iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

We usually have a good population of Hornets with daily sightings in suitable weather but this year there have only been a few around so pleased to find this queen warming up early yesterday. Placed in a sunnier spot she was soon away. @waspwoman.bsky.social @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social

1301

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Surprised to find this early instar of a Mottled Shieldbug (Rhaphigaster nebulosa) this late in the season. Adults seen daily (up to 8) in the garden now. @rockwolf74.bsky.social @bugmanjones.bsky.social

1181

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

They may be new to the garden this year but they are doing well and keep popping up either indoors or out🦗 Female Southern Oak Bush Cricket (Meconema meridionale) 24.09.26

1204

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Brought indoors from the garden on clothing - a 8mm long Denticulate Leatherbug (Coriomeris denticulatus). Very bristly and they feed on clover and medick (we have lots of both!). A new species for us. @rockwolf74.bsky.social @bugmanjones.bsky.social

0221

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Haven't seen a Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) for a while so pleased to spot this one on Lantana on the 24th in the garden. One of our (many!) favourite Shieldbugs. @rockwolf74.bsky.social @bugmanjones.bsky.social

0202

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

A Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) adding some colour to the Rudbeckias in the garden last week. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

050

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Surprised to find this female Sharp-tail Bee (probably Coelioxys inermis) in September as haven't seen a leafcutter since 21st July! Notice that others have also seen Sharp-tails in Sept. so wonder what they could be using as hosts?

0162

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Usually appearing around this time of year in the garden - Twin-spot Centurion (Sargus bipunctatus) Soldierfly. Photo'd on 8.9.26 @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social

0183

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Blood bees are notorious to id from photos but we believe this is a Box-headed Blood bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) In our Northants garden 10.9.26.

040

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

A 1st for us with one present in the garden on the 7th and again on the 9th Sept. and a very recent discovery in Northants with the first record in June '26 - the Fig-tree Skeletoniser moth (Choreutis nemorana) @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social

0130

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

A female "Marmalade" hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) about to land on Bistorta amplexicaulis. In the garden yesterday.

0192

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Autumn hues. One of 2 female Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum) on Burdock in the garden on Friday. Waiting to dart out for any suitable prey. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

091

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Speckled Wood butterflies have had a good year in the garden with up to 3 sparring males around. Spotted this lovely fresh one a couple of days ago resting on a bistort leaf along with an admiring green capsid bug. @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

0251

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

The Rudbeckia flowers are popular at the moment especially with bees but other insects too. Found this instar of a Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) sitting on a petal. @rockwolf74.bsky.social

181

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

The number of adult Mottled Shieldbugs (Rhaphigaster nebulosa) appearing is increasing but found this late instar a couple of days ago on their favourite - Cotoneaster lacteus with 2 adults within a foot (30cm). Mottled by name, mottled by nature. @rockwolf74.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social

1283

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Locust blowflies (Stomorhina lunata) in the garden again for the 5th year running so think they must be breeding nearby (only a couple of other Northants records). Present since the 31st July with this male along with a female on the 7th August. @suillia.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

1344

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

New for us and the 5th species of cricket in the garden - this male Southern Oak Bush Cricket (Meconema meridionale) found indoors on the 24th Aug and a female on the 17th. Looks as surprised as we were!🦗 @vc40orthops.bsky.social

0457

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Our 1st 2026 Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) yesterday with a male feeding on the apple mint. Beautiful bees.

1323

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Been rather busy so haven't posted for a while... Here's a juvenile Green Woodpecker on our "yarrowy" lawn taken last month. Good to see the local pair being successful with a female teaching 3 young how to search for ants and drinking from the bird bath.

0131

Reposted by Terry & Judy Wood

John Walters @johnwalterswildife.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Hummingbird Hawk Macroglossum stellatarum eclosing from pupa found in North Wales (slightly speeded up). Thousands more will be emerging in Britain during the next few weeks, then the moths will migrate down to the Mediterranean where they overwinter.

616731

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Google wants to build an enormous new data centre in Essex - emitting 570,000 tonnes of CO2 and concreting a local wildlife site. Tell the local council to refuse planning permission! www.foxglove.org.uk/campaigns/th...

foxglove.org.uk

Thurrock Council - say no to Google's plan for a monster new Data Centre

Google wants to build an enormous new data centre in Essex - emitting 570,000 tonnes of CO2 and concreting a local wildlife site. Tell the local council to refuse planning permission!

255

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Amazing to find a Mediterranean Spotted Chafer (Oxythyrea furnesta) in the garden again. We last saw them in 2020 which was the 1st record for the county but none since. Wonder if they have been breeding nearby - this one was very small compared with the 2020 ones.

1221

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Our 1st ever Beewolf (Philanthus triangulum) and in the garden since 25th July. No females seen so far but at least 2 different males photographed so may be breeding nearby. Only a few (4?) records in Northants.

1201

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

"Fairy Thimbles" Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) and a weevil seen at Barnack Hills & Holes NNR, Cambs last week. #woldflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

0120

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

A striking Knapweed Broomrape (Orobanche elatior) found at Barnack Hills & Holes NNR, Cambs last week. #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

0311

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

The Hummingbird Hawk-moths are having a good year here with multiple visits every day to the garden with Phlox their favourite. 2 seen together yesterday and 3 together the day before. Love their olde folk name "merrylee-dance-a-pole"😊

0222

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

1st seen last year, it's good to see the European Paper wasps (Polistes dominula) have returned to our Northants garden. With 2 seen yesterday feeding together on the same eryngium it appears they may be breeding locally.

1243

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Another welcome return with a Rose Chafer in the garden yesterday and today. 1st seen in 2024, they have a 2 year lifecycle so hopefully these are their offspring. Very few records this far up in the UK. This one enjoying the frothy Meadowsweet!🪲

1194

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

They're back! So pleased to see the Wool Carder Bees again after their 1st appearance last year in the garden. Yesterday: 2 males fighting over a female, today: 2 females and a male on the same Betony plant.🐝@brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social

0165

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Doing some repotting yesterday when we were joined by a Purple Hairstreak! It spent the next 2 hours on the old compost taking up the minerals & salts then settled down for the night, still on the compost. Moved to safer spot. @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

0231

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

The beautiful Red Longhorn beetles (Stictoleptura rubra) have emerged from their breeding spot below the greenhouse with this male seen on the 1st July.🪲

1434

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

A lovely male Small Skipper on Knautia macedonica a couple of days ago in the garden. The Knautia is a great plant for wildlife especially bees and butterflies and it flowers over a long period. @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social

0215

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Another favourite wildflower in the garden and a beautiful native - Musk Mallow (Malva moschata). Love the way it pops up and looks lovely anywhere. #wildflowerhour

2313

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Fox-and-Cubs/Orange hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca) growing in our wildlife garden along with many other wild flowers. #wildflowerhour

2221

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

A small longhorn beetle we see each year in the garden usually on Ox-eye daisy - the Fairy-ring Longhorn (Pseudovadonia livida). Unlike most longhorns which feed on dead wood, its larvae develop in the soil, feeding on roots, humus & the mycelium of fairy-ring fungi.

0241

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Oure 1st Bronze Shieldbug (Troilus luridus) of 2026. Found in our Northants garden on Knapweed and a nicely marked one too. @britishbugs.bsky.social @rockwolf74.bsky.social @willgeorge.bsky.social

2372

Reposted by Terry & Judy Wood

Nic Wilson @nicwilson.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Industrial supertrawlers are tearing through the UK’s Marine Protected Areas, wiping out marine life at an alarming rate & impacting the livelihoods of small-scale fishing communities. Please sign the @greenpeaceuk.bsky.social petition calling for the government to ban supertrawlers from our MPAs.

action.greenpeace.org.uk

Sign the petition

Emma Reynolds: stop the industrial fishing frenzy

02016

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

A Speckled Bush Cricket nymph (Leptophyes punctatissima) and a Meadow Cranesbill Weevil (Zacladus geranii) sharing a geranium leaf in the garden. The Bush Cricket was the 1st to back off when the weevil came too close!🦗🐘

0225

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

A cute instar Green Shieldbug photographed in the garden over the weekend.🪲 @rockwolf74.bsky.social

0181

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Found on the frame of our back door yesterday - a hopper, Issus coleoptratus. New to us and not many records in Northants. Apparently, Issus nymphs have toothed mechanical gears to synchronise jumping - only known use of functional gears found in nature! @britishbugs.bsky.social

0180

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Having seen only one in 2025 it is lovely to have a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterfly year again. This one photographed a week or so ago in the garden.

1352

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

The 3mm long Meadow Cranesbill Weevil - Zacladus geranii. A number of these present every year on our hardy geraniums in the garden. Great characters! 🐘

0150

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

One of the varied forms of native Iris foetidissima growing in our Northants garden. The bees love them and the birds enjoy the fruits in the winter. #WildflowerHour

0214

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Found yesterday loitering with intent, this assassin bug, Reduvius personatus, also known as the Masked Hunter. @rockwolf74.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social

1262

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Pleased to see the jewel beetles, Agrilus cyanescens, back in their usual spot in the garden - on and around the winter honeysuckle Lonicera fragrantissima with 2 seen on the 4th.

0213

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

The handsome wasp mimicking Figwort Sawflies (Tenthredo scrophulariae) are, not surprisingly, around the Figwort plants again. Also 2 species of Figwort Weevils on the photo'd plant. A must have native for the wildlife friendly garden.🐝🐘🌿

3283

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

One of 2 or 3 male Sharp-tail bees (Coelioxys species - probably C. inermis or C. elongata) taking a break from feeding and searching for females (which don't appear to have appeared yet). Yesterday in the garden. @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social

1200

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Managed to photo an immature Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) in the garden yesterday and don't recall seeing one with such heavily blotched wingtips. Rather smart. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

1240

Terry & Judy Wood @tandjwood.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

The Fork-tailed Flower Bees (Anthophora furcata)are back and as manic as ever! They are even harder to photo than Hairy-footed! The males don't like a rival and 2 had a dispute with a Dock Weevil having to keep its head down! @caroline-byrne.bsky.social @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social

2254