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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 4d

It was nice to see Odiellus spinosus low down on the back wall of the house while it was still dark early this morning. I noticed it after putting out some food for the foxes.

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 6d

Feathered Ranunculus nfy and the best from the trap this morning.
#teammoth

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 10d

White-point the best for me this morning. Surprisingly, it's only the 2nd I've had in the garden. Only my 4th time trapping in the garden this month.
#teammoth

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 10d

I saw your posts were featuring Ivy, and I wondered.. And yes! Would be new for me.

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 16d

Thanks, Vanna. Much appreciated. I'm definitely keen to see some more spp.

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 16d

How many spp would you say can be ID'd in the field?

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Reposted by Andy Pym

Vanna Bartlett @vannabartlett.bsky.social · 17d

Delighted to find my first Roncus lubricus aka Reddish Two-eyed Chelifer in west Norfolk last week. Not sure it was as pleased to see me though as it scarpered off pretty smartish! Certainly wasn't expecting this species to turn up in a churchyard. #pseudoscorpion #arachnids

A pseudoscorpion with reddish claws and cephalothorax half hidden under a dry plant stem on a grey stone.

The pseudoscorpion out in the open sitting on a grey piece of stone in bright sunlight. It has large reddish claws and a reddish head while the rest of the body is pale yellowy brown.

The pseudoscorpion making a run for it, disappearing over the side of the stone with its reddish claws held open wide.

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Reposted by Andy Pym

Vanna Bartlett @vannabartlett.bsky.social · 16d

Fabulous Large Tree Chernes (Dendrochernes cyrneus) found in west Norfolk last week while on holiday with @jeremybartlett.bsky.social Worth the windy weather and cycling in a thunderstorm to get to see these beauties! #pseudoscorpions #arachnids

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Reposted by Andy Pym

Vanna Bartlett @vannabartlett.bsky.social · 16d

Finding pseudoscopions. Our compost bin had Pselaphochernes scorpioides in it. To search: scoop out top layer of kitchen/garden waste & put in bucket. Sieve next layer down using garden riddle over a bowl. Then use finer potting sieve over tray. They are small, around 2mm. 1/2
@duleyp.bsky.social

A plastic garden compost bin with the lid off showing the contents - a mixture of kitchen and garden waste. On the grass next to the bin are a plastic bucket, a black plastic garden riddle (sieve) sitting over a red bowl, a smaller potting sieve on a round plastic plant pot tray and a white plastic tray with sieved compost in it.

A white plastic tray with sieved garden compost in it. Roughly in the centre is a tiny pseudoscorpion which has been circled in blue on the photo.

White plastic tray with sieved garden compost and two tiny pseudoscorpions in the middle, highlighted with blue arrows on the photo.

Close up of a pseudoscorpion on a white plastic tray. It is pale reddish brown with long arm-like pedipalps that end in claws.

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Reposted by Andy Pym

John Martin @pilning.bsky.social · 19d

Excellent day in the Wyre Forest, Shropshire with fungi, ants, 60 Crossbills and the highlight a lovely female Araneus alsine (Strawberry Spider) found by Denise B on Neil's trousers (not their preferred habitat). nth try for these for me - what a belter! @lancefly.bsky.social #spiders #ukwildlife

Strawberry Spider (Araneus alsine) - a portly orange spider with white spots. Nationally Scarce

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 19d

Vicarious pleasure strikes again! 😀

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 19d

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 19d

The Diplodoma laichartingella larva in it's case just before I released it earlier today.
#teammoth

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 20d

Diplodoma laichartingella larva with case covered in particles, incl insect remains. A moth lifer of me on Exmoor today.
#teammoth

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 20d

A moth lifer for me on Exmoor today. Diplodoma laichartingella larva with case covered in particles, incl insect remains. Found attached to the underside of a rock I'd turned over in Horner Woods today looking for something else.
#teammoth

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 22d

Some footage of the male Scytodes thoracica (Spitting Spider) from last night.
@britishspiders.bsky.social

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 22d

A nice find on the bathroom floor around midnight last night. Scytodes thoracica (Spitting Spider) - male. I think it's only the 5th time I've found one in the house. For a slow-mover, it was surprisingly difficult to get a photo of.
@britishspiders.bsky.social

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 25d

Beautiful indeed, and I've not seen one for yrs.

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Reposted by Andy Pym

John Martin @pilning.bsky.social · 27d

Was going to post pics of Shining Guest-ant and Dinarda maerkelii from Wyre on Tuesday w @lancefly.bsky.social @exmoormothman.bsky.social @vc40orthops.bsky.social and Jim C but others got lovely pics of them. Also saw Rhyparochromus pini and occupied cases of Coleophora milvipennis #teammoth

The Lygaeid bug Rhyparochromus pini is a heathland specialist with Shropshire records just in the Wyre. tick!

Coleophora milvipennis case (occupied!) on young Birch leaf. Again Wyre is the Shropshire place for these. Another lifer!

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Reposted by Andy Pym

Adrian Dutton @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social · 26d

Male Bledius spectabilis,fantastic horned pronotum. A cracking Staphylinid beetle, Dorset. #Staphylinidae #Coleoptera

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 27d

As I said in my post, it's my natural history highlight of the year so far! Thanks for sharing much better photos too.

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Reposted by Andy Pym

David W. Williams @vc40orthops.bsky.social · 27d

Shining Guest Ant, Formicoxenus nitidulus, a tiny (less than 3mm) ant which lives in Wood Ant nests. Another top find by @lancefly.bsky.social from our trip to the Wyre on Tuesday. The 2nd pic shows one top left with a Wood Ant btm right. @exmoormothman.bsky.social @pilning.bsky.social

Shining Guest Ant. This one has lost part of its right hind leg. It measures 2.85mm long excluding antennae.

Shining Guest Ant top left, with Wood Ant bottom right, not happy about me crouching over its nest!

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 27d

The two I saw on Exmoor a few yrs ago were on the underside of a stone I'd turned over. Obviously, Wood Ants were present in the same area as well.

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Reposted by Andy Pym

David W. Williams @vc40orthops.bsky.social · 27d

Dinarda maerkelii, found by @lancefly.bsky.social in the Wyre Forest, with @exmoormothman.bsky.social & @pilning.bsky.social on Tuesday. A species of rove beetle which is found in Wood Ant nests where they seem to be partly parasitic, there are very few British records. A very top spot!

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Andy Pym @exmoormothman.bsky.social · 27d

My natural history highlight of the year so far!

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