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Ian Andrews

@suillia.bsky.social

1.2K followers 670 following 270 posts

Flies/sawflies mostly; mostly from Yorkshire, UK. Run the UK Heleomyzid Recording Scheme... https://dipterists.org.uk/heleomyzid-scheme/home ...and Yorkshire County Recorder for Sawflies https://www.ynu.org.uk/recording-sections/sections/insects/sawflies

dipterists.org.uk

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · 10d

Yup... a Suillia and could well be notata. Males of several species hold territory on top of fungi like this.

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · 10d

Finally some fungi appearing locally in East Yorkshire, and with those come the fungus-breeding, spiny-winged heleomyzid flies, like this gorgeous Suillia notata at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve. #heleomyzidae @ynuorg.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

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Reposted by Ian Andrews

Pond Watcher @watcherpond.bsky.social · 13d

Locust Blowfly, Stomorhina lunata, Fen Bog, N Yorkshire 24Sept @ynuorg.bsky.social @suillia.bsky.social

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · 12d

Yes, quite a few records from Scotland now. Just checked and I've had it at five different sites in East Yorkshire this year.

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · 12d

Thanks for that...these ornamental/introduced birches seem to attract similar species to our native birches. We are getting better at larvae ID, but that one would need breeding through, I think...and that ain't going to happen! 🤣

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · 12d

Interesting...one of the Euura spp. which feed on Betula.

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · 13d

Great record for Fen Bog! It seems to have been a good year for them up here.

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Sep 7

Locust Blowflies (Stomorhina lunata) continue to arrive...third of the summer at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today. It's been a bumper year for grasshoppers and crickets locally, so surely some must be breeding in those...or are they all migrants? 🤔 @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Sep 5

Sallow Kitten on Sallow (!) at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today. What a stunning caterpillar. 🙂

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Sep 5

...though a sawfly, of course. 🙂

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Sep 5

Mmm...not sure!

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Sep 5

Sorry...late coming to this, but yes, they are Pristiphora testacea. Nice. 🙂

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Aug 23

Very nice...it's fairly widespread, but never common at all. I see it on Hoary Ragwort mainly.

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Aug 23

Lucilia sericata ♂...a pale basicosta and a single AD on the mid tibia.

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Aug 12

An Opomyza, possibly Opomyza florum. Not sure about a common name....sometimes called grass flies, but so are Chloropidae, so that's a waste of time. 😉

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Aug 8

The Copper Peacock (Elaphrus cupreus) running around on mud at pond edge on Allerthorpe Common @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve this morning. #carabidae #ukwildlife

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Aug 8

Females from photos are beyond tricky! 😅

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Aug 8

connatus should have a double row of dark spots on the side. Looks like femoratus to me.

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Aug 4

Thanks...good to know. 🙂

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Aug 4

Athalia rosae (Turnip Sawfly) generally seems to be having an incredible year...huge numbers everywhere. This one not quite so much...any ID possible on the spider? Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve yesterday. #yorkshiresawflies @britishspiders.bsky.social

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Aug 4

Ooh...that's a great find!

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Aug 2

I reckon Andy has got it, but they are rather a tricky genus and really it helps to see the rear end to be certain (as usual with these things!). 🙂

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Jul 31

Smart things, aren't they...well, the males anyway. 🙂

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Jul 29

Exorista, I think.

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · Jul 29

Looks interesting, but I think you'll have to find it again!