Torsten Dikow
@tdikow.bsky.social
biodiversity researcher - discovering fly species - deciphering their evolutionary history - natural history collections + digitization + data - #asiloidflies - deserts - photography - views mine
ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4816-2909
ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4816-2909
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
We're at #ECN2025 in Portland, Oregon!
We're passionate about entomological collections, which is why we published some of last year's ECN in a special topical collection: nhcm.pensoft.net/topical_coll...
Check out the @pensoft.net stand for our latest news!
We're passionate about entomological collections, which is why we published some of last year's ECN in a special topical collection: nhcm.pensoft.net/topical_coll...
Check out the @pensoft.net stand for our latest news!
November 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
We're at #ECN2025 in Portland, Oregon!
We're passionate about entomological collections, which is why we published some of last year's ECN in a special topical collection: nhcm.pensoft.net/topical_coll...
Check out the @pensoft.net stand for our latest news!
We're passionate about entomological collections, which is why we published some of last year's ECN in a special topical collection: nhcm.pensoft.net/topical_coll...
Check out the @pensoft.net stand for our latest news!
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Steven Hammer, one of our regular collection users, co-developed a new #insect pinning block, with staff and volunteers from the museum.
It’s 3D-printed and open source, so you can try it for yourself:
cults3d.com/en/3d-model/...
#ECN2025
It’s 3D-printed and open source, so you can try it for yourself:
cults3d.com/en/3d-model/...
#ECN2025
Entoblock step
An improved pinning block for entomological collections.
It has five steps at different heights for quick and accurate label setting. The steps are visible from both sides, making it suitable for lef...
cults3d.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Steven Hammer, one of our regular collection users, co-developed a new #insect pinning block, with staff and volunteers from the museum.
It’s 3D-printed and open source, so you can try it for yourself:
cults3d.com/en/3d-model/...
#ECN2025
It’s 3D-printed and open source, so you can try it for yourself:
cults3d.com/en/3d-model/...
#ECN2025
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Hey EntFriends #EntSoc25: This high school entomology club in California is looking for funds to support their pinning and collections. Can we make that happen? Any donations large and small will help! www.donorschoose.org/project/inse...
Insect Pinning! Small Creatures, Big Impact: Support Cah Entomology Club!, a project from Mr. Lopez
Help me give my students an insect pinning kit to be able to have active and engaging insect pinning projects. The Entomology Club has the goal of engaging students in the scientific process throug...
www.donorschoose.org
November 3, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Hey EntFriends #EntSoc25: This high school entomology club in California is looking for funds to support their pinning and collections. Can we make that happen? Any donations large and small will help! www.donorschoose.org/project/inse...
#FlyFriday new assassin fly species described from #Namib Desert today - Acnephalomyia metallicoindica Blee, Cabrero & Dikow, 2025 (Asilidae: Willistonininae) - summer research project by Tayler Blee in 2024 - species endemic to gravel plains of Namib - doi doi.org/10.3897/AfrI...
#asiloidflies
#asiloidflies
October 31, 2025 at 2:39 PM
#FlyFriday new assassin fly species described from #Namib Desert today - Acnephalomyia metallicoindica Blee, Cabrero & Dikow, 2025 (Asilidae: Willistonininae) - summer research project by Tayler Blee in 2024 - species endemic to gravel plains of Namib - doi doi.org/10.3897/AfrI...
#asiloidflies
#asiloidflies
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
A new species is described as the assassin-fly genus 𝐴𝑐𝑛𝑒𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑦𝑖𝑎 is reviewed in the southern Namib Desert.
🔗 doi.org/10.3897/afri...
@ento-allan.bsky.social @tdikow.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.3897/afri...
@ento-allan.bsky.social @tdikow.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 2:12 PM
A new species is described as the assassin-fly genus 𝐴𝑐𝑛𝑒𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑦𝑖𝑎 is reviewed in the southern Namib Desert.
🔗 doi.org/10.3897/afri...
@ento-allan.bsky.social @tdikow.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.3897/afri...
@ento-allan.bsky.social @tdikow.bsky.social
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Aren't robberflies amazing? Large, fast, predatory flies that inject their prey with a paralysing and digestive neurotoxin, then suck out the liquified contents. Yum.
We saw this fine example on an #orchid in Rhodes this year. Looking forward to what we find there next spring...
We saw this fine example on an #orchid in Rhodes this year. Looking forward to what we find there next spring...
October 22, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Aren't robberflies amazing? Large, fast, predatory flies that inject their prey with a paralysing and digestive neurotoxin, then suck out the liquified contents. Yum.
We saw this fine example on an #orchid in Rhodes this year. Looking forward to what we find there next spring...
We saw this fine example on an #orchid in Rhodes this year. Looking forward to what we find there next spring...
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Soldierflies are much less well known than hoverflies but some species are highly colourful.
Sargus bipunctatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, large attractive woodland species & last soldierfly to appear during year. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #Stratiomyidae
Sargus bipunctatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, large attractive woodland species & last soldierfly to appear during year. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #Stratiomyidae
October 21, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Soldierflies are much less well known than hoverflies but some species are highly colourful.
Sargus bipunctatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, large attractive woodland species & last soldierfly to appear during year. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #Stratiomyidae
Sargus bipunctatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, large attractive woodland species & last soldierfly to appear during year. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #Stratiomyidae
invasive Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, Fulgoridae) is heavily feeding on the introduced Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima, Simaroubaceae) at my house
October 21, 2025 at 7:39 PM
invasive Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, Fulgoridae) is heavily feeding on the introduced Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima, Simaroubaceae) at my house
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Well, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today.
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
October 10, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Well, it's official. After our paper last year (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....), the Slender-billed Curlew is officially declared Extinct today.
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
Scientists dream of describing new species, not writing their obituary and epitaph, knowing that they are gone forever #ornithology
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
with the official IUCN listing for the slender-billed curlew now being Extinct here is the rather sad piece I wrote about what went into this decision
I tried to include everything we know about their behaviour and biology, which is tragically little 🪶🧪
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
I tried to include everything we know about their behaviour and biology, which is tragically little 🪶🧪
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
October 10, 2025 at 10:09 AM
with the official IUCN listing for the slender-billed curlew now being Extinct here is the rather sad piece I wrote about what went into this decision
I tried to include everything we know about their behaviour and biology, which is tragically little 🪶🧪
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
I tried to include everything we know about their behaviour and biology, which is tragically little 🪶🧪
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
#OTD 3 Oct 1990 35 years ago - Germany reunited - I grew up in East Germany what became then Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state - beautiful place in north-east on Baltic Sea coast - I view vistas of sea to symbolize freedom, democracy + opportunity that changed my life profoundly
#TagderDeutschenEinheit
#TagderDeutschenEinheit
October 3, 2025 at 12:03 PM
#OTD 3 Oct 1990 35 years ago - Germany reunited - I grew up in East Germany what became then Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state - beautiful place in north-east on Baltic Sea coast - I view vistas of sea to symbolize freedom, democracy + opportunity that changed my life profoundly
#TagderDeutschenEinheit
#TagderDeutschenEinheit
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
20 Jahre Darßer Naturfilmfestival-im Oktober sind Naturschützer und Kreative an der Ostsee,um Natur zu bewundern und hieran zu erinnern:
„1990 war eine Sternstunde des deutschen Naturschutzes.
5 Nationalparks, 6 Biosphärenreservate und 3 Naturparks entstanden auf 4,5% der Landesfläche der DDR.“
„1990 war eine Sternstunde des deutschen Naturschutzes.
5 Nationalparks, 6 Biosphärenreservate und 3 Naturparks entstanden auf 4,5% der Landesfläche der DDR.“
October 3, 2025 at 9:59 AM
20 Jahre Darßer Naturfilmfestival-im Oktober sind Naturschützer und Kreative an der Ostsee,um Natur zu bewundern und hieran zu erinnern:
„1990 war eine Sternstunde des deutschen Naturschutzes.
5 Nationalparks, 6 Biosphärenreservate und 3 Naturparks entstanden auf 4,5% der Landesfläche der DDR.“
„1990 war eine Sternstunde des deutschen Naturschutzes.
5 Nationalparks, 6 Biosphärenreservate und 3 Naturparks entstanden auf 4,5% der Landesfläche der DDR.“
beautiful day in Washington, D.C. - sunny, 15C/60F right now, 23C/73F high - U.S. government shut down last night - Smithsonian museums will remain open until Monday (Oct 6) - after that, all museums will be closed to visitors + staff - employees will be furloughed
October 1, 2025 at 11:32 AM
beautiful day in Washington, D.C. - sunny, 15C/60F right now, 23C/73F high - U.S. government shut down last night - Smithsonian museums will remain open until Monday (Oct 6) - after that, all museums will be closed to visitors + staff - employees will be furloughed
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
I found this rove beetle friend on the rainforest floor. They are so so fast, you can imaging me chasing it around with my camera just rolling around in the leaf litter. Just unbelievable colors. In person the rainbow iridescence is stunning. It’s hard to say much here beyond just wow.
October 1, 2025 at 1:41 AM
I found this rove beetle friend on the rainforest floor. They are so so fast, you can imaging me chasing it around with my camera just rolling around in the leaf litter. Just unbelievable colors. In person the rainbow iridescence is stunning. It’s hard to say much here beyond just wow.
#FlyFriday
Apiocera pica Norris, 1936 (Apioceridae, USNMENT00832111) from Wandoo National Park, Western Australia collected in 2011 - more info here n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies #USNMDiptera
Apiocera pica Norris, 1936 (Apioceridae, USNMENT00832111) from Wandoo National Park, Western Australia collected in 2011 - more info here n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies #USNMDiptera
September 26, 2025 at 8:48 PM
#FlyFriday
Apiocera pica Norris, 1936 (Apioceridae, USNMENT00832111) from Wandoo National Park, Western Australia collected in 2011 - more info here n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies #USNMDiptera
Apiocera pica Norris, 1936 (Apioceridae, USNMENT00832111) from Wandoo National Park, Western Australia collected in 2011 - more info here n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies #USNMDiptera
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Each year more content moves into the #publicdoman and hence @biodivlibrary.bsky.social can make more articles freely available. Today I've added articles from the Annales of @socentomolfr.bsky.social 1923-1928 to BioStor biostor.org/issn/0037-9271 and these will appear in BHL shortly.
September 25, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Each year more content moves into the #publicdoman and hence @biodivlibrary.bsky.social can make more articles freely available. Today I've added articles from the Annales of @socentomolfr.bsky.social 1923-1928 to BioStor biostor.org/issn/0037-9271 and these will appear in BHL shortly.
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Lions across Africa are under threat from habitat loss, poaching, and wildlife trade.
A continent-wide survey of 132 lion subpopulations was conducted in collaboration with landscape managers and lion researchers to determine perceived threat severity.
[1/2] @biology.ox.ac.uk
A continent-wide survey of 132 lion subpopulations was conducted in collaboration with landscape managers and lion researchers to determine perceived threat severity.
[1/2] @biology.ox.ac.uk
September 25, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Lions across Africa are under threat from habitat loss, poaching, and wildlife trade.
A continent-wide survey of 132 lion subpopulations was conducted in collaboration with landscape managers and lion researchers to determine perceived threat severity.
[1/2] @biology.ox.ac.uk
A continent-wide survey of 132 lion subpopulations was conducted in collaboration with landscape managers and lion researchers to determine perceived threat severity.
[1/2] @biology.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean, but support 25% of marine life + nearly 1 billion people. They’re at risk, but not lost. 🪸 🌏
September 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean, but support 25% of marine life + nearly 1 billion people. They’re at risk, but not lost. 🪸 🌏
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Are you researching the conservation, ecology or taxonomy of soil & litter invertebrates?
Submit your paper to this Special Issue of NZ Journal of Zoology, edited by me, @carlosbarreto.bsky.social & @barnesecodiv.bsky.social!
More info: www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/nzjz-so...
#SoilBiodiversity 🧪
Submit your paper to this Special Issue of NZ Journal of Zoology, edited by me, @carlosbarreto.bsky.social & @barnesecodiv.bsky.social!
More info: www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/nzjz-so...
#SoilBiodiversity 🧪
September 24, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Are you researching the conservation, ecology or taxonomy of soil & litter invertebrates?
Submit your paper to this Special Issue of NZ Journal of Zoology, edited by me, @carlosbarreto.bsky.social & @barnesecodiv.bsky.social!
More info: www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/nzjz-so...
#SoilBiodiversity 🧪
Submit your paper to this Special Issue of NZ Journal of Zoology, edited by me, @carlosbarreto.bsky.social & @barnesecodiv.bsky.social!
More info: www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/nzjz-so...
#SoilBiodiversity 🧪
#FlyFriday
one of my favorite assassin flies - Sisyrnodytes subater Oldroyd, 1957 (Asilidae: Willistonininae, USNMENT00870084) - collected in north-western South Africa near Pella - more info here n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies
one of my favorite assassin flies - Sisyrnodytes subater Oldroyd, 1957 (Asilidae: Willistonininae, USNMENT00870084) - collected in north-western South Africa near Pella - more info here n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies
September 19, 2025 at 6:50 PM
#FlyFriday
one of my favorite assassin flies - Sisyrnodytes subater Oldroyd, 1957 (Asilidae: Willistonininae, USNMENT00870084) - collected in north-western South Africa near Pella - more info here n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies
one of my favorite assassin flies - Sisyrnodytes subater Oldroyd, 1957 (Asilidae: Willistonininae, USNMENT00870084) - collected in north-western South Africa near Pella - more info here n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies
@nhmdk.bsky.social is advertising a PhD fellowship in collection-based Natural History Research focused on dark taxa and unknown species, preferably including representatives of Danish flora, fauna or geology
deadline 5 October 2025
candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...
deadline 5 October 2025
candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...
PhD fellowship in collection-based Natural History Research
Natural History Museum Denmark Faculty of SCIENCE University of Copenhagen Natural History Museum Denmark invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in coll
candidate.hr-manager.net
September 19, 2025 at 11:55 AM
@nhmdk.bsky.social is advertising a PhD fellowship in collection-based Natural History Research focused on dark taxa and unknown species, preferably including representatives of Danish flora, fauna or geology
deadline 5 October 2025
candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...
deadline 5 October 2025
candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Yesterday was the 130th anniversary of the #ICZN, the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature. It was founded during the zoology congress in Leiden, organized by the then director the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Frederik Jentink.
September 19, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Yesterday was the 130th anniversary of the #ICZN, the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature. It was founded during the zoology congress in Leiden, organized by the then director the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Frederik Jentink.
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
@gbif.org is amazing. And so is Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Paris), for photographing and putting online so many of their African wasps.
I can sit at home in Finland, and get a first impression of how well my Ugandan wasps fit a Madagascar species whose type specimen is in France. 🧪
I can sit at home in Finland, and get a first impression of how well my Ugandan wasps fit a Madagascar species whose type specimen is in France. 🧪
Occurrence Detail 1019732979
Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Free and Open Access to Biodiversity Data.
www.gbif.org
September 17, 2025 at 8:28 AM
@gbif.org is amazing. And so is Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Paris), for photographing and putting online so many of their African wasps.
I can sit at home in Finland, and get a first impression of how well my Ugandan wasps fit a Madagascar species whose type specimen is in France. 🧪
I can sit at home in Finland, and get a first impression of how well my Ugandan wasps fit a Madagascar species whose type specimen is in France. 🧪
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
The BHL online collection just hit 200,000 titles! A title could be a single rare book or an entire 200-year journal run, so 200,000 titles is huge (63+ million pages!). Check out BHL's MAMMOTH collection here: www.biodiversitylibrary.org 📖 🧪 🦣 #OpenAccess #OpenScience #ILoveBHL
September 14, 2025 at 11:43 PM
The BHL online collection just hit 200,000 titles! A title could be a single rare book or an entire 200-year journal run, so 200,000 titles is huge (63+ million pages!). Check out BHL's MAMMOTH collection here: www.biodiversitylibrary.org 📖 🧪 🦣 #OpenAccess #OpenScience #ILoveBHL
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Unsere #Klimaschutzpolitik reicht nicht mal mehr für das eigene #Klimaschutzgesetz. Die #Erderhitzung eskaliert – und die Regierung schaut weg 😡
Zeit für klare Stimmen bei der #Klimademo am Samstag! ✊
#Scientists4Future #FridaysforFuture
Zeit für klare Stimmen bei der #Klimademo am Samstag! ✊
#Scientists4Future #FridaysforFuture
September 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Unsere #Klimaschutzpolitik reicht nicht mal mehr für das eigene #Klimaschutzgesetz. Die #Erderhitzung eskaliert – und die Regierung schaut weg 😡
Zeit für klare Stimmen bei der #Klimademo am Samstag! ✊
#Scientists4Future #FridaysforFuture
Zeit für klare Stimmen bei der #Klimademo am Samstag! ✊
#Scientists4Future #FridaysforFuture