Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes)
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arthropodabbey.bsky.social
Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes)
@arthropodabbey.bsky.social
Entomologist working to understand evolution + adaptation of arthropod phenotypes 🦗 Non-binary + disabled in STEM 🧪🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️♿ B.S. @St Mary's College of California ⏩ Ph.D. in Entomology @ WSU ⏩ NSF Postdoctoral Fellow @ UConn ⏩ Postdoc @ UVA
Today I got to meet Caeser the Drama Free Llama! He gifted me a pin for my jacket 🥰😭 #entsoc25
November 11, 2025 at 1:48 AM
#Entsoc25 day 1 for me because of flight shenanigans, come say Hi!
November 10, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes)
We need about 300 more scientists before we let teachers loose on the database!

Tell your colleagues, we need ya!
Scientists!

@skypeascientist.bsky.social matches scientists with classrooms, libraries, & more for virtual Q&As! It's easy and fun!

We are looking for 750 more volunteers by 8/15

If you're down to chat with 1-5 classrooms this semester, sign up here
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
August 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Moth soup 🦋🍜, it's what's for breakfast!
Moths, the bane of my existence
July 23, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Help my friend Ash get data to understand this Baffling behavior in tree crickets (see what I did there 😉)
Tree crickets build megaphones, called "baffles", by chewing holes in leaves to attract mates. For my PhD, I am studying the evolution of baffling. Lil bit of phylogenetics, lil bit of citizen science. Follow the link to my new project on @inaturalist.bsky.social
www.inaturalist.org/projects/baf...
Baffling in North American tree crickets
This project aims to collect data on “baffling” behaviour in tree crickets (subfamily: Oecanthinae). Baffling is a strategy used by males to make themselves louder. They do so by calling from leaf edg...
www.inaturalist.org
July 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Reposted by Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes)
Today I’m databasing fleas.

Trying to learn more about their mammal hosts and now giggling at this creature - a giant root-rat which I have some unidentified fleas collected off one such animal from before I was born…
July 22, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Saw this gorgeous man land in front of our car in the intersection at a red light last night. My partner held traffic as the light turned green while I was dashing out to save him. Male Microcentrum rhombifolium, he sang outside my window after he was released in my yard 😍🥰🥬🎶
July 19, 2025 at 3:54 PM
I hate living in this country right now
The EPA has eliminated its research division, which for decades has provided the science behind regulations on clean air, clean water, and toxic chemicals.

The US can afford to monitor, research, and regulate the impacts of industries on human and environmental health. We are just choosing not to.
EPA eliminates research and development office, begins layoffs
The Environmental Protection Agency said Friday it is eliminating its research and development arm and reducing agency staff by thousands of employees.
apnews.com
July 19, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes)
These cuts will disproportionately affect PBS and NPR stations across many Native Nations, including many communities across Alaska and the Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico. Look at the map. 👀

Please donate to local stations in these areas! #PBS #NPR
All of Public Broadcasting needs help to weather the Trump CPB rescission, but if you're already a regular donor in a big media market, maybe pick a vulnerable station in a less-resourced region to support
President Trump’s proposal to eliminate federal funding for public broadcasters threatens scores of radio and TV stations across the U.S. Here is where the cuts threaten access to PBS and NPR.
July 18, 2025 at 11:46 PM
What a great resource/idea! Check it out if you're looking to hire a postdoc, lots of great people are looking for jobs right now
Are you a PI in a biology field looking for postdocs? Here is a Starter Pack of early career biologists currently seeking postdoctoral positions! (Also if you are searching for a postdoc, let me know if you want to be added!) go.bsky.app/8zZNEGV
July 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Its Cotinis season and it makes me so happy! 🥰
July 17, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Doing my part to stop SLF (spotted lanternfly) from spreading further. They showed up in my town last year and are ABUNDANT this year. Keep your eyes peeled and report sightings if you're outside of the known range of established population
July 15, 2025 at 5:03 PM
If anyone has questions I am based in Cville and work with Drosophila, happy to answer Qs about the town or dept!
July 14, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Wow, today I learned some insect specimen are routinely destroyed after imaging??? Seems pretty obviously like irresponsible science practice to me...
New paper out on an important issue — monitoring insects requires preserving the specimens. We explored this issue using data from the Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab, which has systematically destroyed most of their specimens for decades. A 🧵(1/10)

doi.org/10.1093/aesa...
Big data, changing taxonomy, and ghost records: permanent preservation of collected specimens is essential for insect monitoring
Abstract. Successful long-term biodiversity monitoring requires consistent identification of all specimens, both those newly collected and those collected
doi.org
July 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I'm here and I'm Queer (Non-Binary), enjoy this photo of me doing entomology in the field and be super excited about it. Love seeing other scientists represent 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
July 14, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Working up a sticker / tshirt design for #CricketCourse because I don't want it to be over yet. I had the absolute best time 🥰
July 12, 2025 at 5:19 PM
We literally covered why this was unethical a full decade ago when I took a student trip to NZ. Yall bringing back Haast's Eagle too? 🙄🤦‍♀️
July 11, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Yesterday we went to Pocosol and I saw soooo many good bugs. I also a) fell into a volcanic crater turned lagoon and had to get dragged out and b) had my hair catch on fire from my headlamp. Wild times going on at #CricketCourse
July 4, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Evisceration station crew on deck!

#cricketcourse
July 2, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Having the absolute best time! Will keep updating with more photos in case anyone wants to live vicariously through me. I feel like I'm at a summer camp specifically designed for me 🦗😍
July 2, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Really enjoying #CricketCourse here in Costa Rica. SO excited to be spending time with so many fellow insect enthusiasts in such a beautiful place
June 30, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Reposted by Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes)
“Shrimps is bugs” is a funny meme, but there’s some truth in the reverse version, “Bugs is shrimps” 🐛🦐 Since insects are literally a group of terrestrial crustacean. And among all the insects, bristletails are probably the most shrimp-like in my opinion!
June 16, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes)
Happy Pride Month everyone! 🌈 We are happy to celebrate all the LGBTQ+ entomologists. ESO is committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for everyone ✨

#entomology #pridemonth #lgbt #insects #queerscientist
June 12, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by Arthropod Abbey (Abigail Hayes)
Time is running out! ⏳
Only few days left to apply to our PhD program—don’t miss your chance! 🚀

🔬Explore evolution in action in a cool 🐚
ℹ️ Details: tinyurl.com/fhzxr7ed
📆 Deadline: June 14th, 2025

#ScienceThatMatters #PhDlife #EvolutionaryBiology #MarineEcology #BiodiversityConservation
June 9, 2025 at 8:44 AM