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
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. 😃😃😃
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 🚆🚅🚌
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 😳
🪲 Stage M2 – Évolution de la vie de famille chez les insectes
IRBI (Université de Tours / CNRS) | Janv. 2026
La vie de famille est partout dans la nature… mais comment et pourquoi est-elle apparue ? Viens étudier cette question fascinante avec nous!
Info 👉 joelmeunier.wixsite.com/researchpage...
IRBI (Université de Tours / CNRS) | Janv. 2026
La vie de famille est partout dans la nature… mais comment et pourquoi est-elle apparue ? Viens étudier cette question fascinante avec nous!
Info 👉 joelmeunier.wixsite.com/researchpage...
September 2, 2025 at 2:47 PM
🪲 Stage M2 – Évolution de la vie de famille chez les insectes
IRBI (Université de Tours / CNRS) | Janv. 2026
La vie de famille est partout dans la nature… mais comment et pourquoi est-elle apparue ? Viens étudier cette question fascinante avec nous!
Info 👉 joelmeunier.wixsite.com/researchpage...
IRBI (Université de Tours / CNRS) | Janv. 2026
La vie de famille est partout dans la nature… mais comment et pourquoi est-elle apparue ? Viens étudier cette question fascinante avec nous!
Info 👉 joelmeunier.wixsite.com/researchpage...
Back from Brittany, with its magnificent landscapes. The battery is recharged for what promises to be a very busy scientific year!
August 17, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Back from Brittany, with its magnificent landscapes. The battery is recharged for what promises to be a very busy scientific year!
Today, a lot of earwig research was presented at the French-speaking section of the #IUSSI in Paris. Special rounds of applause to Laura Pasquier and Simon de Wever for their excellent presentations on their PhD projects.
June 19, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Today, a lot of earwig research was presented at the French-speaking section of the #IUSSI in Paris. Special rounds of applause to Laura Pasquier and Simon de Wever for their excellent presentations on their PhD projects.
Léo Korst finished his master's project in my group this week. Much to my surprise, he gave me a wonderful painting of an earwig. He is clearly talented in both science and art! Thank you so much Léo!
June 18, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Léo Korst finished his master's project in my group this week. Much to my surprise, he gave me a wonderful painting of an earwig. He is clearly talented in both science and art! Thank you so much Léo!
New paper out: "Alternative reproductive strategies in two cryptic species of the European earwig complex" rdcu.be/eqfpM
F. dentata invests before egg-laying, F. auricularia after. Same egg number, different trade-offs -> hidden paths to reproductive success. @irbi-tours.bsky.social
F. dentata invests before egg-laying, F. auricularia after. Same egg number, different trade-offs -> hidden paths to reproductive success. @irbi-tours.bsky.social
June 10, 2025 at 5:33 AM
New paper out: "Alternative reproductive strategies in two cryptic species of the European earwig complex" rdcu.be/eqfpM
F. dentata invests before egg-laying, F. auricularia after. Same egg number, different trade-offs -> hidden paths to reproductive success. @irbi-tours.bsky.social
F. dentata invests before egg-laying, F. auricularia after. Same egg number, different trade-offs -> hidden paths to reproductive success. @irbi-tours.bsky.social
#EarwigFunFact 25 — In some orchards, earwigs are pests; in others, they’re valued as natural allies. So scientists tried moving them between orchards … with mixed success so far! 🪳🌍🧪
More info 👉 www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14...
More info 👉 www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14...
May 19, 2025 at 6:50 AM
#EarwigFunFact 25 — In some orchards, earwigs are pests; in others, they’re valued as natural allies. So scientists tried moving them between orchards … with mixed success so far! 🪳🌍🧪
More info 👉 www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14...
More info 👉 www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14...
It was a real pleasure to talk about our recent data on the earwig microbiota at the REID meeting in Lyon, France.🐛🐜🐞🦠🔬🧪
Lots of interesting talks, many old friends, and a fantastic opportunity to meet a very promising generation of new scientists!
Lots of interesting talks, many old friends, and a fantastic opportunity to meet a very promising generation of new scientists!
May 14, 2025 at 6:55 PM
It was a real pleasure to talk about our recent data on the earwig microbiota at the REID meeting in Lyon, France.🐛🐜🐞🦠🔬🧪
Lots of interesting talks, many old friends, and a fantastic opportunity to meet a very promising generation of new scientists!
Lots of interesting talks, many old friends, and a fantastic opportunity to meet a very promising generation of new scientists!
#EarwigFunFact 24 — Earwig mothers have a reputation for being devoted, but they’re also selective: they invest more care in high-quality offspring than in weaker ones. Tough love in the insect world! 🧪 ❤️
More info 👉 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
More info 👉 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
May 12, 2025 at 6:50 AM
#EarwigFunFact 24 — Earwig mothers have a reputation for being devoted, but they’re also selective: they invest more care in high-quality offspring than in weaker ones. Tough love in the insect world! 🧪 ❤️
More info 👉 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
More info 👉 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...
#EarwigFunFact 22 - European earwigs pack a stinky surprise with their defensive spray! Harmless but smelly, and watch out - it can leave a dark stain on your fingers if you handle too many (>100). This stain will take several days to disappear! 🌈👃🧪
May 5, 2025 at 6:01 AM
#EarwigFunFact 22 - European earwigs pack a stinky surprise with their defensive spray! Harmless but smelly, and watch out - it can leave a dark stain on your fingers if you handle too many (>100). This stain will take several days to disappear! 🌈👃🧪
#EarwigFunFact 21 - Altering the gut microbiota is a major issue for most animals. Not for the European earwig! Antibiotics don't faze them. Talk about resilience! 💪🌱🧪
More info 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
More info 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
April 28, 2025 at 6:01 AM
#EarwigFunFact 21 - Altering the gut microbiota is a major issue for most animals. Not for the European earwig! Antibiotics don't faze them. Talk about resilience! 💪🌱🧪
More info 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
More info 👉 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#EarwigFunFact 20 - European earwigs are very surprising: they shed their skin right during hatching! A fascinating and mysterious process of shedding. 🪄
More info 👉 doi.org/10.4039/tce....
More info 👉 doi.org/10.4039/tce....
April 21, 2025 at 6:01 AM
#EarwigFunFact 20 - European earwigs are very surprising: they shed their skin right during hatching! A fascinating and mysterious process of shedding. 🪄
More info 👉 doi.org/10.4039/tce....
More info 👉 doi.org/10.4039/tce....
#EarwigFunFact 19 - European earwigs are tough cookies! Their ingestion of heavy metals like cadmium don't stop them from being awesome moms.
More info 👉 linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii...
More info 👉 academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
More info 👉 linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii...
More info 👉 academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
April 14, 2025 at 6:01 AM
#EarwigFunFact 19 - European earwigs are tough cookies! Their ingestion of heavy metals like cadmium don't stop them from being awesome moms.
More info 👉 linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii...
More info 👉 academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
More info 👉 linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii...
More info 👉 academic.oup.com/beheco/artic...
#EarwigFunFact 18 - Even tiny amounts of pesticides can mess with an earwig's mom duties! Exposure to sublethal quantities of deltamethrin alters its expression of maternal egg care. Let's keep our gardens safe for these little helpers!
More info 👉 linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii...
More info 👉 linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii...
April 7, 2025 at 6:50 AM
#EarwigFunFact 18 - Even tiny amounts of pesticides can mess with an earwig's mom duties! Exposure to sublethal quantities of deltamethrin alters its expression of maternal egg care. Let's keep our gardens safe for these little helpers!
More info 👉 linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii...
More info 👉 linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii...
📚✨ Curieux·se de découvrir ce que c'est de faire une thèse sur les perce-oreilles ? Plongez dans cette BD illustrée par @pellichi.bsky.social, qui met en lumière le travail de thèse de Laura Pasquier dans mon équipe. Une superbe façon de rendre la science accessible ! @irbi-tours.bsky.social
April 4, 2025 at 11:50 AM
📚✨ Curieux·se de découvrir ce que c'est de faire une thèse sur les perce-oreilles ? Plongez dans cette BD illustrée par @pellichi.bsky.social, qui met en lumière le travail de thèse de Laura Pasquier dans mon équipe. Une superbe façon de rendre la science accessible ! @irbi-tours.bsky.social
#EarwigFunFact 15 - Earwig dads don’t provide care, but they can transfer something to their offspring that influences how much care they get from their mom - subtle parental manipulation in action! 🤔🎭 #InsectBehavior #SocialEvolution
More info 👉 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
More info 👉 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
March 17, 2025 at 8:28 AM
#EarwigFunFact 15 - Earwig dads don’t provide care, but they can transfer something to their offspring that influences how much care they get from their mom - subtle parental manipulation in action! 🤔🎭 #InsectBehavior #SocialEvolution
More info 👉 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
More info 👉 royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10....
#EarwigFunFact 14 - Earwig moms prevent sibling rivalry by homogenizing their juveniles' chemical signatures. This hides paternity cues, reducing nepotistic cooperation and promoting family harmony. 🧪🤝 #InsectParenting #SocialEvolution
More info 👉 buff.ly/3BXFn3H
More info 👉 buff.ly/3BXFn3H
March 10, 2025 at 7:50 AM
#EarwigFunFact 14 - Earwig moms prevent sibling rivalry by homogenizing their juveniles' chemical signatures. This hides paternity cues, reducing nepotistic cooperation and promoting family harmony. 🧪🤝 #InsectParenting #SocialEvolution
More info 👉 buff.ly/3BXFn3H
More info 👉 buff.ly/3BXFn3H
#EarwigFunFact 11 - European earwig moms don’t discriminate — they care for almost anything: foreign eggs, eggs of other earwig species, glass pearls, or even small objects. Unconditional maternal love in action! ❤️✨ #InsectCare #SocialEvolution
More info 👉 https://buff.ly/3Vh7OA6
More info 👉 https://buff.ly/3Vh7OA6
February 17, 2025 at 7:50 AM
#EarwigFunFact 11 - European earwig moms don’t discriminate — they care for almost anything: foreign eggs, eggs of other earwig species, glass pearls, or even small objects. Unconditional maternal love in action! ❤️✨ #InsectCare #SocialEvolution
More info 👉 https://buff.ly/3Vh7OA6
More info 👉 https://buff.ly/3Vh7OA6
🇫🇷🌳🐛 Offre de thèse : Venez étudiez l'écologie et le comportement du forficule européen dans les vergers ! 🍑🍏
Financement CIFRE - Collaboration entre l'IRBI (CNRS / Université de Tours) et l'AOP Pêches et Abricots de France.
Date limite : 14 avril 2025
#Recherche #Écologie #Agriculture
Financement CIFRE - Collaboration entre l'IRBI (CNRS / Université de Tours) et l'AOP Pêches et Abricots de France.
Date limite : 14 avril 2025
#Recherche #Écologie #Agriculture
February 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
🇫🇷🌳🐛 Offre de thèse : Venez étudiez l'écologie et le comportement du forficule européen dans les vergers ! 🍑🍏
Financement CIFRE - Collaboration entre l'IRBI (CNRS / Université de Tours) et l'AOP Pêches et Abricots de France.
Date limite : 14 avril 2025
#Recherche #Écologie #Agriculture
Financement CIFRE - Collaboration entre l'IRBI (CNRS / Université de Tours) et l'AOP Pêches et Abricots de France.
Date limite : 14 avril 2025
#Recherche #Écologie #Agriculture
#EarwigFunFact 9/n - Earwig moms are meticulous caretakers! For months, they groom their eggs to remove pathogens and apply protective chemicals to prevent desiccation. True insect supermoms! 💧
More info https://buff.ly/3CSlVFz
Photo: Romain Libbrecht
More info https://buff.ly/3CSlVFz
Photo: Romain Libbrecht
February 3, 2025 at 7:50 AM
#EarwigFunFact 9/n - Earwig moms are meticulous caretakers! For months, they groom their eggs to remove pathogens and apply protective chemicals to prevent desiccation. True insect supermoms! 💧
More info https://buff.ly/3CSlVFz
Photo: Romain Libbrecht
More info https://buff.ly/3CSlVFz
Photo: Romain Libbrecht
#EarwigFunFact 8/n 🪲: Earwigs host many gut microorganisms. One of them, gregarines, are tiny unicellular allies! Recent studies suggest these microbes may help earwigs survive tough times, like during starvation. Microbial teamwork in action! 🦠
More info 👉 https://buff.ly/4eVGuyd
More info 👉 https://buff.ly/4eVGuyd
January 27, 2025 at 7:50 AM
#EarwigFunFact 8/n 🪲: Earwigs host many gut microorganisms. One of them, gregarines, are tiny unicellular allies! Recent studies suggest these microbes may help earwigs survive tough times, like during starvation. Microbial teamwork in action! 🦠
More info 👉 https://buff.ly/4eVGuyd
More info 👉 https://buff.ly/4eVGuyd
📣 Mardi prochain, je donnerai une conférence grand public à Tours sur "Les secrets de la vie de famille chez les insectes".
📅 Mardi 28 janvier, 18h30, salle Senghor, 1 bis rue de la Préfecture, Tours. Gratuit. Venez nombreux·ses.
Tous les détails ici 👉 www.centre-sciences.org/evenement/le...
📅 Mardi 28 janvier, 18h30, salle Senghor, 1 bis rue de la Préfecture, Tours. Gratuit. Venez nombreux·ses.
Tous les détails ici 👉 www.centre-sciences.org/evenement/le...
January 22, 2025 at 7:20 AM
📣 Mardi prochain, je donnerai une conférence grand public à Tours sur "Les secrets de la vie de famille chez les insectes".
📅 Mardi 28 janvier, 18h30, salle Senghor, 1 bis rue de la Préfecture, Tours. Gratuit. Venez nombreux·ses.
Tous les détails ici 👉 www.centre-sciences.org/evenement/le...
📅 Mardi 28 janvier, 18h30, salle Senghor, 1 bis rue de la Préfecture, Tours. Gratuit. Venez nombreux·ses.
Tous les détails ici 👉 www.centre-sciences.org/evenement/le...