Copy arrived this week and it is fabulous, opens up a whole new world of interest. Absolutely in awe of author Martin Drake for putting it all together. It's pricey, shame the publishers couldn't have found a way of subsidising it more, but it contains priceless expertise and years of hard work.

Just reposted on my own website my two recent Beth Chatto blogs about the Gardens' outreach sites and the insects they support www.chrisgibsonwildlife.co.uk/beth-chatto-...

Did you know? Insects eat plants as medicine. #OpenAccess onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Ordered last June, arrived Tuesday, finished last night. A book I needed years ago. Absolutely terrific and if you’re early in your naturalist phase an essential read I would say. One that won’t go on the shelf but to reread and dip into, especially the section on different groups.

Hi @britishbugs.bsky.social @rockwolf74.bsky.social @willgeorge.bsky.social what do you make of this Trigonotylus sp.? From Culbin Sands (coast nr Inverness), a long way north for caelestialium, + 2nd antennal segment is noticeably longer than 3rd, so it's probably ruficornis despite stripes?

At NEYEDC we're interested in all aspects of natural history, including finding out about past fieldtrips and finds, which is why it was nice to stumble across a lovely hand drawn map from a @ynuorg.bsky.social conchological excursion to Brandesburton in 1969 - spot the all important lunch stop!🥪

No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition. Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

I collected a few Alder catkins from along the canal at Cadder, on Monday. Several micro-moth species caterpillars feed inside these and this morning one catkin proved to be tenanted (see ejected frass). The only species i've ever reared thru by this process tho is Argyresthia goedartella. #teammoth

A new species added to the Bedfordshire bug slides, with the lacebug Catoplatus fabricii, a rather lovely creature brilliantly found and photographed by @markgurn.bsky.social last year. See all the slides here www.flickr.com/photos/runne...

Thank you to everyone who came along to our annual UK Moth Recorders' Meeting last weekend! All the brilliant talks from the day are now available to watch back on our YouTube channel. Grab a cuppa and catch up here 👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiZE... #UKMRM #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

🌟Call for Nominations – BMS Awards 2026🌟 Seeking nominations that reflect the full breadth and diversity of the mycological community—researchers, educators, field mycologists, volunteers & more.🍄Help us raise awareness of outstanding work! Deadline: 31 May 2026. www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/awards.html

Hurrah! This new book 👇 from the fabulous @sarahwhild.bsky.social will be essential reading for anyone serious about botanical/ biological recording. Among Sarah's many past achievements: years of driving BSBI's botanical training offering & co-founding #NewYearPlantHunt. She's an absolute legend!

🚨Latest edition of our e‑newsletter is out now! In this issue: 🌿2026: A defining year for nature 🐝#IPBES12 comes to Manchester 🧬Genetic Diversity of Wild Species Indicator 🔍Why local & national biodiversity monitoring matters more than ever 🔗Sign-up bit.ly/JNCC-NN-SignUp

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

My son had a great time on an AFC trip some years ago, recommended

This is a pioneering new wetland restoration project on the Oxfordshire-Wiltshire border at Coleshill. It was designed to bring clean-water habitats back to the River Cole floodplain and create a much-needed wildlife corridor where 90% of freshwater habitats have been lost over the last century.

I'm getting a bit fed-up with endless dull, dreary, damp days whenever I can get to @bbowt.bsky.social Dancersend but have to admit that at this time of the year it is the dark, damp, weedy corners of the reserve where the jewels are. Thank goodness for snowdrops, Scarlet Elf-cups and slime moulds!

We are being spoilt this year for great new books on biological recording - congratulations Sarah 👏👏👏🍾

🌿 Working in ecology, biodiversity or wildlife conservation? Join our webinar exploring the open‑access Nature Park Map and how schools across England are taking action for nature recovery 📅 11 Feb, 16:00–16:45 🔗 www.educationnaturepark.org.uk/webinar-expl...

Missed our Brad Ashby lecture 'One Mother For Two Species: The Complex Lifecycle of Harvester Ants' last week? You can catch up on YouTube now!

Our new guide to #FliesofBritainandIreland is due to be delivered to our office mid-Feb 2026 so we've extended the pre-pub offer to 14 February bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @rdimond.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social

Marmalade Hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus. My first hoverfly of the year. #Diptera #VC55

Wow, UK moth recording really on the up. Nearly 900K records in 2025, probably reach over 1 million in due course. Well done everyone. National Moth Recording Scheme meeting online now @savebutterflies.bsky.social

The programme for 2026 Coleopterists Day is here...

It's arrived! Pan-species Listing: How to Become a Super-Naturalist published by @pelagicpublishing. My first book. I am so pleased with it. It looks amazing, all those photos of incredible British species really make this a very colourful book and a celebration of how fantastic our wildlife is.

This has been confirmed by DNA analysis as being Cortinarius lividomalvaceus. With oak on a road verge in Oxon. Maybe new to Britain...Hoping to get the verge a County Road Verge Nature Reserve, the first for fungi in county! many other nice woodland fungi here as well #fungifriends

Great to see Mick Jones here, inspiring #conservation volunteer leader and Bucks Invertebrate Group supporter 👋 @bbowt.bsky.social #habitatmanagement #beetles

Booking for this event has just been released. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lancashire...

The NFBR would love to share your biological recording news in our newsletter 🗣🦎🦟🪻🦋🐦‍⬛🦦You can read the fantastic updates from our autumn and past editions, plus submission details, here: www.nfbr.org.uk?q=newsletters

Delighted that my first solo history paper has just been published in Archives of Natural History (the journal of @sochistnathist.bsky.social)! It’ll be available online soon at @edinburghup.bsky.social, or you could join the Society and get a print copy of your own! 🙂

Two videos: Macrophotography Methods: youtu.be/ODkFCaL13SY and: Getting the most from your Olympus TG camera: youtu.be/1YkxjaoHbgE #Insects #entomology #Arachnids #photography #macrophotography #macro #Olympus

Tracking the Impact  Tuesday 10th February 19:00 to 21:30 Do you want to know more about the programme? Join us in February! Book now:

Tracking the Impact  Saturday 7th February 10.00 to 14:00 Do you want to know more about the programme? Join us in February! Book now:

Discover nature, sustainably. Where to Watch Wildlife in Britain (By Low-carbon Transport) guides you to the best spots while promoting eco-friendly travel and conservation awareness. Out next month and available to pre-order now! 🚞

Join us on 28th February for the annual #GardenMothScheme conference! All are welcome at this free online event. Book your free space here: tinyurl.com/Moth26

An across-government technical assessment published today recognises that "nature is the foundation of national security" and that "every critical ecosystem is on a pathway to collapse". A rational response to this would be to get very serious about nature recovery. www.gov.uk/government/p...

Are you planning to undertake a project in 2026 which involves collecting plant-related data? Would you like <£1,000 towards your costs? Apply for a #BSBIPlantStudyGrant! Here's how: bsbi.org/learn/grants... Read how a #BSBIGrant helped Katherine research ancient meadows: bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...

An excellent paper "Fine details: Tips for improving specimen photography" by @ajcann.bsky.social in latest edition of British Journal of Entomology & Natural History just arrived @britentsoc.bsky.social 🪳🕷🪲🐝🦗🦟🐞

Every year I try to repurpose #BlueMonday (which we all know is a load of 💩) and advocate for #insects by showcasing some beautiful BLUE BUGS! Please join me by sharing your photos or artwork with the hashtag #BlueBugs 🦋🩵 📷 Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Congratulations to @craigbennett3.bsky.social on his OBE for services to the environment www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/craig-b...

Honeybees and Marmalade Hoverflies out in Calverley Grounds today, along with a foraging Buff-tailed Bumblebee worker.

Excited #fungifriends to see my first Scarlet Elfcups of the year and one a perfect little❤️ too! 🥰 #fungi #mushroommonday #fungifriday

Thinking of monitoring butterflies in your local area or setting up a monitoring project? We have new guidance to help navigate the various monitoring methods and choose the best option for your project. buff.ly/fvThSQq

Nice to be starting 2026 with our new paper with @sei.org on making #CitizenScience biological recording more inclusive @savebutterflies.bsky.social doi.org/10.5334/cstp...

Turning wildlife sightings into powerful data 🐝🌿 Every iRecord submission supports research and conservation nationwide. Join iRecord 101 with @earthwormuk.bsky.social Brown (Thu 2 Apr 2026) and learn how to get started or level up. 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1734876575... @ukceh.bsky.social

First global analysis of its kind, led by UKCEH, has shown the impacts of invasive alien species on insects. The study found the non-native animals & plants on average reduce abundance of terrestrial insects by 31% and species richness by 21%. www.ceh.ac.uk/press/insect... 🧪 1/ #biodiversity

Biodiversity is essential for a healthy planet & to protect it, we need to understand how nature is changing 🌍💚 Our latest blog reflects on new findings about how local & national biodiversity monitoring can work together to support #NatureRecovery 👇 jncc.gov.uk/news/why-loc... #TogetherForNature

🐌🎉 One year ago this week, the Pyrenean Semi-slug (Semilimax pyrenaicus) was discovered new to Britain — found on Cwmaman Tip, near Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf. A small species, but a big moment for British wildlife. (1/7)

Our new 416pp #FliesofBritainandIreland covering over 1300 species & with over 1500 photos is now being printed - due mid Feb 2026. You can still pre-order until 31 Jan bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social