@tdikow.bsky.social
biodiversity researcher - discovering fly species - deciphering their evolutionary history - natural history collections + digitization + data - #asiloidflies - deserts - photography - views mine ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4816-2909
Zu faul, zu oft krank? Vielleicht liegt’s auch am Verkehr. 🚗💸 Wir geben € im Leben fürs Auto aus – ohne Gesundheits- & #Klimaschäden. Andere Länder sind bei der #Verkehrswende weiter. Was wir lernen können & warum Merz ein #Tempolimit beschließen könnte im #Podcast 🎧
27.02.2026 14:54 — 👍 69 🔁 20 💬 2 📌 0
A view of the top of the head of a mining bee in the family Andrenidae, showing three small brown larvae with a hardened exoskeleton and a pointed, segmented abdomen. The larvae have their head down near the base of the bee's hairs, gripping them with the abdomen up in the air.
A small brown larvae with a hardened exoskeleton and a pointed, segmented abdomen crawling on the thorax of a mining bee among it's rusty orange hairs.
A small triungulin larva on a white background. It has an rectangular amber head and a tapered brown shiny body with six legs. It's gripping a bee's hair in its mouth.
A small triungulin larva on a white background. It has an rectangular amber head and a tapered brown shiny body with six legs. It's opening its mandibles.
A #bee was roaming the sidewalk aimlessly so I caught it for pics. It died 😭 but upon closer inspection there were live hitchhikers: #triungulins! Prob. blister beetles (Meloidae), they were tightly gripping hairs to ride the bee back to its nest, where they become grubs feeding on pollen & larvae.
26.04.2025 19:11 — 👍 121 🔁 23 💬 5 📌 1
Head of Engineering, DiSSCo UK based at @nhm-london.bsky.social "This is a rare opportunity to shape the national digital platform that will underpin the UK’s contribution to DiSSCo and unlock the potential of over 140 million natural science collection items." jobs.nhm.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...
09.03.2026 20:01 — 👍 5 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0
Ich lebe in der Zukunft. Ist angenehm hier! Christian Stöcker Eine Kolumne von Christian Stöcker Mir ist der Krieg gegen Iran keineswegs egal, seine Auswirkungen auf die Energiepreise aber schon. Öl und Gas spielen bei meinen Haushaltskosten keine Rolle. Das klingt privilegiert, doch auch Sie können etwas tun. 08.03.2026, 11.19 Uhr
Kolumne: Mein Leben ist gas- und ölfrei (von Schmier- und Speiseöl abgesehen). Es ist leiser, sauberer, sichererer und nicht zuletzt billiger als das von Leuten, die für Mobilität und Heizen auf fossile Brennstoffe angewiesen sind. In Zukunft werden wir alle so leben. #Iran
08.03.2026 12:38 — 👍 1095 🔁 293 💬 51 📌 10
The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) will soon have six vacancies among its ordinary members and is seeking nominations for new Commissioners to be elected in May 2027. Five vacancies stem from retiring Commissioners A. Ballerio (Italy; Coleoptera), P. Bouchard (Canada; Coleoptera), M. Harvey (Australia; Arachnida), D. Yanega (USA; Insecta), and H.-Z. Zhou (China; Coleoptera); a sixth vacancy needs to be filled to reach the Commission’s target of 28 members. The Commission hereby invites nominations, from any person, organisation or institution, of potential candidates for election. The nationalities and areas of expertise of the present members of the Commission may be found on the ICZN website (http:// iczn.org/commissioners). Article 2.2 of the ICZN Constitution prescribes that “The members of the Commission shall be eminent scientists, irrespective of nationality, with a distinguished record in any branch of zoology and an interest in zoological nomenclature”. Furthermore, according to Article 2.3 of the Constitution, the composition of the Commission shall be such as to secure representation of diverse interests and different parts of the world. Current activities within the Commission include monthly virtual meetings, voting on Cases every two or three months and participating in various activities as needed (e.g., reviewing or proofing Cases and Opinions, co-writing Declarations, participating in ad-hoc committees, preparing the next edition of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, updating the ICZN Constitution and Bylaws). Based on Article 3.1.1 of the Constitution, the maximum term of service of a member of the Commission is 18 years. Nominations, including the age, affiliation, nationality and qualifications of each nominee should be sent before 1 January 2027 to the ICZN Secretary (ic...@nus.edu. sg) together with a statement that the potential nominee will accept the nomination. Self-nominations are accepted.
The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is calling for nominations for new members doi.org/10.21805/bzn... The call is behind a paywall 🤦♂️ but text is below. Current commissioners are listed here www.iczn.org/about-the-ic... #taxonomy #iczn
06.03.2026 10:55 — 👍 3 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 1
flesh fly sitting on sand dune
flesh fly sitting on sand dune
flesh fly sitting on sand dune
flesh fly sitting on sand dune
#FlyFriday
two unidentified flesh flies in subfamily Miltogramminae (Sarcophagidae) - photographed on a coastal dune in foggy/overcast weather at McDougall's Bay, Northern Cape, South Africa - 31 January 2026
satellite flies = kleptoparasites of solitary bees + wasps
Scientific American has updated the figure, now grouped into swimmers, fliers, walkers/runners, and vehicles. A person on a bicycle remains the most efficient way to travel, compared to all forms of biological locomotion and mechanical transport.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hu...
Sie ist schwarz-gelb und lebt in Peru: Eine neu entdeckte Schmetterlingsart heißt nun Vanewrightia borussiadortmund. Den Namen hat sie einem Fußballfan zu verdanken. Peter Klausmeier ließ sich das etwas kosten.
04.03.2026 07:33 — 👍 20 🔁 5 💬 1 📌 4
CO-SIGNED!
I’ve met so many folks who want to study bugs and learn how to find new species, there are absolutely more interested parties than there are jobs
A two-column status table titled "Stage" and "Start Date" tracks the timeline of a manuscript submission from its preliminary data submission on October 8, 2025, to its eventual withdrawal on March 2, 2026. The log reveals a lengthy and repetitive administrative process, particularly between October 26, 2025, and February 19, 2026, where the status cycled more than ten times between "Contacting Potential Reviewers" and "Waiting for Reviewer Assignment," suggesting significant difficulty in securing peer reviewers. Following these numerous failed attempts to move into the active review phase, the final entry shows the manuscript was officially withdrawn on March 2, 2026, at 09:08:18.
My first paper had to be mailed to Stockholm, Sweden, and then mailed to reviewers around the world. Everything by mail! It was submitted, reviewed, revised, typeset, and published in 3 months. I feel bad for early-career scientists who can't find a single reviewer after 5 months. It's gotta change.
03.03.2026 11:42 — 👍 246 🔁 38 💬 13 📌 11Good article, but the framing is wrong. There is not a dearth of interest in taxonomy. There is a scarcity of funding and positions, which is a deliberate choice by funding agencies and institutions. The youth love taxonomy! It's the olds that are failing to meet their passion!
03.03.2026 04:00 — 👍 301 🔁 85 💬 5 📌 7
Incredible article about Art Borkent, biting midges, and aging taxonomists.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
MEINUNG •Neues Heizungsgesetz »Habeck ist doof« ist keine Strategie Christian Stöcker Eine Kolumne von Christian Stöcker Die Union legt die Axt an die deutsche Klimapolitik, die SPD macht mit. Das ist kurzsichtig: ökonomisch, gesundheitlich, geopolitisch und klimatisch. Die Koalitionäre ignorieren etwas Zentrales.
Kolumne: Die Welt verändert sich in atemberaubendem Tempo. Sie wird heißer, schneller, fossile Geschäftsmodelle sterben zwangsläufig, neue entstehen. Die Bundesregierung setzt stattdessen auf Retro-Technik. Das ist schlecht für das Land - und schlecht für die Menschheit.
01.03.2026 17:04 — 👍 2066 🔁 657 💬 69 📌 30
a pair of mating Nymphomyia walkeri adults. These tiny little flies would have feathery wings when they first emerge, but lose their wings when they re-enter the water to mate.
A larva of Nymphomyia walkeri from Newfoundland. This is a tiny little white worm-like larva with a shiny head and little prolegs all along the abdomen.
Dorsal view of a Blepharicera tenuipes larva from Labrador, Canada. The larvae is a pale tan in colour, with a darker mark on its head. Each segment is expanded out on each side, with a proleg on each side.
Ventral view of a Blepharicera tenuipes larva from Labrador, Canada. The larvae is a pale tan in colour, and each segment is expanded, with a dark, circular sucker in the centre to help the larva hold on to rocks in fast water. Little finger-like gills can also be seen on each segment.
Quite a treat to encounter some cute little Diptera in vials inadvertently included amongst my Newfoundland and Labrador mayfly vials: these are Nymphomyiids and blepharicerids.
26.02.2026 00:09 — 👍 26 🔁 7 💬 3 📌 1
The "publish or perish" culture must perish. Scientists need time to think.
We just published our Slow Science Manifesto, where we argue that huge changes are needed in the way we fund, publish, and evaluate science.
Read more and sign here: www.slow-science.com
assassin fly eating a small flesh fly
assassin fly eating a small flesh fly
flowering plant on coastal dune
coastal dune habitat
#FlyFriday
assassin fly Neolophonotus sp. (Asilidae: Asilinae) with small flesh fly (Sarcophagidae) prey - photographed on a coastal dune in foggy/overcast weather at McDougall's Bay, Northern Cape, South Africa - 31 January 2026
#asiloidflies
Wisdom the Laysan albatross is back! She's at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Originally banded in 1956, she's at least 75 years old, has flown >3 million miles (lifetime Premier 1K® on United), laid 50 to 60 eggs, and fledged ~30 chicks. 🪶
19.02.2026 10:49 — 👍 203 🔁 48 💬 2 📌 6
Photograph of a brilliant puffin spreading its wings amongst flowers on a cliff top
🔎 From biodiversity observations to insights: Hands-on training 🤝
Over the upcoming Fridays at 15:00 CET, @b-cubed.eu is hosting a training series to showcase emerging approaches that help make biodiversity data more actionable in practice.
🔗gbif.link/b-cubed-tr...
📢 Call for submissions: "Beyond Digitization: Open Digital Curation of Collections-based Biodiversity Data."
This topical collection aims to explore how #AI and human annotations can enhance #biodiversity #data and flow back to source systems.
📅 Deadline: 1 Sept 2026
Details 👇
an arctic fox on a snowy ledge
🎓 Student job alert! Are you studying in #Copenhagen, have an interest in open data and scientific literature and want to make some extra cash💰
⏰ 10-12 hours per week
💸 Competitive hourly wage
😍 Flexible hours
📍 Deadline: 27 February 2026
🔗 gbif.link/student-job
Ready to level up your data skills? 📊
At #AquaticInsects SIG 2026, join a hands-on R + machine learning workshop exploring macroinvertebrate and environmental data.
📅 26-27 Feb (online)
Info & signup ⬇️
buff.ly/uLDNn9A
Registration deadline: 17:00 (GMT), 25 Feb
@entsocamerica.bsky.social
desk space in insect collection at Iziko South African Museum with view of Lions Head
assassin fly Anasillomos chrysopos with cicada prey
two male assassin flies of Acnephalomyia leukoros mounted on single card
assassin fly Teratopomyia cyanea - first species of Asilidae described from South Africa in 1781
#FlyFriday
visiting Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town today - great collection, great flies, (partial) view of Lions Head
assassin flies:
Anasillomos chrysopos with cicada prey
Acnephalomyia leukoros males
Teratopomyia cyanea - 1st species described from South Africa in 1781
#asiloidflies
1. Yes, this is real footage from Poland's Wrocław Zoo
2. The deer, a male muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi, aka "barking deer"), is hopped up on testosterone because its mate is in heat
3. Muntjac males weigh up to ~40 lbs (18 kg). Maruśka, the rhino, weighs 1.7 tons
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3786348...
wintery scene in Connecticut, USA
wintery scene in Connecticut, USA
wintery scene with Rhododendron leaves and snow in Connecticut, USA
Happy New Year everyone!
01.01.2026 14:28 — 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Relentless "improvement" of the countryside leaves no space for nature.
But ever more people are now helping the wild return, through *rewilding*.
No matter who you are or where you live, you too have a part to play in the fight.
There is no better New Year's resolution.
close up photo of a fish
News splash! 💦 🐟 GBIF data use surges globally, powering more than 12,000 studies across 180 countries! 🤯
The systematic review led by Dirk Steinke published in @pnas.org examined scopes, methods and complementary data sources in literature citing GBIF.
Read more: 🔗 gbif.link/systematic...
Megaphorus sp. - Asilinae: Apocleini
#asiloidflies
What we had until today: a fragmented model of access/request of specimens. What #ELVIS (European Loans & Visit System) already offers: a single entry point for estandardised practices across institutions, better discoverability and traceability. DEMO 👉 www.dissco.eu/applications...
08.12.2025 11:26 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
occurrence data at @gbif.org doi doi.org/10.15468/xyr...
online key at keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v4/acro...
photos at @figshare.com doi doi.org/10.25573/dat...
#asiloidflies #FlyFriday
specimen of new fly species, Acronyches gephyrus, mounted on a pin
specimen of new fly species, Acronyches gephyrus, mounted on a pin
specimen of new fly species, Acronyches gephyrus, mounted on a pin
map with distribution of Acronyches species
#FlyFriday
new revision of assassin-fly genus Acronyches Williston, 1908 (Asilidae: Leptogastrinae) with @ento-allan.bsky.social out - 4 new species from Central + South America - flies catch spiders in their web (see www.inaturalist.org/observations... doi doi.org/10.4289/0013...
#asiloidflies