Erica McAlister
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social
Dipterist, Entomologist, presenter, author, museum lover
Principal Curator, Flies and fleas, Natural History Museum, London, UK
Principal Curator, Flies and fleas, Natural History Museum, London, UK
Day 9 of #InsectAdvent and our thoughts turn to a Christmas vacation.
And where best to go than Christmas Island where we can find Syritta maritima - one of the compost hoverflies whose larvae (the munching maggots) will recycle our leftovers
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
And where best to go than Christmas Island where we can find Syritta maritima - one of the compost hoverflies whose larvae (the munching maggots) will recycle our leftovers
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
December 9, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Day 9 of #InsectAdvent and our thoughts turn to a Christmas vacation.
And where best to go than Christmas Island where we can find Syritta maritima - one of the compost hoverflies whose larvae (the munching maggots) will recycle our leftovers
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
And where best to go than Christmas Island where we can find Syritta maritima - one of the compost hoverflies whose larvae (the munching maggots) will recycle our leftovers
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
Day 8 of #InsectAdvent
Want to attract the opposite sex but fed up being bashed on the dancefloor? This male fly, Deuterophlebia sp., never lands but dances over fast-flowing rivers, guarding it for a receptive lady, using its really long antennae to make/guard his space
@royentsoc.bsky.social
Want to attract the opposite sex but fed up being bashed on the dancefloor? This male fly, Deuterophlebia sp., never lands but dances over fast-flowing rivers, guarding it for a receptive lady, using its really long antennae to make/guard his space
@royentsoc.bsky.social
December 8, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Day 8 of #InsectAdvent
Want to attract the opposite sex but fed up being bashed on the dancefloor? This male fly, Deuterophlebia sp., never lands but dances over fast-flowing rivers, guarding it for a receptive lady, using its really long antennae to make/guard his space
@royentsoc.bsky.social
Want to attract the opposite sex but fed up being bashed on the dancefloor? This male fly, Deuterophlebia sp., never lands but dances over fast-flowing rivers, guarding it for a receptive lady, using its really long antennae to make/guard his space
@royentsoc.bsky.social
Day 7 of #InsectAdvent
There’s always the one team member that gets legless.
And so did this mosquito. Luckily for us this specimen was identified as Aedes macintoshi - an absolute youngster having only been described in 1985!
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
There’s always the one team member that gets legless.
And so did this mosquito. Luckily for us this specimen was identified as Aedes macintoshi - an absolute youngster having only been described in 1985!
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
December 7, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Day 7 of #InsectAdvent
There’s always the one team member that gets legless.
And so did this mosquito. Luckily for us this specimen was identified as Aedes macintoshi - an absolute youngster having only been described in 1985!
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
There’s always the one team member that gets legless.
And so did this mosquito. Luckily for us this specimen was identified as Aedes macintoshi - an absolute youngster having only been described in 1985!
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
Day 6 of #InsectAdvent
Done all your prep for you Xmas party? Decorations up, food organised and your outfit looking amazing. Then relax like this Bombylius discolor - sitting down in its finest waiting for the action to start…
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
Done all your prep for you Xmas party? Decorations up, food organised and your outfit looking amazing. Then relax like this Bombylius discolor - sitting down in its finest waiting for the action to start…
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
December 6, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Day 6 of #InsectAdvent
Done all your prep for you Xmas party? Decorations up, food organised and your outfit looking amazing. Then relax like this Bombylius discolor - sitting down in its finest waiting for the action to start…
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
Done all your prep for you Xmas party? Decorations up, food organised and your outfit looking amazing. Then relax like this Bombylius discolor - sitting down in its finest waiting for the action to start…
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
Day 5 of #InsectAdvent
The imbiber. The one that’s always finishing every last drop of wine
Rhingia campestris - the Heineken fly so called as it refreshes the parts other insects cannot reach..cheers
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
The imbiber. The one that’s always finishing every last drop of wine
Rhingia campestris - the Heineken fly so called as it refreshes the parts other insects cannot reach..cheers
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Day 5 of #InsectAdvent
The imbiber. The one that’s always finishing every last drop of wine
Rhingia campestris - the Heineken fly so called as it refreshes the parts other insects cannot reach..cheers
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
The imbiber. The one that’s always finishing every last drop of wine
Rhingia campestris - the Heineken fly so called as it refreshes the parts other insects cannot reach..cheers
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
Day 4 of #InsectAdvent
Have you been to the office party, wearing your finest & then spilt food on it?
You need a personal hoover-meet Braula coeca (bee-louse or bee-rider). Found on bees, they feed on the food passed between the bees. Food may have to be sacrificed but your image won't be
Have you been to the office party, wearing your finest & then spilt food on it?
You need a personal hoover-meet Braula coeca (bee-louse or bee-rider). Found on bees, they feed on the food passed between the bees. Food may have to be sacrificed but your image won't be
December 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Day 4 of #InsectAdvent
Have you been to the office party, wearing your finest & then spilt food on it?
You need a personal hoover-meet Braula coeca (bee-louse or bee-rider). Found on bees, they feed on the food passed between the bees. Food may have to be sacrificed but your image won't be
Have you been to the office party, wearing your finest & then spilt food on it?
You need a personal hoover-meet Braula coeca (bee-louse or bee-rider). Found on bees, they feed on the food passed between the bees. Food may have to be sacrificed but your image won't be
Day 3 of #InsectAdvent
For our Nativity themed posts what about a specimen from Natal (Portuguese for Christmas) that comes equipped with the best drinking straw!
Prosoeca ganglbaueri (Nemestrinidae) could even steal your drink from across the room
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
For our Nativity themed posts what about a specimen from Natal (Portuguese for Christmas) that comes equipped with the best drinking straw!
Prosoeca ganglbaueri (Nemestrinidae) could even steal your drink from across the room
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Day 3 of #InsectAdvent
For our Nativity themed posts what about a specimen from Natal (Portuguese for Christmas) that comes equipped with the best drinking straw!
Prosoeca ganglbaueri (Nemestrinidae) could even steal your drink from across the room
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
For our Nativity themed posts what about a specimen from Natal (Portuguese for Christmas) that comes equipped with the best drinking straw!
Prosoeca ganglbaueri (Nemestrinidae) could even steal your drink from across the room
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
Its day 2 of #InsectAdvent
I think that this little fly ate too many mince pies! Welcome to Platyna hastata - whose bum maybe as wide as they are long!
Soldierflies or Stratiomyidae are some of the most eye-catching of the flies.
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
I think that this little fly ate too many mince pies! Welcome to Platyna hastata - whose bum maybe as wide as they are long!
Soldierflies or Stratiomyidae are some of the most eye-catching of the flies.
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
December 2, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Its day 2 of #InsectAdvent
I think that this little fly ate too many mince pies! Welcome to Platyna hastata - whose bum maybe as wide as they are long!
Soldierflies or Stratiomyidae are some of the most eye-catching of the flies.
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
I think that this little fly ate too many mince pies! Welcome to Platyna hastata - whose bum maybe as wide as they are long!
Soldierflies or Stratiomyidae are some of the most eye-catching of the flies.
@royentsoc.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social
Potato-print Christmas Card production line has begun….
December 1, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Potato-print Christmas Card production line has begun….
For #InsectAdvent, I present a head as hairy as that of Santa Claus himself.
This gorgeous beardy-wierdy belongs to the beefly NHMUK016433577_Trichophthalma_porteri_PT (& soon to be available on the @nhm-london.bsky.social data portal)
#digitisation #diptera
This gorgeous beardy-wierdy belongs to the beefly NHMUK016433577_Trichophthalma_porteri_PT (& soon to be available on the @nhm-london.bsky.social data portal)
#digitisation #diptera
December 1, 2025 at 4:38 PM
For #InsectAdvent, I present a head as hairy as that of Santa Claus himself.
This gorgeous beardy-wierdy belongs to the beefly NHMUK016433577_Trichophthalma_porteri_PT (& soon to be available on the @nhm-london.bsky.social data portal)
#digitisation #diptera
This gorgeous beardy-wierdy belongs to the beefly NHMUK016433577_Trichophthalma_porteri_PT (& soon to be available on the @nhm-london.bsky.social data portal)
#digitisation #diptera
Just me and a lot of flies waiting for the train this morning. Off to teach on the @unirdgento.bsky.social course
Thank goodness for coffee…
#lecturing @royentsoc.bsky.social
Thank goodness for coffee…
#lecturing @royentsoc.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Just me and a lot of flies waiting for the train this morning. Off to teach on the @unirdgento.bsky.social course
Thank goodness for coffee…
#lecturing @royentsoc.bsky.social
Thank goodness for coffee…
#lecturing @royentsoc.bsky.social
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
Imaging specimens for a digital loan: we take multiple images using a Canon EOS R5 & a MP-E 65mm lens
And then for the magic... These are spliced together using Helicon to produce amazing images
A gorgeous Nemestrinid is modelled the equipment
@nhm-london.bsky.social #digitisation
And then for the magic... These are spliced together using Helicon to produce amazing images
A gorgeous Nemestrinid is modelled the equipment
@nhm-london.bsky.social #digitisation
November 25, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Imaging specimens for a digital loan: we take multiple images using a Canon EOS R5 & a MP-E 65mm lens
And then for the magic... These are spliced together using Helicon to produce amazing images
A gorgeous Nemestrinid is modelled the equipment
@nhm-london.bsky.social #digitisation
And then for the magic... These are spliced together using Helicon to produce amazing images
A gorgeous Nemestrinid is modelled the equipment
@nhm-london.bsky.social #digitisation
One of the exhibits on display at #DipteristsDay2025 was by Keith Porter, who since retiring from @naturalengland.bsky.social has turned his attention to Beeflies of the Med
He’s adapting pre-existing keys, adding images/diagrams etc & brought some beautiful specimens @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
He’s adapting pre-existing keys, adding images/diagrams etc & brought some beautiful specimens @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 12:49 PM
One of the exhibits on display at #DipteristsDay2025 was by Keith Porter, who since retiring from @naturalengland.bsky.social has turned his attention to Beeflies of the Med
He’s adapting pre-existing keys, adding images/diagrams etc & brought some beautiful specimens @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
He’s adapting pre-existing keys, adding images/diagrams etc & brought some beautiful specimens @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
The lovely Inez - @nhm-london.bsky.social - introduces Poll-A-Gen - a @nerc-eof.bsky.social funded insect pollinator genomics project working with museum & fresh specimens
Also helpfully given was how this sits in all the other genomics projects
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social #DipteristsDay2025
Also helpfully given was how this sits in all the other genomics projects
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social #DipteristsDay2025
November 17, 2025 at 10:13 AM
The lovely Inez - @nhm-london.bsky.social - introduces Poll-A-Gen - a @nerc-eof.bsky.social funded insect pollinator genomics project working with museum & fresh specimens
Also helpfully given was how this sits in all the other genomics projects
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social #DipteristsDay2025
Also helpfully given was how this sits in all the other genomics projects
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social #DipteristsDay2025
The first talk of the dipteristsforum.bsky.social #DipteristDay2025 was by @denisewawman.bsky.social talking about the ever-so-cute Hippoboscidae.
She provides an amusing musing about what happens when you start to ponder what’s happening in your garden…
Pox on the dunnocks!
She provides an amusing musing about what happens when you start to ponder what’s happening in your garden…
Pox on the dunnocks!
November 17, 2025 at 8:41 AM
The first talk of the dipteristsforum.bsky.social #DipteristDay2025 was by @denisewawman.bsky.social talking about the ever-so-cute Hippoboscidae.
She provides an amusing musing about what happens when you start to ponder what’s happening in your garden…
Pox on the dunnocks!
She provides an amusing musing about what happens when you start to ponder what’s happening in your garden…
Pox on the dunnocks!
What amazing images by @sjthomasbotany.bsky.social - online resources like Sam’s are so incredibly helpful when dealing with complicated keys & little flies 🤓
#DipteristsDay2025
#DipteristsDay2025
November 17, 2025 at 8:35 AM
What amazing images by @sjthomasbotany.bsky.social - online resources like Sam’s are so incredibly helpful when dealing with complicated keys & little flies 🤓
#DipteristsDay2025
#DipteristsDay2025
I’ve been @petrathepostdoc.bsky.social - fied
Yep the wonderful Petra dropped in at the @dipteristsforum.bsky.social at @zoologymuseum.bsky.social to share a small hug and splatter me with merch
Beeflies, Tachinids and the wonderful Mosquitoes
Yep the wonderful Petra dropped in at the @dipteristsforum.bsky.social at @zoologymuseum.bsky.social to share a small hug and splatter me with merch
Beeflies, Tachinids and the wonderful Mosquitoes
November 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I’ve been @petrathepostdoc.bsky.social - fied
Yep the wonderful Petra dropped in at the @dipteristsforum.bsky.social at @zoologymuseum.bsky.social to share a small hug and splatter me with merch
Beeflies, Tachinids and the wonderful Mosquitoes
Yep the wonderful Petra dropped in at the @dipteristsforum.bsky.social at @zoologymuseum.bsky.social to share a small hug and splatter me with merch
Beeflies, Tachinids and the wonderful Mosquitoes
My favourite slide so far from the @zoologymuseum.bsky.social collection..
It’s @dipteristsforum.bsky.social time and we have been allowed to check out the collections ahead of #DipteristsDay2025
This was definitely a leg man…
It’s @dipteristsforum.bsky.social time and we have been allowed to check out the collections ahead of #DipteristsDay2025
This was definitely a leg man…
November 14, 2025 at 2:10 PM
My favourite slide so far from the @zoologymuseum.bsky.social collection..
It’s @dipteristsforum.bsky.social time and we have been allowed to check out the collections ahead of #DipteristsDay2025
This was definitely a leg man…
It’s @dipteristsforum.bsky.social time and we have been allowed to check out the collections ahead of #DipteristsDay2025
This was definitely a leg man…
November 14, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Rummaging through the @zoologymuseum.bsky.social insect collection. Here are some of the Hippoboscids collected/mounted by Francis Jenkinson, the librarian and part time entomologist!
I love multiple-pinned specimens….
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @denisewawman.bsky.social
I love multiple-pinned specimens….
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @denisewawman.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Rummaging through the @zoologymuseum.bsky.social insect collection. Here are some of the Hippoboscids collected/mounted by Francis Jenkinson, the librarian and part time entomologist!
I love multiple-pinned specimens….
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @denisewawman.bsky.social
I love multiple-pinned specimens….
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @denisewawman.bsky.social
It’s the @dipteristsforum.bsky.social collections rummage, AGM and Diperists Day (well it’s technically two days) at @zoologymuseum.bsky.social
I’m rather keen this morning…ive bring flies to swap..
I’m rather keen this morning…ive bring flies to swap..
November 14, 2025 at 9:09 AM
It’s the @dipteristsforum.bsky.social collections rummage, AGM and Diperists Day (well it’s technically two days) at @zoologymuseum.bsky.social
I’m rather keen this morning…ive bring flies to swap..
I’m rather keen this morning…ive bring flies to swap..
The wonderful Adrian &I have gone Korean!
Metamorphosis - How Insects are changing our world by myself with Adrian Washbourne or now known as Little Conquerors has been published by @gombooks
@nhm-london.bsky.social @csiropublishing.bsky.social @smithsonianmag.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social
Metamorphosis - How Insects are changing our world by myself with Adrian Washbourne or now known as Little Conquerors has been published by @gombooks
@nhm-london.bsky.social @csiropublishing.bsky.social @smithsonianmag.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
The wonderful Adrian &I have gone Korean!
Metamorphosis - How Insects are changing our world by myself with Adrian Washbourne or now known as Little Conquerors has been published by @gombooks
@nhm-london.bsky.social @csiropublishing.bsky.social @smithsonianmag.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social
Metamorphosis - How Insects are changing our world by myself with Adrian Washbourne or now known as Little Conquerors has been published by @gombooks
@nhm-london.bsky.social @csiropublishing.bsky.social @smithsonianmag.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social