Josh Gibson, Ph.D.

Large model of a green caterpillar, the back of which is covered by dozens of white cocoons. Wasps can be seen emerging from some of the cocoons.

Spookiest decoration at the "Zoo Goes Boo" event at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids? Giant model of parasitoid wasps hatching from cocoons affixed to their caterpillar host.

A revision of the rare Strumigenys mnemosyne (Formicidae; Myrmicinae) group using micro-CT scanning, with the description of three new species, and the virtual repair of a broken paratype The ant genus Strumigenys is both species rich, with over 800 species described, and morphologically diverse. The Strumigenys mnemosyne species group, a collection of small and infrequently collected ...

My newest paper, we used traditional microscopy combined with micro-CT scanning to revise the Strumigeny mnemosyne group. Three new Strumigenys species are described from Asia as well as virtually repair a broken paratype specimen using micro-CT derived 3D models.

journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

#microCT scan of the left palpal bulb (male copulatory organ) of a grass spider I found wandering Beckman's hallways last week! 😍(He was on his last legs when he was preserved for the scan). Taken in the Microscopy Suite of @beckmanillinois.bsky.social and rendered in the Visualization Lab.

Actually, no! Spider testes are located inside their abdomen. Their palpal bulbs form when they reach sexual maturity are not connected to their testes at all - they have to physically load them with sperm by ejaculating into a small web they spin for that purpose.

I have with ants! You generally get less shrinkage but lower contrast and more issues with sample drift.

Tell them I said hi 👋 I worked at the collection for a couple of years as an undergrad.

Are you working with Norm and Lu?

No problem, happy to help. A 1mm wasp should be very doable depending on what scanner you have access to. We are also open for external users to run scans at our facility (for an hourly fee) if you cannot do it at OSU!

I did leave it in fixative for a few days longer than normal because I forgot about it, so that also could've contributed.

Thanks for the ID! I thought about attempting to key it out from the CT scan but didn't haha.

It could be weird because of drying. It was fixed in 2.0% PFA and 2.5% GA in 0.1M Na-Cacodylate buffer, dehydrated in ethanol and stained overnight in I2E and dried using CPD.

What looks weird about it?

Ted’s Café at the Beckman Institute
✅ Complete renovation
✅ Glass walls and welcoming décor
✅ New chef and menu
✅ New dining room
🩷 Ribbon cutting today!!!

beckman.illinois.edu/teds-cafe/be...

#microCT scan of the left palpal bulb (male copulatory organ) of a grass spider I found wandering Beckman's hallways last week! 😍(He was on his last legs when he was preserved for the scan). Taken in the Microscopy Suite of @beckmanillinois.bsky.social and rendered in the Visualization Lab.

This tiny butterfly has the most chromosomes of any animal on Earth Scientists have confirmed that the Atlas blue butterfly carries the most chromosomes of any animal, with 229 pairs. Unlike duplication, its chromosomes split apart, reshaping its genome in surprising ...

Homie got 229 pairs of chromosomes

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

That's right, folk! THREE TENURE TRACK JOBS IN BIOLOGY AT UMASS BOSTON! You might even be a good fit for more than one! Check 'em out! We'd love to have you!

🪰 A team of researchers has unveiled the complete connectome of a male fruit fly central nervous system—a seamless map of all the neurons in the brain and nerve cord of a single male fruit fly and the millions of connections between them.
🔗 https://hhmi.news/4o3EJnk

UMass Amherst Biology is recruiting a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the area of Plant Physiology. Deadline Nov 1. Please spread the word and apply!

careers.massachusetts.edu/mob/en-us/jo...

Fuzzy Phidippus jumping spider with bright red uppers and black legs and dark face, a velvet ant mimic. He's on a dry leaf peering up at you

Top view of the colorful lad on the leaf, peering up and away from you at something out of frame

He's perfect, and #Arachtober themed

Mr Phidippus cardinalis appeared this afternoon and made my day. ❤️
#EmotionalSupportSpood

Join — Sydney Functional Ecology

Excited to share a PhD opportunity in my upcoming lab at The University of Sydney!
Join an ARC-funded project on the ecology of ant invasions in 2026 🐜
🇦🇺 Live in Sydney, ant around Australia
🌍 Intl + Domestic applicants welcome
markwongecology.com/join
#PhD #Ecology #Biodiversity
Pls share, thx 🙏

A group of four orange-colored, chunky trapdoor spider spiderlings in a tangle of webbing atop a dry brown plant stem, with out of focus greenery in the background.

Here are some teeny tiny trapdoor spiderlings, found atop a plant stem getting ready to balloon away to find a new home. When I shot this, I didn't realize trapdoor spiders dispersed in this way - they're pretty chunky. But of course the babies are very small. (North Carolina) #Arachtober 🐙🌿

One of a number of very smart noon-flies just nooning around at Holkham pines this afternoon.

Assistant or Associate Professor in Microbiology The Department of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY seeks to fill a tenure-eligible faculty position at the Assistant or Associate Professor le...

The Department of Biology at the University of Kentucky is hiring a Microbiologist (broadly defined). Microbial eco-evo folks, this is your sign to come work with us. Not in the search committee, but happy to answer questions.
ukjobs.uky.edu/postings/600...
#microbiology #ecology

#MicroSky

jumping spider with large central eyes, a white diamond sitting directly between the central eyes, all surrounded by a striking red mask which flows to the sides of the face, itself expanded laterally

an amazing Habronattus jumping spider known only from a single spring in the bottom of an impossibly isolated and lonely desert valley

Junebug larvae use their back hair to move. #tmi #beetles #coleoptera #entomology #melolonthinae #scarabaeidae

Job Posting: CESA Five-Year Review Coordinator State Seal Logo Department of Fish and Wildlife JC-493311 - CESA Five-Year Review Coordinator ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST $4,269.00 - $8,877.00 per Month New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable. Final Filing Date: 10/13/2025

CA Biology job alert
My unit at the CA Dep of Fish and Wildlife is hiring a permanent position to write 5 year reviews for species listed under the CA Endangered Species Act.
Based in West Sacramento, currently 2x week in office.
I am happy to answer questions
calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/...

Stolen from a NatGeo article: dark eyes on the rump of a frog look remarkably like big black eyes on a snake. The rest of the animal is mottled brown, almost wood-like in texture, and it's on a red sand bed with blades of grass visible. "A Cuyaba dwarf frog bloats its rump to frighten predators with false eyes." Photograph by George Grall, Nat Geo Image Collection

Here's an image that requires a second look.

It looks like a creature with big dark eyes is peering at you: it's not. You're looking at a FROG'S BUTT (you pervert).

Let's meet the Cuyaba dwarf frog (Physalaemus nattereri). Maybe we should start with seeing the front of it?

(📷: George Grall)

This only happens to you once

Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track, Department of Biology, University of San Francisco Job Title: Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track, Department of Biology, University of San Francisco Job Summary: The Department of Biology at the University of San Francisco invites applications for a fu...

Tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Bioinformatics in the Department of Biology at the University of San Francisco
usfca.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/USF_Fu...

COULD BE BUGS

We are searching for a Forest Ecophysiologist (tenure track Assistant or Associate Professor) to join the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia Faculty of Forestry. Please share! Details are here: ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs