#insertAnInvert2024
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gruntleme.bsky.social
Also, posting this really made me miss my #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025 habit! #Invertefest
gruntleme.bsky.social Meera @gruntleme.bsky.social · Aug 28
My husband & I are working through some differences between us & have been having many difficult (& worthwhile, honest, curious) conversations. Last night one ended rough, and he went to bed hard. I stayed up, drew this crab we saw together last week. Left it on the dresser for him.
August 28, 2026 at 2:59 PM
blueappaloosa.bsky.social
It's #InternationalPolychaeteDay! Polychaetes are also called Bristle Worms and most species live in the ocean. There are over 10,000 species known.

To celebrate, here are some Gossamer Worm keychains I made for #InsertAnInvert2024. The segments are jointed so they wiggle!

#SciArt
Two 3d printed gossamer worm designs; worm-like creature with many “legs” coming out from the body. The one on the left is a pearly-pink color. The one on the right is a white translucent color. Each has a 1-inch (2.5cm) split ring through it’s head. Between them is a US penny for scale. Watermark reads: Blue Appaloosa
July 1, 2026 at 2:46 PM
blueappaloosa.bsky.social
For #JapaneseCrabDay, Hairy Stone Crab keychains and magnets I made for #InsertAnInvert2024. Love the bright blue antennae! 🦀
Two 3d printed hairy stone crab designs. The crab is dark brown with a rough texture, tan joints, silver eyes, and blue antenna. The crab on the right has a 1-inch keyring through the abdomen. A US penny is between them.
June 23, 2026 at 2:53 AM
gruntleme.bsky.social
I realize that water striders aren't the *first* insect you might think of given the prompt "diving," but they CAN dive. And skate and jump and glide! I think they are the perfect little creatures to complete my quixotic #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025 project. 🎖️🎖️
Pen and ink drawing of several long-legged water striders. Handwritten text reads: I love the dimples / shadows these guys make on the surface of the water: they remind me of freshly groomed show poodles. #InsertAnlnvert 48 Motion (Diver) Water strider (family Gerridae)
December 28, 2025 at 10:57 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
Oops reposting with the tag!

One of my students earlier this year was an absolute springtail stan. This is for you, Riley.

#InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025
Pen and ink drawing of a pair of awkward-looking globular springtails (Collembola) with slightly hairy antennae. One is considerably smaller than the other and labeled: "Male, about to be carried over the female's head in a courtship ritual." The larger one is labeled: "Female, larger and about to lock antennae with the male." An arrow also points to an appendage underneath the female's body and is labeled: "Furcula tucked underneath the body, used for sproinging." Handwritten text reads: #Insert An Invert 46 Motion: Jumper Water/Aquatic Springtail (Sminthurides aquaticus) -Approximately the size and sometimes the color of nerds (the candy)
December 5, 2025 at 11:45 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
During my second season of fieldwork on Mt. Rainer, an entomology postdoc from UW-Madison was also on the mountain, collecting grylloblattids. We stayed in the same field house for a few nights.

#InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025
Pen and ink drawing of a small wingless insect tucked inside a 3 oz plastic condiment container. Handwritten text reads: #Insert AnInvert 45: Motion (Scuttler) Ice crawler (Grylloblatta sp.) Drawing after a photo of a 2016 field-collected specimen belonging to then post doc Rachel Slatyer, resting in the freezer at Nisqually House
December 2, 2025 at 3:40 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
11 months of #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025 down! I can see the finish line!
Pen and ink drawing of a scattering of small 5 to 10 armed star-shaped animals on a jagged rock surface. Handwritten text reads: #InsertAnInvert 44: Blobfest (Blobbageddon) Star Tunicate (Botryllus schlosseri) This colonial tunicate has individual zooids (~1-3 mm) that fan outwards from a central point like the arms of a star. Human transport (on ships, for example) has given this tiny organism a nearly cosmopolitan distribution.
December 1, 2025 at 11:38 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
Transparent blobs are hard to draw. These guys are so much cooler than I can render them; please look up some macro photos! #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025
Pen and ink drawing of what looks like a bunch of crinkly-edged cheetos clustered together, clinging to a plant stem. These goofy worms are colonies of freshwater bryozoans. There is a closeup of part of an individual zooid showing its lophophore (feeding organ) with many tentacles Handwritten text reads: #InsertAninvert 43 Blobfest (Blobchain) Freshwater bryozoan (Cristatella mucedo) Colonies can range in size from 1-20cm; zooids are usually no larger than 1mm
November 24, 2025 at 1:42 AM
gruntleme.bsky.social
Me to myself this morning, realizing it's mid-month and I hadn't done anything for #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025 yet: "You're not allowed to do any other hobbies until you draw."
Pen and ink drawing of a pomelo-sized jelly being held upside down in someone's cupped hands. Handwritten text reads: #InsertAnInvert 41: Blobfest (Danger blob) Cannonball jellyfish (Stomolophus meleagris) "It's like there are flowers in the sea." —Venezuelan fisherman Elvis Morillo about a cannonball jelly invasion off the Caribbean coast in 2024 Pen and ink drawing of a ctenophore. It looks like a large striped grape with two long fringed tails. In real life they are transparent and bioluminescent! Handwritten text reads: The first (possibly last?*) time I dared to call myself a biologist was during my first UWBio department retreat at Friday Harbor Labs on San Juan Island. It was also the first time I saw ctenophores. They will always make me feel brave. #InsertAnlnvert 42 Blobfest (Disco Blob) Pacific Sea Gooseberry (Plurobrachia bachei) *("Ecologist" feels better)
November 15, 2025 at 9:07 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
Finishing up October with this COMPLETE PERFECT ANGEL #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025
Pen and ink drawing of a millipede. Handwritten text reads: Tiny! Social! Pink! Fungus-eating! Dad's brewed the eggs! Dads will adopt abandoned eggs to brood! ANGELS. #insertaninvert 40: Eyes (Eyeless) Feather Millipede (Brachycybe lecontii)
October 30, 2025 at 4:31 PM
nollthere.bsky.social
one of my fave #insertaninvert2024 drawings I did but I don't remember what invertebrate this is, so I'm just haunted as fuck by this creature. heeeeeelp.
Digital art of an invertebrate that the artist does not remember, but it is cream-colored and vaguely shaped like an angel with four legs. It looks semi-translucent potentially. Text next to it says "not much like you."
October 24, 2025 at 5:47 PM
franzanth.bsky.social
is your life too peaceful? do you want to suffer more? in 2024 i came up with a yearlong art prompt featuring arguably the most diverse list of animal species out there
insertaninvert2024.carrd.co

just look at the testimony below:
gruntleme.bsky.social Meera @gruntleme.bsky.social · Oct 24
Oops this is only number 39, not 40. 🙃 I'm pleased I've made it this far but tbh I will be happy when I'm done 😂
October 24, 2025 at 4:08 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
Not my favorite (I swear insects are the hardest inverts to draw) but HOW AMAZING are these guys' eyes? Look up male mayflies of the Baeditae family.

#InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025
Black ink drawing of a mayfly. Handwritten text reads: Males in this group have so-called "Turbinate" eyes that search for UV light to find females in flight (their wings reflect ultraviolet radiation). #InsertAnlnvert 40: Eyes (Compound eyes) Blue-winged olive mayflies. (family Baetidae)
October 24, 2025 at 3:20 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
This cockeye squid wishes everyone on the streets a day of safety and ferocious community. #InsertanInvert2024 in 2025
Pen and ink drawing of a gorgeous squid. It has one large eye and one small eye. Handwritten text reads: #Insert An Invert 38: Eyes (Lens eyes) Strawberry squid / Cockeye squid (Histioteuthis heteropsis) An arrow pointing to the large eye is annotated: Scans the sea surface above for shadows An arrow pointing to the small eye reads: Scans the depths balow for bioluminescence
October 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
I am about to try drawing this guy for #InsertanInvert2024 (which I am obviously doing in 2025) and appreciate having your work as a source because as noted, there is not much out there where you can see both eyes at once! <3 ty ty
October 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
Fuck Bruce Harrell. Anyway, here's a clam! #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025
Pen and ink drawing of a clam whose mantle is absolutely covered in spots, squiggles, and stripes. Handwritten text reads: "#Insertaninvert 37: Eyes (Lensless) Giant Boring Clam (as if!), Tridacna crocea An arrow pointing to the clam shell is annotated: Typically you wouldn't see any of the clam shell, because it's all burrowed deep into the substrate!"
October 11, 2025 at 6:34 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
Second set of deep sea weirdos/cutie pops for #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025! These are both hella cool Holothurians (sea cucumbers).
Pen and ink drawing of a sea cucumber. Handwritten text reads: #InsertAnInvert 35: Deep Sea (Abyssal) "Gummy Squirrel" (Psychropotes longicauda). "I think I'm the only one who sees this, but the gummy squirrel looks like a bicycle handle with an open brake to me. I keep wanting to squeeze down its sail and ring its bell!" Annotations point out its tail (which is thought to act as a sail) and feeding palps, that it is 2 feet in length, and that it lives 16,000 feet below sea level. Pen and ink drawing of a sea cucumber. Handwritten text reads: #InsertAnInvert 36: Deep Sea (Hadal) "Headless Chicken Monster" (Enypniastes sp). "Only found in the deepest sea and colored pink to red, these fantastic animals are more prom princesses than monsters in my eyes!" Annotations point out its anterior veil for rowing, its tentacles for feeding and swimming, and its visible intestine.
September 26, 2025 at 5:53 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
Drew two deep sea creatures today for #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025, both surreal, stalked carnivores.
Pen and ink drawing of three creatures that are basically just open mouths attached to stems. Handwritten text reads: "Do they look like small, transparent submarine turrets that also happen to have hungry, gaping maws? Yes. Do their yawning hoods trip-trap shut when a small crustacean or diatom enters? Yes! Should "Predatory Tunicate" be a band name? Definitely. #InsertAnInvert 33 Predatory tunicate Deep Sea (Mesopelagic) (Megalodicopia hians) Pen and ink drawing of what looks like a cross between a flower and a bunch of balloons. Handwritten text points to one of the balloon shapes and reads: Covered in tiny hooks ("spicules") that form a velcro-y texture to trap foods. Can be 20 inches tall! The Internet claims that the U.S. Navy saw these & thought they were Russian listening devices. Apocryphal? #InsertAnInvert 34 Deep Sea (Bathyal) Ping Pong Tree Sponge (Chondrocladia lampadiglobus)
September 14, 2025 at 8:24 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
It's a two-drawing day and I am officially caught up with #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025! This is sketch 32 of the year. Phew.
Pen and ink drawing of a squishy, sea cucumber with bushy feeding tentacles standing up. Handwritten text reads: #Insert An Invert 32: Coastal (Sand) The handsome red sea cucumber (Cucumaria miniata) is always a special sight. I try to resist poking them gently, but cannot always.
August 31, 2025 at 6:45 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
A characteristic cluster of ochre sea stars (which are also local ecological stars) to continue #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025.
Photo of a purple and orange pen and ink drawing of a whole mess of messy sea stars on a white card. It sits on a table surrounded by pens. Handwritten text reads: #InsertAnInvert 31: Coastal (Intertidal), Ochre Sea Star (Pisaster ochraceus)
August 31, 2025 at 5:28 PM
gruntleme.bsky.social
August's coastal theme continues with a cuttlefish. EXTREMELY underrated animals.

#InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025
Handwritten text reads: "Giant" is a relative term, I suppose, since these masters of camouflage would stillonly come up to about my knee. I love their flippy / foldy / curly anatomy. Even their eyes, which like other cephalopods' allow them to perceive polarized light, are wavy... #InsertAnInvert 30 Coastal (Temperate reef) Giant Australian Cuttlefish (Ascarosepion apama)
August 21, 2025 at 1:37 AM
gruntleme.bsky.social
Hello. I drew an anemone.

#InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025
Pen and ink drawing of an anemone. It looks like it is wearing a wig made of pacifiers. Handwritten text reads: "A nipply fella, friends with anemonefish (famously). #Insertaninvert (29) Coastal (Tropical reef) Bubble-tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor)
August 15, 2025 at 7:56 PM
drkmabrams.bsky.social
Adorable #stygofauna art. I love that #InsertAnInvert2024 is still inspiring art
gruntleme.bsky.social Meera @gruntleme.bsky.social · Aug 1
The latest #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025 is a minute resident of a park my sister in law's family loves. They'll probably never see it but I think they'll enjoy hearing about it!
Handwritten text reads: #Insert An Invert 28: Subterranean (stygofauna) Hay's Spring Amphipod (stygobromus hayi) Stygofauna live in groundwater ecosystems. This tiny crustacean is endemic to groundwater beneath Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., and only occasionally is seen spilling out into shallow seepages.
August 1, 2025 at 12:41 AM
gruntleme.bsky.social
The latest #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025 is a minute resident of a park my sister in law's family loves. They'll probably never see it but I think they'll enjoy hearing about it!
Handwritten text reads: #Insert An Invert 28: Subterranean (stygofauna) Hay's Spring Amphipod (stygobromus hayi) Stygofauna live in groundwater ecosystems. This tiny crustacean is endemic to groundwater beneath Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., and only occasionally is seen spilling out into shallow seepages.
August 1, 2025 at 12:19 AM
gruntleme.bsky.social
The latest #InsertAnInvert2024 in 2025 needed some color to differentiate this little dude and the pine cone he is standing over.
Ink drawing of a very long-legged cricket perched over a pine cone. Hand written text reads: "#Insertaninvert 27: Subterranean (Troglofauna). Square-legged Camel Cricket (Tropidschia xanthostoma) These adorable cave dwelling Orthopterans rarely see the light of day. ❤️
July 23, 2025 at 9:41 PM