Louis Nastasi
PhD in Entomology, postdoc with Andrew Forbes at UIowa. Gall wasp systematics and more. Research proudly funded by NSF!
lfnastasi.wordpress.com
- Some good news - a new #gall #wasp paper from our group! This is one of my favorites so far - two new Diastrophus species, a review of “cryptic” galling (galls with no external sign of presence), and some novel hypotheses regarding evolution of gall inquilines. See more here: doi.org/10.1080/0022...
- Reposted by Louis NastasiThis is really cool, it's a display of all the bugs found on a single tree. #Invertebrate
- Reposted by Louis NastasiNew paper from the Martinson Lab! A fun study where we find a nice example of cascading speciation and describe three new species. Plus some exciting data to suggest that ecological guild may influence the impacts of host-associated differentiation. A 🧵. #galls #insects 🧪 doi.org/10.1111/mec....
- Reposted by Louis Nastasiwhat a fantastic histerid!
- Reposted by Louis NastasiFinally published! "Thirty-three new species of Agromyzidae (Diptera) from the United States and Canada, with new host and distribution records for 154 additional species." Now I've got some updating to do on BugGuide and iNaturalist...
- Reposted by Louis NastasiTwo days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system against your opponents is an authoritarian tactic. The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.
- Reposted by Louis NastasiJoin us in Costa Rica for Fly School IV! Applications are now open. Visit dipterists.org/fly_school.h... for application & info. @dipterists.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @teamdiptera.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @bertonemyia.bsky.social @ariannatc.bsky.social @phorid.bsky.social
- Reposted by Louis NastasiThis might be the most metal beetle I've ever seen.
- Reposted by Louis NastasiFor #BlueMonday an electric turquoise and cerulean Blue Cuckoo Wasp from the fabulous walled garden @kneppwilding.bsky.social #bluebugs #bugsky @ashwhiffin.bsky.social @waspwoman.bsky.social
- This situation is an average Tuesday for a hymenopterist - always glad to see folks working on other groups navigate these fun puzzles
- Reposted by Louis NastasiOur paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below! Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
- Reposted by Louis NastasiI'm defending my dissertation next Wednesday, EST. I'll record it on Zoom, but also if folks are interested in the Zoom link, please DM me 🙂 Thank you to everyone who supported me through this journey. I currently have no plans post-graduation, but no matter what I'm excited for these next steps!
- Reposted by Louis NastasiProstomis americanus, still one of the weirder beetles I've found in my samples
- Reposted by Louis Nastasihappy birthday spheal
- Reposted by Louis NastasiJust gonna put this here for now www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... bsky.app/profile/jlst...
- Reposted by Louis NastasiLouis is really great to work with! Go measure antennomeres at his new lab to advance our collective scientific understanding of GALL WASPS - including those with large impacts on agriculture and forestry! 🧪
- Big news - I’ll be starting an #insect #systematics lab at University of Nebraska-Lincoln this coming academic year! I’m looking to #recruit #PhDstudents to work in #wasp systematics, especially gall systems, to begin Fall 2026. Please help me spread the word — more details on the flyer below!
- Big news - I’ll be starting an #insect #systematics lab at University of Nebraska-Lincoln this coming academic year! I’m looking to #recruit #PhDstudents to work in #wasp systematics, especially gall systems, to begin Fall 2026. Please help me spread the word — more details on the flyer below!
- Reposted by Louis NastasiLike Don Chandler’s books on pselaphines, the volume of writing is inversely proportional to the size of the insect
- Reposted by Louis NastasiWe are watching @toomanywasps.bsky.social’s award acceptance talk at SysEB and folks in the room are shaking their heads in disbelief at the SIZE of this dissertation
- UIowa put out a short news story about our lab’s gall wasp work! Take a look if you want to see the excellent work that our students are doing.
- However small my role may be, I’m proud to be a part of this research! @lordforbington.bsky.social @toomanywasps.bsky.social @guerin-brown.bsky.social stories.uiowa.edu/galls-thieve...
- Reposted by Louis NastasiHowever small my role may be, I’m proud to be a part of this research! @lordforbington.bsky.social @toomanywasps.bsky.social @guerin-brown.bsky.social stories.uiowa.edu/galls-thieve...
- Reposted by Louis NastasiScientists! @skypeascientist.bsky.social matches scientists with classrooms, libraries, & more for virtual Q&As! It's easy and fun! We are looking for 750 more volunteers by 8/15 If you're down to chat with 1-5 classrooms this semester, sign up here www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
- Reposted by Louis NastasiThere's a new episode of the Arthro-Pod podcast out. We interviewed @toomanywasps.bsky.social about gall wasps, especially the understudied herb gall wasps. www.podbean.com/eas/pb-xcecc...
- New #gall #wasp paper in PESW! We provide an updated key, checklist, and commentary for the four tribes of “herb gall wasps” including some nomenclatural changes. Check it out here: bioone.org/journals/pro...
- Reposted by Louis NastasiRT for anyone who might want to know more about free flashcard software for memorizing things Such as bug names
- Reposted by Louis NastasiI've been told that it's #InsectWeek and that I should plug my work. I'm so bad at marketing... Uhhhhh... Buy my books...! www.owlflyllc.com/publishing
- Reposted by Louis NastasiOH MY GOD it's online and it's free!! I made it for YOU keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/botw/
- Reposted by Louis NastasiPlease enjoy this ridiculously cute butterfly, which was about the size of my pinkie fingernail. It's in the butterfly family called metalmarks (Riodinidae). Males, like these, have reduced front legs and perch using only the rear 4 (females can use all 6). Sarota acantus; Costa Rica 🐙🌿 #insects
- My defense went extremely well, so it’s time to update your contacts to Dr. Nastasi!!! We recorded the seminar for anyone who was unable to attend over zoom- send me a DM if interested!
- Hey folks, my #entomology doctoral #dissertation defense seminar is May 30th from 2-3pm Eastern / 6-7pm UTC! Join in person in at 118 ASI or via Zoom (info on flyer or DM me for a direct link!). Come learn about my five years of #gall #wasp #research!
- Reposted by Louis NastasiAccording to a 2021 report, the University of California system: • generated $82B in economic activity in California • supported 529K jobs in the state • generated $21 in economic output for every $1 received Public divestment from higher ed makes no sense, even in the narrowest economic terms.
- Reposted by Louis NastasiIt's a good time to remind folks that you can't do the "high impact big picture studies" without the "not worth publication because it's only of regional interest" localities and the "merely specimen ID and taxonomy" research.
- Hey folks, my #entomology doctoral #dissertation defense seminar is May 30th from 2-3pm Eastern / 6-7pm UTC! Join in person in at 118 ASI or via Zoom (info on flyer or DM me for a direct link!). Come learn about my five years of #gall #wasp #research!
- Just sent my dissertation to my committee... time to start preparing for my defense on May 30th!
- Reposted by Louis NastasiSo my girlfriend is an amazing stop motion animator, and she recently did a medieval cat themed bumper for Adult Swim! Sharing it here because she only has Instagram and I think everyone needs to see her animations. She's so freaking talented, y'alls. PLEASE go follow her!
- Reposted by Louis NastasiPosting this rather colorful and snazzy-looking gall midge (Cecidomyiidae) I found in the Mojave Desert recently for #flyweek !
- Reposted by Louis NastasiThanks for your encouragement, folks. As always, it gives me a little shot of enthusiasm. Here's a look at some more of my concept pages. My idea was to have some general pages that explain the fundamentals, then focus on individuals.
- Reposted by Louis NastasiImportant to remind everyone that this is an ILLEGAL DIRECTIVE from the Executive Branch (impoundment).
- Staff members at the US National Science Foundation (NSF) were told on 30 April to “stop awarding all funding actions until further notice,” according to an email seen by Nature. go.nature.com/44Ugf9V
- Reposted by Louis Nastasi🔔BREAKING🔔 The NSF has frozen all research grant awards—cutting off life-saving science midstream and demanding ideological screenings for future funding. This is censorship disguised as oversight. Here’s how you can help us spread the word ➡️🧵(1/3): www.nature.com/articles/d41...
- Reposted by Louis NastasiThe National Science Foundation, a major government funder of basic science research, is being shaken up with over 1,000 grants already terminated and the White House looking to halve its budget.
- Reposted by Louis NastasiThe Human Genome Project cost taxpayers $3 Billion. Two decades on, it has generated a staggering return on investment of $1 Trillion, with benefits in medicine, agriculture, energy, the environment, & more. If you want to boost the economy, funding science is one of the best things you could do.
- Reposted by Louis NastasiA little over a month left of my time in Quito, and things are coming together. Here's one of my working drawers, freshly supplied with type labels. This is about a quarter of the new species I'll end up describing. Nice to see it reaching this stage!
- Reposted by Louis NastasiShould we make Hello From The Herbarium a thing?? Thank you @nybg.bsky.social for letting me play in the orchid collections! (I think this also counts as an #invertefest post thanks to Xanthopan morganii praedicta's co-starring role)
- Reposted by Louis Nastasi
- Reposted by Louis Nastasi#withoutNSF, we would know 412 fewer beetle species. Under NSF-DEB grants we have described 101 new US species and >300 neotropical ones, launching the careers of 6 postdocs, 4 PhD students, and providing experience to dozens of undergrads. NSF knows we can't protect what we do not know.
- Reposted by Louis NastasiAs the saying goes, “If you can keep your head while those around you are losing theirs, perhaps you don’t understand the situation.” Americans aren’t smart enough to be alarmed. This is the nation that elected a demented sociopath to lower the price of eggs— they’re hopeless.
- Reposted by Louis NastasiPlease consider picking up a field guide from Owlfly Publishing today! A majority of our revenue goes towards clean tech development and biodiversity research. Also the books are full of bug facts. Double win. www.owlflyllc.com/publishing
- Reposted by Louis NastasiSince we’re in a golden age of new Star Wars tv shows, I’ll again pitch “David Attenborough style nature documentaries but of fictional Star Wars creatures.” No empire. No Jedi. Like, what the Jedi would watch on tv to relax after a stressful mission.
- Reposted by Louis NastasiTLDR: the administration wants to remove habitat loss from the definition of "harm" for endangered species, which will effectively gut the ESA. I just commented. If you're in any way interested in ecology, nature, and the protection of endangered species, you should, too. Free daily action!
- My friend's student asks me to share: The administration is trying to destroy the Endangered Species Act from within. Public commenting is basically the only way to thwart this rule before getting to court. If you have a few minutes to comment: www.regulations.gov/commenton/FW...
- Please take 30 seconds to comment on this insane attempt to destroy the #Endangered Species Act!!!
- My friend's student asks me to share: The administration is trying to destroy the Endangered Species Act from within. Public commenting is basically the only way to thwart this rule before getting to court. If you have a few minutes to comment: www.regulations.gov/commenton/FW...
- Reposted by Louis Nastasiinject this shit directly into my veins star wars is a ridiculous universe with space wizards and laser swords and apparently all I ever wanted was someone to take it completely seriously as a "how does this work in practice" study of fascism the way Andor does
- Reposted by Louis NastasiEveryone should know about GBIF. It's an international biodiversity data aggregator. Museum collections, apps like eBird and iNaturalist, published datasets from the technical literature, all in one place. www.gbif.org
- Reposted by Louis Nastasiso they're mycoblogging
- Reposted by Louis NastasiNo one does Easter eggs quite like stick and leaf insects do www.frontiersin.org/journals/eco...
- Reposted by Louis NastasiThrilled to share our globally pioneering research on DNA metabarcoding of spider egg sacs! A proud moment for Indian science - revealing novel host-parasitoid complexes and trophic networks. #DNAmetabarcoding #IndianScience #Biodiversity #Hymenoptera #Spider www.nature.com/articles/s41...
- Reposted by Louis NastasiMiles is out here with his painter's brush weaving together beautiful tapestries and art of various wasps with the mastery of Raphael. Truly a sight to behold!
- Our global phylogeny of Eurytomidae is now published in Systematic Entomology @respublications.bsky.social resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
- Reposted by Louis NastasiOur global phylogeny of Eurytomidae is now published in Systematic Entomology @respublications.bsky.social resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
