Joël Meunier
@jmeunierearwig.bsky.social
Behavioural ecologist studying earwigs (insects), parental care, social evolution, social immunity, pesticides, global warming... Defender of open science.
CNRS Researcher at univ Tours (FR) - IRBI
https://joelmeunier.wixsite.com/researchpage
CNRS Researcher at univ Tours (FR) - IRBI
https://joelmeunier.wixsite.com/researchpage
Pinned
Hi all! 👋 So many new followers, time for a quick reintroduction! I’m a behavioural ecologist studying how social life evolved in insects. My favorite model? The European earwig and its surprising facultative family life. I love insects, but let’s be real, I’m no entomologist. 🪲
Reposted by Joël Meunier
#Bugsky 🐙🌿 Who wants another baby earwig update? Everyone? Thought so. The babies are now two days old and slightly darker than when they hatched. Mama is guarding them and will stay on the job until their second molt. Btw, in the earlier post, the newly-hatched babies only had--
November 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
#Bugsky 🐙🌿 Who wants another baby earwig update? Everyone? Thought so. The babies are now two days old and slightly darker than when they hatched. Mama is guarding them and will stay on the job until their second molt. Btw, in the earlier post, the newly-hatched babies only had--
Reposted by Joël Meunier
Lots of Earwig activity at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today, with individuals burrowing into the sandy turf, leaving just the formidable pincers exposed. Common enough, but actually rather extraordinary things. @ynuorg.bsky.social #ukwildlife
November 9, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Lots of Earwig activity at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today, with individuals burrowing into the sandy turf, leaving just the formidable pincers exposed. Common enough, but actually rather extraordinary things. @ynuorg.bsky.social #ukwildlife
Reposted by Joël Meunier
Soutenance de thèse Laura Pasquier
Date(s) - Le 26 novembre 2025 à 14h
Lieu(x)- amphi 030 du bâtiment E1
Perturbations environnementales et endocriniennes des soins parentaux : le cas du forficule européen / Environmental and endocrine disruptions in parental care: the case of the European earwig
Date(s) - Le 26 novembre 2025 à 14h
Lieu(x)- amphi 030 du bâtiment E1
Perturbations environnementales et endocriniennes des soins parentaux : le cas du forficule européen / Environmental and endocrine disruptions in parental care: the case of the European earwig
November 14, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Soutenance de thèse Laura Pasquier
Date(s) - Le 26 novembre 2025 à 14h
Lieu(x)- amphi 030 du bâtiment E1
Perturbations environnementales et endocriniennes des soins parentaux : le cas du forficule européen / Environmental and endocrine disruptions in parental care: the case of the European earwig
Date(s) - Le 26 novembre 2025 à 14h
Lieu(x)- amphi 030 du bâtiment E1
Perturbations environnementales et endocriniennes des soins parentaux : le cas du forficule européen / Environmental and endocrine disruptions in parental care: the case of the European earwig
Reposted by Joël Meunier
--in which you can better see the eyes and mandibles on the new babies, plus see both structures clearly showing through the shells on the still-unhatched eggs. (Btw, mama earwig was close by in a burrow. She didn't want to come out into the light, so I carefully replaced the rock.)
November 18, 2025 at 6:35 PM
--in which you can better see the eyes and mandibles on the new babies, plus see both structures clearly showing through the shells on the still-unhatched eggs. (Btw, mama earwig was close by in a burrow. She didn't want to come out into the light, so I carefully replaced the rock.)
Very cool study: matricide in ants as a maniputing behaviour favouring social parasitism! 🤯🤯
->Socially parasitic ant queens chemically induce queen-matricide in host workers. Current Biology. www.cell.com/current-biol...
->Socially parasitic ant queens chemically induce queen-matricide in host workers. Current Biology. www.cell.com/current-biol...
Socially parasitic ant queens chemically induce queen-matricide in host workers
Taku Shimada and colleagues show that socially parasitic queens of two ant species
spray their respective host queens with chemical signals that trigger host workers
to kill the resident queen.
www.cell.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Very cool study: matricide in ants as a maniputing behaviour favouring social parasitism! 🤯🤯
->Socially parasitic ant queens chemically induce queen-matricide in host workers. Current Biology. www.cell.com/current-biol...
->Socially parasitic ant queens chemically induce queen-matricide in host workers. Current Biology. www.cell.com/current-biol...
Reposted by Joël Meunier
New paper: "A formal theory of group-level adaptation for obligate eusociality", with Kalyani Twyman (@kztwyman.bsky.social) #OpenAccess
academic.oup.com/jeb/advance-...
#Image #GoogleGemini @jevbio.bsky.social #OA
academic.oup.com/jeb/advance-...
#Image #GoogleGemini @jevbio.bsky.social #OA
November 18, 2025 at 10:35 AM
New paper: "A formal theory of group-level adaptation for obligate eusociality", with Kalyani Twyman (@kztwyman.bsky.social) #OpenAccess
academic.oup.com/jeb/advance-...
#Image #GoogleGemini @jevbio.bsky.social #OA
academic.oup.com/jeb/advance-...
#Image #GoogleGemini @jevbio.bsky.social #OA
This weekend, I was invited by the association A.L.L.E.E. in Toulouse to present earwigs to a broad and curious audience. It was a fantastic opportunity to share our work, highlight why fundamental research matters, and spark new appreciation for these often-misunderstood insects. 😃😃😃
November 17, 2025 at 6:12 AM
This weekend, I was invited by the association A.L.L.E.E. in Toulouse to present earwigs to a broad and curious audience. It was a fantastic opportunity to share our work, highlight why fundamental research matters, and spark new appreciation for these often-misunderstood insects. 😃😃😃
Amis Toulousains : C'est demain ! Venez nombreuses et nombreux 😄👍🐛
Je donnerais une conférence grand public sur les perce-oreilles à Toulouse.
Venez découvrir les secrets de ces petits insectes discrets, souvent mal-aimés, mais à la vie sociale fascinante.
📅 Samedi 15 nov. 2025 à 14h.
➡️ Infos & inscription via l’affiche ci-dessous
#Conférence #Insectes #Nature
Venez découvrir les secrets de ces petits insectes discrets, souvent mal-aimés, mais à la vie sociale fascinante.
📅 Samedi 15 nov. 2025 à 14h.
➡️ Infos & inscription via l’affiche ci-dessous
#Conférence #Insectes #Nature
November 14, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Amis Toulousains : C'est demain ! Venez nombreuses et nombreux 😄👍🐛
Reposted by Joël Meunier
Je donnerais une conférence grand public sur les perce-oreilles à Toulouse.
Venez découvrir les secrets de ces petits insectes discrets, souvent mal-aimés, mais à la vie sociale fascinante.
📅 Samedi 15 nov. 2025 à 14h.
➡️ Infos & inscription via l’affiche ci-dessous
#Conférence #Insectes #Nature
Venez découvrir les secrets de ces petits insectes discrets, souvent mal-aimés, mais à la vie sociale fascinante.
📅 Samedi 15 nov. 2025 à 14h.
➡️ Infos & inscription via l’affiche ci-dessous
#Conférence #Insectes #Nature
October 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Je donnerais une conférence grand public sur les perce-oreilles à Toulouse.
Venez découvrir les secrets de ces petits insectes discrets, souvent mal-aimés, mais à la vie sociale fascinante.
📅 Samedi 15 nov. 2025 à 14h.
➡️ Infos & inscription via l’affiche ci-dessous
#Conférence #Insectes #Nature
Venez découvrir les secrets de ces petits insectes discrets, souvent mal-aimés, mais à la vie sociale fascinante.
📅 Samedi 15 nov. 2025 à 14h.
➡️ Infos & inscription via l’affiche ci-dessous
#Conférence #Insectes #Nature
Reposted by Joël Meunier
To learn more about research into the Triangle Weaver's astounding hunting technique, check out this article which includes video:
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ar...
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ar...
This spider catapults its web to tangle prey at super speed | NOVA | PBS
Using its web as a “tool” to store and release energy, the triangle weaver spider lunges at speeds equivalent to a human sprinting at 1,700 miles per hour.
www.pbs.org
October 29, 2025 at 1:23 AM
To learn more about research into the Triangle Weaver's astounding hunting technique, check out this article which includes video:
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ar...
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ar...
Reposted by Joël Meunier
Better safe than sorry: leg amputations as a prophylactic wound care behaviour in carpenter ants buff.ly/INPxtKN | #ProcB #Behaviour #Evolution #WoundInfection
October 27, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Better safe than sorry: leg amputations as a prophylactic wound care behaviour in carpenter ants buff.ly/INPxtKN | #ProcB #Behaviour #Evolution #WoundInfection
Reposted by Joël Meunier
Editor's Choice article in our latest issue:
"The genetic basis of natural variation in sociability " by Arteen Torabi-Marashi, Dania Daanish, Andrew M Scott, Reuven Dukas, & Ian Dworkin.
academic.oup.com/evolut/artic...
@idworkin.bsky.social
"The genetic basis of natural variation in sociability " by Arteen Torabi-Marashi, Dania Daanish, Andrew M Scott, Reuven Dukas, & Ian Dworkin.
academic.oup.com/evolut/artic...
@idworkin.bsky.social
The genetic basis of natural variation in sociability
Abstract. Sociability, defined as individuals’ tendencies to affiliate with conspecifics, is widespread among animals, including species not traditionally
academic.oup.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Editor's Choice article in our latest issue:
"The genetic basis of natural variation in sociability " by Arteen Torabi-Marashi, Dania Daanish, Andrew M Scott, Reuven Dukas, & Ian Dworkin.
academic.oup.com/evolut/artic...
@idworkin.bsky.social
"The genetic basis of natural variation in sociability " by Arteen Torabi-Marashi, Dania Daanish, Andrew M Scott, Reuven Dukas, & Ian Dworkin.
academic.oup.com/evolut/artic...
@idworkin.bsky.social
Reposted by Joël Meunier
Social relationships are powerful predictors of fitness across social animals. But *why*?
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
October 16, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Social relationships are powerful predictors of fitness across social animals. But *why*?
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
In our new @cp-trendsecolevo.bsky.social paper, we outline testable predictions for why relationship quality and quantity adaptively vary across socio-ecological contexts.
tinyurl.com/55dnkeh7
I'm on my way to Avignon to learn about the earwig research on a species that I know much less about than my favourite, F. auricularia. I'm looking forward to being there, despite the early start and multiple train connections 🚆🚅🚌
October 16, 2025 at 5:29 AM
I'm on my way to Avignon to learn about the earwig research on a species that I know much less about than my favourite, F. auricularia. I'm looking forward to being there, despite the early start and multiple train connections 🚆🚅🚌
🪳 New paper out – Part II!
Our 2nd study on the hormonal regulation of maternal care in the European earwig is now out!
We show that blocking juvenile hormone synthesis with Precocene reduces egg care in post-oviposition mothers, while JH supplementation has no effect.
doi.org/10.1016/j.yh...
Our 2nd study on the hormonal regulation of maternal care in the European earwig is now out!
We show that blocking juvenile hormone synthesis with Precocene reduces egg care in post-oviposition mothers, while JH supplementation has no effect.
doi.org/10.1016/j.yh...
Redirecting
doi.org
October 15, 2025 at 6:19 AM
🪳 New paper out – Part II!
Our 2nd study on the hormonal regulation of maternal care in the European earwig is now out!
We show that blocking juvenile hormone synthesis with Precocene reduces egg care in post-oviposition mothers, while JH supplementation has no effect.
doi.org/10.1016/j.yh...
Our 2nd study on the hormonal regulation of maternal care in the European earwig is now out!
We show that blocking juvenile hormone synthesis with Precocene reduces egg care in post-oviposition mothers, while JH supplementation has no effect.
doi.org/10.1016/j.yh...
🪶 New paper out in Hormones and Behavior!
Parental care is fundamental in animals — but what actually triggers its onset? 🤔 We tested whether juvenile hormone could do it in the European earwig. Surprisingly… it didn’t.
Read more: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Parental care is fundamental in animals — but what actually triggers its onset? 🤔 We tested whether juvenile hormone could do it in the European earwig. Surprisingly… it didn’t.
Read more: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Juvenile hormone and maternal egg care in the European earwig (part I): Manipulation of JH, agonist, and precocene fails to induce the onset of egg care
Parental care is a crucial behaviour in animals. Yet the mechanisms regulating its initiation remain poorly understood, particularly in insects. Juven…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 14, 2025 at 11:46 AM
🪶 New paper out in Hormones and Behavior!
Parental care is fundamental in animals — but what actually triggers its onset? 🤔 We tested whether juvenile hormone could do it in the European earwig. Surprisingly… it didn’t.
Read more: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Parental care is fundamental in animals — but what actually triggers its onset? 🤔 We tested whether juvenile hormone could do it in the European earwig. Surprisingly… it didn’t.
Read more: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Ever wondered how pollution affects insect parenting? 👀
Our new paper in Current Opinion in Insect Science digs into this question, highlights what we don’t know (yet), and lays out five priorities to push the field forward.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@
Our new paper in Current Opinion in Insect Science digs into this question, highlights what we don’t know (yet), and lays out five priorities to push the field forward.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@
Hormonal regulation of parental care in insects: a call for exploring vulnerabilities to anthropogenic pollutants
Global insect populations are declining at an alarming rate, threatening biodiversity and the ecosystem services on which humans depend. One potential…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Ever wondered how pollution affects insect parenting? 👀
Our new paper in Current Opinion in Insect Science digs into this question, highlights what we don’t know (yet), and lays out five priorities to push the field forward.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@
Our new paper in Current Opinion in Insect Science digs into this question, highlights what we don’t know (yet), and lays out five priorities to push the field forward.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@
Je donnerais une conférence grand public sur les perce-oreilles à Toulouse.
Venez découvrir les secrets de ces petits insectes discrets, souvent mal-aimés, mais à la vie sociale fascinante.
📅 Samedi 15 nov. 2025 à 14h.
➡️ Infos & inscription via l’affiche ci-dessous
#Conférence #Insectes #Nature
Venez découvrir les secrets de ces petits insectes discrets, souvent mal-aimés, mais à la vie sociale fascinante.
📅 Samedi 15 nov. 2025 à 14h.
➡️ Infos & inscription via l’affiche ci-dessous
#Conférence #Insectes #Nature
October 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Je donnerais une conférence grand public sur les perce-oreilles à Toulouse.
Venez découvrir les secrets de ces petits insectes discrets, souvent mal-aimés, mais à la vie sociale fascinante.
📅 Samedi 15 nov. 2025 à 14h.
➡️ Infos & inscription via l’affiche ci-dessous
#Conférence #Insectes #Nature
Venez découvrir les secrets de ces petits insectes discrets, souvent mal-aimés, mais à la vie sociale fascinante.
📅 Samedi 15 nov. 2025 à 14h.
➡️ Infos & inscription via l’affiche ci-dessous
#Conférence #Insectes #Nature
I'm on my way back from Roscoff, where I attended a two-day event organised by the CNRS for 'advanced researchers'. What a beautiful location❤️! It's a shame it's so far away — I still have a day of buses and trains ahead of me to reach Tours 😳
October 1, 2025 at 9:32 AM
I'm on my way back from Roscoff, where I attended a two-day event organised by the CNRS for 'advanced researchers'. What a beautiful location❤️! It's a shame it's so far away — I still have a day of buses and trains ahead of me to reach Tours 😳
Reposted by Joël Meunier
Very happy to see our new study on the evolution of eusociality come out in Evolution Letters! Our study is the first to experimentally manipulate the proportion of females that stay and help to simulate incipient sociality & assess fitness impact of helping. 🧵
September 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Very happy to see our new study on the evolution of eusociality come out in Evolution Letters! Our study is the first to experimentally manipulate the proportion of females that stay and help to simulate incipient sociality & assess fitness impact of helping. 🧵
Reposted by Joël Meunier
Yesterday, we had the pleasure of listening to Dorothy Bishop emphasize the responsibility of editors during the 12th PCI Webinar! If you weren't able to join, you can catch her talk and the following Q&A session at this link: youtu.be/0NJ87tYE8_s
PCI Webinar-Dorothy Bishop-How negligent publishers subvert quality control in scientific publishing
youtu.be
September 19, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Yesterday, we had the pleasure of listening to Dorothy Bishop emphasize the responsibility of editors during the 12th PCI Webinar! If you weren't able to join, you can catch her talk and the following Q&A session at this link: youtu.be/0NJ87tYE8_s
🦗 New paper in Animal Behaviour! We tested if family life shields earwig juveniles from cadmium… spoiler: it doesn’t! 😅 But social interactions still shaped many juvenile traits. Fourth paper from @r-honorio.bsky.social's ATER project at @irbi-tours.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Does group living protect offspring from the toxic effects of cadmium ingestion in juvenile earwigs?
In general, group living can protect offspring against a wide range of environmental risks, such as predation, extreme temperature and pathogen infect…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:30 AM
🦗 New paper in Animal Behaviour! We tested if family life shields earwig juveniles from cadmium… spoiler: it doesn’t! 😅 But social interactions still shaped many juvenile traits. Fourth paper from @r-honorio.bsky.social's ATER project at @irbi-tours.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Joël Meunier
📢NEW PAPER OUT! We investigated the short-term impact of exposure to field-realistic doses of phthalates DnBP and DEHP on the survival of Bombus terrestris workers 🐝
Find our work here: doi.org/10.1016/j.en...
Find our work here: doi.org/10.1016/j.en...
September 15, 2025 at 1:16 PM
📢NEW PAPER OUT! We investigated the short-term impact of exposure to field-realistic doses of phthalates DnBP and DEHP on the survival of Bombus terrestris workers 🐝
Find our work here: doi.org/10.1016/j.en...
Find our work here: doi.org/10.1016/j.en...
Reposted by Joël Meunier
Interested in doing a postdoc in behavioral #ecotoxicology? I have a 12-months fully-funded position to work on the effects of pesticide exposure on generalist arthropod predators. More details here: rroyaute.github.io/blog/2025/po...
September 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Interested in doing a postdoc in behavioral #ecotoxicology? I have a 12-months fully-funded position to work on the effects of pesticide exposure on generalist arthropod predators. More details here: rroyaute.github.io/blog/2025/po...
Reposted by Joël Meunier
Excited to share our new paper led by Jake Martin (@jake-m-martin.bsky.social) out in ES&T Letters! We show that behavioral ecotox studies often test pharmaceuticals at concentrations much higher than those found in nature!
Paper: tinyurl.com/lab-to-field
Data/code: osf.io/h6cde/
Paper: tinyurl.com/lab-to-field
Data/code: osf.io/h6cde/
September 11, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Excited to share our new paper led by Jake Martin (@jake-m-martin.bsky.social) out in ES&T Letters! We show that behavioral ecotox studies often test pharmaceuticals at concentrations much higher than those found in nature!
Paper: tinyurl.com/lab-to-field
Data/code: osf.io/h6cde/
Paper: tinyurl.com/lab-to-field
Data/code: osf.io/h6cde/