Profile picture is me with an Ophrys sphegodes atrata at Casa de Campo, Madrid, Spain.
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).

iNat projects I have created:
Galls, miners, and other plant diseases on cultivated/introduced plants
"Parasitica" of North America

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.

My Mastodon (as an alternative to Twitter)- Still in early stage, meant to be something of a journal to go along with my observations, as well as thoughts about different subjects such as philosophy and psychology.

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.

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