Wisteria has become somewhat iconic in lush gardens in the Southeastern United States, but many plants you see are invasive in Florida. 🌿 There is a native species -- American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)! Five Facts: Wisteria in Florida www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/five...

“I realized we actually didn’t know how the whole ecosystem worked at all,” said Felicity Newell. A new study of the breeding seasons of tropical birds shows nearby communities can breed in opposite seasons in response to rainfall & resources. 🦗 Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/stud...

Pottery has been made all over the world for thousands of years, independently invented in multiple places. The first people inhabiting the Turks & Caicos Islands faced a number of technological challenges. www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/clea...

“There’s often this idea that we want everyone to be as highly active as possible and collect the most amount of data,” Erin Grady said. “Every type of observation and way of observing counts, which sounds cheesy, but it’s true.” Story + study: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/high...

#MondayMood 🐠 Museum technology is shifting how specimens are processed, providing more accessibility for research, education, outreach and collaboration. Explore our online exhibit: Inner Beauty 🩻 Skeletons Revealed from the Museum’s Fish Collection www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/exhibits/onl...

Congratulations! 👏👏👏 Michal Kowalewski has been selected as a 2025 fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science! Michal is the Thompson chair of invertebrate paleontology here at the Florida Museum. Read: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/mich...

Citizen science contributions from both casual observers and highly active users can be equally valuable and even complement each other, says a new study of iNaturalist data. Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/high... Study: theoryandpractice.citizenscienceassociation.org/articles/10....

Museum Resource 🐚 #MolluskMonday Who doesn't love a dichotomous key? The aquatic snail fauna of the southeastern United States has long been recognized for its richness and diversity. Check out our 👇 Freshwater Snails of Florida ID Guide: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/iz/resources...

March 20 🐸 World Frog Day! Learn to ID Florida's frogs by their calls with our online guide 🐸🎶 Florida Frog Calls: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-her... Also: March 24 📌 Science on Tap: Ribbit & Sip It Frogs + beer + herpetologist Dave Blackburn! Info: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/event/scienc...

The evolutionary path that brought us to butterflies is intriguing. Moths originated 300 million years ago and diversified with a little help from a fungus and bacterium. Then... Scientists lay out what we do & don’t yet know about moths and butterflies: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/scie...

Apparently, today is Taxonomist Appreciation Day, which has been celebrated (albeit quietly) annually on March 19th. Here are some recent taxonomic works published by the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity @floridamuseum.bsky.social recently: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/mcguire/news...

#ICYMI 👏👏👏 Our Herbarium recently accessioned their 300,000th vascular plant specimen into the collection! Founded in 1891, the University of Florida Herbarium (FLAS) here at the Florida Museum houses over 530,000 preserved plant specimens. More: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/museum-blog/...

Because their seeds are primarily dispersed by birds, a melastome species jumping from one island to another points to a bird making the journey, too. Mapping the results reveal ancient flight paths that fan out in all directions across the Caribbean. www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/scie...

Online Exhibit 🪱 Rare, Beautiful & Fascinating Feature: Giant Seep Worms (Lamellibrachia luymesi) Giant Seep Worms can have very long life spans, growing to 2 meters long over 170 to 250 years. 🎧 Story and more with Jenna Moore: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/100-years/ob...

Exhibit Spotlight 🎨 Florida Oligocene #SciArt in our Florida Fossils exhibit helps to illustrate Florida's evolving ecosystems, bringing life to the fossils we display in exhibits. 🗝️ Check out the art and key + fossils from our collections: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/exhibits/blo...

Museum Resources 🩻 Digital Imaging Our Digital Imaging Division facilitates the production, processing and analysis of two- and three-dimensional digital image data. 🌈 Browse some of the many museum specimens they have worked on: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/digital-lab/...

Scientist Spotted 🦟 Our interim director David Reed talked to CNN for an article about how studying the DNA of pests like mosquitoes - and in David's research, head lice - can help us map the timeline and locations prehistoric humans: www.cnn.com/2026/03/11/s...

The arogos skipper is an endangered butterfly that was once common throughout much of the U.S. but is now reduced to a few small populations. Researchers are studying a population in Florida to learn more about its life cycle and conservation needs. www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/chas...

The University of Florida Herbarium (FLAS) here at the Florida Museum, a collection of over 530,000 preserved plant specimens, marked a major milestone with their 300,000th vascular plant specimen being accessioned into the collection! 👏👏👏 What was it? www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/museum-blog/...

#ICYMI 🦋 Scientists lay out what we do and don’t yet know about moths and butterflies. Catch up on rare species with jaws, caddisfly carpentry, pollination before flowers evolved, carnivorous wasps, and a wild variety of hearing and sound-producing organs: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/scie...

New museum resource just dropped 📍 Interactive Digital St. Augustine, or iDigStAug, is an online database dedicated exclusively to the archaeology of colonial household sites in St. Augustine. Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/arch... Site: idigstaug.ufarch.org

#ICYMI Fossils + Technology 🔬 A new study indicates it takes significantly fewer fossils than initially thought to accurately train an image-based AI algorithm, with big implications for paleontology. Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/vert...

Frogs + Dave + beer is back! 🐸 March 24 🍺 Science on Tap: Ribbit & Sip It Leap into the fascinating world of frogs with herpetologist Dave Blackburn at a ribbeting Science on Tap with UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute at Cypress & Grove Brewing. Event: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/event/scienc...

Scientists published a broad review of what they’ve learned about moths and butterflies over the last few decades, with special attention to pivotal moments during the ~300 million-year history of the group. Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/scie... Review article: doi.org/10.1038/s443...

How many fossils does it take to accurately train an image-based AI algorithm? According to a new study, the answer is much smaller than previously thought, with big implications for the field of paleontology. Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/vert... Study: doi.org/10.1017/pab....

The pandemic had an immediate effect on how educators at museums interacted with their audiences. In a new study, researchers assess the state of online museum programming find out what worked and what didn’t. Story: floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/36-m... Study: doi.org/10.1108/QRDE...

Scientist Spotted 🗺️ Kathy Deagan, @ufl.edu distinguished professor emeritus of archaeology, spoke to @floridatrend.bsky.social about her life, career and dedication to excavating Florida's history, from Ice Age hunters to Florida cowboys: www.floridatrend.com/florida-icon...

“These global patterns change only slightly from one year to the other. But the regional incidents do oscillate a lot, and these local trends are interesting,” said Gavin Naylor. #ICYMI Our annual shark bite report for 2025 is now online 📉 Story and data: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/glob...

Online Exhibit 🐊🐢 Rare, Beautiful & Fascinating Feature: Albury’s Tortoise and Cuban Crocodile These fossils were discovered by scuba diver Brian Kakuk about 60-70 feet deep in a blue hole in the Bahamas. 🎧 Story and more with David Steadman: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/100-years/ob...

Gator Nation Giving Day 🔶🔷 Stand Up & Holler! 🐊 Support Florida Museum scientists' and @ufl.edu students' ongoing research and education with seminars, networking, workshops and community building events. 👉 Full info & all fund options: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/support/insp... #AllForTheGators

Our annual shark bite report for 2025 is now available online. The global shark bite numbers return to average last year, with a smaller proportion in the United States. 📉 Full story and data: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/glob... Summary report: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attack...

From the field ✈️ Kristin Rossetti traveled with the Daniels Lab in search of the frosted elfin butterfly — which included the bombing range of a military base: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/from-... 🐛 Travel funding supports activities and special needs of researchers here at the Florida Museum.

From the field ✈️ David Cheng attended the 24th European Congress of Lepidopterology where he presented research on bagworm moths and networked with peers. www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/from-... 🐛 Travel funding supports professional development of student researchers at the Florida Museum.

"You're my VOLEmate!" 🤗 Natural History #ValentinesDay Cards Unlike most other rodents, prairie voles form a lifelong partnership with a single individual. They’re pathologically fond of snuggling, which helps strengthen the bond between mates. More: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/natu...

Hey there, GOURDeous! 🍈🦣 Natural History #ValentinesDay eCards Many species in the gourd family evolved alongside megafauna like mammoths and gomphotheres. But with the megafauna extinct, the plants produce fruit for animals that no longer exist. More: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/natu...

The Massif de la Hotte is an exceptionally biodiverse mountain range in southern Haiti that is home to an unusually large number of unique species. Scientists used a group of plants to trace ancient bird flight paths over the Caribbean Sea. Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/scie...

From the field ✈️ Andrew Hong attended the 2025 Entomological Society of America annual meeting to present his research on Luna moths and to network with peers. www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/from-... 🐛 Travel funding supports professional development of student researchers at the Florida Museum.

It's flu season! We're sorry to have to CANCEL this event but we'll reschedule when everyone is feeling better!

From the field ✈️ Adrian Szu-Hsuan Lee attended the Evolution 2025 conference to present his work, connect with peers, and explore future research. www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/from-... 🦈 Travel funding supports professional development of student researchers at the Florida Museum.

"You cheer me up!" 🦀 Natural History #ValentinesDay Cards 👉 Send to a friend! Tiny pom pom crabs team up with sea anemones for protection, hunting and travel. When threatened, crabs wave their pair of anemones around like cheerleaders. Story + more cards: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/natu...

Scientists used a group of plants called melastomes to trace ancient bird flight paths over the Caribbean Sea. Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/scie... Study: doi.org/10.1093/botl... 📌 In memory of Walter Judd (1951 – 2026)

Frogs, beer & science! 🐸 Leap into the fascinating world of frogs with herpetologist Dave Blackburn! Feb 12 🍺 Science on Tap: Ribbit & Sip It Join us and UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute for a ribbiting edition of Science on Tap @ Cypress & Grove. Event: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/event/scienc...

From the field ✈️ Verity Mathis attended the SPNHC annual conference where she presented twice, attended workshops and networked with peers: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/from-... 🐈 Travel funding supports activities and other needs of researchers here at the Florida Museum.

From the field ✈️ Aleida Iriarte conducted fieldwork in Bolivia, searching for Microkayla, a group of cryptic & endangered brown frogs found at high elevations. www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/from-... 🐸 Travel funding supports professional development of student researchers at the Florida Museum.

From the field ✈️ José Esteban Jiménez Vargas traveled to Ecuador for fieldwork and herbarium work documenting plant diversity of Peperomia (Piperaceae): www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/from-... 🌿 Travel funding supports professional development of student researchers at the Florida Museum.

A new study offers the first known correlation between latitude and rate of mimicry evolution in butterflies, consistent with a longstanding theory of biodiversity that can trace its origin to Alfred Russel Wallace. Story: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/butt... Study: doi.org/10.1111/syen...

From the field ✈️ Gloria Church completed a three-week intensive course at MIT on petrography and how it can be applied to archaeological ceramics. Read: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/from-... 🏺 Travel funding supports professional development of student researchers at the Florida Museum.

From the field ✈️ Ana Lopez recently presented at the Metabolomics Association of North America (MANA) Conference at Banff, Canada, and networked with peers: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/from-... 🔬 Travel funding supports professional development of student researchers at the Florida Museum.

Scientist Spotted 🐚 Our paleontologist Michal Kowalewski collaborated with Tom Frazer @cmarinescience.bsky.social on a Curious Kids article for the @us.theconversation.com called 'Where do seashells come from?' to talk about these popular marine skeletons: theconversation.com/where-do-sea... 🌊🏖️

From the field ✈️ Skyla Sheehy attended the Entomological Society of America's 2025 meeting, her first conference, to present her research on aquatic moths: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/nhdept/from-... 🐛 Travel funding supports professional development of student researchers at the Florida Museum.