Tom Wenseleers
@twenseleers.bsky.social
Professor @KULeuven - evolutionary biology, theoretical biology & biostatistics (#Rstats). Social insects & microorganisms. Social evolution, self organisation, chemical ecology, statistical machine learning. https://bio.kuleuven.be/eeb/tw/research
Pinned
Tom Wenseleers
@twenseleers.bsky.social
· Nov 24
Harmony in the hive? Think again! 🐝⚔️
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
Merry Christmas to you all! As a nerdy Christmas card I had Google Gemini Canvas code a Christmas-themed Galton board, to entertain my stats students (it is 1000 lines of JavaScript code)! :-) gemini.google.com/share/15f33a...
December 22, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Merry Christmas to you all! As a nerdy Christmas card I had Google Gemini Canvas code a Christmas-themed Galton board, to entertain my stats students (it is 1000 lines of JavaScript code)! :-) gemini.google.com/share/15f33a...
Merry Christmas to you all! As a nerdy Christmas card I had Google Gemini Canvas code a Christmas-themed Galton board, to entertain my stats students (it is 1000 lines of JavaScript code)! :-) gemini.google.com/share/15f33a...
December 22, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Merry Christmas to you all! As a nerdy Christmas card I had Google Gemini Canvas code a Christmas-themed Galton board, to entertain my stats students (it is 1000 lines of JavaScript code)! :-) gemini.google.com/share/15f33a...
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
A young PI here in Mainz has a fabulous PhD position that will be filled soon! By you? Keywords: Social insects, ageing, gene expression. www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb10-evoluti...
Behavioural Ecology and Social Evolution
www.blogs.uni-mainz.de
October 29, 2025 at 8:36 AM
A young PI here in Mainz has a fabulous PhD position that will be filled soon! By you? Keywords: Social insects, ageing, gene expression. www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb10-evoluti...
The @iussi-nwes.bsky.social that we organised this week in Leuven (18-19 December, www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings) was a success! @rmash.bsky.social and @patrick-kennedy.bsky.social delivered fantastic keynote talks and there was a great set of contributed talks and posters.
December 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The @iussi-nwes.bsky.social that we organised this week in Leuven (18-19 December, www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings) was a success! @rmash.bsky.social and @patrick-kennedy.bsky.social delivered fantastic keynote talks and there was a great set of contributed talks and posters.
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
🚨 Tenure-track professorship at Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany, with a focus on evolutionary ecology of social hymenoptera 🐝🐜
Initially for 6 years:
www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/pr...
Initially for 6 years:
www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/pr...
Goethe University Frankfurt hiring Professur (W1 mit Tenure Track) für Evolutionäre Ökologie der Hymenopteren in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany | LinkedIn
Posted 11:13:19 PM. Die Professur wird zunächst auf sechs Jahre befristet besetzt, nach erfolgreicher Evaluation…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
www.linkedin.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:43 PM
🚨 Tenure-track professorship at Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany, with a focus on evolutionary ecology of social hymenoptera 🐝🐜
Initially for 6 years:
www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/pr...
Initially for 6 years:
www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/pr...
Talk I gave about our recent Evolution Letters paper, in which we quantified the benefits of helping at the origin of eusociality using a combination of experiment & theory, at the @iussi-nwes.bsky.social winter meeting in Leuven this week! Powerpoint here: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4w3hw...
December 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Talk I gave about our recent Evolution Letters paper, in which we quantified the benefits of helping at the origin of eusociality using a combination of experiment & theory, at the @iussi-nwes.bsky.social winter meeting in Leuven this week! Powerpoint here: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4w3hw...
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
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
December 12, 2025 at 8:58 PM
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
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
@patrick-kennedy.bsky.social talks about so many fun social evolution dramas at @iussi-nwes.bsky.social winter meeting #wasplove
December 19, 2025 at 8:35 AM
@patrick-kennedy.bsky.social talks about so many fun social evolution dramas at @iussi-nwes.bsky.social winter meeting #wasplove
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
@rmash.bsky.social from @ucl.ac.uk opening @iussi-nwes.bsky.social winter meeting in Leuven! #CareAsACapacitor
December 18, 2025 at 8:21 AM
@rmash.bsky.social from @ucl.ac.uk opening @iussi-nwes.bsky.social winter meeting in Leuven! #CareAsACapacitor
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
Elegant experiment-theory mix, showing increasing returns from helping in a cooperative wasp
Early-season helping in Polistes wasps shows increasing returns - more helpers lead to convex gains in sexual productivity, resolving a key paradox in the origins of eusociality.
academic.oup.com/evlett/artic...
@ricaliari.bsky.social @twenseleers.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evlett/artic...
@ricaliari.bsky.social @twenseleers.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Elegant experiment-theory mix, showing increasing returns from helping in a cooperative wasp
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
Early-season helping in Polistes wasps shows increasing returns - more helpers lead to convex gains in sexual productivity, resolving a key paradox in the origins of eusociality.
academic.oup.com/evlett/artic...
@ricaliari.bsky.social @twenseleers.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evlett/artic...
@ricaliari.bsky.social @twenseleers.bsky.social
December 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Early-season helping in Polistes wasps shows increasing returns - more helpers lead to convex gains in sexual productivity, resolving a key paradox in the origins of eusociality.
academic.oup.com/evlett/artic...
@ricaliari.bsky.social @twenseleers.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evlett/artic...
@ricaliari.bsky.social @twenseleers.bsky.social
Super handy! Upload your photo in Chatgpt and write "Use /Photoshop to remove XXX from background" and you get a .png back in original resolution. Works really well!
(Reuters) - Adobe is integrating Photoshop, Adobe Express and Acrobat apps into ChatGPT, it said on Wednesday, allowing users to edit images, design graphics and manage PDFs within the OpenAI-owned chatbot.
@reuters.com $ADBE
www.reuters.com/technology/a...
@reuters.com $ADBE
www.reuters.com/technology/a...
Adobe plugs Photoshop, Acrobat tools into ChatGPT
Adobe is integrating Photoshop, Adobe Express and Acrobat apps into ChatGPT, it said on Wednesday, allowing users to edit images, design graphics and manage PDFs within the OpenAI-owned chatbot.
www.reuters.com
December 14, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Super handy! Upload your photo in Chatgpt and write "Use /Photoshop to remove XXX from background" and you get a .png back in original resolution. Works really well!
Happy to see yet another article from our lab come out: "Deformed wing virus affects foraging success and foraging specialization of honeybee workers"! Check it out! Congrats to my coauthors @HelenaMFerreir2 Kristof Benaets Lina De Smet & Dirk de Graaf www.nature.com/articles/s41...
December 11, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Happy to see yet another article from our lab come out: "Deformed wing virus affects foraging success and foraging specialization of honeybee workers"! Check it out! Congrats to my coauthors @HelenaMFerreir2 Kristof Benaets Lina De Smet & Dirk de Graaf www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
🚨 New paper out in @jexpbiol.bsky.social by Mattens et al @cintiaoi.bsky.social @twenseleers.bsky.social on "Age-related differences in learning, #memory and #brain #plasticity in workers of the common #wasp Vespula vulgaris" 🧠🐝
↘️ doi.org/10.1242/jeb.... ↙️
↘️ doi.org/10.1242/jeb.... ↙️
Age-related differences in learning, memory and brain plasticity in workers of the common wasp Vespula vulgaris
Learning, memory, and brain plasticity are thought to play an important role in regulating behavioural roles in social insects, as workers perform different tasks as nurses, builders, foragers and def...
doi.org
December 2, 2025 at 7:44 AM
🚨 New paper out in @jexpbiol.bsky.social by Mattens et al @cintiaoi.bsky.social @twenseleers.bsky.social on "Age-related differences in learning, #memory and #brain #plasticity in workers of the common #wasp Vespula vulgaris" 🧠🐝
↘️ doi.org/10.1242/jeb.... ↙️
↘️ doi.org/10.1242/jeb.... ↙️
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
Open postdoc position in Theoretical Evolutionary Biology at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, focusing on mathematical models of social traits. Details: https://tinyurl.com/37uhtbne #postdoc
November 28, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Open postdoc position in Theoretical Evolutionary Biology at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, focusing on mathematical models of social traits. Details: https://tinyurl.com/37uhtbne #postdoc
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
Harmony in the hive? Think again! 🐝⚔️
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
November 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Harmony in the hive? Think again! 🐝⚔️
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Harmony in the hive? Think again! 🐝⚔️
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
November 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Harmony in the hive? Think again! 🐝⚔️
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Insect societies are famous for cooperation, but beneath the surface lies a brutal conflict over who gets to wear the crown!
Our new review in Biological Reviews explores the evolutionary battleground caused by such caste fate conflict. 🧵
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
Still 2 weeks left to register for our Winter Meeting 2025 in Leuven 🇧🇪!
Register here: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: 18-19 Dec
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution @KU Leuven (@twenseleers.bsky.social)
We have an exciting programme, incl. Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
Register here: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: 18-19 Dec
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution @KU Leuven (@twenseleers.bsky.social)
We have an exciting programme, incl. Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Still 2 weeks left to register for our Winter Meeting 2025 in Leuven 🇧🇪!
Register here: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: 18-19 Dec
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution @KU Leuven (@twenseleers.bsky.social)
We have an exciting programme, incl. Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
Register here: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: 18-19 Dec
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution @KU Leuven (@twenseleers.bsky.social)
We have an exciting programme, incl. Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
Independently evolved supergenes control colony social organization and queen reproductive strategies in several ant lineages. Sigeman et al. uncover a novel 9 Mb supergene controlling queen size and social organization in Myrmica ruginodis.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf255
#evobio #molbio #ants
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf255
#evobio #molbio #ants
November 5, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Independently evolved supergenes control colony social organization and queen reproductive strategies in several ant lineages. Sigeman et al. uncover a novel 9 Mb supergene controlling queen size and social organization in Myrmica ruginodis.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf255
#evobio #molbio #ants
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf255
#evobio #molbio #ants
In our new study we were the first to experimentally simulate the origin of sociality! By controlling how many wasp 🐝daughters could help their mom, we found that early helpers don't just add to colony success—they multiply it!
October 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
In our new study we were the first to experimentally simulate the origin of sociality! By controlling how many wasp 🐝daughters could help their mom, we found that early helpers don't just add to colony success—they multiply it!
Deadline to submit an abstract for our IUSSI winter meeting in Leuven, 18-19 December is fast approaching! Please come and join us & submit your abstract before the 31st of October! Will be great fun & excellent lineup of speakers, with plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social!
🚨 Deadline to submit an abstract for our IUSSI winter meeting in beautiful Leuven, 18-19 December has been extended to 31st October 2025
🚨 Please register at: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Come and join us - will be great fun & great lineup of speakers! Plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
🚨 Please register at: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Come and join us - will be great fun & great lineup of speakers! Plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
We are delighted that our Winter Meeting 2025 in Leuven 🇧🇪 is approaching!
Abstract submissions now open: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: December 18-19
Abstract deadline: October 15
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution at KU Leuven
Plenary: Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
Abstract submissions now open: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: December 18-19
Abstract deadline: October 15
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution at KU Leuven
Plenary: Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Deadline to submit an abstract for our IUSSI winter meeting in Leuven, 18-19 December is fast approaching! Please come and join us & submit your abstract before the 31st of October! Will be great fun & excellent lineup of speakers, with plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social!
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
🚨 Deadline to submit an abstract for our IUSSI winter meeting in beautiful Leuven, 18-19 December has been extended to 31st October 2025
🚨 Please register at: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Come and join us - will be great fun & great lineup of speakers! Plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
🚨 Please register at: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Come and join us - will be great fun & great lineup of speakers! Plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
We are delighted that our Winter Meeting 2025 in Leuven 🇧🇪 is approaching!
Abstract submissions now open: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: December 18-19
Abstract deadline: October 15
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution at KU Leuven
Plenary: Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
Abstract submissions now open: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: December 18-19
Abstract deadline: October 15
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution at KU Leuven
Plenary: Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 1:43 PM
🚨 Deadline to submit an abstract for our IUSSI winter meeting in beautiful Leuven, 18-19 December has been extended to 31st October 2025
🚨 Please register at: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Come and join us - will be great fun & great lineup of speakers! Plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
🚨 Please register at: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Come and join us - will be great fun & great lineup of speakers! Plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
🚨 Deadline to submit an abstract for our IUSSI winter meeting in beautiful Leuven, 18-19 December has been extended to 31st October 2025
🚨 Please register at: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Come and join us - will be great fun & great lineup of speakers! Plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
🚨 Please register at: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Come and join us - will be great fun & great lineup of speakers! Plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
We are delighted that our Winter Meeting 2025 in Leuven 🇧🇪 is approaching!
Abstract submissions now open: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: December 18-19
Abstract deadline: October 15
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution at KU Leuven
Plenary: Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
Abstract submissions now open: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Date: December 18-19
Abstract deadline: October 15
Host: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution at KU Leuven
Plenary: Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 1:43 PM
🚨 Deadline to submit an abstract for our IUSSI winter meeting in beautiful Leuven, 18-19 December has been extended to 31st October 2025
🚨 Please register at: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Come and join us - will be great fun & great lineup of speakers! Plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
🚨 Please register at: www.iussi-nweurope.org/meetings
Come and join us - will be great fun & great lineup of speakers! Plenaries by Ido Pen & @rmash.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Wenseleers
Very happy to see our new study on the evolution of eusociality come out in Evolution Letters! Our study is the first to experimentally manipulate the proportion of females that stay and help to simulate incipient sociality & assess fitness impact of helping. 🧵
September 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Very happy to see our new study on the evolution of eusociality come out in Evolution Letters! Our study is the first to experimentally manipulate the proportion of females that stay and help to simulate incipient sociality & assess fitness impact of helping. 🧵
Very happy to see our new study on the evolution of eusociality come out in Evolution Letters! Our study is the first to experimentally manipulate the proportion of females that stay and help to simulate incipient sociality & assess fitness impact of helping. 🧵
September 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Very happy to see our new study on the evolution of eusociality come out in Evolution Letters! Our study is the first to experimentally manipulate the proportion of females that stay and help to simulate incipient sociality & assess fitness impact of helping. 🧵