Charlie Hackforth
@hackforth.bsky.social
Postdoc working on pantropical insect communities and ecological networks
@CNHackforth on the other site
@CNHackforth on the other site
Pinned
As we come to the end of 2025 I've had some time to photograph some moth specimens from my work in the Republic of the Congo, which I will share here in the coming weeks. First up:
Mazuca strigicincta (Walker, 1866)
Noctuidae: Xyleninae
C. Hackforth det. 2024
Republic of the Congo
Mazuca strigicincta (Walker, 1866)
Noctuidae: Xyleninae
C. Hackforth det. 2024
Republic of the Congo
Reposted by Charlie Hackforth
Four days left to apply for two postdocs in social evolution with me and @dustinrubenstein.com
Based at the University of Bristol (UK), conducting fieldwork with wasps in Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa.
Based at the University of Bristol (UK), conducting fieldwork with wasps in Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa.
POSTDOC ALERT🚨
Two exciting social evolution postdoc positions live today!
We're looking for two excellent field biologists. Join us to explore the evolution of sociality in wasps across Africa. Apply by 11th January.
Collaboration with
@dustinrubenstein.com
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
Two exciting social evolution postdoc positions live today!
We're looking for two excellent field biologists. Join us to explore the evolution of sociality in wasps across Africa. Apply by 11th January.
Collaboration with
@dustinrubenstein.com
@bristolbiosci.bsky.social
January 7, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Four days left to apply for two postdocs in social evolution with me and @dustinrubenstein.com
Based at the University of Bristol (UK), conducting fieldwork with wasps in Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa.
Based at the University of Bristol (UK), conducting fieldwork with wasps in Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa.
Eoophyla dentisigna (Agassiz, 2012)
Crambidae: Acentropinae
C. Hackforth det. 2025
Republic of the Congo
This fascinating group are aquatic as larvae, and adult females may enter the water for several hours to lay eggs. The tiny hindwing eyespots are thought to represent jumping spider mimicry.
Crambidae: Acentropinae
C. Hackforth det. 2025
Republic of the Congo
This fascinating group are aquatic as larvae, and adult females may enter the water for several hours to lay eggs. The tiny hindwing eyespots are thought to represent jumping spider mimicry.
January 8, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Eoophyla dentisigna (Agassiz, 2012)
Crambidae: Acentropinae
C. Hackforth det. 2025
Republic of the Congo
This fascinating group are aquatic as larvae, and adult females may enter the water for several hours to lay eggs. The tiny hindwing eyespots are thought to represent jumping spider mimicry.
Crambidae: Acentropinae
C. Hackforth det. 2025
Republic of the Congo
This fascinating group are aquatic as larvae, and adult females may enter the water for several hours to lay eggs. The tiny hindwing eyespots are thought to represent jumping spider mimicry.
Zamarada protrusa serrula (Fletcher, 1974)
Geometridae: Ennominae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
One of ~25 Zamarada species collected from 3 hectares of Congolese lowland forest.
Geometridae: Ennominae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
One of ~25 Zamarada species collected from 3 hectares of Congolese lowland forest.
January 7, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Zamarada protrusa serrula (Fletcher, 1974)
Geometridae: Ennominae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
One of ~25 Zamarada species collected from 3 hectares of Congolese lowland forest.
Geometridae: Ennominae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
One of ~25 Zamarada species collected from 3 hectares of Congolese lowland forest.
Porthesaroa sp.
Erebidae: Lymantriinae
C. Hackforth det. 2024
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
This species currently awaits formal description.
Erebidae: Lymantriinae
C. Hackforth det. 2024
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
This species currently awaits formal description.
January 6, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Porthesaroa sp.
Erebidae: Lymantriinae
C. Hackforth det. 2024
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
This species currently awaits formal description.
Erebidae: Lymantriinae
C. Hackforth det. 2024
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
This species currently awaits formal description.
Maruca vitrata (Fabricius, 1787)
Crambidae: Spilomelinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Crambidae: Spilomelinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
January 5, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Maruca vitrata (Fabricius, 1787)
Crambidae: Spilomelinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Crambidae: Spilomelinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Heterostegane pachyspila (Fletcher D. S., 1958)
Geometridae: Ennominae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Geometridae: Ennominae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
December 30, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Heterostegane pachyspila (Fletcher D. S., 1958)
Geometridae: Ennominae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Geometridae: Ennominae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Cheroscelis oospila (Prout L. B., 1912)
Geometridae: Geometrinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
Geometridae: Geometrinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
December 23, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Cheroscelis oospila (Prout L. B., 1912)
Geometridae: Geometrinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
Geometridae: Geometrinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
Sciatta inconcisa (Walker, 1869)
Noctuidae: Pantheinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Noctuidae: Pantheinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
December 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Sciatta inconcisa (Walker, 1869)
Noctuidae: Pantheinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Noctuidae: Pantheinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Pliniola gibba (Plötz, 1880)
Erebidae: Arctiinae-Lithosiini
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Erebidae: Arctiinae-Lithosiini
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
December 19, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Pliniola gibba (Plötz, 1880)
Erebidae: Arctiinae-Lithosiini
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Erebidae: Arctiinae-Lithosiini
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Pseudambia albomaculalis (Hampson, 1897)
Crambidae: Spilomelinae
C. Hackforth det. 2025
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Crambidae: Spilomelinae
C. Hackforth det. 2025
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
December 18, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Pseudambia albomaculalis (Hampson, 1897)
Crambidae: Spilomelinae
C. Hackforth det. 2025
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Crambidae: Spilomelinae
C. Hackforth det. 2025
Republic of the Congo (new country record)
Balacra rubricincta (Holland, 1893)
Erebidae: Arctiinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
Erebidae: Arctiinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
December 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Balacra rubricincta (Holland, 1893)
Erebidae: Arctiinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
Erebidae: Arctiinae
C. Hackforth det. 2023
Republic of the Congo
As we come to the end of 2025 I've had some time to photograph some moth specimens from my work in the Republic of the Congo, which I will share here in the coming weeks. First up:
Mazuca strigicincta (Walker, 1866)
Noctuidae: Xyleninae
C. Hackforth det. 2024
Republic of the Congo
Mazuca strigicincta (Walker, 1866)
Noctuidae: Xyleninae
C. Hackforth det. 2024
Republic of the Congo
December 16, 2025 at 2:04 PM
As we come to the end of 2025 I've had some time to photograph some moth specimens from my work in the Republic of the Congo, which I will share here in the coming weeks. First up:
Mazuca strigicincta (Walker, 1866)
Noctuidae: Xyleninae
C. Hackforth det. 2024
Republic of the Congo
Mazuca strigicincta (Walker, 1866)
Noctuidae: Xyleninae
C. Hackforth det. 2024
Republic of the Congo
Thrilled to today be starting as a PostDoc in the TropEco lab at the University of Bristol. I'll be working on the PanTropIn project, which aims to describe drivers and impacts of insect biodiversity changes across pantropical forests. Very excited to be up and running within an exciting new team!
December 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Thrilled to today be starting as a PostDoc in the TropEco lab at the University of Bristol. I'll be working on the PanTropIn project, which aims to describe drivers and impacts of insect biodiversity changes across pantropical forests. Very excited to be up and running within an exciting new team!
Last week I defended my thesis "Structure and Function of Insect Communities in Central Congo Peatland Forests" with minor corrections. Thanks to supervisors Jan Axmacher and Simon Lewis for their inspiration and support, and to examiners Tim Newbold (UCL) and Ed Turner (Cambridge). Now, to publish!
March 12, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Last week I defended my thesis "Structure and Function of Insect Communities in Central Congo Peatland Forests" with minor corrections. Thanks to supervisors Jan Axmacher and Simon Lewis for their inspiration and support, and to examiners Tim Newbold (UCL) and Ed Turner (Cambridge). Now, to publish!
Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century
Numerous declines have been documented across insect groups, and the potential consequences of insect losses are dire. Butterflies are the most surveyed insect taxa, yet analyses have been limited in ...
www.science.org
March 6, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The programme for this two day meeting on African Tropical #Peatlands includes talks on climate, biogeochemistry, vegetation, socioecology, ecosystem dynamics, and of course insects. It will be closed by the Environment Minister of the Rep. of Congo. So something for everyone! Sign up at link below:
Next Monday at 4.15, I will be speaking at the Royal Society in London about my PhD research on the insects of the Central Congo peatlands. The talk is part of a two day discussion meeting on African Tropical Peatlands.
Register to attend in person or online here: royalsociety.org/science-even...
Register to attend in person or online here: royalsociety.org/science-even...
African tropical peatlands: their value and vulnerability | Royal Society
Discussion meeting organised by Professor Simon Lewis FRS, Professor Ifo Suspense Averti, Professor Corneille Ewango and Professor Angela Gallego-Sala.
royalsociety.org
February 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The programme for this two day meeting on African Tropical #Peatlands includes talks on climate, biogeochemistry, vegetation, socioecology, ecosystem dynamics, and of course insects. It will be closed by the Environment Minister of the Rep. of Congo. So something for everyone! Sign up at link below:
Reposted by Charlie Hackforth
World’s largely unprotected peatlands are ticking ‘carbon bomb’, warns study
World’s largely unprotected peatlands are ticking ‘carbon bomb’, warns study
Bogs and swamps are a colossal carbon store but their continued destruction would blow climate change targets
The world’s peatlands are “dangerously underprotected” despite the colossal amount of climate-heating carbon dioxide already being emitted due…
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2025 at 6:07 AM
World’s largely unprotected peatlands are ticking ‘carbon bomb’, warns study
Next Monday at 4.15, I will be speaking at the Royal Society in London about my PhD research on the insects of the Central Congo peatlands. The talk is part of a two day discussion meeting on African Tropical Peatlands.
Register to attend in person or online here: royalsociety.org/science-even...
Register to attend in person or online here: royalsociety.org/science-even...
African tropical peatlands: their value and vulnerability | Royal Society
Discussion meeting organised by Professor Simon Lewis FRS, Professor Ifo Suspense Averti, Professor Corneille Ewango and Professor Angela Gallego-Sala.
royalsociety.org
February 12, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Next Monday at 4.15, I will be speaking at the Royal Society in London about my PhD research on the insects of the Central Congo peatlands. The talk is part of a two day discussion meeting on African Tropical Peatlands.
Register to attend in person or online here: royalsociety.org/science-even...
Register to attend in person or online here: royalsociety.org/science-even...
Reposted by Charlie Hackforth
Recommended read: Issues around mining for cobalt – a mineral “essential to decarbonisation” – in the Democratic Republic of the Congo employ “new forms of old colonial practices”, researchers wrote in @us.theconversation.com
DRC: history is repeating itself in Lubumbashi as the world scrambles for minerals to go green
Lubumbashi is little known, but its minerals electrified the world, created atom bombs and are key to greener energy, the defining geopolitical issue of our time.
buff.ly
February 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Recommended read: Issues around mining for cobalt – a mineral “essential to decarbonisation” – in the Democratic Republic of the Congo employ “new forms of old colonial practices”, researchers wrote in @us.theconversation.com
Reposted by Charlie Hackforth
The programme for our upcoming scientific meeting on the theme of tropical #peatlands in Africa is now live.
The meeting will be held at the Royal Society in London and will be streamed online.
To register for free or find out more visit: ow.ly/BEu550UCvZg
@royalsocietypublishing.org
The meeting will be held at the Royal Society in London and will be streamed online.
To register for free or find out more visit: ow.ly/BEu550UCvZg
@royalsocietypublishing.org
January 28, 2025 at 11:50 AM
The programme for our upcoming scientific meeting on the theme of tropical #peatlands in Africa is now live.
The meeting will be held at the Royal Society in London and will be streamed online.
To register for free or find out more visit: ow.ly/BEu550UCvZg
@royalsocietypublishing.org
The meeting will be held at the Royal Society in London and will be streamed online.
To register for free or find out more visit: ow.ly/BEu550UCvZg
@royalsocietypublishing.org