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Simon Knott

@sjbknott.bsky.social
872 followers 361 following 431 posts

Birds, Chess, Coleoptera, Flora, Moths, R&I, Syrphidae, Stratiomyidae et al. Slowly rewilding Herts garden & trying to photograph its fauna & flora.

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Banded Pine Carpet (Pungeleria capreolaria) last night in Bengeo, 1st record for Herts. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social
Banded Pine Carpet (Pungeleria capreolaria)
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Fox (Vulpes vulpes) today in Bengeo garden. 2nd year in residence & present this year since late April. Completely tolerant of me, it only shows any agitation if I accidently disturb it. It has never been fed so perhaps this is an example of behavioural change as Fox density rises.
Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Pogonocherus hispidus today in Bengeo garden. This attractive species has very long season. It is therefore often first & last longhorn beetle recorded here during year. #Cerambycidae #saproxylic
Pogonocherus hispidus
0202
Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Main patch of Ivy (Hedera helix) is just coming into flower in Bengeo garden & Stomorhina lunata ♂ back in residence today on same branch that was occupied by another male last year. Highly migratory species that originates from N Africa & seems to be using grasshoppers in UK as its host. #LocustFly
Stomorhina lunata male
0204
Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Variable Cockroach (Planuncus tingitanus s.l.) ♂ found last Thursday in Bengeo garden, it has been spreading north in Europe reaching UK in 2011. Outdoor cockroaches such as this are harmless unlike indoor pest species. @kitenet.bsky.social @bugmanjones.bsky.social #attractedtolight #climatechange
Variable Cockroach (Planuncus tingitanus s.l.) male
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Hot nights sometimes produce spectacular visitors: Stricticollis tobias last Friday in Bengeo garden, scarce ant-like flower beetle. 3rd confirmed Herts record & all to light traps. @bugmanjones.bsky.social @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social #Anthicidae #attractedtolight
Stricticollis tobias
0234
Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Conops quadrifasciatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, conopid parasitoid of Bombus bumblebees & superb mimic of Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris). @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
Conops quadrifasciatus female
0202
Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Saved some Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) from ravages of Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) larvae. Drought-resistant, it is vital source of nectar for bees & hoverflies. Heteroptera also like it: Stictopleurus punctatonervosus & Nysius senecionis mating pair today in Bengeo garden. @britishbugs.bsky.social
Stictopleurus punctatonervosusNysius senecionis mating pair
0142
Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria) x2 & Cydia amplana in Bengeo on Wednesday night. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth
Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria)Cydia amplana
0243
Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Breckland Plume (Oxyptilus distans) found Tuesday night in Bengeo, really attractive micro. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth
 Breckland Plume (Oxyptilus distans)
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) ♀ today in Bengeo garden. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Geotrupes spiniger today in Bengeo garden, large beetle associated with cow dung on old grasslands. Until you explore nocturnal fauna by light trapping, one is unaware that such magnificent species are present. @bugmanjones.bsky.social #CommonDumbleDor #Geotrupidae #attractedtolight
Geotrupes spiniger
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Brachycarenus tigrinus today in Bengeo garden, associated with hot, dry, well-drained soils. 1st observed in UK at Battersea in 2003 by @bugmanjones.bsky.social & now spreading northwards. 6th species of rhopalid bug recorded here. @britishbugs.bsky.social @rockwolf74.bsky.social #Rhopalidae
Brachycarenus tigrinus
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Tabanus autumnalis ♀ today in Bengeo garden, massive horsefly associated with marshland & Herts rarity. Easily largest fly I have seen in garden. 6th tabanid species recorded here. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #Tabanidae
Tabanus autumnalis female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) ♀ today in Bengeo garden. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) female
151
Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Polistichus connexus yesterday in Bengeo garden, really attractive coastal carabid beetle. Once regarded as rare but now disperses on hot July nights & is increasingly recorded at light traps. @carabidaeuk.bsky.social #attractedtolight #climatechange
Polistichus connexus
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Chrysopa dorsalis yesterday in Bengeo garden, rare lacewing associated with Pines. One of two green lacewing species with significant darkened markings on head & body. Head pattern distinguishes it from much commoner perla. @kitenet.bsky.social #Neuroptera #attractedtolight
Chrysopa dorsalisChrysopa dorsalis head pattern which confirms ID
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Ledra aurita yesterday in Bengeo garden, Britain's largest leafhopper & associated with Oak. Their camouflage is exceptional ensuring their almost complete invisibility in oak foliage.
Ledra aurita
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Oxycera nigricornis ♂ today in Bengeo garden, attractive tiny aquatic soldierfly. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #Stratiomyidae #attractedtolight
Oxycera nigricornis male
0162
Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Rhyzobius lophanthae found yesterday in Bengeo garden, Herts. 23rd species of Ladybird recorded here. @ukladybirds.bsky.social @andrew-jewels.bsky.social #attractedtolight
Rhyzobius lophanthae
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
White Bryony (Bryonia dioica) is special plant with its own bee, ladybird, moth & picture-wing fly. These support other unique species. Utetes testaceus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, braconid wasp parasitoid of Goniglossum wiedemanni, picture-wing fly. @haggewoods.bsky.social @rlewington2.bsky.social
Utetes testaceus female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) ♀ has recently taken up residence in bone-dry Bengeo garden, note black legs provide easy ID. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) feeding on Buddleia (Buddleja davidii) today in Bengeo garden, now annual visitor here. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social
Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Xylotrechus antilope ♀ from Tuesday night in Bengeo garden, attractive European species of oak longhorn beetle. Recorded here now for last three years & strongly indicative of successful colonisation. @bugmanjones.bsky.social @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social #Cerambycidae #attractedtolight #saproxylic
Xylotrechus antilope female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Nomada zonata ♂ feeding on Bramble (Rubus sp.) today in Bengeo garden. This cuckoo bee, whose host is Andrena dorsata, was 1st recorded in UK in 2016 & has dramatically expanded its range since.
Nomada zonata male
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Four species of Volucella today in Bengeo garden: V.bombylans 'plumata' ♂ , V.inflata ♀ , V.pellucens ♀ & V.zonaria ♂. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
Volucella bombylans 'plumata' maleVolucella inflata femaleVolucella pellucens femaleVolucella zonaria male
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Stictoleptura scutellata today in Bengeo garden, magnificent large nationally scarce longhorn beetle. Area between Hertford & Broxbourne Woods is one of their national strongholds. #Cerambycidae
Stictoleptura scutellata
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Tabanus bromius ♀ today in Bengeo garden. Her eyes are fantastic but she is horsefly with vicious biting mouthparts able to pierce cow's hide. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
Tabanus bromius female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) ♀ today in Bengeo garden. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Three species of Volucella enjoying Bramble (Rubus sp.) today in Bengeo garden: V.zonaria ♂, V.inflata ♀+♂ & V.pellucens ♀. Magnificent hoverflies. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
Volucella zonaria maleVolucella inflata femaleVolucella inflata maleVolucella pellucens female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) ♂ today in Bengeo garden. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social
Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) male
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Chrysops caecutiens ♀ today in Bengeo garden. Females are stunning but they have one objective which is to bite your head & neck. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #SplayedDeerfly
Chrysops caecutiens female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Megastigmus aculeatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, attractive torymid wasp associated with Roses. @arnoldtortoise.bsky.social #RoseSeedChalcid
Megastigmus aculeatus femaleMegastigmus aculeatus female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) & Hedge Bedstraw (Galium album) this weekend in Bengeo garden, Herts. Both have naturally colonised lawn here. #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans)Hedge Bedstraw (Galium album)
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Ablattaria laevigata adult (today) & larva (Wednesday) on lawn in Bengeo garden. This scarce snail-killing silphid beetle requires short turf & free-draining soils. Present in Hertford area but still remarkable that this flightless species has been able to colonise lawn. @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social
Ablattaria laevigataAblattaria laevigata larva
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Teneral Physocephala rufipes ♂ found today on flowerbed wall in Bengeo garden, fascinating then to watch it change to its full adult colour over next hour. P.rufipes is most wasp-like of conopid parasitoid flies. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
Physocephala rufipes teneral malePhysocephala rufipes male
Physocephala rufipes male
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Euglenes oculatus today in Bengeo garden, nationally scarce ant-like leaf beetle that develops in red-rotten heartwood of oaks. Normally I see this species at night attracted to light, this one however flew onto my shirt in broad daylight. @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social #Aderidae #saproxylic
Euglenes oculatus
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Goniglossum wiedemanni mating pair on its host plant White Bryony (Bryonia dioica) today in Bengeo garden. Scarce picture-winged fly that is forever being hunted by its braconid parasitoid Utetes testaceus. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
Goniglossum wiedemanni mating pairGoniglossum wiedemanni mating pair
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Agrilus cuprescens mating pair today on its main host plant Bramble (Rubus sp.) in Bengeo garden. Species colonised here in 2020 & is now commonest Agrilus present. @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social #BrambleJewelBeetle #Buprestridae
Agrilus cuprescens mating pair
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Xanthogramma stackelbergi ♂ today in Bengeo garden, striking woodland hoverfly recorded far less frequently than common X.pedissequum. Photos show major ID features: little darkening on wings below pterostigma, 4 yellow spots on side of thorax & yellow membrane below T3-5. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
Xanthogramma stackelbergi male showing hardly any darkening on wings.Xanthogramma stackelbergi male showing 4 yellow spots on side of thorax & yellow membrane on side of abdomen below T3-5.
0224
Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Antherophagus pallens found yesterday on Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) in Bengeo garden, scarce silken fungus beetle with interesting life cycle. @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social #phoresis 1/2
Antherophagus pallens
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Plagionotus detritus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, spectacular European longhorn beetle associated with Oak & Hornbeam with few UK records. Previously recorded here in 2023 & appears now to have colonised local woodland. @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social #attractedtolight
Plagionotus detritus female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Epistrophe grossulariae ♂ today in Bengeo garden, beautiful species identifiable by its almost straight black abdominal bands & habit of feeding at flowers without landing. Never recorded this species in May before. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #climatechange
Epistrophe grossulariae
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Andrena florea ♀ on White Bryony (Bryonia dioica) today in Bengeo garden. 1st record here of this wonderful bee that only uses White Bryony pollen. #BryonyMiningBee
Andrena florea female
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Three reasons not to mow: Cassida viridis, Oedemera nobilis ♀ & Limonius poneli all on lawn today in Bengeo garden.
Cassida viridisOedemera nobilis femaleLimonius poneli
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Cigar-shaped Taleporia tubulosa larval case today on lawn in Bengeo garden. Adult male is shown for comparison (photo from 2024). #teammoth
Taleporia tubulosa larval case
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Mangora acalypha today on lawn in Bengeo garden, woodland species that persists long after woodland has been replaced by grass. @britishspiders.bsky.social #CricketBatSpider
Mangora acalypha
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
10-spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata) mating pair on Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) today in Bengeo garden. This species has numerous different colour patterns but this form decempustulata is most striking. @ukladybirds.bsky.social @andrew-jewels.bsky.social
Adalia decempunctata f.decempustulata mating pair on Hornbeam
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Reasons not to mow: Roesel's Bush-cricket (Roeseliana roeselii) nymph today on lawn in Bengeo garden.
Roesel's Bush-cricket (Roeseliana roeselii) nymph
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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Bumblee & its hoverfly mimic: Bombus hypnorum & Criorhina berberina today in Bengeo garden. #BatesianMimicry
Bombus hypnorum workerCriorhina berberina male
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