Isa Betancourt
@isabetabug.bsky.social
entomologist, photographer, environmentalist.
Documenting, protecting, & making the fascinating world of insects accessible is my mission🪲✨
•NEON Insect Collection Mngr @ASU
•Fulbright-NatGeo Fellow in the Indonesian peat swamp🔍
Cornell Alum, twin, surfer
Documenting, protecting, & making the fascinating world of insects accessible is my mission🪲✨
•NEON Insect Collection Mngr @ASU
•Fulbright-NatGeo Fellow in the Indonesian peat swamp🔍
Cornell Alum, twin, surfer
Overall, I would give the Salt River water trail in Arizona a solid Odonata-boosted thumbs up. Highly recommend!
September 19, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Overall, I would give the Salt River water trail in Arizona a solid Odonata-boosted thumbs up. Highly recommend!
And then there was this damselfly who had a majorly bent abdomen. I’ve never seen that before either! I do not know how or why it’s that way. 🤔
September 19, 2025 at 3:56 AM
And then there was this damselfly who had a majorly bent abdomen. I’ve never seen that before either! I do not know how or why it’s that way. 🤔
I also discovered that Veliids bite!!
News to me! I was bit by quite a few that day.
Did YOU know that they bite?
I’m guessing it’s a casual..’let me taste this bc why not’ kind of thing rather than a targeted attack (like in mosquitoes).
Still hurt tho😬
Here is one that had JUST rudely bit me😡:
News to me! I was bit by quite a few that day.
Did YOU know that they bite?
I’m guessing it’s a casual..’let me taste this bc why not’ kind of thing rather than a targeted attack (like in mosquitoes).
Still hurt tho😬
Here is one that had JUST rudely bit me😡:
September 19, 2025 at 3:48 AM
I also discovered that Veliids bite!!
News to me! I was bit by quite a few that day.
Did YOU know that they bite?
I’m guessing it’s a casual..’let me taste this bc why not’ kind of thing rather than a targeted attack (like in mosquitoes).
Still hurt tho😬
Here is one that had JUST rudely bit me😡:
News to me! I was bit by quite a few that day.
Did YOU know that they bite?
I’m guessing it’s a casual..’let me taste this bc why not’ kind of thing rather than a targeted attack (like in mosquitoes).
Still hurt tho😬
Here is one that had JUST rudely bit me😡:
I watched the male damselfly drop her off at the water’s surface! And the whole time I was recording, he was hovering above, I’m guessing waiting for her to resurface?
I haven’t seen that behavior before. I always thought they stayed attached the whole time and for paternity reasons.
I haven’t seen that behavior before. I always thought they stayed attached the whole time and for paternity reasons.
September 19, 2025 at 3:38 AM
I watched the male damselfly drop her off at the water’s surface! And the whole time I was recording, he was hovering above, I’m guessing waiting for her to resurface?
I haven’t seen that behavior before. I always thought they stayed attached the whole time and for paternity reasons.
I haven’t seen that behavior before. I always thought they stayed attached the whole time and for paternity reasons.
That previous photo is me taking a video of an adult, winged, female damselfly who is underwater and laying eggs in the stems of the underwater plants. Here is the view. You can watch her curl her abdomen around and insert the two eggs!! 🥚 🌿
September 19, 2025 at 12:24 AM
That previous photo is me taking a video of an adult, winged, female damselfly who is underwater and laying eggs in the stems of the underwater plants. Here is the view. You can watch her curl her abdomen around and insert the two eggs!! 🥚 🌿
Me this past Sunday on the Salt River, east of Phoenix, AZ.
Can you guess what I’m taking a video of?? 🔍✨
Can you guess what I’m taking a video of?? 🔍✨
September 18, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Me this past Sunday on the Salt River, east of Phoenix, AZ.
Can you guess what I’m taking a video of?? 🔍✨
Can you guess what I’m taking a video of?? 🔍✨
Camera flipped and it’s me, @beetlequeen.bsky.social and @arthropodabbey.bsky.social on the other side!
#CricketCourse
#CricketCourse
June 30, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Camera flipped and it’s me, @beetlequeen.bsky.social and @arthropodabbey.bsky.social on the other side!
#CricketCourse
#CricketCourse
The classroom! With Dr. Hojun Song getting us oriented. 🇨🇷🦗
We will be learning Ensifera (katydid and cricket) phylogeny, behavior, morphology, and acoustics this week.
#CricketCourse
We will be learning Ensifera (katydid and cricket) phylogeny, behavior, morphology, and acoustics this week.
#CricketCourse
June 30, 2025 at 3:46 AM
The classroom! With Dr. Hojun Song getting us oriented. 🇨🇷🦗
We will be learning Ensifera (katydid and cricket) phylogeny, behavior, morphology, and acoustics this week.
#CricketCourse
We will be learning Ensifera (katydid and cricket) phylogeny, behavior, morphology, and acoustics this week.
#CricketCourse
Greetings from Costa Rica!
I made it through immigration and customs. I am now on the group bus and headed to the field station with the 13 other students and our lead instructor for this cricket and katydid course.
I made it through immigration and customs. I am now on the group bus and headed to the field station with the 13 other students and our lead instructor for this cricket and katydid course.
June 29, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Greetings from Costa Rica!
I made it through immigration and customs. I am now on the group bus and headed to the field station with the 13 other students and our lead instructor for this cricket and katydid course.
I made it through immigration and customs. I am now on the group bus and headed to the field station with the 13 other students and our lead instructor for this cricket and katydid course.
Southwestern tent caterpillar sighting in Prescott, AZ! Happy spring :)
Tent caterpillars have a special place in my heart. As kids, @ileanabeta.bsky.social & I ran around our suburban backyard in the spring, collecting the caterpillars as if we were on an Easter egg hunt.
PSA: They are native!
Tent caterpillars have a special place in my heart. As kids, @ileanabeta.bsky.social & I ran around our suburban backyard in the spring, collecting the caterpillars as if we were on an Easter egg hunt.
PSA: They are native!
April 16, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Southwestern tent caterpillar sighting in Prescott, AZ! Happy spring :)
Tent caterpillars have a special place in my heart. As kids, @ileanabeta.bsky.social & I ran around our suburban backyard in the spring, collecting the caterpillars as if we were on an Easter egg hunt.
PSA: They are native!
Tent caterpillars have a special place in my heart. As kids, @ileanabeta.bsky.social & I ran around our suburban backyard in the spring, collecting the caterpillars as if we were on an Easter egg hunt.
PSA: They are native!
Parental care -
A watchful mama keeps an eye on little one as they both rest and feed on an oak tree branch. She will ward off predators who seek to snatch up her children for lunch.
Bonus: You can see slits in the bark of the branch where the tree hopper mama (Platycotis vittata) laid eggs!
A watchful mama keeps an eye on little one as they both rest and feed on an oak tree branch. She will ward off predators who seek to snatch up her children for lunch.
Bonus: You can see slits in the bark of the branch where the tree hopper mama (Platycotis vittata) laid eggs!
March 13, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Parental care -
A watchful mama keeps an eye on little one as they both rest and feed on an oak tree branch. She will ward off predators who seek to snatch up her children for lunch.
Bonus: You can see slits in the bark of the branch where the tree hopper mama (Platycotis vittata) laid eggs!
A watchful mama keeps an eye on little one as they both rest and feed on an oak tree branch. She will ward off predators who seek to snatch up her children for lunch.
Bonus: You can see slits in the bark of the branch where the tree hopper mama (Platycotis vittata) laid eggs!
I had so much fun taking photos of my colleagues at the @asubiocollections.bsky.social last week.
Here is Sangmi Lee, ASU Hasbrouck Insect Collection Manager. She poses with her study species -Gelechiidae - the twirler moths.🦋✨
Here is Sangmi Lee, ASU Hasbrouck Insect Collection Manager. She poses with her study species -Gelechiidae - the twirler moths.🦋✨
February 21, 2025 at 8:08 AM
I had so much fun taking photos of my colleagues at the @asubiocollections.bsky.social last week.
Here is Sangmi Lee, ASU Hasbrouck Insect Collection Manager. She poses with her study species -Gelechiidae - the twirler moths.🦋✨
Here is Sangmi Lee, ASU Hasbrouck Insect Collection Manager. She poses with her study species -Gelechiidae - the twirler moths.🦋✨
I made it to my first NatGeo Live event the other day. Dr Heather Lynch shared her work & experiences with studying penguins in Antarctica. It was great!
It got me brainstorming how I might craft an insect show to join the NatGeo Live circuit.
My mission is to get more insects on the big screen!✨🙌🪲
It got me brainstorming how I might craft an insect show to join the NatGeo Live circuit.
My mission is to get more insects on the big screen!✨🙌🪲
February 21, 2025 at 7:10 AM
I made it to my first NatGeo Live event the other day. Dr Heather Lynch shared her work & experiences with studying penguins in Antarctica. It was great!
It got me brainstorming how I might craft an insect show to join the NatGeo Live circuit.
My mission is to get more insects on the big screen!✨🙌🪲
It got me brainstorming how I might craft an insect show to join the NatGeo Live circuit.
My mission is to get more insects on the big screen!✨🙌🪲
Behind the scenes shot of me taking pictures of my colleagues and the students at the ASU Biocollections. We are building our digital assets for our website and social media!
📷 picture cred: Evan Waite🪲
📷 picture cred: Evan Waite🪲
February 12, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Behind the scenes shot of me taking pictures of my colleagues and the students at the ASU Biocollections. We are building our digital assets for our website and social media!
📷 picture cred: Evan Waite🪲
📷 picture cred: Evan Waite🪲
A video clip of the serene scene With the chill road runner.
It was only a few strides from where @ileanabeta.bsky.social and I were sitting on the bench! I wonder why. It came over from where we first saw it by the parking lot. I wonder if it feels safer near (but not too near) humans?
It was only a few strides from where @ileanabeta.bsky.social and I were sitting on the bench! I wonder why. It came over from where we first saw it by the parking lot. I wonder if it feels safer near (but not too near) humans?
February 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
A video clip of the serene scene With the chill road runner.
It was only a few strides from where @ileanabeta.bsky.social and I were sitting on the bench! I wonder why. It came over from where we first saw it by the parking lot. I wonder if it feels safer near (but not too near) humans?
It was only a few strides from where @ileanabeta.bsky.social and I were sitting on the bench! I wonder why. It came over from where we first saw it by the parking lot. I wonder if it feels safer near (but not too near) humans?
I am attempting to use my Canon R5C and the Laowa probe lens to record intertidal sea urchins, hermit crabs, and fish.
January 29, 2025 at 3:54 AM
I am attempting to use my Canon R5C and the Laowa probe lens to record intertidal sea urchins, hermit crabs, and fish.
Here is a shot with a few fingers in the frame near the humpback cowrie as a size reference
January 29, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Here is a shot with a few fingers in the frame near the humpback cowrie as a size reference
Aw the quality didn’t go through so well. Here is a pic of the huge and glowing humpback cowrie to help
January 29, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Aw the quality didn’t go through so well. Here is a pic of the huge and glowing humpback cowrie to help
Found this gorgeous and and huge cowrie in the intertidal zone. It was glowing with life!!
January 29, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Found this gorgeous and and huge cowrie in the intertidal zone. It was glowing with life!!
I don’t think this is the same picture as the one above, but I thought I’d share one of the full images.
They will be used by researchers to develop machine learning models for learning more about ground beetles (Carabidae) 🙌✨
They will be used by researchers to develop machine learning models for learning more about ground beetles (Carabidae) 🙌✨
January 18, 2025 at 1:04 AM
I don’t think this is the same picture as the one above, but I thought I’d share one of the full images.
They will be used by researchers to develop machine learning models for learning more about ground beetles (Carabidae) 🙌✨
They will be used by researchers to develop machine learning models for learning more about ground beetles (Carabidae) 🙌✨
I set up a new imaging system for photographing full trays of beetle specimens. When I first snapped a pic, I was terrified by the inaccuracy of the color!
I quickly realized that I hadn’t yet switched from jpeg to RAW. JPEG files are more compressed okay but I’m shocked about the color difference!
I quickly realized that I hadn’t yet switched from jpeg to RAW. JPEG files are more compressed okay but I’m shocked about the color difference!
January 17, 2025 at 12:58 AM
I set up a new imaging system for photographing full trays of beetle specimens. When I first snapped a pic, I was terrified by the inaccuracy of the color!
I quickly realized that I hadn’t yet switched from jpeg to RAW. JPEG files are more compressed okay but I’m shocked about the color difference!
I quickly realized that I hadn’t yet switched from jpeg to RAW. JPEG files are more compressed okay but I’m shocked about the color difference!
*Be my new work supervisor!*
Arizona State University is hiring a new Director of the ASU Biocollections with a concurrent appointment as a tenured associate or full professor.
*I'd really love for this person to be an entomologist so ento friends, please share!*
apply.interfolio.com/159166
Arizona State University is hiring a new Director of the ASU Biocollections with a concurrent appointment as a tenured associate or full professor.
*I'd really love for this person to be an entomologist so ento friends, please share!*
apply.interfolio.com/159166
December 30, 2024 at 5:49 PM
*Be my new work supervisor!*
Arizona State University is hiring a new Director of the ASU Biocollections with a concurrent appointment as a tenured associate or full professor.
*I'd really love for this person to be an entomologist so ento friends, please share!*
apply.interfolio.com/159166
Arizona State University is hiring a new Director of the ASU Biocollections with a concurrent appointment as a tenured associate or full professor.
*I'd really love for this person to be an entomologist so ento friends, please share!*
apply.interfolio.com/159166
I’m so grateful to have had my twin sister, @ileanabeta.bsky.social to explore the natural world with as kids! We’d run around the backyard together and look & wonder about the things we found.
Here we are, with our mom, checking out a starfish.
Can you guess who is who?
Happy #NationalTwinDay.
Here we are, with our mom, checking out a starfish.
Can you guess who is who?
Happy #NationalTwinDay.
December 18, 2024 at 11:13 PM
I’m so grateful to have had my twin sister, @ileanabeta.bsky.social to explore the natural world with as kids! We’d run around the backyard together and look & wonder about the things we found.
Here we are, with our mom, checking out a starfish.
Can you guess who is who?
Happy #NationalTwinDay.
Here we are, with our mom, checking out a starfish.
Can you guess who is who?
Happy #NationalTwinDay.
Yesterday, @beetlequeen.bsky.social was zoomed in on carabids (Ground Beetles) in the Arizona State University (ASU) Insect Collections ✨🪲🔍
November 15, 2024 at 7:42 AM
Yesterday, @beetlequeen.bsky.social was zoomed in on carabids (Ground Beetles) in the Arizona State University (ASU) Insect Collections ✨🪲🔍
Hello #EntSoc24 👋😊
I wonder if BlueSky will become what Twitter gave us- community wise.
It’s so different attending the conference without that! Do you agree?
I wonder if BlueSky will become what Twitter gave us- community wise.
It’s so different attending the conference without that! Do you agree?
November 11, 2024 at 11:07 PM
Hello #EntSoc24 👋😊
I wonder if BlueSky will become what Twitter gave us- community wise.
It’s so different attending the conference without that! Do you agree?
I wonder if BlueSky will become what Twitter gave us- community wise.
It’s so different attending the conference without that! Do you agree?