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frankashwood.bsky.social
Frank Ashwood
@frankashwood.bsky.social
4.5K followers 690 following 650 posts
Soil ecologist & macrophotographer | Author-in-progress | He/Him | www.frankashwood.com
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frankashwood.bsky.social
Frank Ashwood @frankashwood.bsky.social · Nov 5
I’ve been gaining some new followers recently, so it’s time for a reintroduction!

I’m a scientist & macrophotographer, fascinated by all the amazing creatures that live in the soil. I use my photos for SciComm to spread love for soil biodiversity, and I’m writing a book on the subject too! 🧪
A photograph of a blue, soft-bodied springtail invertebrate, with long organe spines covering its back. The sprintail is crawling on the surface of a decaying log, and facing the camera. A screenshot of a press release article on The Bookseller website, describing the sale to Hodder Press and Random House of the rights to a book on soil biodiversity by Frank Ashwood.
Reposted by Frank Ashwood
bes-soilecogroup.bsky.social
Love soil? Great with communications? Join us as a communications representative - apply by 17 Nov!
britishecologicalsociety.org British Ecological Society @britishecologicalsociety.org · 1d
The Soil Ecology Group seeks a volunteer communications representative. 

As part of the role, you will 
- develop a communication strategy,
- manage social media, handle quarterly newsletters,
- and participate in monthly meetings.
The Soil Ecology Group seeks a volunteer Communications representative. Application deadline: 17 Nov, 2025.
November 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Frank Ashwood
bes-soilecogroup.bsky.social
We are happy to introduce the Soil Ecology SIG @britishecologicalsociety.org! Our aim is to connect soil ecology researchers across career stages, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration. Check out www.britishecologicalsociety.org/content/plan... and feel free to get in touch!
Soil Ecology Group - British Ecological Society
Understanding the vital ecosystem services provided by soil
www.britishecologicalsociety.org
October 30, 2025 at 8:57 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
It's week 3 of fatherhood, and today I was granted special dispensation from shopping, housework, nappies & feeding, to do some macrophotography!

The highlight was this Oribatid mite (N. spinulosa) sporting long defensive spines, which I've nicknamed the Hellraiser mite!

#SoilBiodiversity 🧪
A side-on photograph of a brown, round-bodied mite covered in long feathery spines. A face-on photograph of a brown, round-bodied mite covered in long feathery spines.
November 6, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Reposted by Frank Ashwood
vincentfelde.bsky.social
Today, I had a lot of fun at my daugther's elementary school, where I talked about the importance of healthy soils and the beauty of soil organisms (which is easy if one has the fantastic photos of @frankashwood.bsky.social). Next generation of soil scientists is secured I hope 👨‍🔬👩‍🔬
November 3, 2025 at 12:01 PM
frankashwood.bsky.social
🎉 EXCITING BABY NEWS 🎉

I'm delighted to announce that I'm now a dad 🥰 We had a beautiful baby girl last Friday, named Elowyn. Mum and baby all doing really well, despite lack of sleep.

Instead of her photo (privacy), here's a cute baby springtail 😊

#Macrophotography #SoilBiodiversity #Parenthood
A photograph of a purple baby springtail walking on the surface of some water.
October 22, 2025 at 10:48 PM
frankashwood.bsky.social
Pleased to be part of this important letter led by @cmarin.bsky.social @thegsbi.bsky.social, calling for greater global action to protect soil biodiversity! A timely publication also because today is #WorldEarthwormDay 🌍🪱
plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social Plants, People, Planet @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social · 25d
.@cmarin.bsky.social and 127 co-authors present a global call to strengthen national #SoilBiodiversity action, in an #OpenLetter to policymakers at 27th meeting of the @unbiodiversity.bsky.social SBSTTA taking place in Panamá City this week.

📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

#SBSTTA27
A quote from the article. Text reads: "The decline of soil biodiversity has visible and growing consequences. The science is clear, the frameworks exist, and the need for action is urgent."
October 21, 2025 at 7:26 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
This tiny jumping spider refused to surrender its hard-earned meal when faced with a camera lens, impressive!

I finally managed to get out with the camera, now I'm on parental leave. We're still waiting for the little one to grace us with her presence, it could be any day now!

#Macrophotography 🧪
A photograph of a small jumping spider holding onto a thin yellow fly that it has caught.
October 16, 2025 at 2:03 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
My (slightly late) offering for day ten of #invertober (common earthworm) 🪱

Did you know earthworms have a special lip-like first head segment called a prostomium (meaning 'before the mouth')? They use it to sense and manipulate food, and move through soil!

#SoilBiodiversity #Macrophotography 🧪
A photograph of an earthworm's head pushing out of the soil surface, with a tiny half-segment at the tip clearly visible.
October 12, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Reposted by Frank Ashwood
irrlichtwinter.bsky.social
Day ten of #invertober
Common Earthworm

So cute, so cute! I have loved earthworms since I was a kid
drawing of an earthworm. It is orange-brown with darker brown segments
October 11, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Reposted by Frank Ashwood
unacctmango.bsky.social
#invertober day 10: common earth worm 🪱
(To be seen and adored)
#art #collage #worm
October 11, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Reposted by Frank Ashwood
cpaintingnz.bsky.social
A new special issue on soil & litter invertebrates is calling for submissions at NZ J Zool under this fabulous editorial team. See below for details!
frankashwood.bsky.social Frank Ashwood @frankashwood.bsky.social · Sep 24
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 🧪
A screenshot of a webpage making a call for papers announcement for a special issue of the New Zealand Journal of Zoology, focussed on soil and litter invertebrates. The page has a banner image photograph of a globular springtail facing towards the camera, with its head down, feeding on fungi on a decaying log.
September 30, 2025 at 10:32 PM
frankashwood.bsky.social
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 🧪
A screenshot of a webpage making a call for papers announcement for a special issue of the New Zealand Journal of Zoology, focussed on soil and litter invertebrates. The page has a banner image photograph of a globular springtail facing towards the camera, with its head down, feeding on fungi on a decaying log.
September 24, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Reposted by Frank Ashwood
newzealandecology.bsky.social
📢 New publication out today in NZJE!

Vegetation-environment relationships in the regenerating shrubland of Remus Hill, Cass, in the eastern South Island high country 🌱

Lead author: Sarah Wyse (University of Canterbury)
@frankashwood.bsky.social

newzealandecology.org/nzje/3613
newzealandecology.org
September 16, 2025 at 12:49 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
I've been largely absent from social media lately, as I've got lot on at the moment... a draft book manuscript due in 2 weeks (Eeek!), and research work to complete before a brand new baby Ashwood arrives in 5 weeks (even more Eeek)!

Time is rather scarce right now!

🧪 #SoilBiodiversity #Fatherhood
A photograph of a yellow globular springtail, walling on the surface of a decaying log. The springtail has a cute, teardrop-shaped head and a spherical body.
September 14, 2025 at 5:49 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
An alien creature traversing a distant world, or baby mite navigating the micro-fungi strewn surface of a decaying log? Arguably it's both!

Take a closer look at the life beneath your feet, and you'll discover a whole new world of dazzling complexity.

#SoilBiodiversity #Macrophotography 🧪
A photograph of a teardrop-shaped red mite nymph walking on a log surface, which is covered in small vertical fungal filaments, like many tiny hairs.
July 29, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Reposted by Frank Ashwood
regularslimeguy.bsky.social
They vary widely
Elaeomyxa cerifera by Sarah Lloyd Arcyria stipata by Jeff Hollett Physarum echinosporum by Carlos de Mier
July 21, 2025 at 8:54 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
These are the beautiful spore-producing structures of plasmodial slime molds. Which is your favourite colour?

Originally considered Fungi, they are now classed as Ameobozoans - single celled organisms with thousands of nuclei... not animals or fungi but something else entirely!

#SoilBiodiversity 🧪
A photograph of a slime mold fruiting body on a log. The slime mold is a round orange blob on a transparent stalk. A photograph of slime mold fruiting bodies on a log. The slime molds are a round white blobs on transparent stalks. A photograph of slime mold fruiting bodies on a log. The slime molds are a round black blobs on red stalks.
July 21, 2025 at 7:42 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
This festival of waxy lumps is a baby biting midge, AKA a Forcipomyia larvae. Before they grow into bloodsuckers, they're surprisingly cute.

My good friend @mesofauna.bsky.social has a whole webpage dedicated to them - so go check that out! www.chaosofdelight.org/forcipomyia

#SoilBiodiversity 🧪
A photograph of a cream-coloured fly larvae on a dead log surface. The larvae has a series of waxy trumpet and balloon-shaped secretions erupting from its dorsal surface.
July 15, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Reposted by Frank Ashwood
jamesimcc.bsky.social
Send me records: I am excited to be taking on the role of national springtail recorder. I have huge shoes to fill, but I hope to continue the progress Peter Shaw made in understanding the taxonomy and biology of the UK's #springtails.

www.brc.ac.uk/scheme/colle...
Orchesella flavescens, one of the UK's largest springtails. It's an elongate springtail, with long antennae, often with a differing number of segments on each antenna (but with a maximum of six). It can be identified by the pattern consisting of parallel longitudinal dark lines running the length of the abdomen, contrasting against a paler ground colour. This is a relatively scarce woodland species.
January 21, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by Frank Ashwood
jamesimcc.bsky.social
This coming Tuesday lunchtime!
I’m looking forward to talking springtails, speciation, and cryptic diversity.
Sign up! ⬇️
biologicalrecording.co.uk Biological Recording Company @biologicalrecording.co.uk · Jul 4
🔬 Coming soon: British Springtails – How Many Species Are There?
Join @jamesimcc.bsky.social to explore how genomes & citizen science are reshaping UK biodiversity.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1359900281...

@royentsoc.bsky.social @fieldstudiesc.bsky.social @nbntrust.bsky.social @britentsoc.bsky.social
July 11, 2025 at 9:27 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
Yesterday we had earthworm cocoons, today I bring you springtail spermatophores!

Springtails, like many soil invertebrates, reproduce by a male leaving these structures (sperm-rich fluid on a stalk), which the female will sniff out and collect to fertilise her eggs. Romantic!

#SoilBiodiversity 🧪
A photograph of a springtail spermatophore: a thin transparent stalk with a glob of clear fluid on the top.
July 10, 2025 at 6:29 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
Did someone bury a tiny lemon? Nope, this is an earthworm cocoon!

After mating, both earthworms will produce small cocoons like this, each containing a fertilised egg. Inside, a baby earthworm will grow, before hatching out the end like a tiny pink noodle!

#SoilBiodiversity #Macrophotography 🧪
A photograph of an earthworm cocoon partially buried in soil. The cocoon is oval, yellow and has a little knot on the end.
July 9, 2025 at 9:14 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
Predatory flatworms are found in damp habitats, such as under logs. They have eversible tube-like throats, which externally digest their prey alive!

Here's one feeding on a land-hopper, a type of exclusively terrestrial shrimp found in the Southern Hemisphere.

#SoilBiodiversity #Macrophotography🧪
A photograph of a flatworm wrapped around a little pink shrimp-like animal, digesting it alive.
July 4, 2025 at 11:03 PM
frankashwood.bsky.social
I'm currently writing a book chapter about deep soil life, and I'm fully entranced by the diversity and adaptability of soil microfauna.

If you've got any amazing facts, which you think MUST be included - about things like bdelloids, nematodes, tardigrades etc., drop them in the comments below! 🧪
June 27, 2025 at 1:26 AM
frankashwood.bsky.social
Like all arthropods, springtails need to shed their exoskeletons to grow - a process called 'ecdysis'.

I recently got very lucky to find a giant springtail that had just moulted! I don't know if anyone's ever photographed this before!

#SoilBiodiversity #Macrophotography #Invertebrate 🧪📸
A photograph of a giant springtail - a soft-bodied blue invertebrate covered in soft spines - standing on top of a pale moulted exoskeleton.
June 26, 2025 at 9:37 PM