@justin-the-grub
Lecturer in Entomology at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (The University of Tasmania). I'm a nerd that is into understanding: insect behavior, generalist life histories, as well as how insects have influenced culture, technology, and history.
🍎 The JM Roberts Grant has made it possible to conduct these trials. Thank you to the grant committee at @tia.utas.edu.au ( @utas.edu.au ). Exciting results are starting to roll in! Watch this space.
FINAL THOUGHTS. I'm still going to use GenAI, but I'm going to ask why it gives me the responses that it does more often. GenAI is a roleplayer, at times it appeared chipper, sycophantic, & remorseful (without ever directly saying it shouldn't have made 💩 up).
🧵 6/6
I dug deeper. Since #GenAI essentially "roleplays" responses I asked it about potential reputational harm if I used this false information. I agree with its responses.
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I checked to make sure that both ChatGPT and I were using the same definition of terms. then asked WHY I were given dubious claims.
It turns out that real elements were blended with "illustrative" (but false) details.
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#AIHallucination
After asking for references for this "real" example, I was told that there were no references.
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I started by asking for real examples of a farmer that uses technology to manage insects, then refined my question to specify an Australian example. I given the name of a real farmer, a bold claim of a 50%reduction in #insecticide use. Without references.
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A description of a experience using ChatGPT with a picture of a toy robot in a computer screen
I've been exploring how to use #GenerativeAI to create engaging narratives. Check out this thread to read about my discussion with ChatGPT about why it gave me misleading "facts"
The results were fascinating.
I'm going to start asking why I was given particular responses more often now.
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#Biosecurity safeguards our #NaturalEcosystems & #Agriculture. This is the final week to send in your nominations for the Tasmanian Biosecurity Awards (closes 31 Aug). Do you know any individuals or organisations that have helped enhance Tasmania's biosecurity? Nominate them at buff.ly/9DgqGw6.
⏰ Honours and postgrad entomology students; Only one week left to submit your entry for the Phil Carne Prize! Get your paper in by 31 August for a chance at $1500 and AES conference recognition. For details visit: buff.ly/J5J4zWs
Check out the Tasmanian Country Hour talking to hear about real-time #CodlingMoth #PestMonitoring using #agtech developed by RapidAIM (buff.ly/mZJ70Fk at 6:21). Funded by the JM Roberts Charitable Trust. Support by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (UTAS) @tia.utas.edu.au @utas.edu.au
University students holding a large sign
People at a networking event.
People talking near a long table with food.
Kudos to the UTAS Agricultural Science Society for an incredible networking evening! Led by the Tasmanian Institute of #Agriculture's undergrads, the event united various agriculture professionals, Nuffield Australia (scholarship providers), and students. - @utas.edu.au @tia.utas.edu.au
Update: I have added a (non-LinkedIn) link to a page about disease identification. blogs.cornell.edu/potatovirus/...
While "mop-top" refers to a distinct deformation of the leaves, sometimes associated with bright yellow v-shaped marks, foliar symptoms are not always present. More often inside the tubers have dark discolored rings. It can be mistaken for other potato diseases. - buff.ly/bxW2jXL
If you grow #potatoes in #Tasmania, please check your crops for diseases.
Potato mop-top virus ( #PMTV ) has been detected in Tasmania for the 1st time. To the best of our knowledge, this virus is not widespread in the region yet, but it is crucial to be vigilant for this disease. - buff.ly/A7ovJ8g
Sometimes I forget that the University of Tasmania has both historic trams and a community garden in the middle of the Inveresk Campus.
@utas.edu.au
Infographic about the bronze leaf beetle
🪲🍓 Tiny #beetle; big concern -- The Bronze Leaf Beetle has been damaging Tasmanian berries. If you are growing #strawberries, #raspberries, etc., keep an eye out for these little critters. Read about it here (buff.ly/3ndZAEJ) or listen on the radio (buff.ly/IqR0rEX). @tia.utas.edu.au @utas.edu.au
🍎🍐 It was so exciting to see the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture & UTAS Community Gardens team host such a fun event. I learned a lot about #apple& #pear #pruning, but I also enjoyed meeting new people while savoring warm mulled cider. 😁 @tia.utas.edu.au @utas.edu.au
Did you know our Newnham campus is home to an orchard that dates back to the 1800s?
A rehabilitation of the orchard is underway.
TIA’s tree crop physiologist Leticia Reis and entomologist Justin Cappadonna hosted a workshop to teach attendees how to prune apple trees and keep an orchard healthy. 👍
A huge thank you goes out to Leticia Reis, the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture team, & the University of Tasmania Community Gardens staff for helping this event run so well.
I'm looking forward to the upcoming revitalization events later this year.
@tia.utas.edu.au @utas.edu.au #apple #pear
Are you a berry grower in Tasmania? 🍓
Our entomologists are advising berry growers in the state to be aware of an emerging pest, the Bronze Leaf Beetle.
Bronze Leaf Beetles chew on leaves, flowers and fruits, causing poor quality and reduced yields.
Read more details 👉 bit.ly/43WaGaf
Recently, I was invited to speak with the Australian Plants Society Tasmania. We discussed #pollinator #conservation on #farms, & the importance of "refuges" amongst monoculture (single crop) fields. It was great to meet so many engaged & passionate gardeners. - @tia.utas.edu.au @utas.edu.au
From wildlands to farmlands, we need to put functional roles front & centre.
Insect functional diversity supports pollination, pest control, nutrient cycling, & more.
Let’s design systems—conservation & agricultural—that work with insects, not without them. #Agroecology #InsectConservation
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We can’t afford to forget insects when managing land—especially not on farms.
Across >5000 studies, diversified farming practices increased functional diversity and ecosystem services—without reducing yields.
Ref: Tamburini et al. (2020): buff.ly/tIAVp4I
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But insects—the champions of ecosystem function—are too often overlooked in conservation planning.
Ref: Chowdhury et al. (2023): buff.ly/tyRsrzq
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Drawing on 20 years of community data, Rodrigues et al. found that functional trait composition—not just the number of species—is key to predicting how ecosystems respond to change.
It’s a reminder: biodiversity is about what organisms do.
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AI Generated Text. Infographic describing functional diversity
Functional diversity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the engine of ecosystem resilience.
A new study shows that the stability of ecological communities depends not just on species richness, but what functional roles those species play.
Ref: Rodrigues et al. (2025): buff.ly/OXHb2RH
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A frost covered car in the moonlight
Today was a #cold start to the day in #Launceston as I was getting ready to head to work ( @tia.utas.edu.au , @utas.edu.au ). Beautiful, but I did have to spend a bit longer scaping the ice off my beard.
I didn't intend for things to get so dirty, but when I visited the University of Tasmania gardens to discuss a partnership with the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (STAY TUNED) we ended up talking about their amazing #composting machine in the heart of campus.
@utas.edu.au @tia.utas.edu.au
A bedbug on human skin
Researchers from #VirginiaTech have just published molecular evidence that suggests that #bedbugs moved from bats to feed upon Neanderthals. These little blood-suckers have been with us ever since, and have done particularly well since they adopted city life. buff.ly/M7aKLYv 📷 credit: Shutterstock
The term #bug likely comes from the Middle English "bugge," meaning something frightening, perhaps inspired by a #bedbug (buff.ly/oH1GdRv ). References to blood-feeding "bedbugs" date back to the 1620s. New evidence shows these pests have plagued humans for much longer...
