iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Fantastic views of Bottle-nosed Dolphins on Friday at Torry Battery. Shame other things didn’t work out so well!

Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Back from an excellent few days in Anglesey with plenty of sightings of Risso’s and Common Dolphins plus Porpoise Grey Seals and Red Squirrel 🙂

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Sorry for the rubbish photos but I found myself a new hoverfly yesterday in North Staffs, Furry Pond Fly - Sericomyia superbiens. Definitely something to shout about! #Diptera #Hoverflies

A mid size orange coloured
Hoverfly with a yellow face and black eyes and legs sitting on yellowing leaves with a green woodland background

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

A wonderful day insecting around Betley Mere yesterday. Glad to have finally caught up with the Clouded Yellow invasion also Beautiful Carpet Mesoleuca albicillata was a new moth for me 🙂

A Clouded Yellow of the form helice. A pale yellow butterfly with black, white and orange spots perched on a purple scabious flower

Clouded Yellow a bright yellow butterfly with black, white and orange spots perched on a purple scabious flower

Beautiful Carpet, Mesoleuca albicillata. An attractive moth with a dark cloak around its shoulders silvery centres to the wings and grey bands towards the tailing edge of the wing. This one sitting on a green bramble leaf

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

A fantastic day catching up with some insects at the weekend on Cannock Chase. The highlights all happen to be flies. Species in alt text

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Reposted by Richard Sutton

Staffordshire Mammal Group @staffsmammalgroup.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Consall Wood Survey Sun, 14/6/26 9am – 3pm Tracks and signs survey at this beautiful RSPB site. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather. Bring lunch if you are staying all day. Grid ref SJ997476 Nearest Postcode ST10 2EW What3words exits.systems.fraction

staffordshiremammalgroup.org

Events — Staffordshire Mammal Group

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

The Ferruginous Bee-Grabber, Sicus ferrugineus is back in my Mum’s garden again. Pretty much the only place I ever see them 🙂

Ferruginous Bee-Grabber, Sicus ferrugineus a rufous fly with a curious habit of folding its abdomen forward underneath its body. This one sitting amongst green leaves

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

I love adding a new ladybird to my list, 24 Spot Ladybird - Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata found today in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

24 Spot Ladybird - Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata, a small orange ladybird with a scattering of black spots crawling over exposed coastal rocks

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

A Fantastic start to a week away from work out with the local bat group on Saturday, loads of Natterer's bats and a couple of Noctule seen but the highlight was my first Brandt's bat 😁✅

Brandt's bat in the expert hands of a licensed bat recorder. Just the head and tips of the wings are visible

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Grasshopper Warbler, one of favourite species and always a pleasure to hear. It’s not often I see them and even rarer to get a picture 🙂 🪶

A small brown and streaky warbler with reddish legs a pale throat and a faint stripe over the dark eye

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Loving this Gooden's Nomad Bee - Nomada goodeniana from a few weeks ago 🙂

A small black bee with yellow and black stripes on the abdomen and orange tibiae and antennae with a background of yellow and green cowslips

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Gymnocheta viridis, a new Parasite Fly found today on a #CityNatureChallenge event at Staffordshire University

Gymnocheta viridis, an iridescent green and bronze fly sitting on a sunlit green leaf

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

I seems like Epistrophe eligans is having a good year so perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised that 2 have turned up in my garden for the first time! #Diptera #fly #hoverfly

Epistrophe eligans a sparkling bronze and orange hoverfly perched on a green leaf

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Eurydema oleracea, Brassica Shieldbug in my mum’s garden today- not often I get a new species of Shieldbug so very pleased!😁

Eurydema oleracea, Brassica Shieldbug a small shiny black bug in the shape of a shield with white spots and stripes plus a white trim. Sitting on bright green leaves

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Loving the Hairy-footed Flower Bees - Anthophora plumipes in my Mum’s garden at the moment 🙂

Hairy-footed Flower Bee - Anthophora plumipes a male looking out of a circular nest hole in brickwork

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Work moth of the day today probably can’t get much better! Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini, found first thing this morning when I nearly trod on it. #teammoth

Clifden Nonpareil, a large grey moth with impressive blue and black hind wings

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Ok everyone is there any help with this one out there, I think this large ( c.2 cm ) and striking insect could be a Tenthredo but I admit I am struggling so any ID suggestions appreciated. Seen in North Staffs at the weekend @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

A large slim black and yellow fly with silvery wings and long antenna sitting amongst green leaves

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Another new species for my Mum’s garden today, Red-thighed St Mark's Fly - Bibio pomonae

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

A very pleasant day trip to Nottinghamshire yesterday and 3 flys that I don’t often record were the highlight, 2 hoverfly and 1 Tachinid. Ferdinandea cuprea, Dasysyrphus tricinctus and Phasia hemiptera

Ferdinandea cuprea, a hoverfly with a brassy looking abdomen, grey stripes on its thorax and two wing 'clouds' on each wing

Dasysyrphus tricinctus, a mostly back hoverfly with 3 bands of yellow on the abdomen in a distinctive pattern

Phasia hemiptera, a very dark Tachinid fly with deep red eyes and a dark and light pattern on its wings

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Work moth of the day today was this Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pheosia gnoma almost 4 years to the day since i found Swallow Prominent in the same spot #teammoth

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

The latest in a long list of amazing insects I have found in my Mum’s wonderful garden - Ferruginous Bee-Grabber, Sicus ferrugineus 😁

Ferruginous Bee-Grabber, Sicus ferrugineus a dark red fly with a yellow face and an abdomen that curls forwards under the rest of the body feeding on a bright purple Scabious flower

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Reposted by Richard Sutton

Phil Jones @philj61.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Darn good Day in Dorset😎 Scarlet Darter, Wasp Spider & Grass Snake pic by @rjsutton1975.bsky.social and a first for Staffs to come home to trapped by my mothing mate @nickpom9.bsky.social

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Work moth of the day today was this female Ghost Moth, Hepialus humuli a nice surprise as I walked out onto the yard for the first time #teammoth

Ghost Moth, Hepialus humuli a very attractive orange moth with intricate darker lines and blotches and a furry thorax

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Spent some time watching this fabulous Pied Hoverfly - Scaeva pyrastri in a North Staffs garden this afternoon 🙂

Pied Hoverfly - Scaeva pyrastri a good sized black and white Hoverfly with 3 curved white bars on its tail and silvery wings held spread to either side

Pied Hoverfly - Scaeva pyrastri a good sized black and white Hoverfly this time with a head on view

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

As pretty as any butterfly - Latticed Heath, Chiasmia clathrata from yesterday. #TeamMoth

Latticed Heath, Chiasmia clathrata a pretty little moth mainly white but with an intricate pattern of black checks and lines

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

A new hoverfly for me on Thursday, Eristalis intricaria, another of the bumblebee mimics and this one quite convincing as mimics go 🙂

A black and white hoverfly feeding on a purple Scabious flower

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

White-letter hairstreak found last weekend in Staffordshire. Only the third I have ever seen and my first self found- happy days! 😀

A small dark grey butterfly with distinctive white streaks on both wings and an orange border to the hind wing, 2 white tipped tails also on the hind wing. This one is feeding from a bramble flower

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

June has been particularly good for reptiles and amphibians this year, 5 days in Hamps/Dorset certainly helped with 3 lizard species seen during this break plus Adder and Grass Snake. Then the following weekend a Slow Worm was found in Shropshire.

Sand Lizard, a small brown lizard with stripes running down its back and dark spots with a white centres along its flank.

Common Lizard, another small lizard again with pale stripes down its back but also a rich brown stripe down its flank which extends to form a mask around the eye

Wall Lizard, a larger lizard with a long tail. Bright green in colour but with black areas around its eye and chin

Slow Worm. A legless lizard resembling a small snake, it is bronzy brown all over and this one is hiding its head in moss

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

By my standards last night was a good catch with NFL Figure of Eighty - Tethea ocularis and NFG Pebble Hook-tip -Drepana falcataria being the highlights also Clouded Border - Lomaspilis marinate are always pretty 🙂 #TeamMoth

Figure of Eighty an attractive brown moth with a white mark resembling the number 80 on each wing

Pebble Hook-tip another attractive moth with hooked wing tips and an orange colour

Clouded Border a pretty little moth mainly white but with a dark grey border

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Another visit and another 2 species recorded for my Mum’s garden 🙂. Figwort Weevil - Cionus scrophulariae which I have just found out also feeds on Buddleja and the hoverfly Platycheirus granditarsus

Figwort Weevil - Cionus scrophularia a tiny grey beetle with a black dot in the centre feeding on a Buddleja flower head

Platycheirus granditarsus a small shiny hoverfly with an orange tail and glossy head and thorax

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Not a great night’s mothing last night with only a handful visiting the trap but Dusky Brocade, Apamea remissa was new for the garden. #teammoth

Dusky Brocade, Apamea remissa an attractive mottled grey moth taken against a red tile background

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

It’s been a great week for insect in my Mum’s garden this week with 2 NFG Narcissus Bulb Fly - Merodon equestris and Meadow Plant Bug - Leptopterna dolabrata plus a new for life Fork Tailed Flower Bee - Anthophora furcata

Fork Tailed Flower Bee - Anthophora furcata a grey and ginger bee with a yellow face

Narcissus Bulb Fly - Merodon equestris a black and orange hoverfly that is an excellent mimic for a bumblebee

Meadow Plant Bug - Leptopterna dolabrata a small black and yellow bug perched face down on a grass stem

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

On a mini break to the New Forest area and ran the moth trap last night. Nothing outstanding with 18/11 but best for me was Brussels Lace, Cleorodes lichenaria which we just don’t get back home #teamMoth

Brussels Lace, Cleorodes lichenaria an intricately patterned grey, gold and black moth with it’s wings spread wide to the sides

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

A case of plant it and they will come today when I found this Tephritis neesii on the Oxeye daisies, we only seeded these daisies in the garden 3 years ago and this is the food plant for this fly 🙂

A very small grey fly with black patterning on its wings sitting on a green stem of Oxeye Daisy

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Not something you see everyday, a queen Tree Bumblebee - Bombus hypnorum plus 2 suitors

A queen Tree Bumblebee - Bombus hypnorum with 2 male Tree Bumblebee trying to mate with her amongst green leaves. All bees are black with gingery brown backs and a white tail.

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Some recent insects found at my Mum’s garden, it really is remarkable the diversity of insects to be found in this suburban garden. Narcissus Bulb Fly - Merodon equestris, Woundwort Shieldbug - Eysarcoris venustissimus and Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum

Narcissus Bulb Fly - Merodon equestris, a black bodied hoverfly with a ginger collar and white tail

Woundwort Shieldbug, 2 bronze coloured bugs attached together at the rear sitting on a green leaf

Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum a long slim insect with pale blue bands down its tail

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

2 excellent beetles from the weekend just gone. An impressive Lesser stag beetle - Dorcus parallelipipedus and the ever popular Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn - Agapanthia villosoviridescens. Both found in Staffordshire

Lesser Stag Beetle, an impressive black beetle with strong jaws against a background of pale wood

Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle, a yellow and black beetle with long black and white banded antennae sitting on a green nettle leaf

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Reposted by Richard Sutton

Staffordshire Mammal Group @staffsmammalgroup.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Our next event is Small Mammal Trapping Wolseley SWT (with WATCH group) 10/5/25-11/5/25 Meet at Staffs Wildlife Trust HQ car park First check 9am Sat 10th check and reset traps 8pm Sat 10th Final check 9am Sun 11th Grid ref SK024203 Postcode ST17 0WT www.staffordshiremammalgroup.org/new-events

staffordshiremammalgroup.org

Events — Staffordshire Mammal Group

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

My moth trap continues to disappoint lately but I recently got a new species of caddisfly, Phryganea grandis. The largest British caddisfly apparently!

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

My new favourite hoverfly from the weekend Common Dainty, Baccha elongata

A small slim hoverfly with red eyes and a yellowish band towards the end of its tail sitting on a green leaf

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

The highlight of my weekend was finding my first Wasp Beetle, Clytus arietis for Staffordshire 😀

Wasp Beetle, a striking black and yellow striped beetle with orange legs sitting on a green leaf

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Love these Red Mason Bees - Osmia bicornis, great little hairy things

A small hairy bee perched vertically on a pebble wall Red Mason Bee - Osmia bicornis

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Reposted by Richard Sutton

Staffordshire Mammal Group @staffsmammalgroup.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

It is city nature challenge weekend starting tomorrow and Staffordshire is participating again this year. It would be great to better last year’s excellent 4th place finish www.inaturalist.org/projects/cit...

inaturalist.org

City Nature Challenge 2025: Staffordshire & Stoke-On-Trent

The 2025 City Nature Challenge for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Pebble Hook-tip - Drepana falcataria and Green Long-horn - Adela reaumurella found during a walk around Cannock Chase on Saturday, please excuse the terrible photos of the Hook-tip it was high in the trees. #teammoth

The underside of a Pebble Hook-tip high in a tree, an orange moth against dark green tree bark

The upper side of a Pebble Hook-tip moth high in a tree silhouetted against a bright sky

Adela reaumurella, Green Longhorn moth, a shiny moth with long black and white antenna amongst bright green leaves

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

A really smart Nomad Bee found in North Staffs today, shame I’ll never be able to get it down to species

A dark red Nomad Bee with a yellow banded tail sitting on sand

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

This Tawny Mining Bee - Andrena fulva certainly seemed to be enjoying the late evening sunshine in the garden this evening 🌞

A Tawny Mining Bee sitting on a green and yellow Ivy leaf in the afternoon sunshine

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

The #localbigyear list keeps ticking along 2 Green Sandpiper being the latest also good to get some insects enjoying the sunshine #Bee-fly 🪶 #ukbirding

Green Sandpiper feeding in the muddy flood margin

Green-veined White Butterfly on a forest floor

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Richard Sutton @rjsutton1975.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

A very pleasant long weekend on Anglesey just gone, plenty of good weather and things to see. Highlights: Adder, Lizard, Porpoise, Black Redstart, Lapland Bunting, Oil Beetles, Seals and a fantastic male Merlin 😁

A female brown and black coloured Adder with a zigzag pattern blends in well with its heathland habitat

A green and black lizard spreads itself to catch the sunlight

A male and female Oil Beetle doing what comes naturally

Grey Seal bobbing about amongst the waves

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