Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 2d

#Arachtober is a good month to remind folk my book #SpidersAndHarvestmenOfYorkshire by @naturebureau.bsky.social ought to be available to purchase by the end of the month.

It’s not too late to get a pre-publication offer here: www.naturebureau.co.uk/spiders-harv...

@britishspiders.bsky.social

Spiders & Harvestmen of Yorkshire – An Atlas naturebureau.co.uk

NatureBureau - one company, two passions. NatureBureau is a design and ecological consultancy, established more than 30 years ago. We combine ecological expertise with a distinctive style in graphic d...

www.naturebureau.co.uk

7 10

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 2d

Looks like a fab time was had and Storm Amy failed to blow too many literal cobwebs away.

1

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Sep 7

I am hoping spider species-richness exceeds French cheese species-richness. But this is not guaranteed.

2

Reposted by Richard Wilson

Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · Sep 7

If you have people who might be alarmed by today's alert test at 3 pm, you might want to check they know it's happening today at 3 pm. Just rang mum and she didn't.

1 1 1

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Sep 7

Thanks, and good point. Just rung my Mum to check. She did know, but has forgotten. And is now reassured.

1 1

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Sep 7

Here inlies the problem when creating vernacular names. Given rapid changes in insect distributions, geographic reference will rapidly outdate and in this example, the obvious name is already taken.

Could be the Orange Ten-spotted, to separate from Adalia 10-guttata? Avoids reference to habitat.

1

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Sep 6

Are there any British/ French entomologists who would be interested in Coleoptera and/ or Hemiptera I could collect in return for a species list?

Y a-t-il des entomologistes français qui seraient intéressés par Coleoptera et/ou Hemiptera que je pourrais collecter en échange d'une liste d'espèces?

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Sep 6

I don’t post much on here but when I do, it’s really important.

Am pleased & v much looking forward to returning to the sublime Moulin de Pensol (France) hosted by @heidi-lemoulin.bsky.social & Nik, in May 2026 to see how many #spiders, other invertebrates & cheeses I can record.

#AsYouWere

5 3

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Sep 6

I don’t post much on here but when I do, it’s really important.

Am pleased & v much looking forward to returning to the sublime Moulin de Pensol (France) hosted by @heidi-lemoulin.bsky.social & Nik, in May 2026 to see how many #spiders, other invertebrates & cheeses I can record.

#AsYouWere

1 6

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 17

Just checked NBN: just 72 sawfly records on Orkney, ever @andymus.bsky.social @naturespotter.bsky.social ! My half dozen specimens thus almost represent 10% of the entire database if NBN is accurate!

Shows what a tiny bit of effort can achieve in these places.

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 17

2/2 Should be some good records of spiders as less than annual data for this archipelago: Stronsay had 0 records. I assume similar for other invertebrate groups?

Blessed with amazing dry and sunny weather for two weeks but v warm for islands.

1 1 5

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 17

2/2 Should be some good records of spiders as less than annual data for this archipelago: Stronsay had 0 records. I assume similar for other invertebrate groups?

Blessed with amazing dry and sunny weather for two weeks but v warm for islands.

1 3

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 17

1/ Sorted samples collected from Orkney: Mainland, Shapinsay, Sanday, Hoy, S.Walls, Burray, S.Ronaldsay & Stronsay.

c.30 samples (beetles, bugs, woodlice, sawflies plus lots of spiders & harvestmen).

@britishspiders.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social
@andymus.bsky.social
@colsocbi.bsky.social

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Jul 23

Plenty of new #spider records for the #OrkneyIslands coming @britishspiders.bsky.social way.

Sampling the coastal cliff vegetation communities at the impressive Marwick Head.

1 6

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 16

How many species have been recorded in the compost bin?

And more generally, are bins less diverse than heaps?

Perhaps a good undergraduate or MSc project?

1

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 12

ICYMI: What looks like a very interesting book on spiders. If you’re keen to know how many spiders have been found in @yorkshiredales.org.uk, Leeds, Sheffield or the many Nature Reserves then this is the book for you.

NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · Jun 13

Our latest book SPIDERS & HARVESTMEN OF YORKSHIRE by Richard I. Wilson is nearing completion for publication this Autumn - Grab a bargain, pre-order your copy now & SAVE £10 on published price - order online at naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop @yorkswildlife.bsky.social
@britishspiders.bsky.social

5 10

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 7

A Beccamoschino? Sounds like it’s escaped from an Italian coffee-shop!

1

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 7

@andymus.bsky.social 👇

Abigail Lowe @abigaillowe.bsky.social · Aug 7

Do you do moth trapping in the UK? We'd love your help! 💡

At @ukceh.bsky.social we're training & testing AI to detect multiple moths in a single image.

Send us top-down photos of multiple moths on egg trays to support this work.

More info & form: forms.gle/e3HzBPEd7RVV...

#mothsmatter #TeamMoth

A top-down image of 12 various moths on a green egg carton.

2 6

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 4

I think the interest is potentially not just individual sites/ studies but what multiple sites/ studies have discovered. So I think your project will be of interest taking into consideration others work.

1

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 4

Jess, good morning! Am interested in the work you’re doing for your dissertation as I too am working on agricultural habitats investigating if they’re undervalued for invertebrates in context for Biodiversity Net Gain. Thanks!

1 1

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 4

Drove to Scrabster, ferry to Stromness with North Link ferries, *booked inter-island ferries on Orkney Council website (essential if with car in school summer holidays) and return with Pentland Ferries (St Margaret’s Hope to Gills Bay).

*Cancel fee is £0 if >1hr before crossing; no reason required

1 1

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Aug 3

The end of a two week exploration around 8 of Orkney’s 19 inhabited islands. Spiders & other invertebrates recorded from all of them.

Weather has been stunning, exposing Orkney in all its glory. A shame to leave…but it is now raining!

@britishspiders.bsky.social

3 6 68

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Jul 31

Certainly did against a stunning backdrop. I can confirm that Zygiella x-notata is probably on every building and interestingly, Textrix denticulata on window frames too on some of the islands.

@britishspiders.bsky.social

4

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Jul 30

Off to #Whitehall, not to visit the PM, but the island of Stronsay on Orkney’s eastern flank and to record #spiders & harvestmen for the very first time here.

@megabunus.bsky.social
@cofnod.org.uk
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@tylanberry.bsky.social

1 12

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Jul 26

I actually thought of you when I was vac sampling the coastal grasslands. The only gnaphosid I’ve recorded so far has been a mature Drassodes which appears to be a new genus for the Orkney Islands!

3

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Jul 23

Plenty of new #spider records for the #OrkneyIslands coming @britishspiders.bsky.social way.

Sampling the coastal cliff vegetation communities at the impressive Marwick Head.

2 2 11

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Jul 22

@andymus.bsky.social Have collected the first #sawflies from Orkney today in blistering heat (24°C) under blue skies and almost calm weather!

The remarkable and dry summer continues!

1 4

Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · Jul 19

A shout out to @timothyjonas.bsky.social for providing amazing photos of spiders which enhance the publication. Pleased I can showcase not just recorders efforts, but those who take the time and patience to reveal the beauty of these creatures.

2