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blahttodea.bsky.social
georgia 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
@blahttodea.bsky.social
3.9K followers 2.2K following 1.8K posts
phd student studying the evolution of sociality in subsocial insects (aka cockroach whisperer) @ the uni of aberdeen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

entomology, animal behaviour, horror films, and all things welsh

all views my own 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🍉
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blahttodea.bsky.social
just updating my friends on the latest glinner situation and i just presented these two accounts side my side. i'm howling

[1) glinner's blog, tw: transphobia obviously; 2) the met's comments]
Glinner's account of his interrogation after his arrest (tw transphobia of course). "He [the police officer] mentioned "trans people". I asked him what he meant by the phrase. "People who feel their gender is different than what was assigned at birth." I said "Assigned at birth? Our sex isn't assigned." He called it semantics, I told him he was using activist language. The damage Stonewall has done to the UK police force will take years to mend. Eventually, a nurse came to check on me and found my blood pressure was over 200-stroke territory. The stress of being arrested for jokes was literally threatening my life! So I was escorted to A&E, where I write this now after spending about eight hours under observation. The doctors suggested the high blood pressure was stress-related, combined with long-haul travel and lack of movement. I feel it may also have been a contributing factor that I have now spent eight years being targeted by trans activists working in tandem with police in a dedicated, perseistent harassment campaign because I refuse to believe that lesbians have cocks." screenshot from an independent article. "The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man in his fifties was arrested at Heathrow on Monday at 1pm on suspicion of inciting violence relating to posts on social media platform X (Twitter), as he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight. They did not confirm the identity of the figure, but added that after being taken into police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital." the following section is highlighted: "His condition was neither life-threatening nor life-changing, and he has now been bailed pending further investigation"
September 6, 2025 at 3:02 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
i also visited the museum to see our welsh deino and was very happy to see a whole section about the brymbo fossil forest - a 300 million year old fossilised forest near where i'm from, on the site of the steelworks my granddad used to work on!
display about a new welsh dinosaur, which was discovered in penarth near cardiff in 2014. the dinosaur was a distant cousin of the t rex, although it lived much earlier. the discovery was of a juvenile and, although not all of the bones were discovered, researchers have been able to reconstruct the skeleton and model what the living individual would have looked like (next photo) a model of the welsh dinosaur discovered in 2014, named dracoraptor. it is fairly small (think a similar size to the raptors in jurassic world) and is covered in orange-brown and cream feathers board describing the brymbo fossil forest, showing a picture of the old steelworks in 1860 and pictures of the excavations to uncover the fossil forest. the board has in both welsh and english: "the brymbo fossil swamp is near a historical iron works. local volunteers are working with the brymbo heritage trust to preserve the important fossil site. see www.brymboheritage.co.uk for more" another board about the brymbo fossil forest including more pictures of excavations and the title "world-class welsh fossils". the board reads: "Brymbo is a village in north-east Wales, near Wrexham. Workers found fossil trunks there when digging out a coal seam in 2004. It's now known as a world-class site for plant fossils. The Brymbo site is special because 300 million years ago a river flooded, dumping mud onto living plants. Now trapped in mud that has turned to stone, these fossils show us exactly how the plants grew. Many fossils remain at the Brymbo site. Those displayed here were once at risk of being destroyed by frost and rain. They've been rescued so we can study them and show them to you."
September 5, 2025 at 7:00 AM
blahttodea.bsky.social
had a brilliant couple of days in cardiff/caerdydd (my first visit to the city!) starting my internship with the welsh government. the city is a beautiful display of welsh history, culture, and community
doors of the welsh government offices. the doorway is old, with dark wooden doors and a stone crest above the doorway statue of aneurin bevan, founder of the national health service entrance to cardiff market showing the welsh flags flying on lampposts near the entrance a memorial wall to all of the homeless people who have unfortunately lost their lives on the streets of cardiff. the memorial wall includes a black cross with the words "our fallen homeless" on it next to a white plaque which reads "in loving memory to all the homeless who have passed away on our streets of cardiff. surrounding the memorial plaque are wooden crosses on which people have written the names of those they wish to remember
September 5, 2025 at 6:51 AM
blahttodea.bsky.social
me: ahh yes must have crossed the border back into wales now

them: how can you tell?

me:
screenshot of my phone signal showing one bar of 3g
September 2, 2025 at 2:39 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
it's been a while since i last introduced myself properly so here goes! i'm a phd student studying the evolution of social behaviour in insects, specifically presocial and subsocial behaviours in cockroaches and the transition towards eusociality in termites! i'm also interested in invert welfare 🪳🐜
one of my very pregnant female blaptica dubia cockroaches from last hear. she is stood side on on a piece of egg carton and her abdomen is very distended (these cockroaches like all other blaberid species carry their eggs internally during gestation and give "live birth") one of my very beautiful adult male blaptica dubia cockroaches who has just moulted/shed his skin for the final time to reach adulthood. he is stood on my fingers while i am wearing blue latex gloves. he is white/beige due to just moulting (their exoskeleton darkens during the few hours after moulting) which means his large black eyes stand out on his face (which i think makes him look very cute) me presenting a flash talk at a conference on my first phd chapter titled "characterising mother-offspring interactions in a subsocial cockroach". my presentation focused on three main questions: 1) does blaptica dubia exhibit maternal care and, if so, to what extent?; 2) does the presence, absence, or removal of the mother influence offspring survival and behaviour?; and 3) can the hinde index be used to describe mother-offspring interactions in this system?
August 21, 2025 at 12:41 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
seriously i can't even see a preview or who they're from, being british is So Fun (derogatory)
screenshot of my dms/chat screen that says "You must complete age assurance in order to access this screen. The laws in your location require you to verify you're an adult before accessing certain features on Bluesky, like adult content and direct messaging."
August 12, 2025 at 9:18 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
LLMs? ah yes, little lepidopterans (micro-moths)
page taken from the "field guide to the micro-moths of great britain and ireland" showing illustrations of various micro-moths or microlepidoptera from the families micropterigidae, eriocraniidae, nepticulidae, opostegidae, heliozelidae, and adelidae.
July 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
freshly moulted dubia nymph!!! i missed my babies (in the last picture she's cleaning her antenna because i had the nerve to touch her... rude)
a small blaptica dubia cockroach nymph on my finger. the nymph has recently moulted and the exoskeleton has not yet hardened so the nymph is a cream/white colour a small blaptica dubia cockroach nymph on my finger. the nymph has recently moulted and the exoskeleton has not yet hardened so the nymph is a cream/white colour. its large black eyes contrast with its light colour a small blaptica dubia cockroach nymph on my finger. the nymph has recently moulted and the exoskeleton has not yet hardened so the nymph is a cream/white colour. its large black eyes contrast with its light colour. the nymph is cleaning its antenna in its mouth
July 10, 2025 at 2:27 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
we're slowly and steadily befriending a crow in the botanic gardens at work, she flies over for snacks every lunch time and i love her (idk how to sex corvids)
a crow stood on a rock surrounded by grass and flowers in the botanic gardens. the crow is in side profile, looking to the right of the image, and is panting with its beak open to cool itself down a crow stood on a rock surrounded by grass and flowers in the botanic gardens. the crow is facing the camera, with its beak open to cool itself down
July 10, 2025 at 12:07 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
times are tough right now so i added reeves to my hopecore collage that i look at when i want to cheer myself up
a collage of politicians being upset/having bad days. from top to bottom, left to right, we have 1) rishi sunak resigning in the pouring rain 2) nigel farage covered in milkshake 3) thatcher crying 4) rachel reeves crying 5) theresa may crying (and resigning) 6) news headline showing liz truss being outlasted by a lettuce 7) news headline with the title 'tory mps went to bed crying' 8) news headline of david cameron resigning with the headline 'pm david cameron chokes back tears as he announces resignation on day britons ignored his plea to stay in eu' 9) george osborne crying 10) news headline of boris johnson resigning, with the headline 'one scandal too many: british pm boris johnson resigns'
July 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
not entirely sure on the spider as arachnids aren't my area of expertise but it looks quite like the Enoplognatha genus! Enoplognatha ovata (common candy-striped spider) is common in the uk so could well be that
google overview of Enoplognatha ovata (the common candy-striped spider, a species of spider belonging to the family Theriidae) with some example photos of the species and links to the British Arachnological Society and a Reddit post about the species
June 30, 2025 at 12:40 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
anyway look at this friend i found (black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus *i think*, but please correct if wrong!)

he was on the hot pavement by my front door with no easy access to foliage (surrounded by brick walls) so i put him in near some grass
a small black weevil stood on a plain white laminate key card resting on the palm of my hand. the weevil's pronotum (just behind the head) is matte black and slightly pitted, while the elytra (wing covers, fused in this species) are matte black mottled with lighter brown patches
June 29, 2025 at 11:45 AM
blahttodea.bsky.social
went to b&m with a list of things i needed to buy from my flat. didn't buy any of them but accidentally tripped and fell into tk maxx next door because they have halloween shit already
two ceramic ghosts, one slightly smaller than the other, with light up eyes. the smaller one is black with grey mottled paint on it and devil horns and wings, while the larger one is modelled after frankenstein's monster - it is green with stitches along its head and two bolts on either side of the head
June 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
first day back in work after a few weeks and it brings me a lot of joy seeing our pride month noticeboard 💕 (also knowing how mad this board makes the department bigot)
blue noticeboard covered in various posters and flyers and decorated with progress flag bunting along the top and side. many of the posters are related to pride month, as well as others advertising various activities around the department/uni/local community
June 24, 2025 at 11:59 AM
blahttodea.bsky.social
i appeared on question time back in 2023 talking about our draconian abortion laws. this was following the arrest (later acquitted) of a mother of 3 who had an "illegal abortion". this is incredibly welcome, and overdue, news. compassion, not criminalisation, is the way forward
a tv screen showing the question time audience focused on me (a woman with long red hair and sunglasses on my head) asking a question with the subheading "Are Victorian abortion laws appropriate in 2023?"
June 17, 2025 at 7:07 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
i've actually been to loads more places than i realised
map of the united kingdom with counties that i have either visited, stayed in, or lived in coloured in accordingly. i have visited or stayed in most of the north (excluding north east, other than durham), lived in clwyd/flintshire, greater manchester, nottinghamshire, cambridgeshire, and aberdeenshire. there is a scattering of counties that i have visited in the south of england but the south of england and wales is largely unvisited. i also havent been to many places on the west of scotland, ireland (aside from belfast), or islands (aside from ynys môn/anglesey)
May 30, 2025 at 9:37 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
for uk friends: amnesty international uk will send you a progress flag bracelet if you donate! a good way to show solidarity with our lgbtqi+ friends and contribute to charity ✊🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ www.amnesty.org.uk/donate/rainb...
amnesty international uk charitable trust webpage advertising their rainbow pride badge. there is a progress flag overlayed with a raised fit wearing the pride bracelet. below is text which reads: "SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH THE LGBTQI+ COMMUNITY Wear our rainbow bracelet to show your support for equality and acceptance. It's a powerful symbol. Right now, LGBTQI+ rights are under attack around the world. In the UK specifically, the rights of trans and gender non-conforming communities are at risk. We all have the right to be treated equally, no matter our sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics. Together, we must keep this fundamental freedom safe. Donate today, and we will send you your rainbow bracelet."
May 29, 2025 at 10:34 AM
blahttodea.bsky.social
also we saw a weevil yesterday but i am honestly terrible with weevils, any ideas on an ID? was found in aberdeen scotland

(inat and irecord are suggesting either otiorhynchus sulcatus, liophloeus tessulatus, or tropiphorus elevatus but i dont know enough about weevils to assess that)
a small green/brown weevil on the edge of my hand, probably only 1cm in length a close up of the same small green/brown weevil
May 24, 2025 at 1:15 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
some more pics bc i took so many 💀 big fan of the puffin that was lying down, it looks like a little loaf. also shoutout to charlie who almost gave me a heart attack when i turned the corner and saw him lying on the edge of the cliff like this
multiple jagged cliff edges overlooking clear blue ocean waves. a person is stood on the nearest cliff edge photographing the sea birds that fly along the cliffs below us two puffins on the edge of a cliff face. the one on the left is partly obscured by grass and pink flowers, but is looking directly at the camera, while the one on the right is facing to the left of the image two puffins on the edge of a cliff face. the one on the bottom left is lying down with its head tucked in against its body (it looks like a little loaf, it's so round and very very cute). the puffin on the right is slightly higher up, and is stood facing the left of the image. the cliff is dotted with patches of grass and pink flowers the edge of a cliff face overlooking clear blue ocean waves dotted with jagged rocks. a person can be seen lying in the grass on the edge of the cliff photographing birds
May 24, 2025 at 1:05 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
went on a lovely trip to bullers of buchan yesterday to see the puffins (and lots of loved up razorbills!!) very grateful for this lovely group of fellow phd students 🙏💕🐧 (pretend that's a puffin emoji)
three puffins on the edge of a cliff face. the puffin on the left is looking off into the distance; the puffin in the middle is facing to the left and is stretching its wings out; and puffin on the right is pruning itself, its beak tucked towards the back of its neck. the cliff face is also dotted with patches of grass and pink flowers a puffin on the exge of a cliff face, facing to the left of the image. the puffin's beak is open wide, almost as if it is yelling (although if i remember right, i think it was just "yawning"/stretching it's jaw). the cliff face is dotted with patches of green grass and pink flowers, and the very top of the head of a second puffin can also be seen on the bottom left of the image two razorbills on the edge of a cliff face, within patches of grass. the two razorbills had actually been mating immediately before this photo, and in this image they were engaging in further mating behaviours, looking as if they were "kissing" beaks - apologies, i am not an ornithologist i don't know the correct behavioural terms! it was very sweet though a group of 23 people (and one cockapoo) stood posing for a photograph in a car park. many of them have cameras and binoculars hoping to see lots of birds (which we did!)
May 24, 2025 at 12:58 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
my favourite genre of pictures of my cat
an image captured on our cat's water bowl camera (i am not taking questions at this time) showing our living room. on the left of the image my cat's head cat be seen just poking into view, looking to the right of the image. the image is taken in night mode so it is black and white and my cat's eyes are glowing reflective white, like car headlights another image from the cat camera, still showing a black and white (night vision) view of our living room. this time, my cat is sat on the sofa furthest away from the camera, her body partly obscured by the nearest sofa. she is sat up on her two front paws and is looking directly at the camera, again with the glowing white eyes another image from the cat camera, still showing a black and white (night vision) view of our living room. this time my cat is a lot closer, but still peaking around the corner at the camera. she is staring directly at the camera (the vibes are just like she's in a standoff with the camera)
May 16, 2025 at 10:09 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
if anyone was curious, here it is. i asked specifically about a) orgs misrepresenting the ruling to justify banning/mistreating trans women eg FA, BTO; and b) what the actual definition of "biological sex" was determined to be, considering the ruling just said it was unambiguous, but didnt define it
letter from the cabinet office dated 14th may 2025. it reads: 14 May 2025 Dear Georgia, Thank you for writing about the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment in the For Women Scotland case. The Government acknowledges the deep concern and anxiety many people are feeling following the recent Supreme Court ruling and its potential implications for trans people. For many, this decision has raised serious questions about rights, safety, and belonging. The Government hears those concerns, and recognises the very real impact this moment is having on members of the trans community, their families, and allies. In its judgment, the Supreme Court announced on 16 April it had reached a unanimous decision that the terms 'man', 'woman', and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex. It ruled that a Gender Recognition Certificate does not change a person's legal sex for the purposes of the Act. It stated the definition of sex in the Act "makes clear that the concept of sex is binary". It further noted that 'although the word "biological" does not appear in this definition, the ordinary meaning of those plain and unambiguous words corresponds with the biological characteristics that make an individual a man or a woman.' The Government welcomes this ruling, and the confidence and clarity it provides for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges and sports clubs. Single-sex services based on biological sex are protected in law and will always be protected by this Government. letter continued: "Whilst the ruling has a range of implications that the Government is considering, it will in the first instance work closely with the Equality and Human Rights Commission - Britain's equality watchdog - as they deliver on their commitment to support providers with updated guidance. Please be assured that the Government remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold the Act which protects everyone, including trans people, from unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation in the workplace and wider society. The Government is committed to protecting trans people, ensuring that they are treated with dignity and respect. The Government is proceeding with its manifesto commitments to deliver a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, to equalise all existing strands of hate crime, reform the Gender Recognition Act, and improve adult gender identity services, so that all trans people get the high-quality care they deserve."
May 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
i cried the whole time but shoutout to the older australian/japanese couple who overheard our group of biology phds talking about it after the film ended and told us to keep doing what we were doing and that we were the future
photo of a cinema screen just before 'ocean' with david attenborough played, showing the title of the film and brief information about the film's age rating (pg)
May 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
thanks bbc that's super helpful
my tv showing bbc live coverage of the proto-deacon announcing the new pope with the subtitles "HE SPEAKS ITALIAN. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE"
May 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
blahttodea.bsky.social
chat is very invested in the drama of it all
screenshot of a whatsapp convo (with names blurred out) reading "THE POPE IS HERE", "POPE POPE POPE POPE", "babe wake up new pope dropped", and "THE SMOKE HAS SPOKEN". all sent within 60 seconds of each other and the white smoke announcing a new pope had been decided.
May 8, 2025 at 4:17 PM