iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Martyn Roper

Vanna Bartlett @vannabartlett.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

A grand 4 pseud day yesterday with @jeremybartlett.bsky.social on our little 24 mile cycle ride south of Norwich. Cheiridium museorum was found in the 3 churches we visited while Ephippiochthonius tetrachelatus was found at 1 church. 2 other species found at roadside locations. Details in ALT.

Cheiridum museorum: a tiny reddish-brown pseudoscorpion with a roundish, flattened body and fairly slender claws. It is on a pale piece of wood.

Ephippiochthonius tetrachelatus: a brownish coloured pseudoscorpion with long slender claws that are pale reddish colour. It is sitting facing left on a piece of wood covered in bits of cobweb.

Chthonius ischnocheles: a brownish pseudoscorpion with a dark head, large chelicerae and long, slender pale reddish claws. It is sitting head down on a piece of pale grey concrete. Two of these were found under bits of concrete rubble found at the edge of a roadside woodland.

Chernes cimicoides: a dark, reddish-brown pseudoscorpion with large robust claws on a piece of wood. It has a matt/granular appearance. Its body and pedipalps are covered in short, blunt hairs (called setae). This one was found under the loose bark of a large bough that had fallen from a mature roadside Oak tree.

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

An astonishing count of 43 Nigma walckenaeri this afternoon from this ivy growing along this wall in Swindon Wiltshire. It stretched for about 100 metres long and we counted only what we could see up to head height. Lots of empty webs too. @britishspiders.bsky.social #spiders #Irecord

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Would any one know what this might be please and who it belongs to. Found on the underside of a roof tile in the garden on the ground.

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Answers on a postcard please. Any ideas what this might be and who it might belong to? Found on the underside of a rock whilst looking for Harvestmen in Portland Dorset back in July.

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Vanna Bartlett @vannabartlett.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Beautifully marked Dicranopalpus caudatus female. Collected as an immature back in July, managed to rear her through 2 moults to adult. Females hard to tell from D. ramosus but this has characters that indicate caudatus. Was hoping for a male to confirm via gen det. She's now off round the garden.🙂

A long legged harvestman sitting on a grey-green tree trunk with its legs splayed out to the sides. The harvestman is pale grey with a striking dark brown dorsal stripe running down its back from behind the eyes. Its long pedipalps have a tuning fork appearance from the long apophysis on the patella.

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The really rather splendid ruins of Okehampton castle in Devon. #Castles #Devon #EnglishHeritage

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Whilst visiting the church of Saint Andrew in Moretonhampstead Devon I came across these gorgeous stone carvings inside the church. No indication of where they came from what they depict or any of their history. They were just leaning up against the wall inside the church. Fascinating.

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

This week I have mostly been in Devon being a tourist and exploring the local towns and villages near Dartmoor. I have also found time to look for and find a few of these beauties. #Harvestmen #Devon

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

A very pale but very gorgeous female Dicranopalpus Harvestman sat on the side of a tree at the Cotswold Sculpture park Gloucestershire. Just to the right of it was this very simple sculpture of an owl having a tussle with an earth worm. #Harvestmen

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Visited Avebury yesterday and had a lovely walk around the stone circle. Also visited the local church and found these beauties, which I think are Leiobunum rotundum but I am open to any suggestions before I upload to IRecord.

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Does anybody have any idea what this might be on the wall of saint Leonard’s church in Eynsham Oxfordshire? It’s on the outside of the church on a stone pillar. #Eynsham

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Butterfly Conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The Large White had its best year on record in last year’s #BigButterflyCount with a whopping 396,510 records 🥇 Will it be number 1 again this year? Find out by taking part in the Big Butterfly Count from tomorrow! Count yourself in 👉 butrfli.es/3SVFepj

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Jeremy Bartlett @jeremybartlett.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

My latest blog post: Bastard-toadflax, Thesium humifusum. www.jeremybartlett.co.uk/2026/07/10/b...

Down Shieldbug, Canthophorus impressus. Both adults and the black and red nymphs feed on Bastard-toadflax.

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Jeremy Bartlett @jeremybartlett.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

This morning, keeping to shade as much as possible, @vannabartlett.bsky.social & I went to see Oak Ladybird (Scymnus auritus). Adult beetles & larvae, feeding on Oak Leaf Phylloxera (Phylloxera glabra) on an oak tree. Thanks to @norwichbirder.bsky.social for the tip-off. Vanna's pics. #Ladybirds

Adult Oak Ladybird (Scymnus auritus).

https://www.andrewjewels.com/oak

Phylloxera glabra including a winged one and a tiny Scymnus aurita larva.

https://www.naturespot.org/species/oak-leaf-phylloxera

Scymnus aurita larva.

https://www.andrewjewels.com/oak

Larvae and adult Oak Ladybird (Scymnus auritus).

https://www.andrewjewels.com/oak

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Reposted by Martyn Roper

Vanna Bartlett @vannabartlett.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

A shortish cycle ride (27 miles) on Sunday with @jeremybartlett.bsky.social to a small local wood yielded some nice inverts. Large Skipper was the only butterfly out of 16 species seen that posed for a photo. More obliging were Chthonius ischnocheles & the ever-lovely Lacinius ephippiatus.

A concrete track with a raised kerb running alongside a dense bit of woodland in dappled sun with deep shade. A green bicycle is propped on the kerb.

Large Skipper butterfly sitting with its wings closed on a bramble leaf, facing right. The butterfly is quite small and pale tawny orange.

A pseudoscorpion on stone in sunshine, facing left. The pseudoscorpion has a dark brown head and a slightly lighter body. Its pincers are pale reddish.

A harvestman on a piece of wood in bright sunshine, head uppermost. The harvestman is pale greyish brown with a very dark rectangular 'saddle' down the middle of its back.

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

I chanced upon a rather beautiful and stunningly fresh Red Admiral today whilst out and about. When they are in this condition they really are to be marvelled at. #Butterflies

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Vanna Bartlett @vannabartlett.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Too hot to do much outside this week so catching up with some drawing work. These are proving rather tricky: 4 plates illustrating Norfolk harvestmen. T. H. Savory was correct when he said the study of harvestmen is a study of legs!

4 sheets of white A4 paper laid out on a table and overlapping each other slightly. Each page has at least 7 harvestmen drawn on it either in pencil or black ink in various stages of completeness. Only one sheet (2nd from left) has the fine details inked in. Most of the harvestmen have long legs and the drawings overlap and interweave.

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Lots of butterflies on the wing this morning including this rather worn but still beautiful and gorgeous clouded yellow. #IRecordbutterflies

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British Dragonfly Society @britishdragonflies.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

🔍 Species Spotlight: Four-spotted Chaser Named for the four dark spots on its wings, this distinctive dragonfly is a familiar sight around ponds and lakes throughout summer. Reaching it's peak flight season in June ☀️ Seen one this year?

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

A Red velvet mite with prey yesterday in Saint Leonards Churchyard Eynsham Oxfordshire. This mite is about 3mm long and is an Arachnid so belongs to the same family as spiders, Harvestmen and false scorpions. #Arachnids #iRecord #OMSystemsTG7

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Dr Rebecca Warren @drrjwarren.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Looks like they’re wearing snow-shoes!😀

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

I found this Darter yesterday whilst out walking a local lake, but I am struggling to decide if it’s a Common Darter or a Ruddy Darter. This is the only photo I have of it and it was taken at some distance so is heavily cropped. #irecorddragonflies @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

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VC40Ladybirds 🐞 @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

A good mooch this afternoon in north Shropshire, finding Myrrha 18-guttata (18-spot Ladybird), Scymnus auritus (Oak Ladybird), Stethorus pusillus (Dot Ladybird) and Clitostethus arcuatus (Horseshoe Ladybird) amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

I have been out looking for Harvestmen this afternoon and found what I think is an immature Opilio canestrinii female, but I am open to suggestions and corrections from any experts out there please. #Harvestmen #Arachnid’s

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VC40Ladybirds 🐞 @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

In Leominster on Sunday, I found several Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy Ladybird) in a conifer, which was absolutely infested with mealybugs (I think!). Some of the twigs were white with them! #MicroLadybird #Coccinellidae #Herefordshire

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Lots of ladybird action in the garden yesterday with mainly seven spot and harlequin larvae active on the bushes. #ukladybirds

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The Oxford Nature Network @biodivoxford.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

🐌 We are excited to be working with colleagues to make The Nature Festival a reality. We have so many great events lined up; there's something for everyone. See you there! 🌳 thenaturefestival.org @ecioxford.bsky.social @morethanadodo.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @naturerecovery.bsky.social

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Love is in the air 🩷 Common blue damselflies in cop today in North Wiltshire. #Damselflies

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

I was lucky to find my first Skipper of the year yesterday. A lovely Large Skipper which allowed me to get up quite close to it. #Irecordbutterflies

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Grapholita pallifrontana is now on the wing in Oxfordshire. This lovely little moth is an Upper Thames priority species.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Large Skippers spotted today in Oxfordshire. Seems early!

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

A good number of Damselflies out today at Eynsham Oxfordshire. Mainly Azure Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly but there was also Beautiful Demoiselle and Banded Demoiselle on the wing too.

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Beautiful Demoiselle today on a stream near the River Thames at Eynsham Oxfordshire.

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Were probably hoping for a better 'first ever in a mist-net at Portland' but we'll take this Hairy Dragonfly from the Crown Estate Field nets just now - still a good rare here although expected to increase

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

A few spider 🕷️ photos from the last couple of weekends. #Arachnids #spiders

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Just a few of the lovelies I found hiding underneath logs and rocks today in my local churchyard in Oxfordshire.

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John Walters @johnwalterswildife.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

A spiky-eyed harvestman Megabunus diadema which wandered out of some heather whilst I was watching an Andrena lapponica mining bee. Headland Warren, Dartmoor, Devon

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

A Painted Lady tucked away in one of the Obs moth-traps this morning but the migrant moth tally didn't really hit the mark: 51 Diamond-backs, 12 Rusty-dot Pearl, 4 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Rush Veneer & 1 Silver Y; Willowherb Hawk zero.

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

I found this rather wonderful and gorgeous individual today about two metres up a tree in the village churchyard.

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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

I used my moth trap for the first time ever last night. There was almost a full moon in the sky so not the best conditions but thought I would give it a go. Only four Moths caught and three species I think. Anyway here they are. #irecord #moths

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VC40Ladybirds 🐞 @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Really pleased to find Scymnus auritus (Oak Ladybird) at lunchtime today! New for my #LadybirdYearList! 🐞 #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Two males of the scarce Hornet Grabber (Conops vesicularis) in Gamlingay Wood LNR, S. Cambridgeshire this morning. A sexually dimorphic fly, I've included a photo of a female photographed in my garden earlier this month to illustrate the difference. #Diptera #Flies

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Vanna Bartlett @vannabartlett.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

A rare 'day off' for me and a chance to indulge in some drawing. These were sketched from a series of photos taken by @jeremybartlett.bsky.social of Segestria senoculata that I managed to lure out of their retreat by tickling the 'trip wire' with a piece of grass. Gone over in black ink.

A piece of A4 white paper with three black ink drawings of the spider Segestria senoculata and an unfinished pencil sketch of a hole in a wall that houses another spider. From left to right the drawings show a spider with just its first three pairs of legs poking out of the hole it is in, next is the whole spider just outside the hole and the third drawing is of another individual out in the open. The spider has a dark cephalothorax and large dark, shiny chelicerae. The abdomen is pale with a dark almost zigzag pattern down the back.

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Liam Olds @liamolds.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

🔦 Night surveys this week for the rare Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus) in the lower Neath Valley - its only known Welsh locality - with my colleague Christian Owen. Despite dry conditions, we found 16 adults across 3 sites. Always a privilege to see the UK’s largest ground beetle.

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Portland Bird Observatory @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

A decent little fall at the Bill this morning: towards 130 ringed so far incl the first Lesser Whitethroats of the spring and several Redstart - nice!

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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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Martyn Roper @martynroper.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Half an hour turning over logs this afternoon in a very small local wood found 12 Harvestmen of the species Rilaena triangularis, this is my highest count so far this year for this species in this tiny wood. #Harvestmen #Arachnids

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