A very pale but very gorgeous female Dicranopalpus Harvestman sat on the side of a tree at the Cotswold Sculpture park Gloucestershire. Just to the right of it was this very simple sculpture of an owl having a tussle with an earth worm. #Harvestmen
Martyn Roper
@martynroper.bsky.social
All things nature, especially Birds, butterflies, ladybirds, Odonata, and a slight obsession with Harvestmen.
Visited Avebury yesterday and had a lovely walk around the stone circle. Also visited the local church and found these beauties, which I think are Leiobunum rotundum but I am open to any suggestions before I upload to IRecord.
Does anybody have any idea what this might be on the wall of saint Leonard’s church in Eynsham Oxfordshire? It’s on the outside of the church on a stone pillar. #Eynsham
The Large White had its best year on record in last year’s #BigButterflyCount with a whopping 396,510 records 🥇 Will it be number 1 again this year? Find out by taking part in the Big Butterfly Count from tomorrow! Count yourself in 👉 https://butrfli.es/3SVFepj
This morning, keeping to shade as much as possible, @vannabartlett.bsky.social & I went to see Oak Ladybird (Scymnus auritus). Adult beetles & larvae, feeding on Oak Leaf Phylloxera (Phylloxera glabra) on an oak tree. Thanks to @norwichbirder.bsky.social for the tip-off. Vanna's pics. #Ladybirds
A shortish cycle ride (27 miles) on Sunday with @jeremybartlett.bsky.social to a small local wood yielded some nice inverts. Large Skipper was the only butterfly out of 16 species seen that posed for a photo. More obliging were Chthonius ischnocheles & the ever-lovely Lacinius ephippiatus.
I chanced upon a rather beautiful and stunningly fresh Red Admiral today whilst out and about. When they are in this condition they really are to be marvelled at. #Butterflies
Too hot to do much outside this week so catching up with some drawing work. These are proving rather tricky: 4 plates illustrating Norfolk harvestmen. T. H. Savory was correct when he said the study of harvestmen is a study of legs!
Lots of butterflies on the wing this morning including this rather worn but still beautiful and gorgeous clouded yellow. #IRecordbutterflies
🔍 Species Spotlight: Four-spotted Chaser Named for the four dark spots on its wings, this distinctive dragonfly is a familiar sight around ponds and lakes throughout summer. Reaching it's peak flight season in June ☀️ Seen one this year?
A Red velvet mite with prey yesterday in Saint Leonards Churchyard Eynsham Oxfordshire. This mite is about 3mm long and is an Arachnid so belongs to the same family as spiders, Harvestmen and false scorpions. #Arachnids #iRecord #OMSystemsTG7
I found this Darter yesterday whilst out walking a local lake, but I am struggling to decide if it’s a Common Darter or a Ruddy Darter. This is the only photo I have of it and it was taken at some distance so is heavily cropped. #irecorddragonflies @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
A good mooch this afternoon in north Shropshire, finding Myrrha 18-guttata (18-spot Ladybird), Scymnus auritus (Oak Ladybird), Stethorus pusillus (Dot Ladybird) and Clitostethus arcuatus (Horseshoe Ladybird) amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird
I have been out looking for Harvestmen this afternoon and found what I think is an immature Opilio canestrinii female, but I am open to suggestions and corrections from any experts out there please. #Harvestmen #Arachnid’s
In Leominster on Sunday, I found several Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy Ladybird) in a conifer, which was absolutely infested with mealybugs (I think!). Some of the twigs were white with them! #MicroLadybird #Coccinellidae #Herefordshire
Lots of ladybird action in the garden yesterday with mainly seven spot and harlequin larvae active on the bushes. #ukladybirds
🐌 We are excited to be working with colleagues to make The Nature Festival a reality. We have so many great events lined up; there's something for everyone. See you there! 🌳 thenaturefestival.org @ecioxford.bsky.social @morethanadodo.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @naturerecovery.bsky.social
I was lucky to find my first Skipper of the year yesterday. A lovely Large Skipper which allowed me to get up quite close to it. #Irecordbutterflies
Grapholita pallifrontana is now on the wing in Oxfordshire. This lovely little moth is an Upper Thames priority species.
Large Skippers spotted today in Oxfordshire. Seems early!
A good number of Damselflies out today at Eynsham Oxfordshire. Mainly Azure Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly but there was also Beautiful Demoiselle and Banded Demoiselle on the wing too.
Beautiful Demoiselle today on a stream near the River Thames at Eynsham Oxfordshire.
Were probably hoping for a better 'first ever in a mist-net at Portland' but we'll take this Hairy Dragonfly from the Crown Estate Field nets just now - still a good rare here although expected to increase
Just a few of the lovelies I found hiding underneath logs and rocks today in my local churchyard in Oxfordshire.
