iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Andrew McGleish

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

Excellent, thank you. Good tips. It's been recorded on the reserve before. I'll stick this on iRecord. We'll keep looking out for Roesel's but I think it'll need to take my bat detector.

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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

Just to clarify, this is the first record of Dioctria linearis from the reserve. Other Dioctria are available although Dioctria rufipes is the only other species recorded here. I forgot to mention @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social

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

Aye, someone else suggested those. Good job I've got lots of pockets.

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

Fair enough, I'll keep an eye out, since I can't hear them any longer. Thanks for your help.

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

I can't remember everything we planted in the hedge but it included spindle and hornbeam, nothing that would be forageable because the plants already established are valuable for the bees and we didn't want them trampled.

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Reposted by Andrew McGleish

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 · 22/04/2026

Thanks David. Grey BC is at Kenfig and was suggested as a possibility on our WhatsApp group. If Roesel's is there now then hopefully someone will find an adult in the summer.

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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 · 07/02/2026

Ah, diolch. It'll be worth waiting for.

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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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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

They're smart wee bees, easier when fresh. I've seen them at Merthyr Mawr as well as Kenfig. @liamolds.bsky.social found them nesting in old machine gun casings at an Army Training area last year.

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Cheers, Another voice called it too though!

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Reposted by Andrew McGleish

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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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

As for your wasp type, then I suspect something that small would need sending off to a specialist at the NHM or the NMS collections centre in Edinburgh. There is a Bees, Wasps and Ants group on Facebook, but it's busy. @gavinbroad.bsky.social #hymenoptera

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

For your aphid, there is a good Aphid, Psyllids etc group on Facebook. I've also heard good things about influentialpoints.com and that they are quite responsive to emails.

influentialpoints.com

InfluentialPointsDotCom: Statistics and Aphids, things that Bite and Suck

Influential Points .com: Statistics, Tabanids, Aphids. Things that Bite and Suck

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

I get the frustration. I've learned a lot from various groups on Facebook, but as the season gets moving they get very busy and posts just get lost in the scrum. Do you look at Steven Falk's Flickr account? Very useful.

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

So many insects just can't be identified from photos. Assuming an expert even sees the photos in the first place you might be lucky to get to genus for some flies.

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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

And we did, but not many in the cloudy windy weather. This Sericomyia silentis was the showiest of the day, and waited till back at the car park. I see I've even got a selfie in the reflection. @sewbrec.org.uk @dipteristsforum.bsky.social #Hoverflies #Syrphidae #Diptera #Sericomyia

A Hoverfly, Sericomyia silentis, showing well, sitting on a leaf with my reflection on its thorax

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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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Reposted by Andrew McGleish

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

As a follow on, I carefully dismantled one very aphid-covered Brassica earlier in the week, it needed to go in the compost bin. I came away with several Syrphus Hoverfly larvae to raise. Result!

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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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Andrew McGleish @scotsguyinwales.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

I found my first garden record yesterday,not on the Pulmonaria but on the Purple Sprouting Broccoli which is flowering profusely. Bees do seem to love brassicas.

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

They're fab, eh? It was zooming about too fast for photos, soI netted it, and held its legs for my record shots. It then sat there and groomed after I'd released my grip. Would have been rude not to take a few more snaps. Funnily enough it was feeding on Purple Gromwell, which is also pretty rare.

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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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Reposted by Andrew McGleish

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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