Luna Thomas

I am a PhD student at the University of Otago working on the endemic stag beetle Geodorcus helmsi!

[Luna Thomas @DorkyGeo]

We just published a paper showing that large male of the Helm's stag beetle were more likely to win in contests. You can read all about it here: https://t.co/ZrVpAkTQf0
#entomology, #stagbeetles, #coleoptera, #animalbehaviour

[Luna Thomas @DorkyGeo]

You should check our new paper that shows that introduced mammalian predators are limiting the size and mandible length in a population of naïve stag beetles.@sjohnson_otago @Phoenix_Massey
https://t.co/VhZBeIYIap
#entomology #insectconservation

[Luna Thomas @DorkyGeo]

You should check out our new paper looking at allometry, weapon morphology and asymmetry in the Helm's stag beetle! @TheWaspLady @sjohnson_otago #entomology

https://t.co/cuXXnymMQc

[Jenny Jandt @TheWaspLady]

(Left) Sweat bee (Lasioglossum), covered in pollen, peeking at the recording of the painted bee (Right) to observe her foraging patterns. My job is to sit and observe - I ❤️ my job.

I've been trying to study these bees for years and now- I'm living that dream.
@Zoology_Otago

[🦉Katie Furze🦎Children's Author 🦇 @KatieFurze]

Guess what? 🙀 The #tuatara tick has been nominated for New Zealand #bugoftheyear2024! 😁🦎🤸Voting opens 1 Jan!

[Entomological Society of New Zealand @NZEntoSoc]

In beetle vs beetle, @DorkyGeo investigates whether Geodorcus helmsi male beetles have fighting strategies. Size is an important factor in determining fights, but none of the game theory models really fit the RHP plots. Could be using multiple assessment strategies! #nzento23

[Jenny Jandt @TheWaspLady]

Way to go @entomelita and @DorkyGeo. So proud of both of you and your years of effort on your theses!

[Sheri Johnson @sjohnson_otago]

Awesome to see this make the list - my PhD student, Luna @DorkyGeo

[Our Changing World @RNZScience]

#8 in our countdown of OCW's top nature episodes for 2022...

We head to Rakiura with @DorkyGeo to enter the world of the Helm's stag beetle

https://t.co/EVR1FEbFpO

[Mateus Detoni @detoni_mateus]

Not all wasp colonies are equally aggressive - in fact, some are quite docile, even when one is trying to rile them up on purpose! In our new paper published at @InsSociaux, we investigated whether colonies can learn from negative experiences and change their aggressive profiles:

[Jenny Jandt @TheWaspLady]

Less than 3 days til Pollinator Workshop! If you're in town for #NZES2022 (or just in Dunedin), pop by @OtagoMuseum btwn 10am-3pm on Sat 3 Dec. Learn about #BugoftheYear2023 nominees & other NZ critters! Get garden ideas! Play games! It's free!
@NZEntoSoc https://t.co/Zh6JEtBmSr

[Luna Thomas @DorkyGeo]

I gave a talk on one of the #BugOfTheYear2023 candidates yesterday! It was about how they are being affected by rats. You should show the Helm's stag beetle some love and vote for it! https://t.co/sESSYpaa6V
#TeamHelms @NZEntoSoc

[Luna Thomas @DorkyGeo]

I feel like #BugOfTheYear2023 also needs to think about which candidate has the cutest juvenile stage. I am pretty sure that the Helm's stag beetle should get your vote just for their cute faces!
#TeamHelms @NZEntoSoc

[Mateus Detoni @detoni_mateus]

All You Need Is Love (and to vote for the Helm's stag beetle for #BugOfTheYear2023)
#TeamHelms @NZEntoSoc

[Luna Thomas @DorkyGeo]

@detoni_mateus All of this is 100% accurate

[Mateus Detoni @detoni_mateus]

Fun fact: when writing "The Lord of the Rings", J. R. R. Tolkien named the fortress Helm's Deep - main setpiece for the novel The Two Towers - after the endemic NZ insect, the Helm's Stag Beetle. "Marvelous creatures", Tolkien reportedly said.
#TeamHelms #BugOfTheYear2023

[Luna Thomas @DorkyGeo]

We talk a lot about the male mandible on the Helm's stag beetle, but the female can give a good bite! When they do make their whole body rigid and bite with everything they've got! Thank you to @meeeelita1 for waiting while I took photos. #BugOfTheYear2023 #TeamHelms
@NZEntoSoc

[Mateus Detoni @detoni_mateus]

@AFProbert @Lanipai Say the word and I drop another Helm's stag beetle meme, if it helps convincing you to vote for it! #TeamHelms

[Luna Thomas @DorkyGeo]

@detoni_mateus @NZEntoSoc Almost as cute as the Helm's Stag beetle!