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Tom Hibbert

@wildlifetom.bsky.social
192 followers 70 following 275 posts

Obsessed with wildlife, particularly birds, bugs and beetles! Lucky enough to write about nature for The Wildlife Trusts.

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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The best of 10 species (27 moths) from last night’s trap, my first Deep Brown Dart. Nine of them! Narrowly beating Lunar Underwing for the most common moth. #TeamMoth
A deep brown dart moth resting on a piece of pale brown bark. It’s a beautiful dark greyish brown moth with paler and darker cross lines and a pale kidney shaped mark on each wing A lunar underwing moth resting on dark brown bark chips. It’s a pale, greyish moth with whiter lines running the length of the wings
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Reposted by Tom Hibbert
John Walters @johnwalterswildife.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Great to see the Red Data Book Gravel Water Beetle Hydrochus nitidicollis on Dartmoor, Devon. This tiny water scavenger beetle is confined in the UK to Devon & Cornwall it hasn't been seen for many years so good to know it is surviving on at least one clean section of river here. Thanks Clive Turner
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Another unusual insect from Essex. The Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata. This female was on a metal fence at Rainham Marshes.
A Mediterranean fruit fly resting on a metal railing. It’s a bright yellow-orange fly with silver bands on the abdomen, metallic eyes and beautifully patterned wings.
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I saw this incredible spider down in Essex. The ant mimic, Synageles venator. It kept bouncing its abdomen like a Pied Wagtail!
An ant mimic spider walking across a metal rail. It’s a slender brown spider that resembles an ant
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I have a feeling this is a Dusky Ladybird, but not sure I can clinch it from the photos I managed. From a recent visit to Rainham Marshes. There were several, mostly on White Bryony. 1.8-2mm long. This one’s femora were black with orange right at the tip.
A tiny black ladybird on a leaf The underside of a small black ladybird A close up on the pronotum and hair of a small black ladybirdA close up on the wing cases of a small
black ladybird
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David W. Williams @vc40orthops.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Back from an excellent few days in Jersey, including a day in Les Blanches Banques dunes on the west coast, where Blue-winged Grasshoppers were numerous in the sunshine. Tried getting flight shots but they were much too fast for me, so posed pics had to do!
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Joining #MothFaceFriday with this beautiful Brindled Green from Sunday night. #TeamMoth
A brindled green moth resting on a piece of bark. It’s a beautifully mottled green and brown moth
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Two of the highlights from Sunday night’s moth trap, which lured in 64 moths of 22 species. Black Rustic and Frosted Orange. One understated, one exuberant, both beautiful. #TeamMoth
A black rustic moth resting on a pale grey stone. It’s a dark black moth with beautiful golden markingsA frosted orange moth resting on bark chipping. It’s a bright orange moth with brown markings
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The last few times I’ve put the moth trap out, it’s attracted the attention of several Turtle Bugs! Thrilled to have these pottering around my garden #Hemiptera #shieldbug
A turtle bug standing on a piece of bark. It’s a small, dark brown shieldbug with a knob projecting from the pronotum on each side of the head
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Traveller’s-joy lived up to its name in Purfleet, Essex, delighting this traveller with three new shieldbugs! Dozens of Southern Green nymphs, six Vernal nymphs and, best of all, two adults and a nymph of Sciocoris sideritidis #Hemiptera #bugs #shieldbugs
A southern green shieldbug nymph resting on a browning leaf. It’s a black and green bug with white spots on its abdomen A vernal shieldbug nymph resting on a browning leaf. It’s a bronze bug with a mottled red and off-white abdomen Sciocoris sideritidis resting on a seedhead of traveller’s-joy. It’s a small brown shieldbug with paler marks at the edge of its pronotum and a long, straight sided faceThe nymph of Sciocoris sideritidis climbing up a stem of traveller’s-joy. It’s a tiny blackish bug with a white collar
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
These nymphs surprised me on a trip to Essex. I’m sure they’re Vernal Shieldbug! A new species for me if I’m right. What do you reckon, @rockwolf74.bsky.social?
A small, shiny bronze-coloured shieldbug nymph resting on a leaf. It has pale antennae with dark tips A shiny shieldbug nymph with bronze head, pronotum and corium and mottled red abdomen.
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Probably the most dazzling rove beetle I’ve seen! Just look at the shimmering elytra on this Ocypus ophthalmicus
A rove beetle scurrying across small stones on a path. It’s a long, thin black beetle with shimmering metallic blue elytra
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
I had this down as Spruce Carpet from the shape of the cross lines, but now I’m starting to doubt myself. I’d appreciate thoughts! Caught at a black light in Notts last night, close to mixed woodland #TeamMoth @mothiduk.bsky.social
A carpet moth resting on an egg carton. It’s a sandy brown with darker cross lines
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
My first Oak Hook-tip, one of two amongst 84 moths (24 species) to black light in my Notts garden last night. #TeamMoth
An oak hook-tip moth resting on a pile of bark chippings. It’s a broad-winged orange-brown moth with pale cross lines and two dark dots on each forewing
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
A nice surprise to bump into this Scymnus frontalis at Potteric Carr yesterday
Scymnus frontalis standing on a Michaelmas Daisy. It’s a small black ladybird with a red spot on each wing case
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
I enjoyed a fantastic day at Spurn yesterday. Missed all the scarce birds, but the more common migrants were spectacular enough!
A pied flycatcher resting on a branch amongst foliage. It’s a small bird with a brown back and off-white belly. There is a white flash on the wing A lesser whitethroat tucked away amongst tangled branches, sunlight shining on its grey crown  A whimbrel standing on a mudflat, preening, as a redshank feeds behind it A short-eared owl flying in front of the lighthouse as Spurn
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
One of 21 Small Mottled Willows in my black light trap on Tuesday night! The most numerous species by far. In total, I caught 99 moths of 22 species (VC56) #TeamMoth
A small mottled willow moth resting on a piece of bark. It’s a small, greyish brown moth with prominent rich orange-brown oval and kidney marks on the wings
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
A quiet moth trap on Friday night produced one surprise — this beautiful Hummingbird Hawk-moth! I almost missed it in the grass next to the trap. #TeamMoth
A close up on the face of a hummingbird hawk-moth
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Palustris @palustris.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Now new generation adults are appearing, here's a quick guide to the 5 species of Great Diving Beetle found in England. This is the common one, Dytiscus marginalis, distinguished by broad pale margins on all 4 sides of the pronotum, the plain, unstriped brown underside and the rounded hind coxae.
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David W. Williams @vc40orthops.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
'Green' and 'brown' forms of Bog Bush-cricket (both males), seen at Whixall Moss during the recent visit by the Wednesday wildlife group.
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Rockwolf 🇪🇺 @rockwolf74.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
It's always nice to find the lovely Lesser Thorn-tipped Longhorn Beetle (Pogonocherus hispidus)! From south Shropshire #Cerambycidae #Coleoptera
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
I only ever seem to catch female Aplocera species! I think this one looks good for a Lesser Treble-bar, but didn’t manage a wing length. I’d welcome opinions! In Nottinghamshire last night #TeamMoth @mothiduk.bsky.social
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Rockwolf 🇪🇺 @rockwolf74.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Always love finding the super funky Sycamore moth (Acronicta aceris) larva! Such a gorgeous little face too! #Lepidoptera #Suffolk
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Last night, for the first time ever, I ran a moth trap in my own garden! I used a neighbour-friendly black light, so caught fewer moths than I’m used to with an MV at other sites (33 of 23 species). Worth it for four Small Mottled Willow and a beautiful Sallow Kitten #TeamMoth
Small Mottled Willow on a stone slab. It’s a slender, greyish brown moth with a pale kidney mark and a brighter orange spotSallow Kitten resting on a wooden planter. It’s a beautiful white moth with a dark, speckled cross band and other dark markings
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Surprised to find this in my Nottinghamshire garden! I’ve seen White-point in Kent and this looks like one to me. I’d appreciate a second opinion, please @mothiduk.bsky.social #TeamMoth
A brown moth on a brown fence. It has darker cross lines and a white dot on each forewing
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Today delivered two more bugs with seemingly few Nottinghamshire records! Bathysolen nubilus and Sphragisticus nebulosus, both from a low stone wall on my housing estate. #Hemiptera #Heteroptera
Bathysolen nubilus, a brown leatherbug with a short pronotum and white tip to the scutellum, standing on a stone wallSphragisticus nebulosus standing on a stone wall. It’s a black ground bug with paler markings. The pronotum has a pale, keeled margin with numerous long hairs arising from black spots
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
I’m not sure if this is a first for Nottinghamshire, but I can’t find any records on NBN or iRecord! Metopoplax ditomoides - it landed on my window today.
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Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Be a dipterist. Be in Costa Rica for #FlySchool2026. See a muscoid #fly perching on a leaf. Tell student so they can collect it. Success!! Wait a minute 🤔 That's not a fly, but weevil mimicking one! This was so convincing, even rapidly moving & poking its wings out 🥰 #Curculionidae: cf. #Mnemynurus
A weevil with red around its neck, resembling the eyes of a fly. It has large brown eyes and a long yellow proboscis curving under the body. It's on a white background facing the viewer.A weevil with red around its neck, resembling the eyes of a fly. It has large brown eyes and a long yellow proboscis curving under the body. The wing cover are mottled brown and white. It is on a white background facing left.A weevil with red around its neck, resembling the eyes of a fly. It has large brown eyes and a long yellow proboscis curving under the body. The wing cover are mottled brown and white. It is on a white background facing away.A weevil with red around its neck, resembling the eyes of a fly. It has large brown eyes and a long yellow proboscis curving under the body. The wing cover are mottled brown and white, and the wings are sticking out the back. It is on a white background facing away from the viewer.
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
It’s always a joy to visit Bempton Cliffs, where I began my conservation career as a residential volunteer, monitoring seabirds. I’ll always have a soft spot for them!
A juvenile kittiwake sitting on a nest on a cliff ledge. It’s a white gull with a grey back, black markings on the wings and a black half collar on the napeA puffin in flight against a blue-grey sea. It’s a plump black and white seabird with a bright orange beak An immature gannet landing on a cliff top, its webbed feet lowered and about to make contact with the ground its black and white wings are spread and its tail is fanned. An adult gannet in flight against a pale sky. It’s a large white seabird with black wing tips, a yellow head and a fairly long, thick blue-grey beak
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Jacob Wood @jacob-wood.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Rock pooling at Wembury Point today. Babakina anadoni (Rainbow Seaslug)!!! One of 7 species of nudibranch found in rock pools including Amphorina farrani and Gargamella/Discodoris rosi #nudibranch #seaslug #rockpooling #devonwildlife
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Some moths have wonderfully evocative names, others do exactly what they say on the tin. This beautiful moth has yellow underwings, so of course it’s a Beautiful Yellow Underwing. I’ve seen the caterpillar before, but this was my first adult. It didn’t disappoint! #TeamMoth
A beautiful yellow underwing moth nectaring on a sea holly. It’s a gorgeous moth with mottled brown and white fore wings, parted slightly to show the yellow hind wings with a broad back border
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
I think this is a Kite-tailed Robberfly (Machimus atricapillus) predating a Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus).
A robberfly grabbing a marmalade hoverfly with its front legs as it feeds on it
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
After taking years to find my first, I can’t stop finding Cryptocephalus moraei! Two more at RSPB’s The Lodge on Saturday, alongside dozens of Cryptocephalus fulvus on St John’s Wort. #Coleoptera #Beetle #PotBeetle
Cryptocephalus moraei, clinging to the lead of a St John’s Wort. It’s a small and compact shiny black beetle, with yellow patches on its wing cases and head Cryptocephalus fulvus on the stem of a St John’s Wort. It’s a small, compact reddish-brown beetle with paler yellowish brown wing cases covered in rows of dark punctures
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
On Saturday, I visited RSPB’s The Lodge and saw my first Ivy Ladybird (Nephus quadrimaculatus). It tumbled from its leaf the second I saw it, then tumbled again! Luckily, I found it for a third time and managed some photographs. #beetle #Coleoptera
An ivy ladybird on the waxy green leaf of an ivy plant. It’s a tiny, fuzzy black ladybird with two large red spots and two smaller red spots.
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Another highlight of my trip to the Brecks was Broom Treehopper (Gargara genistae). Plenty of these brilliantly bizarre bugs near Cranwich Heath on Friday.
Broom Treehopper, an odd bug with a large black pronotum that extends back over the abdomen in a ridge, clinging to a Broom leaf
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
My main reason for visiting the Brecks was to seek out Ant Nest Ladybird. I was a little worried when I found part of Cranwich Heath closed, but luckily spotted this male on a nearby pine! #Coleoptera #Beetle #Ladybird
An Ant Nest Ladybird standing on a pine needle, facing right. It’s a tiny, fuzzy black ladybird with two orange spots on each wing case, and buff edges to the pronotum An Ant Nest Ladybird standing on a pine needle, facing forwards. It’s a tiny, fuzzy black ladybird with two orange spots on each wing case, buff edges to the pronotum and a buff face
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
My Friday started at Weeting Heath, where the Stone Curlews put on a great show. Running around and calling, living up to their alternative name of Wailing Heath Chickens! I also found my first Red Longhorn Beetles (Stictoleptura rubra)
A Stone Curlew standing far away in a field of short grass, lit by golden morning light. It’s a brown wading bird with an upright stance and large, yellow eyesA male red longhorn beetle on the pale yellowish-white flowers of an umbellifer. It’s a large, black beetle with tawny brown wings and reddish legs
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
I just spent a scorching couple of days exploring the Fens and Brecks. Wicken Fen on Thursday was too hot for most creatures to be active, including humans! This Norfolk Hawker made the day though.
A Norfolk Hawker perched on a stem, facing right, with a green background of blurred leaves. It’s a large brown dragonfly with bright green eyes.
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Tom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Had to delay going out into the garden this morning as I didn't want to interrupt this lunatic's frolicking #stoat #salopobs
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
The highlight of my weekend! Six-belted Clearwing resting on a knapweed, spotted by my wife as we searched for pot beetles. #TeamMoth #Clearwing
Six-belted Clearwing resting on the round, brown seedhead of a knapweed. It’s a moth that resembles a wasp, with six yellow bands on its black abdomen, fuzzy orange legs and see-through wings
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Hi @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social and @vc40orthops.bsky.social, is it okay to record this as Scymnus frontalis? I didn’t dissect it. A nice surprise wandering along the edge of my patio!
A hairy, black micro ladybird with an angular orange-red spot on each wing case, orange legs and an orange headThe ventral side of a black micro ladybird with an orange face and legs.
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Two more beetles from yesterday’s visit to Naturescape Wildflower Farm, both the first I’ve seen in Notts. Tawny Longhorn (Paracorymbia fulva) and Fairy Ring Longhorn (Pseudovadonia livida). #Coleoptera
A Tawny Longhorn beetle on the white flowers of Yarrow. It’s a black beetle with tawny brown wing casesA Fairy Ring Longhorn beetle on the white flowers of Yarrow. It’s a small black longhorn beetle with brown wing cases
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
After taking two years to find my first Cryptocephalus moraei, yesterday I found seven more! Five at Naturescape Wildflower Farm, two more at Budby South Forest.
A shiny blue-black beetle with orange patches on the wing cases, standing on a leaf
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David W. Williams @vc40orthops.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Yesterday's wildlife group outing in rural SW Shrops produced this fab Giant Lacewing (Osmylus fulvicephalus), found by @lancefly.bsky.social at the shady edge of the River Clun. 1st one I've ever seen. Posed nicely for me but then flew off before anyone else could tog it!
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
When I spotted this in the moth trap, I suspected it might be new… and it was! My first Suspected (Parastichtis suspecta). One of two from Friday night in VC56 #TeamMoth
The Suspected, a subtly beautiful moth with wings in various shades of reddish brown, marked with a pale oval and kidney spot and cross lines of dark arrowheads. It’s sitting on a green leaf.
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
On Friday, I had the chance to run a moth trap in a Nottinghamshire garden. I caught 357 moths of 89 species! Despite that, macro diversity felt pretty low. Nine Scarlet Tigers was a sign of their shifting distribution - I only saw my first in the county last year #TeamMoth
A Scarlet Tiger moth resting on a purple flower, with more flowers on the background creating a soft purple blur. The moth is black with cream and dazzlingly yellow spots.
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Rockwolf 🇪🇺 @rockwolf74.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Whilst they're not everyone's favourite insect, I adore 'wiggies' (earwigs), so it was an absolute joy to see the stonking Tawny Earwigs (Labidura riparia) in Berck, Northern France last week, with @vc40orthops.bsky.social! #Dermaptera #Earwig #PerceOreille #France
Male in 'threat' pose on my handSame male, relaxed, on my hand.Female on the sand.Another male in the typical threat pose on a piece of wood.
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Reposted by Tom Hibbert
David W. Williams @vc40orthops.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Lucky enough to see two species of dune tiger beetle in Berck, France last week with @rockwolf74.bsky.social : Cicindela maritima & C. hybrida. Not that I spotted the difference until it was pointed out to me!
Dune Tiger Beetle, Cicindela maritima. Note the 'J' shapes in the middle of the elytra.pair of Northern Dune Tiger Beetles, C. hybrida: 'J' markings are much less 'J' shaped!
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
A slightly less surprising (but very welcome) sighting on Hatfield Moors yesterday was this female Bog Bush-cricket.
A female Bog Bush-cricket standing on dark, peaty soil. It’s a green and brown bush-cricket, with white edging to the rear of its pronotum and a black, up curved ovipositor
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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
I visited Hatfield Moors for the first time today, hoping for some peatland inverts. I wasn’t expecting to find the sand-loving, mainly coastal Fallen’s Leatherbug!
Fallen’s Leatherbug on sandy ground, tucked under the feathery green leaves of Common Stork’s-bill. It’s a fairly flat, brown bug with white spines on the pronotum forming a backwards facing v-shaped mark.
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