Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 5d

A beautiful Peacock #butterfly drifted past me and then paused for a precious moment on a bramble leaf. Its presence warmed me as much as the late afternoon sunshine warmed its delicate wings.

@savebutterflies.bsky.social
#DailyNature

A large, mostly dark red-winged butterfly, with an eye-spot on each wing, perched on a bramble leaf

2

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 6d

On the second day of #Arachtober my true love sent to me… a Daddy Long-legs Spider drinking juice from two ladybirds 🐞🕷️🎶

@britishspiders.bsky.social
#Spider #Ladybird

A long-legged spider eating a ladybird. Another ladybird is suspended in a web close by

1 6

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 7d

On the first day of #Arachtober my true love sent to me… a Fencepost Jumping Spider in my bathroom sink! 🕷️🚰

Not sure this adaptation of a classic festive song is going to catch on… but worth a go! 🎶

@britishspiders.bsky.social
#Spider #JumpingSpider

A small jumping spider with stripy legs and gleaming eyes stood on a white sink

2 13

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 17d

Fringed Water-lily on a heathland pond. I went for arty - not quite sure I pulled it off!

#WildflowerHour #DailyNature
@bsbibotany.bsky.social

A yellow-petalled flower with a slender stalk grows out of the water. The plant is reflected in the silvery water.

11 17 150

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 27d

I found this Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing #moth in the bathroom.

It challenged me to a staring competition… and won. I think not having eyelids is probably cheating!

#DailyNature
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

A close-up front on view of a moth. The moth is standing on a white pot lid

A yellow-brown-coloured moth facing right, stood on a white pot lid

1 5

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 28d

Number 1️⃣2️⃣ for the #LadybirdYearList is this bright yellow 22-spot Ladybird munching on mildew in the garden

If I ever form a band (I won’t!) our first album would definitely be called Munching on Mildew! 💿🐞

#DailyNature #Ladybird

A yellow ladybird with lots of black spots on a dark green leaf. The leaf has patches of fluffy white mildew

4 26

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 29d

I spotted a Kestrel hunting worms in a field 🪱 Never seen that before!

It also showed me its fancy feathered trousers!

#DailyNature #Birds #BirdsOfPrey
#Kestrel #Worm #FoodChain

A Kestrel in a grassy field hunting worms. It has a worm in its beak and is pulling it out of the ground

A front-on view of a Kestrel in a grassy field

1 6

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 29d

I’ll get writing!

1

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Sep 8

I wonder if this Small Copper was aware just how close it was to major peril! 🐝🕷️🍴

#DailyNature #Butterfly #Spider
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

A Small Copper butterfly nectaring on Ling in the foreground. In the background and out of focus is a Wasp Spider on its web

1 2 17

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Sep 5

Some blackberries came out of the freezer earlier on their way into a welcoming crumble. I don’t think I’ve ever looked closely at frozen blackberries before - a beautiful collection of ice crystals.

#DailyNature

A close-up of a number of blackberries that have just come out of the freezer. The berries are covered in tiny ice crystals

3

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Sep 5

Haha. Absolutely. And I made this one extra happy by not sitting on it!

1 1

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Sep 4

I almost sat on this #shieldbug earlier! I think it’s a Bronze Shieldbug final instar nymph.

#DailyNature #Pentatomidae
@britishbugs.bsky.social

A shieldbug on a wooden bench. The shieldbug’s body is round and patterned with a metallic sheen. Its legs are orange

2 1 8

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Sep 3

This Crab Spider is generously offering free cuddles to passing insects. No takers so far!

#DailyNature #Heathland #Heather #CrabSpider #Spider
@britishspiders.bsky.social

A cream-white crab spider with front two pairs of legs outstretched hiding in pink-petalled heather flowers

1 1 14

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Sep 2

Stonechat making the most of the sunshine in the short gaps between showers ☀️☔️

#DailyNature #Heathland #Bird

A brown bird with orange-y feathers on its chest perched on top of a spiky green gorse bush

3

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Sep 1

A snoozy Buff-tailed Bumblebee mulls over its plans for the day ahead. A quick gulp of #heather nectar would be the perfect start!

#DailyNature #Bumblebee #Heathland #Ling

A black bumblebee with yellow stripes and an off-white tipped abdomen perched facing upwards on a pale pink flowered heather plant

2 9

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Aug 26

The stunning pink of a late summer #heathland landscape provides the perfect background for insect photography. This Common Blue Damselfly spent a moment resting on this Common Heather.

#Odonata #Damselfly #DailyNature
@britishdragonflies.bsky.social

A bright blue damselfly with black markings along its abdomen and thorax perched on a heather plant. The heather has dark green leaves and pale pink flowers.

2

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Aug 24

Found a fab Wasp Spider on my local #heathland this morning. It was just collecting its thoughts, when a Sand Digger Wasp got stuck in the web. The speed the wasp was incapacitated and spun into a silken bundle was amazing! 🕷️🕸️

#spider #DailyNature
@britishspiders.bsky.social

Large spider with a wasp-like black and yellow abdomen and stripy legs on a web. The out of focus background is dark green and purple from gorse and heather

3 12

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Aug 22

I was playing Lego with my 2-year old daughter and she said “What is this?” pointing to something tiny wandering across the floor.

On closer inspection, I think it might be an Ant-nest Ladybird.

I should get her looking for more 🐞🐞

Number 1️⃣1️⃣ for the #LadybirdYearList

@andrew-jewels.bsky.social

A small black semi-hairy ladybird with 4 red spots in a plastic collection pot

1 2 9

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Aug 19

Before I really connected with nature, I used to walk as far as I could in the quickest time. Now I’m a nature noticer, I hardly get anywhere and spend most of the time crawling around on the floor looking for little things! 🐞🐜🪲

1 1

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Aug 19

My attention was caught by a 7-spot #Ladybird, but as I got closer, I noticed a far smaller species - a fab Adonis’s Ladybird!

The great thing about looking closely at nature is that you often spot something smaller and equally amazing 😀🐞

Number 🔟 for the #LadybirdYearList

#DailyNature

A red ladybird with 7 visible black spots perched on a pale green flower head with small yellow petals.

1 2 15

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Aug 18

I was accompanied on a wander along the South West Coast Path in South Devon by a host of Hornet Robberflies. What amazing flies with fantastic moustaches! 🥸

@dipteristsforum.bsky.social
#Robberfly #Asilidae

A yellow and brown fly perched on a white-coloured rock

A yellow and brown fly perched on the ground facing towards the camera. Its mouthparts are protruding and its bushy moustache is clearly visible.

1 9

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Aug 17

I spotted an unfamiliar #ladybird at Challaborough Bay, South Devon… then saw one getting up to something with one I could identify a moment later - a 2-spot Ladybird.

Mystery solved! 🐞🕵️‍♂️

I think the one that confused me was Adalia bipunctata f. sexpustulata.

Number 9️⃣ for the #LadybirdYearList

A black ladybird with 6 red spots in a collection pot.

A pair of 2-Spot Ladybirds facing downwards whilst mating on a pale green plant stem. One of the ladybirds is black with 6 red spots (3 visible) and the other is red with 2 spots (one visible)

1 3 9

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Aug 10

This Holly Blue has been enjoying a drink from some Bell Heather. Check out its fab curly tongue!

#WildflowerHour #PollinatorPals
#DailyNature #Butterfly
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

A Holly Blue butterfly perched on Bell Heather. The butterfly is facing downwards and its curly proboscis is on show.

1 3 64

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Aug 7

I spotted this tiny character on my local #heathland. It’s an Aelurillus v-insignitus (V-fronted Jumping Spider). I only find one one or two a year, so today was a special day 🕷️ 😀

#Spider #JumpingSpider
#BroxheadCommon #Heathland
#DailyNature
@britishspiders.bsky.social

V-fronted Jumping Spider - a small spider with tan and black stripy legs, fluffy pedipalps and six eyes visible stood on a piece of deadwood

V-fronted Jumping Spider - a small spider with tan and black stripy legs, fluffy pedipalps and six eyes visible stood on a sandy heathland path

2 2 16

Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · Aug 6

A marvellously fluffy Sycamore Moth #caterpillar coiled into a multi-pointed star shape! What an amazing insect 🐛

#TeamMoth #MothsMatter
#DailyNature
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

A Sycamore Moth caterpillar on the underside of an Oak leaf. The fluffy pale yellow caterpillar with orange fringing and white spots is coiled into the shape of a many pointed star

1 32