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
#FlyFriday
visiting Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town today - great collection, great flies, (partial) view of Lions Head
assassin flies:
Anasillomos chrysopos with cicada prey
Acnephalomyia leukoros males
Teratopomyia cyanea - 1st species described from South Africa in 1781
#asiloidflies
visiting Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town today - great collection, great flies, (partial) view of Lions Head
assassin flies:
Anasillomos chrysopos with cicada prey
Acnephalomyia leukoros males
Teratopomyia cyanea - 1st species described from South Africa in 1781
#asiloidflies
January 23, 2026 at 12:57 PM
#FlyFriday
visiting Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town today - great collection, great flies, (partial) view of Lions Head
assassin flies:
Anasillomos chrysopos with cicada prey
Acnephalomyia leukoros males
Teratopomyia cyanea - 1st species described from South Africa in 1781
#asiloidflies
visiting Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town today - great collection, great flies, (partial) view of Lions Head
assassin flies:
Anasillomos chrysopos with cicada prey
Acnephalomyia leukoros males
Teratopomyia cyanea - 1st species described from South Africa in 1781
#asiloidflies
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
1. Yes, this is real footage from Poland's Wrocław Zoo
2. The deer, a male muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi, aka "barking deer"), is hopped up on testosterone because its mate is in heat
3. Muntjac males weigh up to ~40 lbs (18 kg). Maruśka, the rhino, weighs 1.7 tons
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3786348...
2. The deer, a male muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi, aka "barking deer"), is hopped up on testosterone because its mate is in heat
3. Muntjac males weigh up to ~40 lbs (18 kg). Maruśka, the rhino, weighs 1.7 tons
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3786348...
January 9, 2026 at 9:34 PM
1. Yes, this is real footage from Poland's Wrocław Zoo
2. The deer, a male muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi, aka "barking deer"), is hopped up on testosterone because its mate is in heat
3. Muntjac males weigh up to ~40 lbs (18 kg). Maruśka, the rhino, weighs 1.7 tons
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3786348...
2. The deer, a male muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi, aka "barking deer"), is hopped up on testosterone because its mate is in heat
3. Muntjac males weigh up to ~40 lbs (18 kg). Maruśka, the rhino, weighs 1.7 tons
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3786348...
Happy New Year everyone!
January 1, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Happy New Year everyone!
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Relentless "improvement" of the countryside leaves no space for nature.
But ever more people are now helping the wild return, through *rewilding*.
No matter who you are or where you live, you too have a part to play in the fight.
There is no better New Year's resolution.
But ever more people are now helping the wild return, through *rewilding*.
No matter who you are or where you live, you too have a part to play in the fight.
There is no better New Year's resolution.
January 1, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Relentless "improvement" of the countryside leaves no space for nature.
But ever more people are now helping the wild return, through *rewilding*.
No matter who you are or where you live, you too have a part to play in the fight.
There is no better New Year's resolution.
But ever more people are now helping the wild return, through *rewilding*.
No matter who you are or where you live, you too have a part to play in the fight.
There is no better New Year's resolution.
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
News splash! 💦 🐟 GBIF data use surges globally, powering more than 12,000 studies across 180 countries! 🤯
The systematic review led by Dirk Steinke published in @pnas.org examined scopes, methods and complementary data sources in literature citing GBIF.
Read more: 🔗 gbif.link/systematic...
The systematic review led by Dirk Steinke published in @pnas.org examined scopes, methods and complementary data sources in literature citing GBIF.
Read more: 🔗 gbif.link/systematic...
December 10, 2025 at 7:50 AM
News splash! 💦 🐟 GBIF data use surges globally, powering more than 12,000 studies across 180 countries! 🤯
The systematic review led by Dirk Steinke published in @pnas.org examined scopes, methods and complementary data sources in literature citing GBIF.
Read more: 🔗 gbif.link/systematic...
The systematic review led by Dirk Steinke published in @pnas.org examined scopes, methods and complementary data sources in literature citing GBIF.
Read more: 🔗 gbif.link/systematic...
Reposting and pinging @tdikow.bsky.social ...
...any chance you can point me in the right direction for an ID? 😬 😀
...any chance you can point me in the right direction for an ID? 😬 😀
Perfect. Predaceous. Puppy.
Bycatch* collected this summer in Arizona.
(*bycatch because it was caught during Bee Course and bees were the primary target, I guess)
#Asilidae
#FlyFriday
#FlydayFriday
#FocusStacking
#NaturalHistoryCollections
Bycatch* collected this summer in Arizona.
(*bycatch because it was caught during Bee Course and bees were the primary target, I guess)
#Asilidae
#FlyFriday
#FlydayFriday
#FocusStacking
#NaturalHistoryCollections
December 8, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
What we had until today: a fragmented model of access/request of specimens. What #ELVIS (European Loans & Visit System) already offers: a single entry point for estandardised practices across institutions, better discoverability and traceability. DEMO 👉 www.dissco.eu/applications...
Notes on DiSSCo applications (II): ELViS - DiSSCo
www.dissco.eu
December 8, 2025 at 11:26 AM
What we had until today: a fragmented model of access/request of specimens. What #ELVIS (European Loans & Visit System) already offers: a single entry point for estandardised practices across institutions, better discoverability and traceability. DEMO 👉 www.dissco.eu/applications...
#FlyFriday
new revision of assassin-fly genus Acronyches Williston, 1908 (Asilidae: Leptogastrinae) with @ento-allan.bsky.social out - 4 new species from Central + South America - flies catch spiders in their web (see www.inaturalist.org/observations... doi doi.org/10.4289/0013...
#asiloidflies
new revision of assassin-fly genus Acronyches Williston, 1908 (Asilidae: Leptogastrinae) with @ento-allan.bsky.social out - 4 new species from Central + South America - flies catch spiders in their web (see www.inaturalist.org/observations... doi doi.org/10.4289/0013...
#asiloidflies
December 5, 2025 at 9:52 PM
#FlyFriday
new revision of assassin-fly genus Acronyches Williston, 1908 (Asilidae: Leptogastrinae) with @ento-allan.bsky.social out - 4 new species from Central + South America - flies catch spiders in their web (see www.inaturalist.org/observations... doi doi.org/10.4289/0013...
#asiloidflies
new revision of assassin-fly genus Acronyches Williston, 1908 (Asilidae: Leptogastrinae) with @ento-allan.bsky.social out - 4 new species from Central + South America - flies catch spiders in their web (see www.inaturalist.org/observations... doi doi.org/10.4289/0013...
#asiloidflies
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Demodex mites live in your facial pores and have lost some of the genes that respond to daylight. They cannot make their own melatonin, so they use the melatonin your skin releases at night as a cue to crawl out and mate on your face.
You're never truly alone. ❤️
🧪 #entomology #invert 🪲🪳
You're never truly alone. ❤️
🧪 #entomology #invert 🪲🪳
December 5, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Demodex mites live in your facial pores and have lost some of the genes that respond to daylight. They cannot make their own melatonin, so they use the melatonin your skin releases at night as a cue to crawl out and mate on your face.
You're never truly alone. ❤️
🧪 #entomology #invert 🪲🪳
You're never truly alone. ❤️
🧪 #entomology #invert 🪲🪳
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
What are the most pressing questions
about the status of #insects? Our survey is available here in multiple languages: bit.ly/insectquestions! #insect #entomology #biodiversity
about the status of #insects? Our survey is available here in multiple languages: bit.ly/insectquestions! #insect #entomology #biodiversity
December 4, 2025 at 11:29 AM
What are the most pressing questions
about the status of #insects? Our survey is available here in multiple languages: bit.ly/insectquestions! #insect #entomology #biodiversity
about the status of #insects? Our survey is available here in multiple languages: bit.ly/insectquestions! #insect #entomology #biodiversity
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
Gemeinsam mit dem @rote-liste-zentrum.bsky.social haben wir die neue Rote Liste der #Raubfliegen Deutschlands veröffentlicht. Das Ergebnis ist alarmierend: Jede zweite Art ist bestandsgefährdet oder ausgestorben❗️
www.bfn.de/pressemittei...
#RoteListe #Biodiversität #Naturschutz #CitizenScience
www.bfn.de/pressemittei...
#RoteListe #Biodiversität #Naturschutz #CitizenScience
December 3, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Gemeinsam mit dem @rote-liste-zentrum.bsky.social haben wir die neue Rote Liste der #Raubfliegen Deutschlands veröffentlicht. Das Ergebnis ist alarmierend: Jede zweite Art ist bestandsgefährdet oder ausgestorben❗️
www.bfn.de/pressemittei...
#RoteListe #Biodiversität #Naturschutz #CitizenScience
www.bfn.de/pressemittei...
#RoteListe #Biodiversität #Naturschutz #CitizenScience
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
If you have a student, anywhere in the world, who would like and entomological society membership please have them come on over to our entopoc.org website to sign up for up to three free memberships per student!
December 3, 2025 at 10:59 AM
If you have a student, anywhere in the world, who would like and entomological society membership please have them come on over to our entopoc.org website to sign up for up to three free memberships per student!
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
It's cold in the UK (and other parts of the world ;))
So lets turn our thoughts to next summer & the return of FLY SCHOOL - yes the most amazing Dipterological training experience in the Costa Rican Forest (with canopy access) is BACK
Can't wait @dipteracourse.bsky.social
So lets turn our thoughts to next summer & the return of FLY SCHOOL - yes the most amazing Dipterological training experience in the Costa Rican Forest (with canopy access) is BACK
Can't wait @dipteracourse.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
It's cold in the UK (and other parts of the world ;))
So lets turn our thoughts to next summer & the return of FLY SCHOOL - yes the most amazing Dipterological training experience in the Costa Rican Forest (with canopy access) is BACK
Can't wait @dipteracourse.bsky.social
So lets turn our thoughts to next summer & the return of FLY SCHOOL - yes the most amazing Dipterological training experience in the Costa Rican Forest (with canopy access) is BACK
Can't wait @dipteracourse.bsky.social
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
I wrote up some brief notes on Model Context Protocol (MCP) and triple stores iphylo.blogspot.com/2025/11/mode.... The idea of querying knowledge graphs using natural language is intoxicating.
Model Context Protocol (MCP) and triple stores: natural language queries for knowledge graphs
Blog by Rod Page on biodiversity informatics, taxonomy, systematics, phylogeny, knowledge graphs, and other topics.
iphylo.blogspot.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I wrote up some brief notes on Model Context Protocol (MCP) and triple stores iphylo.blogspot.com/2025/11/mode.... The idea of querying knowledge graphs using natural language is intoxicating.
Reposted by Torsten Dikow
And we're off! #DipteraDay2025 Opening the Day is @denisewawman.bsky.social 'Mapping the UK's flat flies - A Citizen Science Project'. A heady mix of #ornithology, #diptera and #climate change.
Recordings for the Day available on our website YouTube here:
m.youtube.com/@DipteristsF...
Recordings for the Day available on our website YouTube here:
m.youtube.com/@DipteristsF...
Dipterists Forum
Dipterists Forum promotes the study, recording and conservation of true flies in the British Isles.
Flies are amazingly diverse and varied, and studying them can be hugely rewarding. It is true that ...
m.youtube.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:28 AM
And we're off! #DipteraDay2025 Opening the Day is @denisewawman.bsky.social 'Mapping the UK's flat flies - A Citizen Science Project'. A heady mix of #ornithology, #diptera and #climate change.
Recordings for the Day available on our website YouTube here:
m.youtube.com/@DipteristsF...
Recordings for the Day available on our website YouTube here:
m.youtube.com/@DipteristsF...
#FlyFriday
beautiful dark-colored assassin fly Diogmites nigripennis (Macquart, 1847) (Asilidae: Dasypogoninae) with wasp prey - collected at La Selva, Costa Rica in 2010 - 1 of 125 species of assassin flies known from this lowland rainforest habitat - n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies
beautiful dark-colored assassin fly Diogmites nigripennis (Macquart, 1847) (Asilidae: Dasypogoninae) with wasp prey - collected at La Selva, Costa Rica in 2010 - 1 of 125 species of assassin flies known from this lowland rainforest habitat - n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies
November 14, 2025 at 8:18 PM
#FlyFriday
beautiful dark-colored assassin fly Diogmites nigripennis (Macquart, 1847) (Asilidae: Dasypogoninae) with wasp prey - collected at La Selva, Costa Rica in 2010 - 1 of 125 species of assassin flies known from this lowland rainforest habitat - n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies
beautiful dark-colored assassin fly Diogmites nigripennis (Macquart, 1847) (Asilidae: Dasypogoninae) with wasp prey - collected at La Selva, Costa Rica in 2010 - 1 of 125 species of assassin flies known from this lowland rainforest habitat - n2t.net/ark:/65665/3...
#asiloidflies
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