Ian Beavis
@ianbeavis.bsky.social
Research Curator at the Amelia, Tunbridge Wells. Entomologist. Natural historian. Local historian. Ecology & heritage of Scilly & the Channel Islands
Reposted by Ian Beavis
I never expected the reaction I’ve had to Urban Plants. So many wonderful comments from so many wonderful people. The satisfaction from knowing I’ve inspired people to look at the urban world with different eyes is indescribable and deeply rewarding #ChristmasBooks #ChristmasReading #WildlifeBooks
November 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I never expected the reaction I’ve had to Urban Plants. So many wonderful comments from so many wonderful people. The satisfaction from knowing I’ve inspired people to look at the urban world with different eyes is indescribable and deeply rewarding #ChristmasBooks #ChristmasReading #WildlifeBooks
The humble Daisy, and late-flowering Yarrow in Calverley Grounds #wildflowerhour
November 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The humble Daisy, and late-flowering Yarrow in Calverley Grounds #wildflowerhour
Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax), bluebottle, Common Wasp & 7-spot Ladybird in Calverley Grounds today
November 23, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax), bluebottle, Common Wasp & 7-spot Ladybird in Calverley Grounds today
Reposted by Ian Beavis
Troides aeacus is the only birdwing butterfly that extends into the northern temperate zone. Seen here in the first plate in Adalbert Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the Palaearctic Region
November 22, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Troides aeacus is the only birdwing butterfly that extends into the northern temperate zone. Seen here in the first plate in Adalbert Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the Palaearctic Region
Following that last repost with some South American skippers from H L Lewis' Butterflies of the World (1973)
November 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Following that last repost with some South American skippers from H L Lewis' Butterflies of the World (1973)
In the northern hemisphere, skippers are mostly subdued in coloration. Some S American ones are very different.
Good evening from butterfly brilliant Bolivia 🇧🇴
November 22, 2025 at 10:43 PM
In the northern hemisphere, skippers are mostly subdued in coloration. Some S American ones are very different.
Reposted by Ian Beavis
I haven’t been posting on here very much recently, but thought I’d post this photo of a Dicyrtoma fusca springtail. What a beauty…
November 9, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I haven’t been posting on here very much recently, but thought I’d post this photo of a Dicyrtoma fusca springtail. What a beauty…
Reposted by Ian Beavis
A dipterist's dipteron, the elusive Borboropsis puberula. The only member of the family in the UK. Restricted to the Scottish Highlands. This one from Ben Lawers is probably the 7th UK record.
#Diptera #Entomology @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
#Diptera #Entomology @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
A dipterist's dipteron, the elusive Borboropsis puberula. The only member of the family in the UK. Restricted to the Scottish Highlands. This one from Ben Lawers is probably the 7th UK record.
#Diptera #Entomology @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
#Diptera #Entomology @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
Reposted by Ian Beavis
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
On cold but bright days, winter-active Diptera spend a lot of time sunning themselves on light coloured surfaces like this young tree trunk in Calverley Grounds. Five of the six flies seen here are Calliphora (bluebottles) & one is a cluster fly (Pollenia)
November 21, 2025 at 11:11 PM
On cold but bright days, winter-active Diptera spend a lot of time sunning themselves on light coloured surfaces like this young tree trunk in Calverley Grounds. Five of the six flies seen here are Calliphora (bluebottles) & one is a cluster fly (Pollenia)
Male Common Wasp still active on Fatsia in a sunny Calverley Grounds today, despite low temperature
November 21, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Male Common Wasp still active on Fatsia in a sunny Calverley Grounds today, despite low temperature
Dorothy Hodges' remarkable book 'The Pollen Loads of the Honeybee' (1952) has seasonal colour charts to identify which flowers the pollen comes from
November 19, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Dorothy Hodges' remarkable book 'The Pollen Loads of the Honeybee' (1952) has seasonal colour charts to identify which flowers the pollen comes from
Reposted by Ian Beavis
Did u know?This might look mundane, but leaving areas of grass to grow long & stay long is one of the best things you can do to help small souls in the chilly months.For e.g, many b'fly caterpillars feed on grass throughout the winter - Small Heaths,Meadow Browns & Ringlets,so leave it long. 🌿🌱🇬🇧🌱🌍🪲🐛
November 9, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Did u know?This might look mundane, but leaving areas of grass to grow long & stay long is one of the best things you can do to help small souls in the chilly months.For e.g, many b'fly caterpillars feed on grass throughout the winter - Small Heaths,Meadow Browns & Ringlets,so leave it long. 🌿🌱🇬🇧🌱🌍🪲🐛
The Prickly Stick-insect in its native land of New Zealand. It's been established on Scilly for many years, having been accidentally imported on plants going into the Abbey Gardens on Tresco.
This gorgeous creature is the prickly stick insect (Acanthoxyla prasina), one of New Zealand's 23 species of stick insect.
Huge thanks to @morganemerien.bsky.social for pointing this out on a recent University of Canterbury field trip - it's great fun teaching entomology!
#Invertebrate 🧪
Huge thanks to @morganemerien.bsky.social for pointing this out on a recent University of Canterbury field trip - it's great fun teaching entomology!
#Invertebrate 🧪
November 19, 2025 at 8:16 PM
The Prickly Stick-insect in its native land of New Zealand. It's been established on Scilly for many years, having been accidentally imported on plants going into the Abbey Gardens on Tresco.
Reposted by Ian Beavis
WOW! We have just passed 3.5 million records, it is certainly a record breaking year, details to come in December as I attempt a New for Norfolk advent calendar and post a species per day 😅... Yes we have had that many!!! #teammoth #norfolkmoths
November 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
WOW! We have just passed 3.5 million records, it is certainly a record breaking year, details to come in December as I attempt a New for Norfolk advent calendar and post a species per day 😅... Yes we have had that many!!! #teammoth #norfolkmoths
And Episyrphus balteatus (Marmalade Hoverfly) basking with wings spread. You usually see it with folded wings.
November 17, 2025 at 10:33 PM
And Episyrphus balteatus (Marmalade Hoverfly) basking with wings spread. You usually see it with folded wings.
Also in Calverley Grounds today several of the dronefly Eristalis pertinax feeding at Fatsia & Mahonia. This is not the regular winter-active dronefly.
November 17, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Also in Calverley Grounds today several of the dronefly Eristalis pertinax feeding at Fatsia & Mahonia. This is not the regular winter-active dronefly.
There were two queen Buff-tailed Bumblebees active in Calverley Grounds today, not worried by the fact that it's getting colder
November 17, 2025 at 10:28 PM
There were two queen Buff-tailed Bumblebees active in Calverley Grounds today, not worried by the fact that it's getting colder
A few flowers of Chamomile still lingering on Tunbridge Wells Common #wildflowerhour
November 16, 2025 at 8:14 PM
A few flowers of Chamomile still lingering on Tunbridge Wells Common #wildflowerhour
Bulbous Buttercup, showing the distinctive downturned sepals, in Calverley Grounds. Very late to see this one flowering. #wildflowerhour
November 16, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Bulbous Buttercup, showing the distinctive downturned sepals, in Calverley Grounds. Very late to see this one flowering. #wildflowerhour
Second growth of Wild Carrot in one of the wildflower meadow areas in Calverley Grounds #wildflowerhour
November 16, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Second growth of Wild Carrot in one of the wildflower meadow areas in Calverley Grounds #wildflowerhour
Reposted by Ian Beavis
Intrigued by images posted by @ianbeavis.bsky.social from British Blood-sucking Flies by Edwards, Oldroyd & Smart (1939) I found that it had had a precursor in Illustrations of British Blood-sucking Flies (1906), with paintings by Amedeo John Engel Terzi. @archive.org
archive.org/details/illu...
archive.org/details/illu...
November 16, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Intrigued by images posted by @ianbeavis.bsky.social from British Blood-sucking Flies by Edwards, Oldroyd & Smart (1939) I found that it had had a precursor in Illustrations of British Blood-sucking Flies (1906), with paintings by Amedeo John Engel Terzi. @archive.org
archive.org/details/illu...
archive.org/details/illu...
One spider book amusingly described this one as 'uncommon unless it occurs in your house'
November 15, 2025 at 8:38 PM
One spider book amusingly described this one as 'uncommon unless it occurs in your house'
Water Bent has exploded in numbers in Kent too. No records in the 1982 plant atlas, only 13 squares in the 2010 edition (seen here). Now it's a very common street weed.
November 15, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Water Bent has exploded in numbers in Kent too. No records in the 1982 plant atlas, only 13 squares in the 2010 edition (seen here). Now it's a very common street weed.