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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates!

@microwild.bsky.social

2.9K followers 1K following 500 posts

TL;DR: All things about Irish insects and invertebrates. An Irish naturalist sharing experiences, education and enthusiasm. Harvestman validator for the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Founder of https://microwild.org Call me: Brian

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Mar 31

It was such a privilege and pleasure to talk to @tcddublin.bsky.social entomology students today about microWild, invertebrate conservation, and Ireland Incredible Invertebrates.

Thanks to Sarah Larragy and Prof. Jane Stout for the opportunity.

Me, standing beside my projected presentation title slide

Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · 13d

I was out surveying today, Blessington lakeside, and turned a stone only to find not one but two really scarce harvestmen (and you know I liove my harvestmen).

The last time Mitostoma chrysomelas was recorded in the Republic of Ireland was way, way back in 1997.

Isn't it a little stunner!!!?

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · 27d

Don't forget, tonight you can join me for a 90-minute chat about Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates. Grab your ticket here while you can:

inverts-2025.eventbrite.ie

There are so many things to talk about, 116 slides' worth of things to be exact! 🙂

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Sep 7

Just one day before we settle down for a detailed yet accessible chat about Irish Bumblebees. There are still some places available if you'd like to get on board.

Just follow the link to get your ticket...

irish-bumblebees-2025.eventbrite.ie

Irish Bumblebees for Beginners 2025 - The Magnificent Seven plus a few more

A 90-minute run through Ireland's most common Bumblebee species. Where do they live and nest? And how to identify them to species level.

irish-bumblebees-2025.eventbrite.ie

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Sep 1

Last chance to grab a ticket to this evening's webinar, The Weird & Wonderful World of Irish Wasps.

I promise you some mind-blowing facts and anecdotes.

irish-wasps-2025.eventbrite.ie

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 27

It's only 2mm long. You wouldn't even know you'd licked it. 🤣

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 27

Yessssss!

Plus, even though they have legs, they seem to float along.

Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 27

There's very little that matches the excitement of finding a pseudoscorpion for me. They are so few and far between that they always warrant a mini celebration.

This stunning specimen is Chthonius ischnocheles (get your tongue around that!).

Have you ever seen a pseudoscorpion? Let me know...

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 26

And the final webinar for the moment... this time it's Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates. This started out as a presentation to entomology students in Trinity. 🙂

Monday, September 15th @ 19:30

Grab your ticket here: inverts-2025.eventbrite.ie

Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates

Join us for an exploration of some of Ireland's tiny but mighty invertebrates!

inverts-2025.eventbrite.ie

Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 25

Noooooooooooooooooooo

Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 25

Monday, 8th September, will see me hosting a webinar on Irish Bumblebees for Beginners, showcasing the most common 7 bumblebees plus a few extra to boot.

Learn about their lifestyles as well as how to identify them.

Get your ticket here: irish-bumblebees-2025.eventbrite.ie

A hand drawn image of a bumblebee with some information

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 25

The Weird & Wonderful World of Irish Wasps

Come join me for this webinar, next Monday, 1st September.

Tickets are Pay What You Can: irish-wasps-2025.eventbrite.ie

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 25

Thanks, Steph. And, can I just say that I have built two beetle boxes in microWild based on your thesis!!!

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 25

100% agree, and one thing I didn't mention is the potential for new species to carry diseases which they may be immune to, but which can affect other species or fauna, which is why biosecurity is so important.

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 25

No. They are detrivores, like all the other woodlice in Ireland. There is plenty of dead leaves and rotting wood to go around. They aid in the decomposition and return of nutrients to the soil.

Most likely, it hasn't spread more because our climate just isn't suitable, but that is changing...

https://www.gbif.org/species/2203739

A distribution chart showing A. nasatum's distribution in European countries.

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 25

A really exciting find for me this weekend in my parents' front garden.

Say hello to the Nosy Pill Woodlouse, Armadillidium nasatum.

This is the first record of it in the wild in Ireland (i.e. outside of a garden centre). Keep an eye out for strange things; you never know what you'll find.

Armadillidium nasatum woodlouse from the side

Armadillidium nasatum woodlouse from the front, showing its raised 'snout'.

Armadillidium nasatum woodlouse - a dorsal view showing its colouration.

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 25

Every field surveyor's worst nightmare.

This is an adult tick (Ixodes ricinus).

Photo 1: Dormant
Photo 2: It smelled my breath or felt the heat of my finger using special organs (Haller's Organ) on its forelegs and started to wake
Photo 3: It tried to give me a hug 😬

Amazing creatures.

An adult sheep tick reaching out its legs in an attempt to latch on to a host

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 24

This is the tiniest little jumping spider I came across yesterday while surveying my parents' front garden.

I know it's anthropomorphic, but jumping spiders always look a little worried to me. I want to help them, but I'm not quite sure how... 🙂

A 2mm long jumping spider sitting on a stone

Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 21

Vanna got there first! :)

Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 18

This is the business end of a Brown Hawker Dragonfly. If you are a flying invertebrate, you do not want to see this up close.

Dragonflies are exceptional on-the-wing hunters with a success rate that is unmatched in the animal kingdom.

Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 18

I know there are a few that look similar. But if it came off a Nettle then it might be this one... :)

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 15

Last spider pic for a while, I promise... 👀

This beautiful Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) was spotted hiding out on some Thistle flowers, waiting for an unsuspecting meal. We saw it eye up an Eristalis tenax (Drone Fly), but it opted out as the fly was quite large.

A white crab spider sitting on a thistle flower head

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 14

@collieennis.bsky.social and I went on a special adventure yesterday, including checking on a population of Cave Spiders (Meta menardi). Hunched over, walking down a smelly underground tunnel and trying desperately to avoid badger poo, I eventually got face-to-face with this stunning specimen.

Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 12

Just look at this beautiful Trochosa species spider, found under a granite rock, lakeside in Valleymount, West Wicklow. These are bigger than your average wolf spider!

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 11

irish-harvestmen.eventbrite.ie

Don't forget, this is tonight at 7:30pm... tickets (Pay What You Can) are still available for the next few hours.

Not Spiders! Irish Harvestmen for Beginners

Get ready to discover the fascinating world of Irish Harvestmen in a beginner-friendly session full of interesting facts and surprises!

irish-harvestmen.eventbrite.ie

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Ireland's Incredible Invertebrates! @microwild.bsky.social · Aug 6

Join me this Monday for a 90-minute online session about one of my favorite topics: Irish Harvestmen. By the end, you'll distinguish between Nemastoma, Oligolophus, Phalangium and more.

Tickets are Pay What You Can, and if you need a free ticket, just let me know.

irish-harvestmen.eventbrite.ie

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