Tapani Hopkins
@tapani-hopkins.bsky.social
Studying African rainforest wasps, biodiversity, and other excuses not to get a real job. University of Turku, but living in Kållby 🇫🇮.
Posts in English / svenska / suomeksi
Also here:
https://mastodon.online/@tapani_hopkins
https://users.utu.fi/taesho
Posts in English / svenska / suomeksi
Also here:
https://mastodon.online/@tapani_hopkins
https://users.utu.fi/taesho
Pinned
Some new people here, so an intro post 🥳
Hi, I'm Tapani 👋 I collected 100 litres of Ugandan insects and still haven't got them sorted. Lots of new wasp species on the way, some day.
Posts in English / svenska ⤵️ / suomeksi ⤵️
Hi, I'm Tapani 👋 I collected 100 litres of Ugandan insects and still haven't got them sorted. Lots of new wasp species on the way, some day.
Posts in English / svenska ⤵️ / suomeksi ⤵️
Hyviä uutisia Ricardolle ja muille biodiversiteettiyksikössämme @utu.fi! 🥳
Hyvällä lykyllä tulee ihan käytännönkin hyötyä tästä: kaupunkiympäristö jossa ei jatkuvasti tunnu stressikiire olisi hienoa.
Hyvällä lykyllä tulee ihan käytännönkin hyötyä tästä: kaupunkiympäristö jossa ei jatkuvasti tunnu stressikiire olisi hienoa.
Elinympäristöjen vaikutusta aikasuhteeseen tutkivalle Ricardo Correialle arvostettu 2 miljoonan euron ERC-rahoitus
Turun yliopiston biodiversiteettiyksikön johtamassa kansainvälisessä tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan, miten luonto ja erilaiset elinympäristöt vaikuttavat ihmisten ajantajuun.
www.utu.fi
December 9, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Hyviä uutisia Ricardolle ja muille biodiversiteettiyksikössämme @utu.fi! 🥳
Hyvällä lykyllä tulee ihan käytännönkin hyötyä tästä: kaupunkiympäristö jossa ei jatkuvasti tunnu stressikiire olisi hienoa.
Hyvällä lykyllä tulee ihan käytännönkin hyötyä tästä: kaupunkiympäristö jossa ei jatkuvasti tunnu stressikiire olisi hienoa.
Reposted by Tapani Hopkins
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot
December 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot
And it shows! Gauld & Mitchell 1978:
"The pre-Townesian authors generally failed to consider the work of their contemporaries and predecessors. The earliest of them described as new any species they received from any part of Africa."
"The pre-Townesian authors generally failed to consider the work of their contemporaries and predecessors. The earliest of them described as new any species they received from any part of Africa."
December 9, 2025 at 8:40 AM
And it shows! Gauld & Mitchell 1978:
"The pre-Townesian authors generally failed to consider the work of their contemporaries and predecessors. The earliest of them described as new any species they received from any part of Africa."
"The pre-Townesian authors generally failed to consider the work of their contemporaries and predecessors. The earliest of them described as new any species they received from any part of Africa."
OK yes, but in Thailand you can't eat a boiled beetroot as a traditional Christmas Delicacy.
So wanna guess how much sunlight we’ve got this December so far?
Six minutes. Total.
And soon, air will hurt our faces.
Apparently our ancestors came by way of Thailand. WERE THE BEACHES REALLY THAT BAD?
www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-...
Six minutes. Total.
And soon, air will hurt our faces.
Apparently our ancestors came by way of Thailand. WERE THE BEACHES REALLY THAT BAD?
www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-...
Näin naurettavan vähän aurinkoa on nähty joulukuussa – meteorologi: ”Onpas kyllä...”
Joulukuu on tuntunut syystäkin pimeältä. Sen todistavat myös tilastot.
www.is.fi
December 9, 2025 at 7:12 AM
OK yes, but in Thailand you can't eat a boiled beetroot as a traditional Christmas Delicacy.
One reason I've tried to be conservative when citing insect decline papers. I'd be very surprised if insects were not in severe decline, but the fact is we don't really know.
The fact that we don't know is alarming enough.
The fact that we don't know is alarming enough.
“Despite reports of catastrophic insect declines, their global status remains unclear due to … a massive lack of data”
Poorly evidenced reports of huge losses do insects a disservice & do not help with planning appropriate action
www.ceh.ac.uk/press/some-i...
Poorly evidenced reports of huge losses do insects a disservice & do not help with planning appropriate action
www.ceh.ac.uk/press/some-i...
‘Some insects are declining but what’s happening to the other 99%?’
Little is known about how 99% of insect species globally are faring and a new approach is needed to better monitor species and protect them, according to a study led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hyd...
www.ceh.ac.uk
December 9, 2025 at 6:52 AM
One reason I've tried to be conservative when citing insect decline papers. I'd be very surprised if insects were not in severe decline, but the fact is we don't really know.
The fact that we don't know is alarming enough.
The fact that we don't know is alarming enough.
That's interesting: I genuinely can't tell if this is some new academic fraud email, or genuine.
My first instinct was "spam again", but looking at it it almost seems plausible? 🤔
My first instinct was "spam again", but looking at it it almost seems plausible? 🤔
December 8, 2025 at 5:09 PM
That's interesting: I genuinely can't tell if this is some new academic fraud email, or genuine.
My first instinct was "spam again", but looking at it it almost seems plausible? 🤔
My first instinct was "spam again", but looking at it it almost seems plausible? 🤔
Just realised, when doing the last checks on a species description we're writing, that we parasitoid waspologists have an.. interesting.. way of using the word "gregarious".
gregarious = if you detect another wasp larvae, you *don't* immediately kill and eat it
gregarious = if you detect another wasp larvae, you *don't* immediately kill and eat it
December 8, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Just realised, when doing the last checks on a species description we're writing, that we parasitoid waspologists have an.. interesting.. way of using the word "gregarious".
gregarious = if you detect another wasp larvae, you *don't* immediately kill and eat it
gregarious = if you detect another wasp larvae, you *don't* immediately kill and eat it
Nice to have numbers on this! I can very much second the statement "mapping Earth's biodiversity is far from over".
Looking at the many boxes of Ugandan wasps on the table in front of me right now, mostly with species new to science, it feels as if we've barely started.
Looking at the many boxes of Ugandan wasps on the table in front of me right now, mostly with species new to science, it feels as if we've barely started.
Fascinated to learn that we are still discovering new species at the highest rate ever. Mapping Earth's biodiversity is far from over, and while we learn more and more about it, let's protect what we do know as well as we can!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The past and future of known biodiversity: Rates, patterns, and projections of new species over time
The number of known species on Earth is increasing rapidly, suggesting unexpectedly large numbers of many groups.
www.science.org
December 8, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Nice to have numbers on this! I can very much second the statement "mapping Earth's biodiversity is far from over".
Looking at the many boxes of Ugandan wasps on the table in front of me right now, mostly with species new to science, it feels as if we've barely started.
Looking at the many boxes of Ugandan wasps on the table in front of me right now, mostly with species new to science, it feels as if we've barely started.
Reposted by Tapani Hopkins
Finland is one comparatively successful model, but not just because schools teach critical thinking. Finland has high social trust, strong public-service media and coherent institutions. The whole system supports verification and open deliberation, you can’t copy the surface without the structure.
December 7, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Finland is one comparatively successful model, but not just because schools teach critical thinking. Finland has high social trust, strong public-service media and coherent institutions. The whole system supports verification and open deliberation, you can’t copy the surface without the structure.
To be absolutely honest, I'm starting to lose track. Of which west(ish) African countries haven't yet had a recent coup or coup attempt.
Benin coup announced: Soldiers say they have ousted President Talon from power
A message from the French embassy in Benin said gunfire had been reported near the residence of the president.
www.bbc.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:52 AM
To be absolutely honest, I'm starting to lose track. Of which west(ish) African countries haven't yet had a recent coup or coup attempt.
Nu kan vi gå och sova, alla viktiga gäster på slottsbalen har anlänt. 🙂
KAJ saapui Linnaan
KAJ saapui Linnaan
yle.fi
December 6, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Nu kan vi gå och sova, alla viktiga gäster på slottsbalen har anlänt. 🙂
Reposted by Tapani Hopkins
Since it is Finland’s Independence Day today, here’s probably the most famous Finnish patriotic painting ever. My favourite too!
Because note the book the two-headed eagle is attacking. “Lex” - Law.
The rule of law.
“The Attack,” Edvard (Eetu) Isto, 1899.
Because note the book the two-headed eagle is attacking. “Lex” - Law.
The rule of law.
“The Attack,” Edvard (Eetu) Isto, 1899.
December 6, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Since it is Finland’s Independence Day today, here’s probably the most famous Finnish patriotic painting ever. My favourite too!
Because note the book the two-headed eagle is attacking. “Lex” - Law.
The rule of law.
“The Attack,” Edvard (Eetu) Isto, 1899.
Because note the book the two-headed eagle is attacking. “Lex” - Law.
The rule of law.
“The Attack,” Edvard (Eetu) Isto, 1899.
🥳
Now do levels0, nlevels0 etc? (same as levels() etc, but convert to factor if the vector isn't already one)
Now do levels0, nlevels0 etc? (same as levels() etc, but convert to factor if the vector isn't already one)
December 6, 2025 at 1:23 PM
🥳
Now do levels0, nlevels0 etc? (same as levels() etc, but convert to factor if the vector isn't already one)
Now do levels0, nlevels0 etc? (same as levels() etc, but convert to factor if the vector isn't already one)
Looks like a fun PhD option, GPS tagging eagles at @utu.fi.
Doctoral researcher/ project researcher (Animal Ecology)
The Faculty of Science at the University of Turku, Department of Biology, invites applications for contract-based, fixed term doctoral researcher / project researcher position. The position is fully f...
ats.talentadore.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Looks like a fun PhD option, GPS tagging eagles at @utu.fi.
Another small bug in R package turkuwasps. Which turned out to be a known thing (see blog post from 2021).
I was telling R to drop wasps from unusable samples. When there were no unusable samples, it didn't keep all the wasps as I'd expected.. it removed all of them from the analyses.
I was telling R to drop wasps from unusable samples. When there were no unusable samples, it didn't keep all the wasps as I'd expected.. it removed all of them from the analyses.
Small gotcha when using negative indexing
Negative indexing is a commonly used method in R to drop elements from a vector or rows/columns from a matrix that the user does not want. For example, the code below drops the third column from th…
statisticaloddsandends.wordpress.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Another small bug in R package turkuwasps. Which turned out to be a known thing (see blog post from 2021).
I was telling R to drop wasps from unusable samples. When there were no unusable samples, it didn't keep all the wasps as I'd expected.. it removed all of them from the analyses.
I was telling R to drop wasps from unusable samples. When there were no unusable samples, it didn't keep all the wasps as I'd expected.. it removed all of them from the analyses.
Reposted by Tapani Hopkins
Needless to say "chip shop" "chinese" "curry" are rarely if ever combined into a coherent sentence in the USA nor would most (any?) Americans get chips/fries from a Chinese takeaway. But we live in a fascinating world.
December 4, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Needless to say "chip shop" "chinese" "curry" are rarely if ever combined into a coherent sentence in the USA nor would most (any?) Americans get chips/fries from a Chinese takeaway. But we live in a fascinating world.
We found yet another Laticoleus species! 🥳 Helps a lot, having fresh eyes looking at the wasps.
Turkureissu edessä, yritän pakata kaikki tarvittavat pistiäislaatikot mukaan ennen yöjunan lähtöä.
Nu har jag en massa ugandiska stekelarter som jag ska be mina kollegor i Åbo ta en titt på.
Now reached the stage with my Ugandan species where I'm getting second opinions. Night train to Turku. 🚄
Nu har jag en massa ugandiska stekelarter som jag ska be mina kollegor i Åbo ta en titt på.
Now reached the stage with my Ugandan species where I'm getting second opinions. Night train to Turku. 🚄
December 3, 2025 at 10:38 AM
We found yet another Laticoleus species! 🥳 Helps a lot, having fresh eyes looking at the wasps.
Reposted by Tapani Hopkins
The following page goes into more detail, with the soldier's code of conduct Finnish soldiers *must* abide by.
Which incidentally repeats "Saying that there will be no quarter given or no prisoners taken is a war crime."
This can and is taught to literally conscripts. It isn't difficult.
Which incidentally repeats "Saying that there will be no quarter given or no prisoners taken is a war crime."
This can and is taught to literally conscripts. It isn't difficult.
December 2, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The following page goes into more detail, with the soldier's code of conduct Finnish soldiers *must* abide by.
Which incidentally repeats "Saying that there will be no quarter given or no prisoners taken is a war crime."
This can and is taught to literally conscripts. It isn't difficult.
Which incidentally repeats "Saying that there will be no quarter given or no prisoners taken is a war crime."
This can and is taught to literally conscripts. It isn't difficult.
One of the saddest losses to modern drone warfare. 🙁
I dare say they'll continue in widespread use, but for the zone of contact we'll need to think of something different.
I dare say they'll continue in widespread use, but for the zone of contact we'll need to think of something different.
Oh and there's a cross-section of a section tent - the mainstay of Finnish Army accommodation since 1930s, and one of the Finnish secret weapons during the 1939-40 Winter War (really!).
Some ask "why change if it ain't broken," the FDF asks "why change"?
(Drones are likely the end of it though.)
Some ask "why change if it ain't broken," the FDF asks "why change"?
(Drones are likely the end of it though.)
December 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
One of the saddest losses to modern drone warfare. 🙁
I dare say they'll continue in widespread use, but for the zone of contact we'll need to think of something different.
I dare say they'll continue in widespread use, but for the zone of contact we'll need to think of something different.
Lupaavaa! Promising! Lovande!
Ugandan Dicamptus wasp being processed by the impressive Helicon software (made in Kharkiv, Ukraine).
Ugandan Dicamptus wasp being processed by the impressive Helicon software (made in Kharkiv, Ukraine).
December 2, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Lupaavaa! Promising! Lovande!
Ugandan Dicamptus wasp being processed by the impressive Helicon software (made in Kharkiv, Ukraine).
Ugandan Dicamptus wasp being processed by the impressive Helicon software (made in Kharkiv, Ukraine).
Reposted by Tapani Hopkins
In January, Ugandans will head to the polls—officially to elect their president but in reality to confirm the inevitable. Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled since 1986, will win again. This will mark his ninth term in power 1/3
archive.ph
December 2, 2025 at 7:27 AM
In January, Ugandans will head to the polls—officially to elect their president but in reality to confirm the inevitable. Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled since 1986, will win again. This will mark his ninth term in power 1/3
Turkureissu edessä, yritän pakata kaikki tarvittavat pistiäislaatikot mukaan ennen yöjunan lähtöä.
Nu har jag en massa ugandiska stekelarter som jag ska be mina kollegor i Åbo ta en titt på.
Now reached the stage with my Ugandan species where I'm getting second opinions. Night train to Turku. 🚄
Nu har jag en massa ugandiska stekelarter som jag ska be mina kollegor i Åbo ta en titt på.
Now reached the stage with my Ugandan species where I'm getting second opinions. Night train to Turku. 🚄
December 1, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Turkureissu edessä, yritän pakata kaikki tarvittavat pistiäislaatikot mukaan ennen yöjunan lähtöä.
Nu har jag en massa ugandiska stekelarter som jag ska be mina kollegor i Åbo ta en titt på.
Now reached the stage with my Ugandan species where I'm getting second opinions. Night train to Turku. 🚄
Nu har jag en massa ugandiska stekelarter som jag ska be mina kollegor i Åbo ta en titt på.
Now reached the stage with my Ugandan species where I'm getting second opinions. Night train to Turku. 🚄
I don't understand why everyone's complaining about AI. Seems to separate African wasp species quite well.
December 1, 2025 at 9:25 AM
I don't understand why everyone's complaining about AI. Seems to separate African wasp species quite well.
Tuli eilen nostalginen olo, kun joku yritti tyrkyttää pakolla kauppaamaansa tavaraa. Suomessa tuohon myyntityyliin törmää pääosin feissareilta.
Muttei tullut kauppoja.
Muttei tullut kauppoja.
November 30, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Tuli eilen nostalginen olo, kun joku yritti tyrkyttää pakolla kauppaamaansa tavaraa. Suomessa tuohon myyntityyliin törmää pääosin feissareilta.
Muttei tullut kauppoja.
Muttei tullut kauppoja.
Aidot kuvat aina parempia.
Päätin laittaa blokkiin, vaikken yleensä blokkaa herkästi. En halua ketjuihini tiliä joka valehtelee esittävänsä aitoja luontokuvia.
Päätin laittaa blokkiin, vaikken yleensä blokkaa herkästi. En halua ketjuihini tiliä joka valehtelee esittävänsä aitoja luontokuvia.
Lienee turhaa ja toivotonta estää TÄ:llä tehtyjen maisemakuvien hyökyaaltoa, mutta ainahan voi yrittää: "Nature Nomad"- tili pukkaa kymmenille tuhansille seuraajille (melko huonosti tehtyä) kuraa aitoina kuvina. Eli laittakaahan blokkiin.
November 30, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Aidot kuvat aina parempia.
Päätin laittaa blokkiin, vaikken yleensä blokkaa herkästi. En halua ketjuihini tiliä joka valehtelee esittävänsä aitoja luontokuvia.
Päätin laittaa blokkiin, vaikken yleensä blokkaa herkästi. En halua ketjuihini tiliä joka valehtelee esittävänsä aitoja luontokuvia.