Scott P. Egan
@scottpegan.bsky.social
Evolutionary Biologist & Scientific Naturalist | Associate Professor | Director, E4 Initiative | @RiceUniversity #science #biology #evolution #speciation #entomology #biodiversity #genomics #discovery
Lab website: https://scottpegan.com
Lab website: https://scottpegan.com
Reposted by Scott P. Egan
Bees
February 10, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Bees
Reposted by Scott P. Egan
On March 3rd @ 5pm CET, we are re-starting the Integration of speciation seminar series! The first 3 sessions feature talks by *Early-Career Researchers*, and include a Q&A with an established PI about their career path.
Sign up to get the link: speciation-network.pages.ist.ac.at/seminar-seri...
Sign up to get the link: speciation-network.pages.ist.ac.at/seminar-seri...
February 9, 2026 at 3:40 PM
On March 3rd @ 5pm CET, we are re-starting the Integration of speciation seminar series! The first 3 sessions feature talks by *Early-Career Researchers*, and include a Q&A with an established PI about their career path.
Sign up to get the link: speciation-network.pages.ist.ac.at/seminar-seri...
Sign up to get the link: speciation-network.pages.ist.ac.at/seminar-seri...
Amazing!🤩 Love those contrasts between days.
February 10, 2026 at 4:34 AM
Amazing!🤩 Love those contrasts between days.
How can you tell a Viceroy (left) from a #Monarch (right)?
The black line across the viceroy's hind wings, which monarchs do not have. The viceroy is also a little smaller than the monarch. #mimicry #butterfly #evolution
The black line across the viceroy's hind wings, which monarchs do not have. The viceroy is also a little smaller than the monarch. #mimicry #butterfly #evolution
February 9, 2026 at 3:11 PM
How can you tell a Viceroy (left) from a #Monarch (right)?
The black line across the viceroy's hind wings, which monarchs do not have. The viceroy is also a little smaller than the monarch. #mimicry #butterfly #evolution
The black line across the viceroy's hind wings, which monarchs do not have. The viceroy is also a little smaller than the monarch. #mimicry #butterfly #evolution
What is a "cicada parasite beetle"?
The larval rhiphicerids are external parasitioids on cicada nymphs. Their eggs are deposited into the same cicada egg holes in the bark & 1st instars drop to the ground with the cicada nymphs, attaching themselves to them. (📸:metrioptera)
The larval rhiphicerids are external parasitioids on cicada nymphs. Their eggs are deposited into the same cicada egg holes in the bark & 1st instars drop to the ground with the cicada nymphs, attaching themselves to them. (📸:metrioptera)
February 9, 2026 at 2:09 PM
What is a "cicada parasite beetle"?
The larval rhiphicerids are external parasitioids on cicada nymphs. Their eggs are deposited into the same cicada egg holes in the bark & 1st instars drop to the ground with the cicada nymphs, attaching themselves to them. (📸:metrioptera)
The larval rhiphicerids are external parasitioids on cicada nymphs. Their eggs are deposited into the same cicada egg holes in the bark & 1st instars drop to the ground with the cicada nymphs, attaching themselves to them. (📸:metrioptera)
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 450): Sandalus niger - a species of cicada parasite beetle (family Rhipiceridae) - found on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in Brazos County, TX, USA. (📸:metrioptera; via @BugGuidenet) #biodiversity
February 9, 2026 at 2:09 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 450): Sandalus niger - a species of cicada parasite beetle (family Rhipiceridae) - found on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in Brazos County, TX, USA. (📸:metrioptera; via @BugGuidenet) #biodiversity
Happy SuperbOwl Sunday to all who celebrate! #SuperbOwl
Did you know @RiceUniversity is one of the only universities where our mascot 🦉 lives naturally on our campus!
(📸:Cin-Ty Lee)
Did you know @RiceUniversity is one of the only universities where our mascot 🦉 lives naturally on our campus!
(📸:Cin-Ty Lee)
February 8, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Happy SuperbOwl Sunday to all who celebrate! #SuperbOwl
Did you know @RiceUniversity is one of the only universities where our mascot 🦉 lives naturally on our campus!
(📸:Cin-Ty Lee)
Did you know @RiceUniversity is one of the only universities where our mascot 🦉 lives naturally on our campus!
(📸:Cin-Ty Lee)
Uhh, #WTFevolution? 🤯😍
just a little baby child (from @mosquitolab.bsky.social's pitfall samples; I can see how this one got sorted into the beetle pile)
February 6, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Uhh, #WTFevolution? 🤯😍
Where did the body go?😂🤯😍
February 6, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Where did the body go?😂🤯😍
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 449): Polopinus youngi - a species of darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) endemic to Florida - found under a rotting log of a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in Pinellas County, FL, USA. (📸:roar; via @bugguide.net ) #biodiversity
February 6, 2026 at 3:53 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 449): Polopinus youngi - a species of darkling beetle (family Tenebrionidae) endemic to Florida - found under a rotting log of a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in Pinellas County, FL, USA. (📸:roar; via @bugguide.net ) #biodiversity
The gall wasp Disholcaspis cinerosa emerging in the lab @RiceUniversity and exploring its new surroundings. (📸: M. Comerford) #biodiversity
February 5, 2026 at 9:01 PM
The gall wasp Disholcaspis cinerosa emerging in the lab @RiceUniversity and exploring its new surroundings. (📸: M. Comerford) #biodiversity
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 448): Temnocerus aeratus is a leaf rolling weevil found on plateua live oak (Quercus fusiformis) in TX, USA. The female cuts slits into leaves to deposit her eggs & rolls that part of the leaf in which the larvae will feed.(📸:Mike Quinn)
February 5, 2026 at 1:05 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 448): Temnocerus aeratus is a leaf rolling weevil found on plateua live oak (Quercus fusiformis) in TX, USA. The female cuts slits into leaves to deposit her eggs & rolls that part of the leaf in which the larvae will feed.(📸:Mike Quinn)
Strong agree. Very fun!
February 4, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Strong agree. Very fun!
Reposted by Scott P. Egan
Neil H. Shubin has been elected as the next NAS President! A leading evolutionary biologist and science communicator, Shubin will succeed Marcia McNutt on July 1. The Academy also named Cherry Murray as International Secretary and elected new councilors. Read more: www.nasonline.org/news/2026_pr...
February 4, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Neil H. Shubin has been elected as the next NAS President! A leading evolutionary biologist and science communicator, Shubin will succeed Marcia McNutt on July 1. The Academy also named Cherry Murray as International Secretary and elected new councilors. Read more: www.nasonline.org/news/2026_pr...
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 447): The Florida predatory stink bug, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, is a species of carnivorous shield bug (family Pentatomidae). Here, found hunting on the trunk of a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in FL, USA. (📸:Gacko) #biodiversity
February 4, 2026 at 1:12 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 447): The Florida predatory stink bug, Euthyrhynchus floridanus, is a species of carnivorous shield bug (family Pentatomidae). Here, found hunting on the trunk of a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in FL, USA. (📸:Gacko) #biodiversity
Don’t get those enough! 😂
February 4, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Don’t get those enough! 😂
As a scientist, this is my favorite type of email to receive…
February 4, 2026 at 1:06 AM
As a scientist, this is my favorite type of email to receive…
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 446-part 2): Chrysobothris chrysoela reported to feed on the southern live oak, Quercus virginiana, in FL, USA. More amazing photos by Marlin E. Rice! 😍😍😍
February 3, 2026 at 4:43 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 446-part 2): Chrysobothris chrysoela reported to feed on the southern live oak, Quercus virginiana, in FL, USA. More amazing photos by Marlin E. Rice! 😍😍😍
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 446): Chrysobothris chrysoela is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae known to feed on the decaying wood of the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in FL, USA. #biodiversity (📸:Marlin E. Rice)😍
February 3, 2026 at 4:43 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 446): Chrysobothris chrysoela is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae known to feed on the decaying wood of the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in FL, USA. #biodiversity (📸:Marlin E. Rice)😍
Reposted by Scott P. Egan
You want to go fast: go alone. You want to go far: go with others. You want neither: go with ecologists 😜
📸 @eatgrowlearn.withsophie on IG
#ecology #naturelovers #earthygirl #hiking #ecologists
📸 @eatgrowlearn.withsophie on IG
#ecology #naturelovers #earthygirl #hiking #ecologists
February 2, 2026 at 5:25 AM
You want to go fast: go alone. You want to go far: go with others. You want neither: go with ecologists 😜
📸 @eatgrowlearn.withsophie on IG
#ecology #naturelovers #earthygirl #hiking #ecologists
📸 @eatgrowlearn.withsophie on IG
#ecology #naturelovers #earthygirl #hiking #ecologists
Solitary nest constructed by a potter wasp (subfamily Eumeninae). They are beneficial wasps known for building pot-shaped nests from mud, which they provision with paralyzed caterpillars to feed their young. #biodiversity
February 1, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Solitary nest constructed by a potter wasp (subfamily Eumeninae). They are beneficial wasps known for building pot-shaped nests from mud, which they provision with paralyzed caterpillars to feed their young. #biodiversity