#LadybirdYearList Species #12: a Red Marsh Ladybird (Coccidula rufa) swept from tall pond side vegetation at Cornmill Meadows in the Lee Valley today. Surprisingly I did not see this common species last year, so pleased to catch up with it early this year. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

On Friday, I found this 24-spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella 24-punctata), with what looks like a Tachinid egg on it. I know Medina separata attacks the Coccinellidae, but they usually lay eggs under the elytra. This ladybird also has a white substance on the face (+ a baby springtail on the pronotum...)

Completely flunked the focus (as usual!), but was surprised to find paired Meadow Ladybirds (Rhyzobius litura) yesterday. I've found paired 7-spot and Pine Ladybirds early in the year, but this is a first for me! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Saw this lovely moth on railings in Shropshire yesterday, which I think might be a female Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria). #Lepidoptera #Moth

The sun had gone by the time I got to the park railings today but their dark colour holds the heat, which was being enjoyed by two new-for-2026 shieldbugs: Hawthorn (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) & Hairy (Dolycoris baccarum), as well as one of the relatively large springtails Orchesella cincta.

The dipping pond at Cosmeston this morning was full of Toads, slithering and sliding, mating and producing their thousands of long strings of eggs. No sign of any frogs yet though. #SpringHasSprung

Over the years, I’ve found plenty of Gastrodes grossipes (Pine Cone Bug), so it was nice to find the other one, Gastrodes abietum (Spruce Cone Bug) today! A first for me! #Heteroptera #Lygaeidae #Shropshire

A damp mooch this pm, finding Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh Ladybird), Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Arboreal Ladybird),Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked Ladybird) and Scymnus haemorrhoidalis (Red-rumped Ladybird) amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Common European earwig (Forficula auricularia) # bugoftheday

Found a dead 7-spot Ladybird whilst mending my shed roof today. White fungus growing out of the gaps between various body parts, most likely Beauveria bassiana. #EssexWildlife #UKFungi

Is this a Badger paw print? The second photo is of the tip of my wellington boot for scale. Lots of latrines nearby, so guessing it must be! Thanks! #BritishMammal #Badger

I don't think I've ever seen as many 7-spot ladybirds as over the last 3 days, out and about around Halesowen. Haven't seen any moving - they just seem to be sat in the scrub - waiting patiently, presumably for aphids to emerge. Not complaining though as they're looking good - in pristine colours.

1st HFFB! We have seen Hairy-footed Flower bees (Anthophora plumipes) in late February before but always males, so surprised to find a female buzzing around the Pulmonarias yesterday before taking a break on a rustic leaf 🐝🙂. @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social

Actually dry today!!! Though the wind was blowing an absolute hoolie! Plenty of Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy LB), Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh LB), and singles of Scymnus haemorrhoidalis (Red-rumped LB) and Nephus redtenbacheri (Red-patched LB), amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Glorious lunchtime mooch! Sunny, warm and dry! Found more Scymnus haemorrhoidalis (Red-rumped LB), also with 16-spot and Rhyzobius litura (Meadow LB), another Nephus redtenbacheri (Red-patched LB) and Hippodamia variegata (Adonis LB) #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

It's been a glorious day and my butterfly year has begun, with four Brimstone seen during today's circuit of Cardiff Bay, two at the wetlands and these two in Hamadryad Park. 🦋💚 #UKButterflies

First male Hairy-footed Flower Bee of the year in the garden this morning. #KentNature #bees #hymenoptera

On Saturday, I planted a small conifer in the garden, and on Sunday, I noticed this lovely little visitor 🥰. Still there this morning, so thought it rude not to take a photo! Coccinella septempunctata (7-spot Ladybird) #VC40Ladybirds

One of two male Smooth Newts seen in my (rather murky) garden pond this morning. It almost feels like Spring...

Hardly been out with the camera so far this year 🌧🌧🌧 The sun came out today for a bit though 😃📸 and I'm off to a start with my #ladybirdyearlist 🐞 1️⃣ Propylea quatourdecimpunctata (14 spot ladybird) #ukladybirds #ukwildlife #macrophotography

Conveyor belt of deluges this pm… found Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh Ladybird), Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Arboreal Ladybird), Scymnus suturalis (Conifer Ladybird) and new for my #LadybirdYearList Anatis ocellata (Eyed Ladybird) amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Fun surprise this week - this delightful ladybird dropped out of a bush at work while beating some foliage. Having not met one before, I assumed it was a massive Scymnus, but no, it's Rhyzobius forestieri, an introduced species from Australia, just hanging out. Rather exciting! #Entomology #Ladybird

It arrived today. Very proud to have been able to make a teeny-weeny contribution to this superb new book. #ukorthoptera #orthoptera

Wildlife group's visit to Venus Pool yesterday was like trying to entomologise on top of a mountain in Iceland on a windy day. We ended up taking refuge in a bird hide, which allowed me to give the long lens a rare work-out, albeit in dismal light. Descriptions in alt text.

Does anyone know please if there's an LED equivalent to bulb type 6423FO - 15V - 150W (GZ6.35)? I've tried contacting Philips, but not had a response. It's for a fibre optic lamp. I have tried Googling, but it's a bit of a minefield! Thanks!

A very damp mooch y'day in north Shrops, finding Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh LB), Anisosticta 19-punctata (Water LB), a quartet (see ALT for species names) from same grass tussock and Rhyzobius lophanthae (Bristly LB) amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Annoyingly, I didn't spot the Hesperomyces fungus on this Harmonia quadripunctata when I photographed it in Earlham Cemetery on Friday. I only noticed after downloading the photos at home. So today I went back to look for it, despite the weather conditions... 1/2

Acalypta parvula, a 2mm lacebug commonly found in moss. This one seen on the wildlife group's Wednesday jaunt to north-west Shropshire last week.

iRecord is really important as a repository for UK wildlife/nature records, including casual records, surveys and trapping, and non-native species. This is well worth doing 👇

10 species of #ladybirds found yesterday on gravestones in Newington Cemetery, #Edinburgh. Surprisingly good haul (best of 2026 so far) despite the dreich weather. Part 1: Cream-streaked, Eyed & Larch Ladybirds … #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.

An unusual Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata) on a gravestone in Earlham Cemetery from yesterday (13/02/2026). Probably the nicest one I've ever found. #ladybirds #coleoptera #insects

Flatworm Friday! My first ever terrestrial flatworm which I think may be Caenoplana variegata but waiting for confirmation. It’s a INNS, brought in on the cat’s fur.

Made a trip to the moors north of Telford this morning thanks to a tip-off from @pilning.bsky.social to see the White-fronted Geese which have fetched up on the floods. They were showing well despite the continued murky weather.

16-Spot Ladybird hibernation site in Panshanger Park, Hertford 08/02/206 @hnhsoc.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social

Saw a few nice ladybirds on Monday, guessing as the weather was a little warmer. - Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata) - Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata) - Staffordshire, 09/02/2026

A group of two-pronged bristletails (Diplura) found under rotting wooden planks in Upshire yesterday. I do not see these interesting hexapods very often, always a pleasure. #EssexWildlife

Wildlife group pics from Bucknell Wood on 4 Feb. Eyed Ladybird, Land Caddis (head on - they kept inside their cases until warmed up on a hand or even a hand warmer!), Dicranum majus (seemed suitably robust and curvy leaved) and the rove Othius punctulatus (det Caroline). #ukwildlife #bryophytes

Actual sunshine yesterday!!! Made all the difference with 14 species found including Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy Ladybird), Hippodamia variegata (Adonis Ladybird), Rhyzobius lophanthae (Bristly Ladybird) and Scymnus haemorrhoidalis (Red-rumped Ladybird) in north Shrops #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Two 7-spot Ladybirds, one 22-spot Ladybird and three Arboreal Ladybirds, all tapped out of a Euonymus shrub in my Waltham Abbey garden yesterday. These are the three most regular species on my patch. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

This popped up again y'day, and it's too good not to share. Three top gents @pilning.bsky.social, @lancefly.bsky.social & @vc40orthops.bsky.social (not forgetting Jim C) on a visit to the Wyre Forest last year. A superb day with Shining Guest Ant & Dinarda maerkeli the highlights.

Found this gorgeous little weevil today, which I think might be Hypera arator. Happy to be corrected! #Weevil #Coleoptera #Curculionidae

Friday afternoon’s mooch was a tad damp! Found Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh Ladybird), Rhyzobius litura (Meadow Ladybird), Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy Ladybird) and Hippodamia variegata (Adonis Ladybird) amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Rather late to the party with this one! New for my #LadybirdYearList Halyzia sedecimguttata (Orange Ladybird) from north Shropshire today #VC40Ladybirds

Wildlife group returned to the English/Welsh border on Weds to the location of our Land Caddis (Enoicyla pusilla) discovery last Nov. Found in v. good numbers again & over a wider area. Grown too: cases now around 3.5mm long (prob 3rd instar of 5). Excellent result!

I won the ladybird lottery at the weekend, with 338 16-spot Ladybirds huddled up on a series of fence posts! #beetle #Coleoptera

I've been waiting a long time for this book and it is now published - fantastic - great group to get into and this book will make it easy for you - climate change messengers

#LadybirdYearList Species #11: a single Meadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura) tapped from seed heads at Gunpowder Park, Sewardstone this morning. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

On a rainy grey February, a splendid parcel has arrived. What a relief… @pelagic.bsky.social @nfbr.bsky.social @nbntrust.bsky.social

It was rather wet yesterday... a few finds include Harmonia axyridis (Harlequin LB) with Hesperomyces harmoniae from ivy, Anisosticta 19-punctata (Water LB) from Bulrushes, Scymnus suturalis (Conifer LB) from pine and Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy LB) from ivy! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Enfin entre les mains après quelques soucis avec le livreur ! Un ouvrage sur les coccinelles qui s'annonce bien utile, même si il ne couvrira pas toutes les espèces françaises. Un gros travail sur ces petites espèces trop mal connues. #entomology