Freelance science journalist, geologist, map freak. 2022 Alicia Patterson Foundation fellow. Currently reading, writing, talking, and thinking about animals.
San Francisco Bay Area
Joined November 2008
- Tweets2.8K
- Following712
- Followers7.7K
- Likes362
Pinned Tweet
Why everyone should start counting spiders! #Arachtober #spiders #spiderscount
knowablemagazine.org/article…
Betsy Mason retweeted
Spiders might be quietly disappearing, but scientists won't know for sure unless we get over our ick factor, @betsymason reports for @KnowableMag. theatlantic.com/science/arch…
How smart are spiders? You may not want to know.
knowablemagazine.org/article… #Arachtober #jumpingspiders #spiders
Betsy Mason retweeted
Happy #Arachtober! Spiders are important for our ecosystems, functioning both as predators and prey. It is estimated that worldwide, spiders eat between 400 and 800 million tons of insects. Spider venom has been used medically and is being explored as a bioinsecticide.
Betsy Mason retweeted
La 1ª circular del VII CLA 2024, ¡ya se encuentra disponible! podrás encontrar información sobre resumenes, llamada a simposios, formulario de preinscripción, y otras informaciones.
¡Nos vemos en Bogotá!
viiclaracnologia.wixsite.com…
Betsy Mason retweeted
A woman with hypertension presented to the clinic with a 4-day history of abnormal sounds in her ear. On examination, a small spider was seen moving within the external auditory canal of the left ear. The molted exoskeleton of the spider was also present. nej.md/45CHWB0
Betsy Mason retweeted
It's now Friday the 13th here in New Zealand - a most excellent day for spiders! And also #Arachtober! So, with that in mind, here is an adorable little buddy that I'd photographed in Florida - Phidippus regius - the regal jumping spider
Betsy Mason retweeted
Here's a curveball for ya, a non-deinopid #Arachtober post! The first Portia fimbriata I ever saw in person. She was so perfect 🥹
Betsy Mason retweeted
oh! #Arachtober 's almost over! 🎃 Here are some salticid highlights from 2022 (so far!) - all shot in situ! 🕷️
1 Phidippus clarus, OK
2 Habronattus americanus, MT
3 Phidippus putnami, OK
4 Phidippus mystaceus, OK
Betsy Mason retweeted
This is Platycryptus undatus, the jumping spider I find most often. Jumpers are such engaging creatures, with poses easier to read into and relate to than other spiders. When they turn to look at me with those big eyes, I feel we're actually making eye contact. °oo° #Arachtober
Found this little guy having a snack in a neighbor's front yard. #jumpingspider #Arachtober
Betsy Mason retweeted
Happy International Jumping Spider Day! 🕷️ To celebrate, we have another great citizen science discovery. Donna Juanita photographed this undiscovered species on her property and kindly invited us over to sample it. We later found that it also lives in a nearby nature reserve!
Scientists are giving cognitive tests to urban raccoons in the wild to find out why they are so good at city living. Turns out some are better at it than others — and it may be the ones you'd least suspect. @Lauren_Stanton_
nyti.ms/3C2h4P2
Betsy Mason retweeted
BREAKING: White House issues new policy that will require, by 2026, all federally-funded research results to be freely available to public without delay, ending longstanding ability of journals to paywall results for up to 1 year. Coverage coming on @ScienceInsider.
