Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andrew Douglas

@andydouglas1967.bsky.social

850 followers 380 following 910 posts

Spiders, inverts, botany, birds, wine, beer, food, pottery, aircraft. Not necessarily in that order. See @andydouglas1967-IT.bsky.social for IT/Computer Science stuff. West Norfolk and South Northamptonshire.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 12h

Well, I don't know. I've only deactivated the account rather than delete it for good, so I can dip in if I need it.

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 13h

Yeah, I joined a couple of groups in the five minutes my account existed, but it said something about SMS notifications and having to pay money, and I thought, no. I was a member for many years and don't miss it really. And bsky wastes enough time already.

1 1

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 13h

Joined Facebook. Got cold feet. Now not on Facebook again.

1 1

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 14h

Yes I know - sorry. I did at least take the photo, thinking Esmond would probably say 'habitus photo' if I didn't post it. Then forgot to post it.

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 15h

Should have made clear - accepted as flavipes. I did take a habitus photo and meant to add it to the post, but forgot.

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 15h

I think it might have recently moulted - it looked it to me. It would be nice if it was cristatus as it's a new one for me. And, I know it's out of date, but the Wicken Checklist book doesn't list cristatus - only flavipes. Also - @cofnod.org.uk is on fire today and already accepted it.

3 3

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

Or the former.

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

Can't decide if this is Tenuiphantes cristatus or flavipes. Leaning towards the latter?

1 1

Reposted by Andrew Douglas

Steve @stevetypesstuff.bsky.social · 1d

One for @frenchmegaliths.bsky.social , @drtobydriver.bsky.social or anyone else keen on #megaliths, #menhirs or ancient architecture. The Kercado dolmen or cairn in Brittany. Middle to late #Neolithic.
I used the LIDAR on my iPhone to try to scan the structure. Reasonably successful for a 1st go!

1 1 5

Reposted by Andrew Douglas

Steve @stevetypesstuff.bsky.social · 1d

Drinking Pineau looking over the terroir where the grapes grow!

#Pineau is not well known drink. A wine that is ‘killed’ early in the fermentation by the addition of #Cognac.
#wine
#France

A bottle and glass of Pineau backlit by the sun over vineyards.

1 1 4

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

I've never tried it, but I know of it because it was often in recipes in the Floyd on France book. It was one of those things that wasn't easy to get back then. I should have another look for some - you can probably get it on Amazon now.

1 1

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks - nice photo. Those eyes are very distinctive, as well as the body shape and angle.

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks - I didn't realise I'd taken it - it'll be recorded by others too though. I took a look at some online photos and the eyes and head seem fairly distinctive too. Will remember that.

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

@britishspiders.bsky.social Would this be an immature Theridiosoma gemmosum? I'm staying clear of the immatures really, but I seem to recall being shown this by Ty, the shape seems rights and the huge immature palps.

2 1 10

Reposted by Andrew Douglas

Steve @stevetypesstuff.bsky.social · 1d

Any #diptera people interested in a couple of #flies from France? These turned up in my pitfall samples from #leaflitter, along with some other inverts.

Also at least four spp. of #ants (which is what I was looking for).

@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @teamdiptera.bsky.social

A white lid ~50mm diameter contains some of the invertebrates collected in a baited pitfall trap in France.

2 2 7

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

Yes - I seem to have a few from different bits of Wicken Fen. I have vague recollections of collecting in 2002, from the garden of the house we rented in Cambridge, but those specimens fell down the back of the seats of my Ford Focus, which subsequently blew up, so I can't check.

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

Wacky unicornis - two from Sundays efforts in the Wicken fens. I can't spell Walckenaeria. Or can I?

1 8

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 1d

Ero cambridgei - a new one to me and the last of the pirate spiders ticked off. New hand gel has arrived - it's so thick, I use just a dab to hold the palp in place and then cover in the glycerin/IMS - it isn't entirely invisible but better than vaseline. Some playing to be done. I have 6 bottles!

1 1 8

Reposted by Andrew Douglas

David Blanchflower BSc @davidbflower.bsky.social · 1d

Exactly 110 years until a Total Solar Eclipse over Newcastle upon Tyne. 🔭 🧪

17 7 78

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks.

Reposted by Andrew Douglas

iNaturalist @inaturalist.bsky.social · 2d

We're big fans of spiders over here. This gorgeous red one is the species Araneus alsine, commonly known as the Strawberry Spider. Any guesses why? 👀🍓

📷 ldchambers on iNaturalist
📍 United Kingdom
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

A striking red spider with a round body perches on a dried leaf. The body has patterning that makes the spider similar in appearance to a strawberry!

1 9 70

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 2d

Another from Wicken - these appear to have the same epigyne, but I think maybe they aren't yet mature females. I'm sure @tylanberry.bsky.social told me what they were but I can't recall. I'm wondering @britishspiders.bsky.social do the Tm ratios and spines work for immature linnys?

1 2 5

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 2d

A better photo of the C.subtilis palp and a habitus photo.

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 2d

Someone found an adult male, but it wasn't that much, to be honest - I'm not sure I could really see the 'horn' bit. I'd like to see W.acuminata - I think it's common, but I just haven't seen it. I think this year I'll have to sieve more leaf litter.

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 2d

It was great to be there, and thank you again to everyone who organised it. I've come away with lots of things that should help me I think, even if I didn't come away with loads of things to look at.