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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I record #spiders when out, checking buildings for arachnological occupants! Pholcus phalangioides is regularly encountered in toilets; Zygiella x-notata in window frames. Screen-grab illustrates how easy it is to add significant records! @britishspiders.bsky.social @ynuorg.bsky.social

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Completely forgot about the weekend. Seems like it was a good one! Has 2027’s venue been decided yet? Can I nominate coastal Suffolk and potentially @rspb.bsky.social Minsmere: it’s their 80th anniversary in 2027 so an update to their spider assemblage might be welcomed!

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British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Turned out to be the pink day of our members' weekend, with fantastic numbers of Heather Crab Spider Thomisus onustus and towering Dorset Heath Erica ciliaris among other epic species in the wonderful Morden Bog.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Have already discovered a potential flaw…the light sensor means the power bank automatically switches itself entirely off because it is not being used. So either a different power bank is required or there is a means of overriding the auto switch off which I haven’t worked out!

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Thanks to @andymus.bsky.social and @ajcann.bsky.social, have joined the IKEA moth-trap club. With an added gizmo: a light sensor switch for ~£5. Will see what it captures tomorrow morning!

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

If you’ve never seen a bed bug, that is easier!

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British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Our new Atlas of UK spider, harvestmen and pseudoscorpion records is now online at britishspiders.org.uk/atlas. It gives access to 1.6 million records and is constantly updated with data submitted and verified via irecord.org.uk/enter-srs-records.

GB hectad distribution map for Argiope bruennichi from the new SRS Atlas

GB hectad distribution map for Erigone welchi from the new SRS Atlas

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

It’s ok Reuben, she eats fish to mitigate the effects of warming the seas 👍

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

It feels like the planet's only hope is that Donald presses the wrong 'red button' and turns the electricity off.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Any #Leeds based birders who have #EccupReservoir as their patch: Mandarin Duck (3m: 1f) at maps.app.goo.gl/qqyMzGw2DwpY...

maps.app.goo.gl

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Coarse Woody Debris is an important invertebrate habitat. Actions like this will likely support interesting flies and you can now use this book 👇 to help ID what you see. Or commission an applied entomologist to see what is there…

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John Wiswell @wiswell.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Got my first bag of potato chips in months. Cracked it open. The first chip out of the bag was... soggy? The second chip was almost fungal. Baffled, I explored the bag and discovered AN ENTIRE POTATO. Unsliced, brined, like a wad of seasoning juice. It had survived, and now was juicing the chips.

A flavor-blasted potato, like a gallstone from Satan's own bowels, sits atop the worst bag of Herr's Kettle Chips ever dispersed for public consumption.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

You muscid in quick as they’ll fly off the shelves. Don’t tachinid my word for it. @robyaxley.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @rdimond.bsky.social

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Interesting you mention this. Ten years ago, I’d routinely find earwigs on many sites when surveying. Feels like they’ve declined as my impression has been that fewer fall into net when beating/ sweeping vegetation in fewer sites.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

You should have seen the Australians. Constantly sledging.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

I tried playing cricket this way, once. Kept bowling snow balls. #DadJoke

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

A longshot, but I've a common British money-spider (Oedothorax fuscus) with two mites (Acari) attached to its abdomen; I assume phoresy. Anyone that IDs British mites interested in receiving specimen? @britishspiders.bsky.social @arnoldtortoise.bsky.social @nhm-london.bsky.social

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Mark Avery @markavery.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

Sunday book review: Pan-species Listing by @graemelyons.bsky.social Publisher: @pelagic.bsky.social Review: markavery.info/2026/01/04/s... "Hardly anyone has the knowledge to write this book & even fewer could write it so well!"

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

How did you measure the intelligence quotient of Nostoc? #thickest By asking it to play an algal rhythm? #WorseThanAChristmasCrackerJoke

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Land registry is the only source I am aware of which would be definitive but go on the the Local Authority’s planning portal and you might find planning application(s) associated with the plot. This might provide a lead.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

And a big thanks to @timothyjonas.bsky.social who provided plenty of absolutely stunning photos. They take the book from being ’just’ a data-rich Atlas with lots of lovely maps to an aesthetically stunning compendium of Yorkshire arachnids.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

Wow. That’s possibly as many specimens as have ever been recorded since William Falconer pootered the type specimens up in 1909.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

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

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

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

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Andrew Douglas @andydouglas1967.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

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.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

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

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

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.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

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?

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

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

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

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.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

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.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

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

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

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?

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

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.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

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

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

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.

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

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!

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

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

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Richard Wilson @ecology-digest.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

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

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