #scicomm #insects_of_our_world #insectgram #barbie #barbiemovie #insectguru #sawflies #barbiedoll

@slice_of_science on IG interviewed us for Insects360, a collaborative project uniting entomology and nature lovers internationally. To read the article click on the link in our bio. biocommunication.org/en/insects36... #bugs #insects #scicomm #bugsky #sciengage

Let's spread some joy with some #bluebugs to shine some light during #BlueMonday (said to be the most depressing day of the year). First devised as a marketing campaign for a travel company. Let’s not forget the importance of mental health, something that often gets sidelined and even dismissed.

The Tsetse fly is known for its bloodsucking ways, and the worst part? They can spread Sleeping Sickness in humans and nagana among livestock. And get this — it’s not just the female flies that bite; the males get in on the action too! #scicomm #entomology #pestcontrol #diptera #jerks

We found a beautiful bark katydid. The common name is because they mimic the colour pattern of bark to camouflage themselves.

#barbie #scicomm #entomology #bugs #insects #nature #insekten #bichos #katydidsofinstagram #camouflage #katydid #barbiedoll #entomologistbarbie

How were we not on this platform earlier?! The logo alone is calling us!!! Looking forward to new connections and reconnecting. #entomology