Scott P. Egan
@scottpegan
Evolutionary Biologist | Scientific Naturalist | Associate Professor @RiceUniversity #science #biology #biodiversity #evolution #entomology #discovery
New paper describing the diverse community of arthropods associated w/ the #gall #wasp, Bassettia pallida, spanning 5 orders, 16 families, & >25 species. Led by @FuSchmu in collab w/ @Lord_Forbington, @ymilesz, @pedrobrandfp, A. Ward, & me. #biodiversity academic.oup.com/aesa/aesa/adva…
Ellipsoptera macra — the sandy stream tiger beetle!
Anyone recognise this Cicindela? From Tremont, Indiana, USA - no date and no collector. Looks post-war
Beetle larva covered in 💩! Neochlamisus leaf beetles cover their egg in frass, making a bell-shaped covering for the egg. Then, larvae hatch, put the case on their back, and add to it as they grow.
Black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes), north of Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. #biodiversity #mothweek
The ‘Tree of Life’ in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. A southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) planted circa 1740. The trunk has a circumference of 35 ft (10.5 m) and a canopy crown spread of over 160 ft (49 m)!! This tree proceeded the American revolution and the rise of Napoleon.
Article on #NewSpecies of parasitoid wasp we discovered last year on @RiceUniversity campus! Great work led by @o_hokey in collaboration with @MikeGates17, @pedrobrandfp, and me! sciencing.com/1905663/texas-…
I was recently interviewed by @DiscoverMag about the amazing world of parasitoid wasps! @RiceUniversity @RiceNatSci @RiceUNews discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/t…
In her latest Editorial, PNAS Editor-in-Chief @MayBerenbaum explores the dangers of political interference in science—from Lysenkoism to today’s global issues—and underscores the urgent need to protect scientific integrity. Read more: ow.ly/Cr4250Wri0N
“Mushrooms were the roses in the garden of that unseen world, because the real mushroom plant was underground. The parts you could see - what most people called a mushroom - was just a brief apparition. A cloud flower.” From ‘The Year of the Flood’ (2009) by @MargaretAtwood
You hear that, Valhalla?!
NEW: Houston clubs will now be required to post their dress codes at the front door after Council Member Edward Pollard and Controller @CGHollins were denied entry to a club over Hollins' Nikes. More: houstonchronicle.com/politics/houst… via @HoustonChron
Why are some DNA sequences more error-prone during transcription? A new Rice University study shows that the next two nucleotides after a given site can significantly affect error rates, offering insight into how cells maintain genetic accuracy. bit.ly/4eO3799
The NAS Council has approved the nomination of Neil H. Shubin to be the next president of the National Academy of Sciences. An evolutionary biologist & science communicator, Shubin would succeed Marcia McNutt when her term ends on June 30, 2026. Read more: nasonline.org/news/neil-h-sh…
Green darner dragonfly (Anax junius). Similar to the monarch butterfly, these dragonflies migrate north and south each year in North America.
✨I recently gave my 1st international 🌐talk at #Evol2025 in the beautiful town of Athens, GA! 🌿🌸 Huge thanks to the #EganLab for supporting this journey & to the organizers for creating such a vibrant space for Evolution! @Evol_mtg @scottpegan Stay tuned for the paper! 💚
I ❤️ #insect-themed graffiti! Especially when it’s a tiger beetle at the #CadillacRanch. Artist credit:@DanDuranBugMan!
Great running trails in Athens, Georgia, for #Evol2025! 🏃🏃♀️🏃♂️
