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
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? 🤯😍
#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)
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
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): 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
¡Mi español está mejorando, pero todavía tengo mucho que aprender! @duolingoesp.bsky.social
January 30, 2026 at 2:05 PM
¡Mi español está mejorando, pero todavía tengo mucho que aprender! @duolingoesp.bsky.social
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 445): Planthopper (Thionia obrienae) found on a plateau live oak (Quercus fusiformis) from TX, USA. #biodiversity (📸:Mike Quinn)
January 30, 2026 at 1:03 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 445): Planthopper (Thionia obrienae) found on a plateau live oak (Quercus fusiformis) from TX, USA. #biodiversity (📸:Mike Quinn)
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 444): Beetle from the genus Melanophthalma found inside the nidus (or leaf roll) of the oak leaf rolling weevil (Attelabinae) on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) from FL, USA. #biodiversity
📸: @colinpurrington.bsky.social
📸: @colinpurrington.bsky.social
January 29, 2026 at 4:52 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 444): Beetle from the genus Melanophthalma found inside the nidus (or leaf roll) of the oak leaf rolling weevil (Attelabinae) on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) from FL, USA. #biodiversity
📸: @colinpurrington.bsky.social
📸: @colinpurrington.bsky.social
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 443): #NewSpecies of bark lice, Indiopsocus lanceolatus, collected on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) from the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge , Colorado County, TX, USA. (📸:Diane Young) #biodiversity
January 28, 2026 at 12:10 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 443): #NewSpecies of bark lice, Indiopsocus lanceolatus, collected on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) from the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge , Colorado County, TX, USA. (📸:Diane Young) #biodiversity
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 442): Leaf miner in the genus Cameraria on the plateau live oak (Quercus fusiformis) in Round Rock, TX. (📸:Dvori Feldman) #biodiversity
January 27, 2026 at 5:16 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 442): Leaf miner in the genus Cameraria on the plateau live oak (Quercus fusiformis) in Round Rock, TX. (📸:Dvori Feldman) #biodiversity
It’s really cold in Texas. 🥶 Time for enchiladas!
January 27, 2026 at 1:09 AM
It’s really cold in Texas. 🥶 Time for enchiladas!
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 441): Wingless female of the live oak tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana). After emergence, she emits pheromones to attract males, mates, lays eggs on old coccon & dies. (📸:Alan Chin Lee) #biodiversity
January 25, 2026 at 5:45 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 441): Wingless female of the live oak tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana). After emergence, she emits pheromones to attract males, mates, lays eggs on old coccon & dies. (📸:Alan Chin Lee) #biodiversity
Texas weather update:
Texline, TX: 0 degrees F
Brownsville, TX: 71 degrees F
1/24/2026; 9:30am CST
Texline, TX: 0 degrees F
Brownsville, TX: 71 degrees F
1/24/2026; 9:30am CST
January 24, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Texas weather update:
Texline, TX: 0 degrees F
Brownsville, TX: 71 degrees F
1/24/2026; 9:30am CST
Texline, TX: 0 degrees F
Brownsville, TX: 71 degrees F
1/24/2026; 9:30am CST
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 440): Live oak tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) found on the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in Gainesville, FL, USA (📸:Alan Chin Lee) #biodiversity 🦋
January 23, 2026 at 2:18 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 440): Live oak tussock moth (Orgyia detrita) found on the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in Gainesville, FL, USA (📸:Alan Chin Lee) #biodiversity 🦋
Cool work by the lab of @waspvenom.bsky.social on host-associated #speciation!
New paper from the Martinson Lab! A fun study where we find a nice example of cascading speciation and describe three new species. Plus some exciting data to suggest that ecological guild may influence the impacts of host-associated differentiation. A 🧵. #galls #insects 🧪 doi.org/10.1111/mec....
January 23, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Cool work by the lab of @waspvenom.bsky.social on host-associated #speciation!
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 439): Leaf miner damage from a moth in the genus Phyllonorycter on the sand live oak (Quercus geminata) in NC, USA (📸:Tracy Feldman) #biodiversity
January 22, 2026 at 11:57 AM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 439): Leaf miner damage from a moth in the genus Phyllonorycter on the sand live oak (Quercus geminata) in NC, USA (📸:Tracy Feldman) #biodiversity
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 438): Leaf miner in the genus Bucculatrix on the leaf of a on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in NC, USA (📸:Tracy Feldman) #biodiversity
January 20, 2026 at 3:47 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 438): Leaf miner in the genus Bucculatrix on the leaf of a on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in NC, USA (📸:Tracy Feldman) #biodiversity
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 437): Prickly pear (genus Opuntia) growing on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in south Texas. (📸:Jeff Smith) #biodiversity
January 18, 2026 at 6:39 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 437): Prickly pear (genus Opuntia) growing on a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in south Texas. (📸:Jeff Smith) #biodiversity
Over 1.4 million views (🤯) of this #ZeFrank video that features some of our lab’s work on gall wasps and parasitoid wasps! (And many others, too!)
youtu.be/ANyJVMhOpkk
youtu.be/ANyJVMhOpkk
True Facts: Parasitoid Wasps
YouTube video by Ze Frank
youtu.be
January 18, 2026 at 3:41 AM
Over 1.4 million views (🤯) of this #ZeFrank video that features some of our lab’s work on gall wasps and parasitoid wasps! (And many others, too!)
youtu.be/ANyJVMhOpkk
youtu.be/ANyJVMhOpkk
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 436): Coptotriche is a genus of "trumpet" leaf mining moths in the family Tischeriidae. This one found on the leaf of a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in NC, USA. (📸:Tracy Feldman) #biodiversity
January 15, 2026 at 10:10 PM
#A_day_in_the_life of a live oak (day 436): Coptotriche is a genus of "trumpet" leaf mining moths in the family Tischeriidae. This one found on the leaf of a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in NC, USA. (📸:Tracy Feldman) #biodiversity