Cam Fox @dentalflossbay@qoto.org

Female Ancistrocerus biphaleratus, a wasp belonging to the Vespidae family. It is a solitary wasp.

Femella d'Ancistrocerus biphaleratus, aquesta vespa pertany a la família Vespidae i és una vespa solitària.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/115958591

#wasp #hymenoptera #insects #insectes #inaturalist #insectos #insekten #entomology #macrophotography #makro #macro #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #natura #natur #naturaleza #olympus

I admit, as an entomologist I just don’t pay much attention to moths. But they’re really stunning close-up, especially the smaller ones.

This one is Glyphipterix chrysoplanetis, a sedge moth. Yarra Ranges National Park, Australia.

#moth #insects #lepidoptera #Australia

One of the most impressive Noctuids with wings that resemble a dead leaf. Gloriana ornata, a Catocalinae. If the scientific name can be translated as 'ornate glory' I think it is very appropriate. #moths #nature #insects

More #quilts for the quilt lovers out there!

#sewing #quilt #quilting #thread #quilters #textiles #art #artist

A little story.

In 2014, the UK charity, Stonewall, had a new CEO: Ruth Hunt.

Ruth wanted to make Stonewall trans inclusive. Up until that point it hadn’t been. Part of that effort was to recruit an advisory group from the UK trans community.

I was on that group. I ended up as its vice chair.

We spent the next year and a bit creating a document called “A Vision For Change”, which detailed what we thought the areas that trans equality campaigning should focus on in Britain.

Then the Brexit referendum happened and Cameron ragequit. Theresa May came in and it was apparent there was very little government apetite for the stuff we wanted.

But May, who was there when the same Sex marriage bill went through under the earlier coalition government had had something of a damascene conversion to LGBT rights issues. Stranger things have happened (but not many!)

So she wanted something from our list that was quick, easy, and uncontroversial. Obviously we were disappointed, but she was presented with bringing Britain’s antiquated Gender Recognition Act up to date, and in line with other European countries, as something simple. We honestly thought it was. It’s an administrative change of very little significant consequence, and actually no significance at all outside the trans community.

And it would have been simple, had an eclectic collection of unpleasant, obsessive arseholes with privileged access to the UK press not decided to start a culture war over trans people at that exact moment.

A culture war which, at least in England, they basically won. In part, this war was why I emigrated to Portugal.

Here we are, seven years later, and the result of Scotland finally wanting to implement a watered down version of the “easy win” we presented to Theresa May is apparently that the current prime minister, Rishi Sunak, is willing to end the Union between England and Scotland over it.

So that’s my story. I am part of a small, elite cabal of LGBT people who wrote a document that is poised to destroy the last vestiges of the British Empire.

Go me! If there are any other governments you want destabilising, my bank details are available on request. I provide reasonable rates.

This bat-like fly is another feather-legged fly. This guy is Trichopoda lanipes. He's enjoying some euonymus blossoms. He's another not-particularly-bristly tachinid.

#fly #flyday #flyfriday #flies #tachinidae #insects #diptera #nature #photography

A proposal: Release a black #squirrel if no new #Speaker is elected, a white squirrel if a new #speakerofthehouse is announced

an antlion (Myrmeleonidae). I find it hard to believe they are named for their larvae's habit of trapping ants and other small insects in pits they have dug in the ground but it seems that is the case. It still seems to me a silly name.
#insects #entomology #nature #naturePhotography

Great Egrets fighting for fishing rights. Great Egrets have very strict rules about fishing too close to each other, as that might scare the fish away.

For #FossilFriday check out this gorgeous #fossil #insect! This 49 million year old beauty is Pulchritudo attenboroughi, a #beetle found in the rocks of the Green River Formation, Colorado. what's particularly striking about this fossil is the pattern on its wing cases.

#palaeontology #paleoentology #entomology #arthropods #science

Apparently the great war that journalists of masto are getting ready to fight is quote tweets.

Honestly, I see both sides. Journos generally use them one way, and usually aren't in the right part of twitter to see how they get used for life-ruining/doxxing/swatting/pro-suicide pile-ons at gay teens, pro-ana, and shit like that.

I don't have an answer here, per se, though I think some friction is probably better for the overall ecosystem.

use the post's url, see if that works.

All right, which one of you asked the monkeys paw for a White Christmas?

Mudskipper sausage rolls, anyone?

They are awesome.

#food #animal #tasty #funny

Four brightly coloured festive moths. 1 Clelea yuennana Procridinae Zygaenidae (a day-flying species) 2 Eucyclodes gavissima Geometrinae Geometridae 3 Nacna malachitis Acronictinae Noctuidae 4 Sinna calospila Nolidae I found these around Chiang Mai in the rainy season, 3 attracted to lights. #moths #lepidoptera #insects #nature #naturePhotography

I find it hard to post things on Mastodon. This being a new account, it feels like posts should be more worthy. And nothing really makes the cut.

Mastodon please help me with something. I'm a #trans guy with practically no trans guy friends. I know nothing about trans guys. I only know about James.

I could really do with some transmasc and trans men friends so.... hi?

Boosts encouraged 💜

Lycaena phlaeas Small Copper #butterfly #butterfliesofmastodon #butterflypics #insects #naturephotography #Perthshire #Scotland