Derek Binns
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arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Derek Binns
@arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
1K followers 130 following 810 posts
Amateur naturalist - parasitic wasps (and other tiny insects) specialising in UK Trichogrammatidae and Mymaridae. All posts are my own finds, and all are found in Sussex (unless otherwise stated).
Born at 317.68ppm.
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arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A female Chartocerus subaeneus wasp of the Signiphoridae found 29.7.2025 in the old meadow at Great Dixter.
It was very good year for Signiphorid wasps.

#UKWildlife #Signiphoridae #wasps #HighWeald
Side view of a tiny brown wasp. Its head and antennae are to the left of picture, its ovipositor is pointing to the right. Wings with shaded bands are held above the body.
January 15, 2026 at 2:11 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Auntie Satya. Wonderful woman.
#TheArchers
January 15, 2026 at 11:07 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A 0.8mm long female Ufens hirticornis wasp of the Trichogrammatidae found 1.8.2023 in Brede High Woods.

#UKWildlife #wasps #Trichogrammatidae #HighWeald
View looking down on a tiny wasp with wings outstretched. The wasp's head and yellow antennae are to the top of picture. Its body is brown with a couple of yellow patches. The paddle-shaped clear wings have rows of hairs along each wing disc.
January 15, 2026 at 9:52 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Perfect moment. One to savour. Squirrels are usually so canny, it is surprising they didn't twig the difference.
January 15, 2026 at 9:44 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
What a fabulous collection. A remarkable year. Fourteen species is a great achievement!
January 13, 2026 at 4:59 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Congratulations! Always good to find one. Heavy rains here, hence no tiny wasps, but managed to see a kingfisher!
January 13, 2026 at 3:46 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A beautiful 0.5mm long Uscana princeps wasp of the Trichogrammatidae found 5.9.2023 at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

#UKWildlife #wasps #Trichogrammatidae #RyeHarbour
Side view of a tiny wasp. Its bright yellow head with a large red eye is to the left of picture.Its body is predominantly a smoky grey colour. Its wings are held vertically above the body; they are paddle-shaped with long fringe hairs, and they have a smoky area at their bases.
January 13, 2026 at 11:09 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A beautiful little Tardigrade - Ramazzottius aff oberhaeuseri found in lichen growing on a wind-blasted tree trunk in Warrior Square gardens yestrerday.

#UKWildlife #Tardigrade #St.Leonards
A brown chequerboard patterned Tardigrade viewed from above. Its head end is to the left of picture, and the internal mouthparts can be seen. Legs are clearly visible with their claws along one side and to the rear of the animal.
January 12, 2026 at 12:01 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
11.1.2026
07.51 am
A dramatic skyscape as the sun is still just below the horizon and is uplighting clouds in various shades of orange and red
January 11, 2026 at 9:31 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
It has been indefensible for several years now. Management has proved itself to be an unfit proprietor of a media company. Anyone using it now is giving it power. It is time to download your data and close your account!
January 10, 2026 at 9:28 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A female Anaphes globosicornis wasp of the Mymaridae found 10.9.2025 in the old meadow at Great Dixter.

#UKWildlife #wasps #Mymaridae #HighWeald
Looking down onto a tiny brown wasp with outstretched wings which are clear, and have long fringe hairs. The wasp's head is to the top of picture
January 9, 2026 at 4:47 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
By way of comparison, this Lithops is also 4 years old from seed. It is now 17mm across, and is producing a new leaf pair as you can see. It won't be watered until April or May, when the old leaf pair have dried out. Then water every month or two until September, then dry until April again. #Lithops
January 9, 2026 at 4:40 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A tea cake is baked as it is a bread item. The fruited dough is baked to create the tea cake. It can be eaten in that form, but it would be a waste. Far better, and more usually, it is then cut in half laterally and toasted before being slathered in butter and eaten.
January 9, 2026 at 4:25 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Will the caber tossing take place in the beaver enclosure?
#TheArchers
January 9, 2026 at 9:18 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
What a superb picture. I suppose this rain has its good side! Were you using the TG6?
January 8, 2026 at 1:52 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
What a revelation! And didn't it show up Will's awareness!
#TheArchers
January 8, 2026 at 9:13 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
It's a slippery slope. They draw you in with the starter items, and once you're hooked they've got you!
January 7, 2026 at 3:28 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Only if they are that strange shade of red!

(and you can always aspire to a cravat)
January 7, 2026 at 1:57 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
that caused a double-take ... I think of Tom Forrest as Uncle Tom!

#TheArchers
January 7, 2026 at 9:08 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Wasn't Ambridge Farm where Mike and Betty lived and worked? Can't quite remember what happened after then.

#TheArchers
January 6, 2026 at 3:44 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A faded Ooctonus hemipterus wasp of the Mymaridae found in Combe Valley 31.7.2024. Love those brachypterous wings!

#UKWildlife #wasps #Mymaridae
Side view of a tiny brown wasp with disproportionately small wings. Its head is to the left of picture and has a large red eye and long pale antennae.
January 6, 2026 at 11:39 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
It's what he would have wanted ...

#TheArchers
January 6, 2026 at 10:56 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
This is beautiful!
January 6, 2026 at 10:54 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
08.14am, 4.1.2026.
The sun in a clear sky is just above the horizon on a calm sea observed between two houses.
January 5, 2026 at 1:16 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Triggered memories of Sid and Jolene ... ugh!
#TheArchers
January 5, 2026 at 9:22 AM