Brian Cutting

Entomologist, pollination research in New Zealand and Australia. Everyone should have a favourite bug!

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

Many flowers have adaptations to enhance pollination - but a few seem to make an extra effort. When a large bee pushes into this snail vine (Phaseolus giganteus) flower for nectar, it activates a hidden brush which puts pollen on its back!

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

@SiobhanLeachman it always pleases me when someone's location can be reasonably guessed at by the bugs!

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

@isabetabug Blacklighting in Queensland feels similar - within 20 minutes there is usually a cane toad dinner party beneath the sheet. Quite stressful!

[Andy McKay @KorimakoEcology]

It doesn't look like much, but today I was lucky enough to be shown the nationally critical Dwarf mistletoe (Korthalsella salicornioides) by Matt Ward.

This one is is hosted by a mānuka, in the middle of a horse paddock. Same threat status as kākāpō and Māui dolphins.

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

@HogendoornKatja Hmmm, I hadn’t really thought about who would have been here before, but I think you’re right (It did occur to me that this cavity was a rather spacious choice!).

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

We’ve had some very wintry weather of late, but on fine days this masked bee (Hylaeus) still pops out of its shelter every now and then. Cavities in plant stems provide both nesting and sheltering habitat for these - and they seem to thrive in our ‘untidy’ garden.

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

@EcologyToby Finally made it back! I’m impressed (but not surprised) that you can deduce this from half a bee! In Stanthorpe for a spell now with honey bee trials; haven’t seen native bees here with -2 overnight temps! Hopefully we can catch up soon!

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

I've scienced in some really beautiful places, but invertebrate sampling in Aotearoa NZ geothermal hot springs is next-level!

[Ian Duggan @icdugg]

Even though my main focus is zooplankton, I keep coming back to this tropical aquarium snail which I 1st found in a NZ geothermal stream~2001. Here, using COI, we show there are effectively two M.tuberculata's in NZ - originating from Asia and Africa.

https://t.co/RXXVMPiu6t

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

The trouble of being a very casual bird photographer with a new camera is I now have HUNDREDS of terrible photos of sticks and cloacae.

Yellow Thornbill - I guess?

[Amelia Bernasconi @millbernasconi]

Varroa mite on the move. #Narrabri is the latest place to see an eradication zone established. Not good 🐝 @kimhonan @LaraWebster17 @ABCRural #varroamite

[🐝🌻Nash Turley🌻🐝 @NashTurley]

These colors, oh my!

Perplexing bumble bee (Bombus perplexus) on purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

[Bryce McQuillan @Bryce_McQuillan]

Beautiful green fungi (Gliophorus viridis) - Redwood Forest, Rotorua, New Zealand

Photographed on the @CanonNZ R5, Canon RF 100mm macro, natural light and focus stacked.

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

@thuna_fish This is so encouraging to me, during a time when we all need some encouragement - so thank you! (you've always asked great questions - so it's fun!)

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

Our team is doing some really satisfying work in Aotearoa New Zealand - applying data on plant-insect interactions to restore ecosystem function on a broad scale in the Canterbury region (and beyond). Check out the video, filmed at one of my favourite study spots!

[Plant & Food Research @plantandfood]

#InsectWeek22
Our scientists are designing native habitats to support diverse pollinators for a range of crops, bringing economic & social benefits for Aotearoa 🐝
https://t.co/kHru0KERPy
#plantandfood #smartgreenfuturetogether

[UQ News @UQ_News]

#UQ researchers need help to spy on native stingless bees 🐝

Read here:
https://t.co/0040o9uJ13

@UQscience @EcologyToby @GurionAng #bees

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

A place we recently stayed had about 10 Satin Bowerbirds visit every morning. (I love that eye colour!). I wondered how the neighbours managed to focus on day-to-day work. A reminder that we all have Attenborough-worthy life around us, if we choose to see it! #WildOz

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

Mānawatia a Matariki!

[John Roberts @JohnRoberts222]

Varroa mite incursion is bad news but great showing the value of the sentinel hive network. Hope you’ve been practicing your sugar-shakes!

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

Twitter tells me that I've been on here for 10 years - which seems like a long time! It also seems that I've skipped a whole year of posting new things, so I'll try to do better. Brace yourself for a trickle of backlogged bird and bug photos, and occasionally some science!

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

And they fluoresce magnificently under UV. (The reason I took my eyes off it in the first place was to find the UV light!)

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

The scorpion photoshoot didn't go very well. The rule for stinging, biting, or fragile critters in our house is 'keep your eyes on it.' Seems like this should still apply when in the kitchen of someone else's house...

[Brian Cutting @BrianTCutting]

It hadn't gone far! Quite stunning patterns up close (hence the name 'little marbled scorpion')