Unido: 10.jul.2019 Última actividad: 20.mar.2023 Natusfera
I am a 21 years old Colombian nature enthusiast, aspiring entomologist, and forest engineering student at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.
My life-long fascination for animals started with dinosaurs, then spiders and more recently insects. They are also what I enjoy observing the most along with reptiles, arachnids, and amphibians.
I have minimal formal training, but I have learned a lot in the last few years, and thanks to iNaturalist, WaspID Course, BugGuide and other sites/literature, I am able to recognize all sorts of insects and understand their biology. My favorite groups are Sphecidae sensu lato (Digger wasps), Pompilidae, and Ichneumonidae, although I often dabble in other Hymenopterans, as well as some Dipterans (Tachinidae, Bombyliidae, Asilidae).
Projects I'm working on:
-Visual key for photo/field ID of Megarhyssa spp. of the U.S and Canada - with @zdanko, now published in the Flyguide website
-A half serious, half for-fun experiment consisting in tasting arthropod-induced galls that I come across, and describing the experience in my journal.
-Visual key for photo/field ID of Psorthaspis spp. of the U.S (right now it is just an idea, suggestions of other genera that need help with ID are welcome).
I also created a project to group Parasitic wasps, you can check it out by clicking here.
In the future I would like to have solitary wasps as my field of expertise, especially Crabronidae, Pompilidae, Ichneumonidae, and Sphecidae.
If you would like to show your gratitude, or support what I do, please consider donating.
Wasps are a fascinating group, and by learning more about them I hope to be able to remove the stigma that has become so commonplace in our society. Next time you see a wasp, say to yourself: "This is a pollinator, a biological control, an architect... not a killing machine that is out to get me." (Even if it is a Vespid!).
I also pretend to be a photographer- check out my Instagram and Flickr.
Join me and hundreds of naturalists at our unofficial iNaturalist Discord.
Gear: Canon Powershot XS70 HS / Redmi Note 10S + loupe or lens / Digital microscope
Currently based in Madrid, Spain.
If you would like to use my images, or if you have any feedback, questions, etc., feel free to message me.