Nick Wybouw

Cool!

We are in Bluesky and we are happy to share our two last consortium publications: the DrosEU expanded DEST dataset and a Continent-wide study of phenotypic differentiation among European #Drosophila melanogaster populations (1/7)

Cool, congratulations!

Heterogeneity in inhibition of genetically diverse dengue virus strains by Wolbachia The release of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transinfected with the virus-inhibiting Wolbachia bacterium has the potential to reduce the burden caused by dengue virus (DENV). However, the robustness of thi...

📢New preprint on the impact of dengue virus genetic diversity on inhibition by Wolbachia 🦟🦠🧬

Project led by Afeez Sodeinde, @emiliefinch.bsky.social, and @keli5734.bsky.social! ✨

Key findings in thread below 👇

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Hi! We are looking for a PhD to work on the cross talk between transposable elements, insects and intracellular bacteria on the bioinformatics side. The PhD would be supervised by @mariefablet.bsky.social and myself along with @nicolasparisot.bsky.social Deadline December 2025! Please share! #tesky

YouTube video by 7 Days of Science The Ants That Broke Biology

If you’ve heard about our study on ants producing two different species but are still confused about how it works (and don’t have time to read the paper), this 10-minute video made by @bengthomas.bsky.social is very informative:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-O4...

Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

‘Almost unimaginable’: these ants are different species but share a mother Ant queens of one species clone ants of another to create hybrid workers that do their bidding.

A common type of ant in Europe breaks a fundamental rule in biology: its queens can produce male offspring that are a whole different species

go.nature.com/4mOb5T9

Had a blast presenting my work on Wolbachia and Spiroplasma-induced sex allocation distortion in haplodiploids at #ESEB2025!

Congratulations!

Goodbye #eseb2025 @eseb2025.bsky.social see you next time!

Perhaps what stuck most was powerful talk on resilience and survival by Palestinian researcher, play director, and ESEB EUEA awardee May Shehady. Let's not forget, let's not look away. 🇵🇸

I learned a lot exploring these intricate host-symbiont dynamics using theoretical biology. Excited that Felipe got a postdoc fellowship in my lab to continue our work! #Symbiosky

Reciprocal Host–Wolbachia Interactions Shape Infection Persistence Upon Loss of Cytoplasmic Incompatibility in Haplodiploids Maternally transmitted symbionts such as Wolbachia spread within host populations by mediating reproductive phenotypes. Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is a reproductive phenotype that interferes wi...

This collaboration/friendship started while measuring the yield of wild strawberry plants in Spain and has now led to a first publication, dx.doi.org/10.1111/eva.... . We wanted to better understand how Wolbachia infection persists upon loss of CI in our favourite mite, Tetranychus urticae.

Two fully funded #PhD positions on insect #Symbiosis available in our lab: Spiroplasma in Neotropical Arthropods (tinyurl.com/spiroplasma) & Psyllid symbionts (tinyurl.com/psyllids).
Please contact me for any questions & share widely #symbiosky #academicjobs

Insects usually care for their own young, but sometimes they also help other species. This #RSOS study found that yellow meadow #ants protect the eggs of root aphids in their nests during winter. Read more: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... @tparmentier.bsky.social @wybouw.bsky.social

New paper with @wybouw.bsky.social on the protection of aphid eggs in ant nests:
doi.org/10.1098/rsos...

*black eggs --> Anoecia zirnitsi, host: Lasius flavus
*eggs rapidly retrieved among ant brood and protected against predators and fungi
*mediated by chemical cues, transferred to glass dummies

Excited to advertise a shared PhD position at KU Leuven (Belgium) and Mondsee (Austria) with @markusmoest.bsky.social on the genetic basis, plasticity and evolution of melanization in Daphnia from alpine lakes. Apply here: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...

Diverging Arabidopsis populations quickly accumulate pollen-acting genetic incompatibilities
doi.org/10.1093/evle...

Now in @evolletters.bsky.social by Christopher Condon et al.

Graphical abstract of: Plant silicon defence disrupts cryptic colouration in an insect herbivore by restricting carotenoid sequestration into the haemolymph

Our newest #RESPhysEnt paper reveals plant silicon defence disrupts cryptic colouration in an insect herbivore by restricting carotenoid sequestration into the haemolymph

Read the article🔽
doi.org/10.1111/phen.12492

@wybouw.bsky.social @tbuescher.bsky.social @tobybruce.bsky.social @wiley.com

A MSCA fellowship is a wonderful thing

Gerben presents his work on phasmid egg colouration.

Wonderful opening talk on phasmid egg colouration by @gdebruyn.bsky.social at the yearly International Stick Insect Meeting.

Always satisfying to see a new thriving Liriomyza lab population #leafminers

Three cabbage stem flea beetle larvae on the base of an oilseed rape plant.

Studentship opportunity! Come join us to work on plant-insect interactions at @johninnescentre.bsky.social (supported by @rsb.org.uk). More details here: ryanebrock.github.io/opportunities/

Evolution of Wolbachia male-killing mechanism within a host species Male-killing bacterial symbionts, prevalent in arthropods, skew population sex ratios by selectively killing male progeny, profoundly impacting ecolog…

@haraipapilio.bsky.social paper on evolution of Wolbachia MK mechanism through prophage acquisition in molina butterflies - avoiding suppression by the host. Now out! #symbiosky www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti.... With @daisukekageyama.bsky.social @bolinabug.bsky.social and others

Congratulations! Greatly enjoyed reading this study!

Abstract submission and registration are now open for Ento25 - advertisement featuring a Violet Leaf Beetle (Chrysolina strumi), photo (c) Tyler Redford 2024

🐞 Spread the word!

Registration and abstract submission are now open for our annual conference, #Ento25!

Join the entomological community in-person or online this September, with opportunities to present your work, meet new contacts and build collaborations 🔽

buff.ly/tKyJIbN

Leafminers are the coolest

Graphical abstract of: Species differences in reproductive timing and egg load in two fly species adapted to different host plants

Our newest research in #RESPhysEnt reveals species differences in reproductive timing and egg load in two #fly species adapted to different #HostPlants

Read the article now🔽
buff.ly/jrFSup9

@wybouw.bsky.social @tbuescher.bsky.social @wiley.com

Why are they in a fast food restaurant?

Congratulations!

Very cool, glad to see your research expanding - congratulations!