iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Megan Shersby @meganshersby.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

A thread of my #30DaysWild posts, where I find a different gall each day - 30 Galls Wild:

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Tegwyn @arachnoteg.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Able to photograph H.pluchei and her spiderlings that emerged yesterday. Lots of eyes and legs! Certainly a nightmare for anyone who is arachnophobic. Recorded in Britain since 2004 and looks to be now established at a new site in #Wales @britishspiders.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk @cofnod.org.uk

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Kat Dahl @wildkatdahl.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

One of Britain’s most awesome predators is out and about💥🥳 (rather early in the year 😬). This magnificent Hornet Robberfly has impaled a fly on his impressive piercing mouthparts. 📷 Amberley Downs #asiluscrabroniformis #bugsky #ukflies @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

A very large, brown, bristly fly with a yellow lower abdomen, sitting on grass, with a black fly impaled on its large piercing mouthparts.

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

@vc40orthops.bsky.social I'm leaning towards Grey Bush-cricket rather than Roesel's for this nymph from Kenfig NNR, 10/06/26. Is it possible to tell? From what I've read the white spots behind the pronutum are on the wing buds. Are the markings on top of the pronutum relevant? #orthoptera #cymru

A Bush-cricket Nymph, sitting on a human hand

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Despite the weather, I've had a good week at Kenfig National Nature Reserve. Here's a nice quartet, names in the alt text. The Dioctria is the first recorded on the reserve. #Diptera #Asilidae #Stratiomyidae #Wales #Cymru #Robberflies #Soldierflies

A fly, Small Yellow-legged Robberfly, Dioctria linearis, sitting on a leaf at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in Wales

A Fly, Common Awl Robberfly, Neoitamus cyanurus, sitting on a leaf at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in Wales.

A Soldierfly, Fen Snout, Nemotelus pantherinus on a leaf at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in Wales

A Fly, Fan-bristled Robberfly, Dysmachus trigonus on the sand at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in Wales.

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Tegwyn @arachnoteg.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Spotted this adult female Ero aphana in Barry. A nationally scarce spider and appears to be the third record for VC41 Glamorgan. The other two I have managed to find were in Penarth. @britishspiders.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk @cofnod.org.uk @tylanberry.bsky.social

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Something a bit different from me, but who can resist a mating pair of Green Tiger Beetles, Cicindela campestris? At the golf course beside Kenfig National Nature Reserve. @sewbrec.org.uk @coleopsoc.bsky.social #Coleoptera #Kenfig #Wales #Cymru

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Seren Books @serenbooks.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Situated between the Ogwr Estuary and the Port Talbot Steelworks, the Kenfig dunes are a unique landscape shrouded in myth and history. In ‘Duneland’ @kristianevans.bsky.social marks the passing of the year in this extraordinary, wild edgeland. Pre-order now www.serenbooks.com/book/duneland/

This cover shows two illustrated butterflies swopping over a sandy background. The text reads: Duneland: A Year in Kenfig, Kristian Evans

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

@vc40orthops.bsky.social Another visit to Kenfig NNR and with the help of your AIDGAP, I reckon this is a Roesel's nymph. What do you think? @sewbrec.org.uk @elaineeepoos.bsky.social

A nymph of a Bush-cricket, thought to be Roesel's Bush-cricket. Photo posted here for an expert opinion.
Taken at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in South Wales on 29/04/2026

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

So I missed #WorldRobberflyDay yesterday. I'm catching up with Pamponerus germanicus from Kenfig National Nature Reserve, also yesterday. I think her catch is a Sawfly. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk #Wales #Cymru

Female Pied-winged Robberfly, Pamponerus germanicus eating her catch which I think is a Sawfly (Symphta).
Photographed at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in South Wales

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

@vc40orthops.bsky.social Hi David, Found this Bush-cricket nymph at Kenfig National Nature Reserve on Saturday, 18/4/26. Initially thought it was Dark Bush-cricket, but with the yellow on the side of the pronutum, I wonder if it might be Roesel's. Is it doable at all? @sewbrec.org.uk

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Nancy 🪲SciBugs🪲 Miorelli @scibugs.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Here they are (Zygothrica sp) going at it to defend their mushroom kingdom. El Refugio, Intag, Ecuador

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

@abigaillowe.bsky.social Hi Abi, You mentioned last year you were doing a list of Welsh language names for bees. Would you be able to pass a copy on please so I can share it at the museum in Cardiff? Cheers

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South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre @sewbrec.org.uk · 04/07/2025

#RecordOfTheWeek today is the fabulously named Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) spotted in Kenfig NNR by David Collins. This Nationally Notable (Nb) species can be found on a few sandy sites along the south Wales coast. Many thanks for the record & photo, submitted via www.sewbrecord.org.uk

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Great day out at Kenfig NNR with the Entomology team from National Museum Wales Cardiff. The highlight for me was this Sand Bear Spider, Arctosa perita. You can see how well camouflaged it is against the sand. @britishspiders.bsky.social #spiders #arachnids #invertebrates #wales #cymru #kenfig

A Sand Bear Spider, Arctosa perita, showing how perfectly camouflaged it is against the sand. Seen today at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in Glamorgan, Wales.

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Plantlife @plantlifeuk.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

How a museum does #NoMowMay🌸 From boosting biodiversity, increasing insect diversity & letting native wildflowers bloom - just a few reasons why the National Museum of Scotland has been taking part in the No Mow Movement. Watch the full story, told by @ashwhiffin.bsky.social, below 👇

youtube.com

How a Museum does No Mow May

YouTube video by PlantlifeVideo

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South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre @sewbrec.org.uk · 24/05/2025

@scotsguyinwales.bsky.social leading a hoverfly walk (hoping he finds some 😁)

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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Labour promised to restore nature. ❌ Instead, their Planning Bill contains a licence to destroy it. We offered solutions. We’re done waiting. Part 3 of the Bill would gut the laws protecting our most precious habitats & species. Without significant change, it must be scrapped.

Screenshot of a Guardian news article with the headline: “Wildlife charities urge Labour to scrap ‘licence to kill nature’ in planning bill.” The subheading reads: “Conservationists say part of bill allowing developers to avoid environmental laws by paying into nature fund should be ditched.” Below, a protest photo shows handmade signs in woodland. One reads “BAT FACTS – 14 species of bat in Buckinghamshire. Bats are the only mammals that can fly.” Another says “FAT CATS KILL BATS” in bold letters. The image underscores public anger and the scale of opposition to the proposed Planning Bill.

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Xanthogramma citrofasciatum ♂ today in Bengeo garden, beautiful hoverfly with very short flight period. Note narrow yellow bars on T2 distinguish species from much commoner Xanthogramma pedissequum.

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

That was a weird one, I had absolutely no idea, thought it was some sort of Soldier Beetle. Snapped a few photos thinking of leafing through a book at home. Good job there were some adults aboutn

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

This, I believe, is the proper way to regard the Fan-bristled Robberfly, Dysmachus trigonus, on a sunny day at Kenfig National Nature Reserve. #Invertebrates #Diptera #Asilidae #Robberflies #Wales #Cymru #SandsOfLife

A Robberfly, Dysmachus trigonus, aka the Fan-bristled Robberfly, being held reverently high whilst being examined for identification purposes. At Kenfig National Nature Reserve, a sand dunes reserve in South Wales known for a great range of Invertebrates.

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Liam Olds @liamolds.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Enjoyable afternoon spent at Kenfig National Nature Reserve with @bennyhawksbee.bsky.social and @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social. The highlight was Black-headed Leafcutter Bee (Megachile circumcincta) - a pretty rare bee in Wales. We found at least two males patrolling patches of bird's-foot-trefoil.

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Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 25/04/2025

PhD Timeline xkcd.com/3081

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Myathropa florea, female, aka the Batman Hoverfly. First of the year for me, but expect to see many more in the months ahead Seen on the South Wales coast today. One of my favourite Hoverflies, just don't ask how many favourites I have. #Syrphidae #Hoverflies #Invertebrates #Diptera #Wales #Cymru

A Hoverfly, Myathropa florea, also known as the Batman Hoverfly because of the "bat signal" shape on the thorax. Feeding on the flowers of Alexanders, Smyrnium olusatrum.

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Auke-Florian 🪹 @aukeflorian.nl · 09/04/2025

NEW PAPER, JUST OUT! 👀 Insects from the '70s and '80s were already collecting microplastic, decades before the term microplastic even existed. 🤯 A thread on the surprising history of this pollutant and the incredible insect larvae that helped us uncover it. 🐛 Let's dive in! 🧵👇 1/x

Lead author Auke-Florian Hiemstra holds the oldest known caddisfly casing containing microplastic, dating to 1971. Photo: Liselotte Rambonnet.

A caddisfly casing with pieces of blue microplastic, dating 1986. Photo: Auke-Florian Hiemstra

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Good week for flying things on my fingers. My first ever Bombylius discolor, Dotted Bee-Fly. Then a male Andrena nitida, Grey Patched Mining Bee, part of a huge nesting aggregation of Mining Bees in the middle of Cardiff. #Invertebrate #Bees #Bee-Flies #Andrena #Bombylius #Cymru #Wales #Caerdydd

A male Grey-patched Mining Bee, Andrena nitida, from a huge nesting aggregation of Mining Bees a park in the middle of Cardiff. It appeared to be testing, and climbed on my hand when offered.

Dotted Bee-Fly, Bombylius discolor, an uncommon insect, and my first. Seen on the South Wales coast.

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Karl Wotton @koralwotton.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Lords of the flies: the unsurpassed level of ecological diversity within dipteran migrants. Read about it here news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-e... and in Biological Reviews here doi.org/10.1111/brv..... New research from @uniexecec.bsky.social with @willleohawkes.bsky.social & Myles Menz

news.exeter.ac.uk

Migrating flies vital for people and nature

Buzzing insects may be seen as pests – but globally, hundreds of fly species migrate over long distances, with major benefits for people and nature, new research shows. Bugs such as houseflies, fruitf...

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Queen Mary Faculty of Science and Engineering @qmulse.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

99% of insect species lack conservation data. A major study led by @ukceh.bsky.social and @zslofficial.bsky.social, with contributions from Professor Iwan Jones and Dr John Murphy of @qmulrivercomms.bsky.social, highlights urgent gaps in our understanding of global insect populations.

qmul.ac.uk

New study reveals critical gaps in insect biodiversity research

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

A lovely little Sandpit Mining Bee, Andrena barbilabris posing on my finger at Kenfig National Nature Reserve yesterday. Plenty of males like him in evidence patrolling low along the paths. #Kenfig #Cymru #Wales #Invertebrates #Bees

A male Sandpit Mining Bee, Andrena barbilabris on a human finger. Seen at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in South Wales.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

If any of my followers care about the environment, our flora and fauna, and the tranquility of our country parks, PLEASE sign this petition to stop the introduction of an aqua park at Cosmeston Lakes CP, a SSSI and nature reserve. THANKS! chng.it/zvVYss5PDH

chng.it

Sign the Petition

Halt the Installation of the Aqua Park at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, Penarth

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British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

With spider activity increasing, we're looking at spider ID resources, starting today at the beginner's end of the spectrum with our 17 Factsheets on common and conspicuous species - freely available to read online or print from www.britishspiders.org.uk/factsheets. #spiders #arachnids #arachnology

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The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 07/02/2025

🤦‍♂️ So Labour are making ads boasting about deportations, with Reform-style branding. Why are Labour trying to be like Farage and his mates? If only the Government put as much effort into creating a fast, fair and dignified asylum system.

REAL HOPE. REAL CHANGE.

BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS
We need safe and legal routes, not boasts about which party can be the cruellest.

Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ

With screenshot of Labour social media advert that reads:
BREAKING NEWS BREAKING NEWS
LABOUR HITS LABOUR HITS 5 YEAR HIGH IN MIGRANT REMOVALS

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Tara Okon @rivers-disguise.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

A few non-bird (well almost!) artworks. Another 'hidden gems' - hoverflies (Chrysotoxum bicinctum & Xanthogramma pedissequum), Woodland Wheel, otters & brown trout #hoverflies #mammals

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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Stop Musk from funding far-right politics in the UK! I just signed this petition 'Tighten the rules on political donations' - it's nearly at 30,000 signatures - can you add your name too? - petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...

petition.parliament.uk

Petition: Tighten the rules on political donations

We want the government to: Remove loopholes that allow wealthy foreign individuals to make donations into UK political parties (e.g. by funnelling through UK registered companies). Cap all donations ...

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Cenric @cenricc.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Pet fur found in songbird nests contains high levels of pesticides, study finds Exclusive: Chemical in treatment for pet fleas and ticks is found in nests of blue and great tits, killing chicks www.theguardian.com/environment/... "And the earth died screaming"

theguardian.com

Pet fur found in songbird nests contains high levels of pesticides, study finds

Exclusive: Chemical in treatment for pet fleas and ticks is found in nests of blue and great tits, killing chicks

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Colliery Spoil Biodiversity Initiative @collieryspoil.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Big news coming soon about the discovery of a species new to Britain, found at a colliery spoil site in South Wales! Today, we had an exciting visit to the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff, meeting with the national expert, who confirmed it as not being a known British species. Stay tuned!

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Nigel Pugh @nspugh.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Economic Growth (GDP) & its WEALTH SURGES 3 X FASTER IN 2024 - WORLD NOW ON TRACK FOR AT LEAST FIVE TRILLIONAIRES WITHIN A DECADE www.oxfam.org.uk/media/press-... Why can’t we afford to restore a life supporting planet, a few people stole all the Growth. #ClimateAction is a #WellbeingEconomy now!

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Middle of winter? Of course Wild Angelica will be flowering, eh? Seen at #Kenfig NNR last Friday #WildFlowerHour #Wales #Cymru

Wild Angelica in full flower in the middle of Winter at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in Wales.

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

I was very surprised to find these eggs of Orgyia antiqua, aka Rusty Tussock, Vapourer Moth or Siobyn at #Kenfig NNR today. I must have walked past them dozens of times. #Invertebrates #Moths #Wales #Cymru

A batch of eggs from the moth Orgyia antiqua, also known as the Rusty Tussock or Vapourer. Cymraeg: Siobyn. Seen today at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in Wales.
The eggs are laid on the cocoon that the flightless female adult emerged from.

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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

NEW: Elon Musk’s X is a weapon currently owned and controlled by a non-state entity. But from January 20, that changes. At that point, we need to understand in the context of information warfare from a hostile nation state. open.substack.com/pub/broligar...

open.substack.com

Total information collapse

It's started. And it's only going to accelerate from here.

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HOPE not hate @hopenothate.org.uk · 08/01/2025

❌ Elon Musk is amplifying far-right figures, spreading harmful disinformation, and meddling in UK politics. If we stay silent, he wins. But together, we can push back and demand stronger laws to protect our democracy. Join us and make your voice heard: secure.hopenothate.org.uk/page/163807/...

secure.hopenothate.org.uk

Stop Billionaires Meddling in UK Politics ❌

Foreign billionaires like Elon Musk shouldn’t have the power to shape our democracy. Let’s change the law.

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Zarah Sultana MP @zarahsultana.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

The world’s richest man & insecure nepo-baby shouldn’t be allowed to dictate UK politics. Yet some politicians act like sycophants & his unhinged outbursts dominate news, while our democracy is serially undermined. We must break the super-rich’s grip on our media & politics.

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Dr Tess Machling @tessmachling.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

"A request made through ChatGPT, an AI-based virtual assistant, consumes 10 times the electricity of a Google Search" This isn't a game. This is accelerated destruction via huge usage of power, water, resources etc. Stop using it - especially for messing about!! www.unep.org/news-and-sto...

unep.org

AI has an environmental problem. Here’s what the world can do about that.

The sprawling data centres that house AI servers churn out toxic electronic waste and are voracious consumers of electricity, which in most places is still produced from fossil fuels.

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Looking in the leaf litter with my granddaughter, we turned up a Birch Shieldbug, Elasmostethus interstinctus. #BryngarwPark #hexapodecember #hemiptera

A Birch Shieldbug, Elasmostethus interstinctus, found in leaf litter

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Richard Lewington @rlewington2.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

I've joined Bluesky! Hoping to follow and be followed by many of my X/Twitter friends. Please Retweet/Repost or whatever the word is. #invertebrates #insects #moths #dragonflies #wildlife

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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Nigel Farage, “man of the people”, welcomes his latest billionaire to Reform “Like our Nige, Nick Candy doesn’t appear to have any solutions to anything … but he does have very deep pockets” www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

theguardian.com

Nigel Farage, man of the people, welcomes his latest billionaire to Reform | John Crace

Like our Nige, Nick Candy doesn’t appear to have any solutions to anything … but he does have very deep pockets

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