We hear so much about what we're doing wrong, but we really CAN do better if we choose to. If you need a dose of optimism in your weekend, do have a listen to my new radio doc River Rebound, all about how different cities around the world are uncovering and reconnecting to their urban rivers.

BBC Audio | The Documentary Podcast | River rebound

Transforming the world’s urban rivers can be from rubbish dumps to climate change heroes

bbc.com

Last night we celebrated the artistic talent of Natalie McIntyre at the lovely Whipple Museum Natalie’s drawings brought beauty to #InsectDay - her 24 plates are gorgeous. But you need to buy the lovely little book to see all of them press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...

Oh my. That’s an irritating sign.

Had to stop on a dark country lane as there were loads of these beauties!! Parasol mushroom Macrolepiota procera - nice white gills so no death for Erica 😎🤘🤓

DF's 2026 Dipterists’ Day & AGM, at National Museum of Wales in Cardiff, Sat 14 Nov 2026. Everyone welcome, members & non-members. Visits to museum Diptera collections and Dipterist Supper on Friday with Dipterist Day on Saturday. dipterists.org.uk/events/dipte... @flygirlnhm.bsky.social Pls share

Frederick DuCane Godman DCL FRS FLS FGS FRGS FES FZS MRI FRHS and Osbert Salvin FRS collected this specimen in Mexico at some point after 1885 but before being described in Vol 6 of Biologia Centrali-Americana (1888). That's a whole lot of Fellow for this little fly.

Exciting News - #InsectDay has been recommended in the @newscientist.com as one of the best new popular-science books of November 2026 An hourly guide that follows twenty-four insects as they find food, mates, and safety from predators It's little & perfect for all homes @royentsoc.bsky.social

Very much looking forward to this course (& thanks @dipterists.bsky.social for the fully funded places for 2 LUCKY folks. I have my discounted Dolichopodidae handbook already thumbed and ready...Thanks @royentsoc.bsky.social for the discount (applicable to all participants)

DipteristsForum@dipteristsforum.bsky.social · 7d ago

How exciting! 2 places for the DF 'Doli' ID workshop, March 2027 in UK, have been generously donated by our good friends @dipterists.bsky.social. Application info below - closing date 31-12-2026: dipterists.org.uk/news/two-ful... @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @davebriceflies.bsky.social Please share!

My local woodland is covered with magpie inkcaps Coprinopsis picacea - and I love it!! Oozing, melting, dribbling - what marvellous things!!

The @nhm-london.bsky.social and the @unirdg-artcol.bsky.social @unirdgento.bsky.social have partnered up to bring entomology to the masses, oops masters (students) And it’s great

Steve@stevetypesstuff.bsky.social · 2w ago

A huge thank you to @flygirlnhm.bsky.social for a whole day of flies 🪰🪰🪰🪰🪰🪰 at @unirdgento.bsky.social Brain now full! Good luck with the sprouts!🥬 🥬 🥬

Brilliant, another key to add to the collection! @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @lancefly.bsky.social @suillia.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social

DipteristsForum@dipteristsforum.bsky.social · 2w ago

A revised version of the very well-illustrated key to spiny-winged flies in family Heleomyzidae has been made available by the authors: Duncan Sivell, Alan Stubbs and Ian Andrews Download it from the Heleomyzid Recording Scheme page on DF website here: dipterists.org.uk/heleomyzid-s... - open access

Join us tomorrow evening (Tues 27th Oct) for an hour and half of learning on how to survey for flies. Getting the fieldwork right dictates the quality of the rest of the project ✅ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/surveying-... @davebriceflies.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @biologicalrecording.co.uk

Surveying For Flies

Learn how to survey for flies using practical field methods while exploring their ecological importance and habitats.

eventbrite.co.uk

I attended Prof Richard Bardgett’s talk on soils yesterday at #RHSWisley - amazingly important topic highlighting the hidden diversity within soils & the importance of this community. And roots - we need good roots. You want to know roots - check this out images.wur.nl/digital/coll...

An excellent job opportunity for an experienced entomologist The #DarwinTreeofLife project, based at @nhm-london.bsky.social are seeking someone with good identification skills to join this fantastic project @royentsoc.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social jobs.nhm.ac.uk/internal/Job...

Research Assistant, DToL Garfield Weston:South Kensington

jobs.nhm.ac.uk

In the latest edition of the @nhm-london.bsky.social WildWorld mag (for younger nature enthusiasts), I am featured with one of my fav specimens - an Asilus crabroniformis, a hornet robberfly collected in the late 1600's! (alongside one I photographed last year) Still looking good (albeit flat..)

This little fluffy is 3mm long - best things do come in small packages. This bee-fly - Pusilla longirostris - was collected in 1931, presented to the @nhm-london.bsky.social in 1954, described in the same year and now, in 2026, its been imaged and databased. Welcome NHMUK016404692

A day at the @nhm-london.bsky.social looking at the #insect collections… bliss. With the irrepressible @flygirlnhm.bsky.social as our host! @unirdgento.bsky.social #entomology

Last night was Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards at the @nhm-london.bsky.social . Excellent photography & I was especially pleased to see the Rising Star Award go to Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas for this image. Yes, my selfie with him is an indication as to why I’m not an award winning photographer

FYI @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @biologicalrecording.co.uk

Biological Recording Company@biologicalrecording.co.uk · 4w ago

🌙 Can connecting with nature after dark boost wellbeing and inspire conservation? 🦋 Dr @drchrisbarnes.bsky.social (University of Derby) shares research on moths, crane flies and nighttime nature experiences. Now available to watch for FREE! 🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9NY...

They’re back… Barley and Rye have joined the @nhm-london.bsky.social staff for a couple of weeks to help with a local biodiversity project Excellent work ladies

A fun couple of days working on by-catch including lots of Trichoptera (Caddis Flies) a few Neuroptera (Lacewings), one chunky Megaloptera (Alder Fly) and a couple of Plecoptera (Stoneflies). More records for the client, beyond Diptera. A close up of Agrypnia varia below dipteraid.co.uk/projects/

Calling ecologists! Diptera backlog? Need ID work done before next season? Planning lots of diptera work next year? We can help! Please contact me for Diptera ID, full species lists and conservation status etc, see dipteraid.co.uk/projects/ Please share Conicera tibialis (Phoridae) for interest.

20 years ago today was my first day at the @nhm-london.bsky.social. It’s been packed with learning, travelling, listening, curating, researching and shouting about the wonder of flies & the collection Thanks to everyone who made my double-decades amazing 🤘🪰🦟🤓

For #flyfriday - paratypes of Machimus cowini - the Manx robberfly seen here in the Manx Museum entomology collections The Manx robberfly was 1st discovered on the Isle of Man in the 1940s but has since been found else where but not ‘across’ (eg UK) as they say here. @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

If it hasn’t been published it has effectively not been done - a Classic Prof Simon leather quote highlighting the value of communicating the science once it has been done A celebration at @harperadamsuni.bsky.social for the new building opened in hour of the great man @royentsoc.bsky.social

Fly Research & Conservation Virtual Symposium 21 Oct 2026 | 10:00 - 13:00 | Tickets £1 - £30 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981718540... Featuring the brilliant minds of: @flygirlnhm.bsky.social Erica McAlister @denisewawman.bsky.social Denise Wawman Ian McGowan Meghan Barrett @biologicalrecording.co.uk

Fly Research and Conservation Virtual Symposium

Join us during Insect Week to explore some of the latest research and conservation projects about true flies (Diptera).

eventbrite.co.uk

No butter just #flies... these Marmalade Hoverflies were visiting Devil's Bit Scabious flowers @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social Ryton Wood Meadows. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #WebsWild....

I’ve just given a talk to a group of Girl Guides to talk about the new #Entomology badge I was talking about food security ‘Does anyone eat salmon here?’ The reply was ‘only smoked’ Yes, it was Surrey

Such a great image! You don't have to love them but it's hard not to appreciate their uniqueness.

Matt Bertone@bertonemyia.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Well this certainly is a beautiful little mosquito 😍 I know people hate them, but they can be very nice to look at when they're not attacking you 😂 These were not attacking 🙏 Looks like an Anopheles, perhaps A. quadrimaculatus. @mosquitolab.bsky.social can you confirm? #Culicidae Johnston Co., NC

Check out this absolute unit of a Robberfly - an undescribed/identified Bactria species from Vietnam. Amazing @dipterists.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social