iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Tom Hibbert

iNaturalist @inaturalist.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

Please pause your scroll for this spectacular weevil. You're looking at one of the first two iNaturalist records of Systaltocerus platyrhinus, shared just in the last month!

A black beetle with silver markings, a red head, and a very long snout rests on a white wall.

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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a long weekend in Norfolk. The Snettisham Wader Spectacular lived up to its name!

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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

A wonderful surprise in my garden! The very handsome Brachycarenus tigrinus. I’m not sure if it’s new to Nottinghamshire, but suspect it’s not been here long. #bug #Hemiptera

A sandy coloured bug standing on a cream paving slab.

A dorsal view of a sandy coloured bug standing bug on a paving slab, showing t th black speckling on its pronotum and black marks on the head

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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Hi, where’s the best place to try and view the bird from, please?

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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I had no idea they were in the UK! Beautiful nymph

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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 · 24/09/2026

I’ve heard it theorised that birds do it to demonstrate vigilance to potential predators, or potentially as a signal of fitness - though as juvenile wagtails do it, that seems less likely. I’m not sure I’ve seen it in inverts before. Some ants spray formic acid. Maybe mimicking those movements?

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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 · 22/09/2026

Thanks Andrew. Dot was my first thought when I saw the little speck on a leaf. I haven’t done much beating, so still learning with micros.

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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Thanks. Should have just gone with my initial gut feeling! My wife will be delighted, she’s been wanting to see Dot for ages.

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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Interesting. I didn’t think Dot could get that big!

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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Thanks David. Dot was my first thought, but it was too large (2mm squares). Unfortunately didn’t have your book on me to check features in the field! I was looking for Bryony LB, rather than micros.

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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 close up on the pronotum and hair of a small black ladybird

A close up on the wing cases of a small
black ladybird

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Reposted by Tom Hibbert

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 markings

A 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 face

The 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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Reposted by Tom Hibbert

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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Reposted by Tom Hibbert

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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Reposted by Tom Hibbert

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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Reposted by Tom Hibbert

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 spot

Sallow 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 · 07/08/2026

A few in my Edwinstowe garden, with more on the wider housing estate.

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Tom Hibbert @wildlifetom.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Yes, established in southern England and seems to be spreading.

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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 wall

Sphragisticus 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 · 04/08/2026

Thanks. My housing estate is turning up a lot of seemingly scarce county insects, all associated with bare ground. I imagine a lot is climate change driven movement.

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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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Reposted by Tom Hibbert

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.

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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 nape

A 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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Reposted by Tom Hibbert

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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