Jamie C. Weir
@jamiecweir.bsky.social
British evolutionary biologist and entomologist. Lepidoptera | Phenology | Adaptive Colouration | Polymorphism | History of Science | Palaeontology
Twitter: @Jamie_C_Weir Website: www.jamiecweir.com
Twitter: @Jamie_C_Weir Website: www.jamiecweir.com
In summer, when insects are most abundant, they are a dominant part of the diet of G. moholi.
Understanding the kinds of insects eaten by bushbabies and how they find them is key for their #conservation, and for unpicking their functional role in tropical/sub-tropical forest food-webs.
🧵 8/8
Understanding the kinds of insects eaten by bushbabies and how they find them is key for their #conservation, and for unpicking their functional role in tropical/sub-tropical forest food-webs.
🧵 8/8
October 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
In summer, when insects are most abundant, they are a dominant part of the diet of G. moholi.
Understanding the kinds of insects eaten by bushbabies and how they find them is key for their #conservation, and for unpicking their functional role in tropical/sub-tropical forest food-webs.
🧵 8/8
Understanding the kinds of insects eaten by bushbabies and how they find them is key for their #conservation, and for unpicking their functional role in tropical/sub-tropical forest food-webs.
🧵 8/8
Sound may act as an important proxy for prey size in nocturnal feeding behaviour.
Bushbaby vocalisations are usually confined to social contexts, but I also made novel observations of vocalisations associated with solo foraging 🗣️👇
🧵 7/8
Bushbaby vocalisations are usually confined to social contexts, but I also made novel observations of vocalisations associated with solo foraging 🗣️👇
🧵 7/8
October 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Sound may act as an important proxy for prey size in nocturnal feeding behaviour.
Bushbaby vocalisations are usually confined to social contexts, but I also made novel observations of vocalisations associated with solo foraging 🗣️👇
🧵 7/8
Bushbaby vocalisations are usually confined to social contexts, but I also made novel observations of vocalisations associated with solo foraging 🗣️👇
🧵 7/8
Furthermore, manipulative experiments using Male Driver Ants 🐜 -- a popular prey item -- suggested that while visual movement was a key driver of prey-finding behaviour in G. moholi, sound made prey items particularly attractive and increased the incidence of targeting for feeding.
🧵 6/8
🧵 6/8
October 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Furthermore, manipulative experiments using Male Driver Ants 🐜 -- a popular prey item -- suggested that while visual movement was a key driver of prey-finding behaviour in G. moholi, sound made prey items particularly attractive and increased the incidence of targeting for feeding.
🧵 6/8
🧵 6/8
Previous evidence is mixed, with some reports emphasising a primary role for Lepidoptera in the diet, others suggesting Coleoptera and Orthoptera are most important (e.g. Harcourt, 1986).
I observed G. moholi easily catch Lepidoptera mid-flight, including strong fliers such as hawk-moths.
🧵 5/8
I observed G. moholi easily catch Lepidoptera mid-flight, including strong fliers such as hawk-moths.
🧵 5/8
October 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Previous evidence is mixed, with some reports emphasising a primary role for Lepidoptera in the diet, others suggesting Coleoptera and Orthoptera are most important (e.g. Harcourt, 1986).
I observed G. moholi easily catch Lepidoptera mid-flight, including strong fliers such as hawk-moths.
🧵 5/8
I observed G. moholi easily catch Lepidoptera mid-flight, including strong fliers such as hawk-moths.
🧵 5/8
Observing/testing predation of different prey items, I found that:
• Moths were always consumed
• Insects with distasteful or noxious secretions (Shield/Stink Bugs) were avoided
• Beetles were closely examined before consumption, and only some eaten
--> clear, species-level prey choice 🐒🐞🦋
🧵 4/8
• Moths were always consumed
• Insects with distasteful or noxious secretions (Shield/Stink Bugs) were avoided
• Beetles were closely examined before consumption, and only some eaten
--> clear, species-level prey choice 🐒🐞🦋
🧵 4/8
October 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Observing/testing predation of different prey items, I found that:
• Moths were always consumed
• Insects with distasteful or noxious secretions (Shield/Stink Bugs) were avoided
• Beetles were closely examined before consumption, and only some eaten
--> clear, species-level prey choice 🐒🐞🦋
🧵 4/8
• Moths were always consumed
• Insects with distasteful or noxious secretions (Shield/Stink Bugs) were avoided
• Beetles were closely examined before consumption, and only some eaten
--> clear, species-level prey choice 🐒🐞🦋
🧵 4/8
While recording moths at a UV light trap in South Africa during Oct/Nov 2024, I was able to closely observe the Southern Lesser Bushbaby (G. moholi) foraging and predating insects drawn to the light.
The fieldwork was generously supported by @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social Davis Expedition Fund.
🧵 3/8
The fieldwork was generously supported by @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social Davis Expedition Fund.
🧵 3/8
October 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
While recording moths at a UV light trap in South Africa during Oct/Nov 2024, I was able to closely observe the Southern Lesser Bushbaby (G. moholi) foraging and predating insects drawn to the light.
The fieldwork was generously supported by @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social Davis Expedition Fund.
🧵 3/8
The fieldwork was generously supported by @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social Davis Expedition Fund.
🧵 3/8
Much remains unknown about our #primate relatives.
E.g./ Though #insects are a key dietary component for many #nocturnal species, we still have little idea of:
• which taxa are eaten, and why
• individual/population/seasonal variation in preferences
• the #sensory stimuli used to find them
🧵 2/8
E.g./ Though #insects are a key dietary component for many #nocturnal species, we still have little idea of:
• which taxa are eaten, and why
• individual/population/seasonal variation in preferences
• the #sensory stimuli used to find them
🧵 2/8
October 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Much remains unknown about our #primate relatives.
E.g./ Though #insects are a key dietary component for many #nocturnal species, we still have little idea of:
• which taxa are eaten, and why
• individual/population/seasonal variation in preferences
• the #sensory stimuli used to find them
🧵 2/8
E.g./ Though #insects are a key dietary component for many #nocturnal species, we still have little idea of:
• which taxa are eaten, and why
• individual/population/seasonal variation in preferences
• the #sensory stimuli used to find them
🧵 2/8
In my **new paper**, out now in Folia Primatologica, I shed light on the nocturnal feeding habits of the Southern Lesser Bushbaby (Galago moholi), documenting observations and experiments made during fieldwork in South Africa.
tinyurl.com/bushbaby-diet
...Scroll for more #bushbaby pics 👀👇
🧵 1/8
tinyurl.com/bushbaby-diet
...Scroll for more #bushbaby pics 👀👇
🧵 1/8
October 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
In my **new paper**, out now in Folia Primatologica, I shed light on the nocturnal feeding habits of the Southern Lesser Bushbaby (Galago moholi), documenting observations and experiments made during fieldwork in South Africa.
tinyurl.com/bushbaby-diet
...Scroll for more #bushbaby pics 👀👇
🧵 1/8
tinyurl.com/bushbaby-diet
...Scroll for more #bushbaby pics 👀👇
🧵 1/8
Hot on the heels of receiving the @linneansociety.bsky.social's Marsden Medal, very pleased to announce that my PhD thesis also came in as runner up for the @royentsoc.bsky.social's Alfred Russel Wallace Award! 🌿🐛
Thanks to @eastbio.bsky.social and my supervisor @allyphillimore.bsky.social
1/2 👇
Thanks to @eastbio.bsky.social and my supervisor @allyphillimore.bsky.social
1/2 👇
September 9, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Hot on the heels of receiving the @linneansociety.bsky.social's Marsden Medal, very pleased to announce that my PhD thesis also came in as runner up for the @royentsoc.bsky.social's Alfred Russel Wallace Award! 🌿🐛
Thanks to @eastbio.bsky.social and my supervisor @allyphillimore.bsky.social
1/2 👇
Thanks to @eastbio.bsky.social and my supervisor @allyphillimore.bsky.social
1/2 👇
It was a real delight to go down to Burlington House the other week, to tour the @linneansociety.bsky.social collections and receive this year's John C. Marsden medal, for the best biology PhD thesis in the UK.
It was, and remains, a tremendous honour.
Interested in my thesis? 👇
It was, and remains, a tremendous honour.
Interested in my thesis? 👇
June 13, 2025 at 11:16 AM
It was a real delight to go down to Burlington House the other week, to tour the @linneansociety.bsky.social collections and receive this year's John C. Marsden medal, for the best biology PhD thesis in the UK.
It was, and remains, a tremendous honour.
Interested in my thesis? 👇
It was, and remains, a tremendous honour.
Interested in my thesis? 👇
Employing one of my lesser-used mugs today!
Lord Palmerston not looking impressed by my work...
History enthusiasts: any thoughts on who might be the most important British prime minister of the nineteenth century?
Lord Palmerston not looking impressed by my work...
History enthusiasts: any thoughts on who might be the most important British prime minister of the nineteenth century?
May 31, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Employing one of my lesser-used mugs today!
Lord Palmerston not looking impressed by my work...
History enthusiasts: any thoughts on who might be the most important British prime minister of the nineteenth century?
Lord Palmerston not looking impressed by my work...
History enthusiasts: any thoughts on who might be the most important British prime minister of the nineteenth century?
Some highlights from the last few warm nights here in the central belt of Scotland...
A pair of puss moths, ermines, and several poplar hawks.
Poplars sit with hindwings resting *in front* of the forewings, breaking up the classic moth outline and giving them a more ragged, leaf-life appearance 🦋🌿
A pair of puss moths, ermines, and several poplar hawks.
Poplars sit with hindwings resting *in front* of the forewings, breaking up the classic moth outline and giving them a more ragged, leaf-life appearance 🦋🌿
May 15, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Some highlights from the last few warm nights here in the central belt of Scotland...
A pair of puss moths, ermines, and several poplar hawks.
Poplars sit with hindwings resting *in front* of the forewings, breaking up the classic moth outline and giving them a more ragged, leaf-life appearance 🦋🌿
A pair of puss moths, ermines, and several poplar hawks.
Poplars sit with hindwings resting *in front* of the forewings, breaking up the classic moth outline and giving them a more ragged, leaf-life appearance 🦋🌿
From caterpillar dispersal via 'ballooning', to bet-hedging through considerable variation in egg hatch times, and a broad diet and host-plant switching — this species has a range of insurance policies against bad timing 🐛
And analogous buffering mechanisms can be found in many other species.
🧵4/6
And analogous buffering mechanisms can be found in many other species.
🧵4/6
May 14, 2025 at 11:11 AM
From caterpillar dispersal via 'ballooning', to bet-hedging through considerable variation in egg hatch times, and a broad diet and host-plant switching — this species has a range of insurance policies against bad timing 🐛
And analogous buffering mechanisms can be found in many other species.
🧵4/6
And analogous buffering mechanisms can be found in many other species.
🧵4/6
However, in this perspective piece we argue that winter moths — poster species in the world of phenology, forest entomology, and pop. ecology — possess a suite of mechanisms that #buffer the effects of mismatch, from egg-laying bet-hedging to caterpillar dispersal.
🧵3/6
🧵3/6
May 14, 2025 at 11:11 AM
However, in this perspective piece we argue that winter moths — poster species in the world of phenology, forest entomology, and pop. ecology — possess a suite of mechanisms that #buffer the effects of mismatch, from egg-laying bet-hedging to caterpillar dispersal.
🧵3/6
🧵3/6
Although species vary in their #phenological response to #climate change, some food-chains and webs are surprisingly resilient...
On the anniversary of my @globalchangebio.bsky.social paper with @allyphillimore.bsky.social, I wanted to revisit some of the key ideas 👇
tinyurl.com/BufferCater
🧵1/6
On the anniversary of my @globalchangebio.bsky.social paper with @allyphillimore.bsky.social, I wanted to revisit some of the key ideas 👇
tinyurl.com/BufferCater
🧵1/6
May 14, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Although species vary in their #phenological response to #climate change, some food-chains and webs are surprisingly resilient...
On the anniversary of my @globalchangebio.bsky.social paper with @allyphillimore.bsky.social, I wanted to revisit some of the key ideas 👇
tinyurl.com/BufferCater
🧵1/6
On the anniversary of my @globalchangebio.bsky.social paper with @allyphillimore.bsky.social, I wanted to revisit some of the key ideas 👇
tinyurl.com/BufferCater
🧵1/6
Very pleased to be back at the @savebutterflies.bsky.social Scotland spring meeting in Perth, this time talking about my PhD work on #phenology, #ecology, and #trophic #mismatch.
As always, the winter #moth will be headlining... (but will be put in its place) 🦋
As always, the winter #moth will be headlining... (but will be put in its place) 🦋
March 22, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Very pleased to be back at the @savebutterflies.bsky.social Scotland spring meeting in Perth, this time talking about my PhD work on #phenology, #ecology, and #trophic #mismatch.
As always, the winter #moth will be headlining... (but will be put in its place) 🦋
As always, the winter #moth will be headlining... (but will be put in its place) 🦋
Was a great pleasure to go through to Glasgow last week and talk to the Paisley Natural History Society about animal camouflage, including some of my own work on moths 🦋🐛
A lovely, friendly society that I would recommend to anyone local interested in nature!
paisleynaturalhistorysociety.org.uk
A lovely, friendly society that I would recommend to anyone local interested in nature!
paisleynaturalhistorysociety.org.uk
January 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Was a great pleasure to go through to Glasgow last week and talk to the Paisley Natural History Society about animal camouflage, including some of my own work on moths 🦋🐛
A lovely, friendly society that I would recommend to anyone local interested in nature!
paisleynaturalhistorysociety.org.uk
A lovely, friendly society that I would recommend to anyone local interested in nature!
paisleynaturalhistorysociety.org.uk
The hazards of being an entomologist
You're easily distracted by smaller things 🐜
...and I had no idea we were being watched 🐘
You're easily distracted by smaller things 🐜
...and I had no idea we were being watched 🐘
December 20, 2024 at 11:11 AM
The hazards of being an entomologist
You're easily distracted by smaller things 🐜
...and I had no idea we were being watched 🐘
You're easily distracted by smaller things 🐜
...and I had no idea we were being watched 🐘
The surgeon and explorer John Rae.
His openness to learning and utilising the survival techniques of native peoples gave his expeditions unusual resilience. He was able to uncover the fate of the disastrous Franklin Expedition to the NW Passage.
Bust in the Old Medical School, #Edinburgh.
His openness to learning and utilising the survival techniques of native peoples gave his expeditions unusual resilience. He was able to uncover the fate of the disastrous Franklin Expedition to the NW Passage.
Bust in the Old Medical School, #Edinburgh.
December 4, 2024 at 9:42 AM
The surgeon and explorer John Rae.
His openness to learning and utilising the survival techniques of native peoples gave his expeditions unusual resilience. He was able to uncover the fate of the disastrous Franklin Expedition to the NW Passage.
Bust in the Old Medical School, #Edinburgh.
His openness to learning and utilising the survival techniques of native peoples gave his expeditions unusual resilience. He was able to uncover the fate of the disastrous Franklin Expedition to the NW Passage.
Bust in the Old Medical School, #Edinburgh.
Thanks again to everyone who came along last Thursday to hear @sandyheth.bsky.social's excellent talk for the @linneansociety.bsky.social in #Edinburgh, at the Old Medical School.
Great to see such a big and enthusiastic turnout!
Stay tuned for more Linnean events hosted here in Edinburgh... 📻
Great to see such a big and enthusiastic turnout!
Stay tuned for more Linnean events hosted here in Edinburgh... 📻
December 2, 2024 at 3:34 PM
Thanks again to everyone who came along last Thursday to hear @sandyheth.bsky.social's excellent talk for the @linneansociety.bsky.social in #Edinburgh, at the Old Medical School.
Great to see such a big and enthusiastic turnout!
Stay tuned for more Linnean events hosted here in Edinburgh... 📻
Great to see such a big and enthusiastic turnout!
Stay tuned for more Linnean events hosted here in Edinburgh... 📻
Out hunting for winter moths this evening at the evocatively named Brig O'Turk, near Callander. Nearly 14°C with drizzle, dark at 4.15pm. Plenty of males, but didn't spot a single female over a 2hr search.
November 30, 2024 at 7:44 PM
Out hunting for winter moths this evening at the evocatively named Brig O'Turk, near Callander. Nearly 14°C with drizzle, dark at 4.15pm. Plenty of males, but didn't spot a single female over a 2hr search.
To wrap up, here’s my take-away message at the close of the paper:
The case of the winter moth may serve as a cautionary tale. Perhaps, in overlooking the complexity of this system, we have underappreciated that synchronised ecological interactions may often be inherently robust... 22/22.
The case of the winter moth may serve as a cautionary tale. Perhaps, in overlooking the complexity of this system, we have underappreciated that synchronised ecological interactions may often be inherently robust... 22/22.
November 28, 2024 at 2:14 PM
To wrap up, here’s my take-away message at the close of the paper:
The case of the winter moth may serve as a cautionary tale. Perhaps, in overlooking the complexity of this system, we have underappreciated that synchronised ecological interactions may often be inherently robust... 22/22.
The case of the winter moth may serve as a cautionary tale. Perhaps, in overlooking the complexity of this system, we have underappreciated that synchronised ecological interactions may often be inherently robust... 22/22.
Having a broad trophic niche may be one of many mechanisms winter moths employ to 'buffer' them against mismatch (see Weir and Phillimore 2024 👇)
It could broaden the time window in which to achieve adequate match, and allow them to occupy and thrive in a relatively narrow phenological niche. 21/22
It could broaden the time window in which to achieve adequate match, and allow them to occupy and thrive in a relatively narrow phenological niche. 21/22
November 28, 2024 at 2:14 PM
Having a broad trophic niche may be one of many mechanisms winter moths employ to 'buffer' them against mismatch (see Weir and Phillimore 2024 👇)
It could broaden the time window in which to achieve adequate match, and allow them to occupy and thrive in a relatively narrow phenological niche. 21/22
It could broaden the time window in which to achieve adequate match, and allow them to occupy and thrive in a relatively narrow phenological niche. 21/22
While there were significant population-specific differences in performance among host-plants, these didn’t map neatly onto locally abundant host taxa...
E.g./ the Buck. pop. consisted of hedgerows and orchard fruits, but showed no tendency towards higher perf. on such spp. 20/22
E.g./ the Buck. pop. consisted of hedgerows and orchard fruits, but showed no tendency towards higher perf. on such spp. 20/22
November 28, 2024 at 2:14 PM
While there were significant population-specific differences in performance among host-plants, these didn’t map neatly onto locally abundant host taxa...
E.g./ the Buck. pop. consisted of hedgerows and orchard fruits, but showed no tendency towards higher perf. on such spp. 20/22
E.g./ the Buck. pop. consisted of hedgerows and orchard fruits, but showed no tendency towards higher perf. on such spp. 20/22
To maximise fitness in the unpredictable spring environment, caterpillars could retain a broad diet but specialise at a small spatial scale on locally abundant host-plants.
To test this idea, I assayed performance on each host-plant spp. in livestock from four UK winter moth populations 19/22
To test this idea, I assayed performance on each host-plant spp. in livestock from four UK winter moth populations 19/22
November 28, 2024 at 2:14 PM
To maximise fitness in the unpredictable spring environment, caterpillars could retain a broad diet but specialise at a small spatial scale on locally abundant host-plants.
To test this idea, I assayed performance on each host-plant spp. in livestock from four UK winter moth populations 19/22
To test this idea, I assayed performance on each host-plant spp. in livestock from four UK winter moth populations 19/22