I think I've picked up Arctosa leopardus from a site near Bicester, pitfall trap. @britishspiders.bsky.social Are you able to advise, seems like a pretty good match

I think, well I'm pretty sure, I've picked up Zodarion rubidum in Oxon from a survey. Only info I can find is it was found in Essex in 1997, and in Kent. Any other info assuming my ID is correct @britishspiders.bsky.social?

It begins.

Seaview for the night

Not even half 9 and I've mapped about 30 clusters of webs, each with at least 4 webs in each cluster. It's going to be a slow day at this rate @britishspiders.bsky.social

Pulled this little one out of the ditch yesterday. The farmer tells me it's doing fine.

'Go Sheep Lightening' More crap photography

Mama... @britishspiders.bsky.social

Fuck yeah Ozzy, fuck yeah. What a life. Go on home big man, take the crazy train.

Life hack, crab the binos to the shirt when out of use... I've had years of it banging into my chest

Lots of these stripy arsed spidders around yesterday @britishspiders.bsky.social while Fen Rafting

Me, the walking stick, and Fen Raft Spiders

Been quiet recently. Will make more effort going forward, again. Staying away for big chunks of time in the van on a contract in Sussex. Mint and Lamb burger anyone?

Ant people... I come across a lot of ants in pitfall traps. Any tips for spotting the more obscure species that live within the more common species nests amongst the ant soup that's left once I've taken the rest out?

Van timing belt gone, hire vehicle for a month while it has half the engine rebuilt. At least these turned up today to give me a smile

Anyone seen me on Country File last night? Got NoFX on the BBC... Oh and talked a bit about beetles.

On the walk back to base, the star attraction of the day appeared as I looked on the hedgerow for micro moths. This stunning Longhorn beetle was definitely new to me & after some research, turns out it's a bit rare - Saperda scalaris (a rather restricted range in UK). What a bobby-dazzler! #buglife

Nothing like some Municipal Waste to get the blood flowing in the morning

Longhorns are appearing!

Beauty.

@brianecambs.bsky.social still into your snails? Is this Cochlodina laminata, or Clausilia dubia?

Messing around with the new set up. Test subject, Amara familiaris

Stunner.

It begins. For Longhorn beetles, please tag me and add the data to iRecord

1st. Old method, phone down the scope. 2nd. Photo of the monitor I've hooked up to a new HDMI microscope camera.

Wicked.

Look out

<- For longhorn beetles and recording scheme news.

Treated myself to the Lepidopterist. Banged in on in t'back garden

Looking lovely

With winter curating coming to an end, I'm treating myself to a fave pastime, Lamia textor. Historic maps, old journals, Bio heritage Library... Happy place

Dotted fluff ball today, followed by dark edged fluff ball.

1st pic, it's been a long winter of curation, cabinet making, and writing out drawer insides. 2nd picture is what the collection looked like two years ago.

Ok, office is now complete with cabinet installed. I remember starting out with a handful of books, a biscuit tin for a storage box, and a field microscope. Ponk on.

It's taken a long time to get to vol 4 of Duff, but here we go. Cerambycidae drawer time. Spreading them across two drawers, leaving space for the new species that will inevitably turn up

The UK is home to over 70 species of #longhornbeetle #Cerambycidae that can be found occurring in natural habitats that have been recorded to date. @theponker.bsky.social presents 24 UK species in this online course. courses.biologicalrecording.co.uk/courses/long... @coleopsoc.bsky.social #beetles

Tenebs next, drawer 8 of 20... Looking like I might fit everything except Staphs. Just waiting on the glue to dry

Still going strong, drawer 7 inlay done, time to transfer some specimens

Spot the Lady Clermont's Spleenwort, Asplenium x clermontiae

Another day, another drawer. Onto Cucujididjijidajijidae 😉

Today's musical accompaniment, The Tossers. Great Irish / American folk punk band. No loot, no booze, no fun. Damn right.

Action shot taken by my partner...

This is immensely satisfying. The 1st of 20 drawers. Decided I'd just hand write out liners. There will be mistakes...

Today's office work is sponsored by...

2024 highlights number 3, being an entomologist. I left school with a GCSE in Music and one in RE. After several years of arsing around I met a man name John Lamin, and discovered natural history c.2010, went to uni on a BTEC at 26, left with an MSC in Biodiversity Conservation 5 years later on. 1/2

It’s funny that we call it “dead” wood, when it can support so much life! 🪵🪲🐜🍄 Here’s a video I made earlier in the year, to spread some love for this vital habitat. #Invertebrates #Fungi #Deadwood #Ecology 🧪

2024 highlights number 2, not natural history related. I've loved NoFX since I was somewhere around 10, The Longest Line ep was my introduction. This year I got to see the final shows in LA, and with tears in my eyes said farewell to what has been more than a band to me. Me (17) and my buddy (19)...

2024 highlights, group one, beetles. Violet Click Beetle, Oberea oculata, Lamia textor, Lucanus cervus. Projects for all these in the pipeline for 2025. #teambeetle

Artsy long exposure shot of a bird 😂 Guess the bird. St Ives.

Met these two gangsters...