iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

Species is superficially similar to common Dolycoris baccarum but is smaller, pronotum lacks obvious hairs & banding of antennae differs.

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

Peribalus strictus today found in Bengeo garden. Until recently rare species in UK but now experiencing dramatic expansion in its range. @britishbugs.bsky.social #VernalShieldbug #climatechange

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

3rd brood Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) feeding on Ivy (Hedera helix) today in Bengeo garden. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

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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

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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.

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Rhyparochromus vulgaris found today indoors next to laptop.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Females are identifiable by combination of enormous size (body length - 20mm, wing length 16mm) & prominent greyish spots on abdomen.

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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

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Same happened here in 2025, so this year I protected three out of 30+ Ragwort plants by systematically removing & relocating any caterpillars that appeared on them. Two plants currently in flower & plenty of Heriades truncorum.

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) ♀ today in Bengeo garden. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

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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

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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 dorsalis head pattern which confirms ID

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

They can play dead which gives a rather different perspective.

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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.

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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

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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

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Goniglossum wiedemanni appears here every so often & prospers until arrival of Utetes testaceus. After which, G.wiedemanni may disappear & U.testaceus also vanishes. Eventually Goniglossum wiedemanni re-appears & cycle starts over again. This perhaps explains why Goniglossum wiedemanni is scarce.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) ♂ today in Bengeo garden. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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Simon Knott @sjbknott.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Antherophagus female waits on white flowers for any visiting bumblebee which she then secures onto using her mandibles. She only releases bumblebee once it has returned to its nest where she lay her eggs. It is believed that larvae then act as scavengers. #phoresis 2/2

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