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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 7h

Or just leaving the leaves where they are? They make good suction samplers though, with a bit of modification.

Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 7h

I think I’m probably forgetting some others but Kingfishers come to mind. Both low west hugging the edge of the beach, one doing abrupt 90 degree turns at each breakwater to go round them instead of just going straight over them. Red-crested Pochard with Common Scoter also unexpected.

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 1d

Not a direct answer to your question but I think I remember Carlton Marshes (Suffolk WT) having much more success by appointing ambassadors from within their dog-walking community than they did with any kind of signage.

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 1d

I had a Lagria hirta in (or rather on) my moth trap this morning too. I mostly catch them June-August (peaking in mid July) but some years I catch much smaller numbers again in October, presumably a small second generation.

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 2d

I wondered how seasonal they are… I guess you’ll have a better idea of that as time goes on.

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 2d

Wow, that’s quite some achievement! I shall be delighted when I find my first (assuming I can catch it and identify it)… I clearly need to up my game with sieving and stone-turning!

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 3d

I agree the first is Beaded Chestnut and the second Flounced Chestnut. For perspective on how good the latter is, I’ve only ever caught two Flounced vs. 1,131 Beaded Chestnuts. I think the third must be a knackered Deep-brown Dart - also good but increasing and seems to be having a bumper year.

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 4d

Let me know when you’re next visiting and I’ll see if Vitty can knock some up. We won’t need croutons - there should be enough crunch already…

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 4d

I think they’re all Harlequins - they’re so variable! They all seemed about the same size and I think the black ones with red spots all had big white spots on the foreparts. I’ll check later though…

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 4d

Yeah, I’ve found them scarcer than usual this year too. They must have been saving themselves up for yesterday!

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 4d

The number of Harlequin Ladybirds hibernating in my kitchen went up yesterday: 18 late morning, up to at least 54 by evening. I usually get 2- and 7-spot Ladybirds hibernating in my study and Harlequins in the kitchen but this is more than usual.

A clutser of Harlequin #Ladybirds resting between the vent and the ceiling above my kitchen window.

The ladybirds show a mixture of colour forms, mostly orange with black spots (some larger spots than others, some with few or faint spots). A few are black forms with two or four red spots.

#hibernation

A larger group of Harlequin Ladybirds in the same place as in the last photo. They're covering themselves up so it's hard to get an exact count but I reckon there are at least 54 visible (if only just).

#UKBeetles #UKInverts

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 8d

I'm working on my specimens caught over the summer. This from my garden moth trap on 13th June appears to be Deleaster dichrous, although there were some problems keying it (tarsus 4 not simple for starters). Not many records in Norfolk (only one up to the end of 2021, don't know after that).

Deleaster dichrous, a smallish rove beetle, as I found it on an eggbox in my moth trap.

A better view of the Deleaster dichrous in a pot.

The pronotum, elytra and appendages are reddish and the head and abdomen are mostly blackish.

Another view of the Deleaster dichrous in a pot.

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 8d

Fantastic! I’m yet to see any of the mantidflies and would dearly love to! (NB: correct spelling of both parts of the name: Mantispa styriaca). Awesome photo.

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 9d

Thanks Dave, I suspected that might be the case. Your posts always make me want to do more Continental mothing.

Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 9d

Impressive! Are moth seasons down there comparable to the UK at all, i.e. do you get maximum numbers and species richness in summer as here, or do you get a sort of summer diapause when it’s too hot in mid summer, so peaking before and after in spring/autumn?

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 11d

Thank you!

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 11d

There is a way to italicise words on BlueSky etc. using third party software but it’s not recommended as the results aren’t rendered correctly by some browsers or most text readers. So for accessibility best to stick to basic text even for scientific names that would be italicised off social media.

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 19d

Yeah, it was really interesting and thought-provoking. Well done and thank you @beebytes.bsky.social and @tanyptera.bsky.social.

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Reposted by Dave Appleton

Ian Carter @iancarter67.bsky.social · 20d

This has received no publicity but is damning. A clear explanation of why this type of reintroduction is not just a distraction and a waste of resources but is ACTIVELY HARMFUL to conservation. Environmental journalists please note and please publicise.

operationturtledove.org/captive-rele...

Operation Turtle Dove’s view on the release of captive-bred Turtle Doves as a conservation measure - Operation Turtle Dove

Operation Turtle Dove is a science-led conservation partnership working to reverse the decline of Turtle Doves in the UK by restoring habitat and addressing key threats. Learn why captive-bred release...

operationturtledove.org

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 21d

Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Migrant Sable) in mid Norfolk last night. I’ve caught lots of good moths here incl. 3 county firsts but this may be the rarest @migrantmothuk.bsky.social so far.

4th for Norfolk (3rd this year) unless @norfolkmoths.bsky.social has others pending.

#NorfolkMoths #TeamMoth

Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Migrant Sable) taken from the side showing how it sometimes stands with the front of its body raised.

The wings are brown with irregular white barring.

#MigrantMoths

The same Diasemiopsis ramburialis (Migrant Sable) taken from above. It usually rested flatter to the ground as here.

The rear edge of the wings aren’t smoothly curved but the jagged-edged effect is exaggerated by the alternating patches of dark brown and white along its cilia.

#TeamMoth
#MigrantMothsUK

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 23d

I like it when a #newt shows up at my moth trap. I've had Smooth Newts here a few times now but previously they've always been unspotty juveniles (one was a little spotty).

#Amphibians

Smooth Newt: dorsal view on a white background

#Amphibia

Smooth Newt side view of head and front of body

#Amphibian

Smooth Newt side view showing spots on bottom of body

Smooth Newt climbing plastic showing underside of front including spots and orange stripe down belly (which continued along tail).

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 25d

They seem to be declining here. Only 15 this year which is actually about average for the last 5-6 years but was getting more most years before that (72 in 2015). A bit late for them now though - I’ve not caught them after the beginning of September.

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 25d

Must admit I quite like them in a way. I often try to sex them in the field and release the females, although I don’t always find it easy to eliminate Fagocyba in the field and don’t necessarily want to reject the females of those.

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Dave Appleton @applewildlife.bsky.social · 28d

Your book sounds great! Are there any plans to release an audio version on Audible?

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Reposted by Dave Appleton

Richard Moyse @kentgrasshoppers.bsky.social · 29d

Does anyone know of papers documenting the impact of Asian Hornets on insect populations (other than Honey Bees)? A statement on the Kent Downs National Landscape site says "In other parts of Europe, their arrival has led to huge declines in native insects" and I'd be interested to know more.

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