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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

First dive in Abu Dhabi since the war started - water temperature was 36C (97F) so the corals were stressed and not many slugs about. I did find this minuscule Costasiella - probably the smallest one I have ever seen.

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Quite a few scorpions about in the Dubai desert last night. This fat tail scorpion belongs to the Androctonus crassicauda complex

Photo of a dark coloured scorpion sat on sand

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Made a little trip to a Dubai desert reserve last night to look for critters. Got swarmed by these Antlion adults all night long. They are stunning up close and look like little fairies when they flutter around the head torch. #macro #antlion #dubai #invertebrates

A photo of an Antlion adult perched on a twig

Close up photo of an Antlion adult perched on a twig

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

This little undescribed Nembrotha is munching on its ascidian prey - nom nom #nudibranch #seaslug #macro #invertebrates

A photo of a brown sea slug that has orange spots

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Eupeodes corollae - Migrant Hover Fly - their larvae is a good friend to any rose grower

A photo of a migrant hoverfly resting on a rose bloom

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A little Sumo Mite to brighten your morning

A photo of a small red mite on a green leaf

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Nice little Misumena vatia on a late season shrub rose. #spood #macro #invert #arachnid

A photo from the side of a Goldenrod Crab Spider perched on a pink rose

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Whilst preparing my compost piles reading for the coming autumn influx of leaves, I unfortunately disturbed a mother and her hoglets. Put them back and will now have to monitor to make sure she doesn’t abandon them.

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

The desert doesn’t need a subject. Sometimes the shapes, shadows and light are enough. What do you see first — the curves, the textures or the colours? #UAEdesert #AbuDhabi #desertphotography #dunes #landscapephotography

A photo of the southern Abu Dhabi desert

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

I found these strange things in the desert of Abu Dhabi and couldn’t work out what they are. Only thing that came to mind was some type of upturned burrow of a spider - possibly Pterotricha. Each one was about 3-4cm across

Strange structure found in desert. White funnel type structure made of what appear to be silken material

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Anyone know what this is about? Received in an unsolicited direct message yesterday

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

We often get some interesting vehicles turning up at the pub next door

A photo of an old Austin Healey car parked outside a Cotswold pub in England

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Nice little hike with the missus this evening in the countryside surrounding our village. #ilmington #cotswolds

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Reposted by Bugz n Slugz

IUCN SSC Butterfly & Moth Specialist Group @iucnbutterflysg.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

📣EUROPEAN RED LIST OF MOTHS PUBLISHED!📣 A m(amm)oth task - huge congratulations to the team! Spoiler: >3000 species assessed at the European level, 704 of them endemic. Ca. 25% are listed as Data Deficient & 11% threatened with extinction. op.europa.eu/en/publicati...

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

We have a few Hollyhocks on our village walk #ilmington

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

This little thrush was making a bit of a racket yesterday - perhaps it fledged a bit early. Parents found it and were feeding it later so hopefully all good.

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

First bit of evidence that I have foxes visiting the garden - my dog also decided to have a bit of Eau de Fox to her scent - so shower for her this morning

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Arrived back in the Uk yesterday and noticed the area is awash with many moths. This one decided to rest in the house today - I believe it is Noctua pronuba - Large yellow underwing. It’s a shame I can’t seem to record it on the iRecord app.

A photo of a moth on a kitchen side bench

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

This is what popped up out of my pond this year - some type of flag Iris

A photo of what appears to be a purplish coloured flag iris flower

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

One of the little wildflower areas in my Ilmington garden. I believe this was a woodland mix.

A photo of some woodland in wildflowers in my UK garden

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

#PollinatorWeek So I’m not great with bees here in the UK - it will be a native one and possibly some type of mining bee. It’s perched on a non-native plant (introduced in the 16th Century) - Astrantia major (Great Masterwort)

A native UK been perched on a non-native plant

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

#PollinatorWeek Or am I too late to the party. Here is a Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa Cardui). The ones we get in the UK are migratory from North Africa and the Middle East - heck of a distance on such little wings.

Photo of a Painted Lady Butterfly feeding on Valerian flowers.

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Misumena vatia - Goldenrod Crab Spider perched on a rose petal awaiting its prey to fly in.

A photo of a crab spider sat on a rose petal

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

I nice example of Korscheltellus lupulina found on one of my Rose bushes in the UK.

A photo of a common swift moth perched on a cream rose petal

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Here is another one from my UK garden, Oedemera nobilis (Thick-legged Flower Beetle) hanging out on a rose.

A metallic brown coloured beetle perched on a pink rose petal

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Found this great little predatory fly in my garden when I was back in the UK the other week. Not a common sighting as they normally spend their time in tree canopies. Xanthostigma xanthostigma (Small Snakefly)

A photo of a predatory snakefly. It is perched on a mint leaf

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

The thing with living in the Cotswolds is that when rooting around in the garden you can unearth stones with fossilised creatures. But then again walls of my house are also full of sea creature fossils.

Fossilised sea creatures can n the wall of my house

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

From the photo my wife has sent me of the wild section of my garden, it looks like I am going to have a busy week on my sojourn back to the UK from Abu Dhabi. That hogweed needs thinning out a fair bit to let the other wildflowers have a chance to break through.

A photo of a dense cover of hogweed in a UK garden

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

One thing I noticed whilst walking around the Abu Dhabi Natural History Museum - they have this little tardigrade models dotted across the site. I’m sure it’s some type of challenge aimed at children - so will be sure to look into it more on my next visit

A photo of a small model of a tardigrade in front of a dinosaur fossil in the background

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

When we bought our house last June, I was aware that one of the trees in the garden was a Hawthorn. So I was expecting a nice display of the white this June, but have been pleasantly surprised it is a red variety. I’m sure the bees will still love it.

A photo of a mature Hawthorn tree with red blossoms.

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

A lovely surprise from my wife - a first edition Book of Spiders by W. S. Bristowe. This book is nearly 70 years old and is in great condition - I feel a great responsibility to keep it that way. #Invertebrates #Spiders #Spoods

Front cover of a 70 yr old on spiders. Has a spider illustration on a web

Illustration plate from a book of spiders

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Just been gifted by a friend “The Book of Barely Imagined Beings” by @casparhenderson.bsky.social Looking forward to a full geek out

The front cover of a very interesting book

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

So this was the result from this mornings dive in the Abu Dhabi Marina. Very poor visibility and masses of silt did not mar good conditions - but was much better than what was going on up in the sky at the time.

A photo of an undescribed Goniobranchus Nudibranch from Abu Dhabi. It’s mainly white but covered in claret spots

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

Went for a nice calm dive in an Abu Dhabi marina this morning to collect some undescribed sea slugs under a permit for study. When we surfaced we discovered that war had started and missiles were flying over our heads. It’s been an interesting day so far

Photo of a white and red see slug in a collection jar

Photo of the foot of a sea slug in a collection jar

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Here is another one from the desert. I sometimes find these in the Giant Milkweed bushes. For this little lady I spotted her eggs first and then found her close by. Blepharopsis mendica from Abu Dhabi. #Invertebrates #Insects #Mantis #Bugs

A close up photo of a female Thistle Mantis from Abu Dhabi. Green and cream markings

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Camped out in the Abu Dhabi desert last night and got up early this morning to go bug hunting. Found this Prionotheca coronata - Urchin Beetle pootling along #Invertebrates #Bugs #Insects #Beetles

A close up photo of a black Urchin beetle sat on sand and in a defensive posture

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 01/02/2026

Anyone know what this could be - in Phuket - Thailand. Sister in Law found it this morning

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

The following basically translates to “UK Farmers upset because EU won’t accept toxic chemicals they’ve been pumping into the UK consumers for the last 5 years” Food sector calls for transition period if UK and EU agree post-Brexit rules reset www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.com

Food sector calls for transition period if UK and EU agree post-Brexit rules reset

Industry groups warn that aligning agriculture standards overnight could cost British businesses up to £810m a year

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Only found the one slug today - it is still early as the water is somewhat chilly. Will head back in March to resume the search. #seaslug #Nudibranch #Invertebrates #Marinelife

A photo of a sea slug. It has a predominantly white body with claret spots all across the mantle which is a shed by a yellow line. The rhinophores are orange as well as the tips of the gills.

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

It is somewhat ironic that the great nation of the USA found its formation begin as a result of a Tea Party and yet also its demise.

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Something came in the post today that helped brighten my world #nudibranch #Invertebrate #Marinelife #Plushie

A plushie that is modelled on a Chromodoris magnifica sea slug

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Does this remind anyone of the dynamic between Miller and Trump?

A still from the Lord of the Rings movie showing King Theoden and his slimy
Evil adviser Grima Wormtongue

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Life can be quirky. That sliding doors moment when I decided to not do biology at school - and have regretted it ever since. I now find myself 38 years later about to collaborate as a citizen scientist with a post-doc researcher on collecting and naming some Nudibranch. 2026 seems suddenly brighter.

An undescribed Goniobranchus sea slug from Abu Dhabi. It has a white mantle with large claret patches across its back and a mantle edge interspersed with yellow, red and purple markings

An undescribed Goniobranchus sea slug from Abu Dhabi. It has a white mantle with medium purple patches across its back and a mantle edge that is yellow. The rhinophores and gills are orange

An undescribed Goniobranchus sea slug from Abu Dhabi. It has a white mantle with small claret patches across its back and a mantle edge interspersed with yellow, red and purple markings

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Bugz n Slugz @moistmacro.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Something to at least try and brighten the day.

A yellow/orange cosmos flower from Thailand

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