A selection of notable records reported to Tanyptera. Includes older, but newly recognized regional vice county records (dates blue). ‘The region’ = VC58, 59, 60 + Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester. All photos are copyright of the recorder unless stated otherwise.

True Bugs (Hemiptera)

Zyginella pulchra (Cicadellidae), Swinton, Manchester, VC59, 30/03/2025, Eric (iNaturalist)

• 3 other VC59 records, with 154 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread but scattered (nbnatlas.org.uk). Native to mainland Europe, this species was recorded as an immigrant to the UK for the first time in 2001 and now seems to be either naturalised or more regular (britishbugs.org.uk).
• This hopper species is usually found from September to May where it feed mainly on Sycamore, but over the winter period it may feed on Ivy, Broom, Yew, and Leyland Cypress (britishbugs.org.uk).
• Males are rather striking with their green colouration and contrasting red scutlleum and clavus. Females lack this red colouration, and both sexes also have a dark spot and black streaks near the wing tip. The similar Eurhadina pulchella lacks these darkened veins (britishbugs.org.uk).

Barkflies (Pscoptera)

Chilenocaecilius ornatipennis (Paracaeciliidae), Rochdale, Greater Manchester, VC59, 25/03/2025, Jai (iNaturalist)

• 5 other VC59 records, with 398 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread but scattered with most records being in northern Scotland, the West Midlands, and Wales (nbnatlas.org.uk). However, it is native to Chile and Argentina, introduced to Ireland and later dispersing elsewhere in 2015 (schemes.brc.ac.uk/barkfly)
• This species can be beaten from various types of vegetation including trees, bushes, and moss. It can also be found in aerial traps (schemes.brc.ac.uk/barkfly)
• This species can look similar to the native and much more common Valenzuela flavidus, so careful examination of the wings is required

Beetles (Coleoptera)

Creophilus maxillosus (Staphylinidae), Heysham, VC60, 31/03/2025, K. Eaves

• 3 other VC60 records, with 370 other published UK records with a widespread but scattered idstribution (nbnatlas.org.uk).
• In hot weather from early Spring to late Autumn, adults can be found flying in pastures, either on or around dung or decaying vegetation/fungi, where they feed on other insects. The larvae of the Hairy Rove Beetle feed mainly on fly larvae (naturespot.org.uk).
• This is one of the UK’s more distinctive rove beetles, and the combination of grey hairs, dark body, and smooth pronotum easily identify this species.

Pogonocherus hispidus (Cerambycidae), Stockton’s Wood, Speke Hall, VC59, 20/03/2025, D. Hopkins

• Adult found on resting on Wild Rose.
• 2 other VC60 records, with just over 1,643 other published UK records mostly concentrated around the Midlands, southwards, and into Wales (nbnatlas.org.uk)
• Adults are usually seen from June to July, but can be found in Spring as well. The larvae develop in dead twigs of Holly, Pear, Crab Apple, and other such broad-leaved trees. Adults are associated with woods or mature hedgerows (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
• This species, also known as the Lesser Thorn-tipped Longhorn, this is the UK’s smallest longhorn species at just 4-6mm long. The genus is easily recognised by the bird-dropping-like appearance and spines on the elytra at the tips. It can be separated from the similar Pogonocherus hispidulus by the scutellum colouration, which is black in P. hispidus.

Oiceoptoma thoracicum (Silphinae), Wray, Lancaster, VC60, 24/03/2025, N. Carter

• Adult found on Grey Squirrel carrion.
• 9 other VC60 records, with around 1,500 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread across the whole of Britain (nbnatlas.org.uk).
• Also known as the Red-breasted Carrion Beetle, adults can be found mainly from April to August, and they are associated with carrion of birds and small mammals (usually in woodland habitats), although they actually feed on other decomposers, such as maggots (naturespot.org.uk).
• This is one of the most distinctive carrion beetles, easily recognised by its ribbed black elytra and dull-red pronotum.

Meloe proscarabaeus (Meloidae), Banks Marsh, Ribble Estuary, VC59, 08/03/2025, P. Kinsella

• Multiple males and females found.
• 14 other VC59 records, with almost 3,000 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread but scattered; strongly concentrated along the south coasts of Cornwall through to Dorset, and Wales. Very scattered north of Oxfordshire (nbnatlas.org.uk).
• Adults tend to emerge from February to March and feed voraciously on vegetation. After mating, gravid females dig small burrows in light soil and lay large quantities of eggs. The hatching tiny, orange larvae are very active and climb onto flowers. Around June/July, the larvae latch onto any visiting (usually solitary) bee to be brought back to the nest to then feed on the eggs, grub, and other nest provisions (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
• As a genus, the adults are very distinctive with their metallic bodies, large abdomens, and short elytra. There are small but distinctive differences between the eight UK species.

Rhinocyllus conicus (Curculionidae), Cheshire East, VC58, 10/03/2025, C. Wilkins

• Dead adult found.
• 13 other VC59 records, with 728 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread across the South and Midlands of England, as far north as Yorkshire. Few records in Wales (nbnatlas.org.uk). It is classified as Nationally Notable A (eakringbirds.com).
• Found on open and disturbed grounds, the larvae of this species feeds within heads of Cirsium and Curduus thistles. They were used as a biological control agent against invasive thistles in the US (naturespot.org.uk).
• This species is fairly distinctive thanks to its short rostrum and chequered black and yellow pattern on the elytra.

Bees, Wasps, Ants, & Sawflies (Hymenoptera)

Hemichroa australis (Tenthredinidae), Macclesfield, Cheshire East, VC58, 05/10/2024 (05/03/2025), A. Emmerson

• Larval signs found on Alnus leaf.
• Less than 10 other VC59 records, with 72 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread but scattered, occurring mainly in central and eastern counties of the UK (nbnatlas.org.uk).
• The larvae feed on birches and alders, with early instars creating characteristic J-shaped holes within the central areas of the leaf. Later instars then move to the outer edges of the leaf and characteristically hold their posterior body segments curved downwards (sawflies.org.uk).
• The J-shaped feeding signs are distinctive of this species, but another Hemichroa species, H. crocea also curves their end segments downwards. However, this species has two black stripes along the side of their body whereas H. australis is completely green. (sawflies.org.uk).

True Flies (Diptera)

Liancalus virens (Dolichopodidae), Entwistle Reservoir, Bolton, VC59, 19/03/2025, J. Wright

• 2 other VC59 records, with 354 other published UK records. The distribution seems to be mainly coastal, with most records in Wales and along the south-coast of England. There are several scattered records elsewhere in the UK (nbnatlas.org.uk).
• It can be found living among mosses, algae, and liverworts that grow under bridges or beside waterfalls or fast-running water (naturespot.org.uk).
• The species is fairly distinctive, as it is the UK’s largest Dolichopodidae species. It has long legs, and metallic green thorax and eyes with red bands.

Norellia spinipes (Scathophagidae), Fletcher Moss Botanical Garden, Didsbury, VC59, 10/03/2025, A. Marriott

• 5 other VC59 records, with 82 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread but scattered across the South and Midlands of England, with records as far north as Yorkshire. A few unconfirmed Welsh records (nbnatlas.org.uk). It was first recorded in the UK in 1965 (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
• The larvae mine the leaves of daffodils and sometimes eat the bulbs as well. It is thought that they were introduced into the UK through the importation of daffodil bulbs (as Merodon equestris was). In Spring, adults can often be found resting on and flying about daffodils, and females can be seen through to Autumn (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
• N. spinipes is one of four British scathophagid species with strongly bristled forelegs, the others being species of Norellisoma. It can be most easily distinguished from the others by having only one row (instead of two) row of strong bristles beneath the foretibiae (flickr.com, Steven Falk).

Amauromyza labiatarum (Agromyzidae), Poynton, Stockport, VC59, 27/09/2024 (05/03/2025), A. Emmerson

• Larvae and mine found on Mentha sp. leaf.
• Less than 10 other VC59 records, with 298 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread but scattered (nbnatlas.org.uk). It is considered common (agromyzidae.co.uk).
• The larvae mine within various species of the plant family Lamiaceae, and can be found from May to December. They then pupate externally, and the adults can be found from May to September (agromyzidae.co.uk).
• When on overlapping foodplants, the mine of this species can be similar to other Agromyzidae species; Agromyza flavipennis, Amauromyza morionella, and Phytomyza obscurella. Differences in the size of the mine and distribution of frass should differentiate these mines (agromyzidae.co.uk).

Ceratitis capitata (Tephritidae), Chorley, VC59, 18/02/2024 (06/03/2025), peacefall (iNaturalist)

• Possibly 1st VC59 record, with 11 published UK records with a widespread but scattered distribution (nbnatlas.org.uk). A rare imported pest to the UK.
• The species is native to areas of Sub-saharan Africa, but has spread across the globe through importation of fruits. The larvae feed on a wide variety (over 200 confirmed!) of fruits and vegetables.
• This species is quite distinctive with its contrasting black and white thorax, and black and yellow wing patterns and so it is unlikely to be confused with any UK species of Tephritid.

iRecord top 10 species March 2025

References