Invertebrate Notes January 2026

2026 February 26 by Jasper Byron

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.

Flies (Diptera)

Melieria cana (Ulidiidae) – 1st for VC59.

Crossens Marsh (VC59), 02/06/2025, rec. det. Steve Hewitt.
Found very locally around the coast of England, Wales and southern Scotland. Previous regional records from VC 58 and VC 60 (Brighton, 2021).
Thought to develop in decaying vegetable matter (Falk et al, 2016).

Geranomyia unicolor (Limoniidae) – 1st for Lancashire

SD485629, Lancaster (VC60), 21/06/2016, rec. det. Rob Zloch. Swept in a garden in Lancaster 4km from the coast.
1st for Lancashire with 2 previous regional records in Cheshire from The Wirral (2003 & 1976-80)
A coastal species that lives on rocky shores and breeds in the intertidal zone. An unmistakable genus due to the very long rostrum (pictured).

Dactylolabis sexmaculata (Limoniidae)

SD473749, Myers Allotment (VC60), 22/05/2021, rec. det. Rob Zloch. Specimen collected around open hillside.
First VC60 record for almost 70 years, with two previous records for the vice county: one from Gait Barrows in 1956 and one from the NE corner of Lancashire near Ireby in 1941.

Pelina aenescens (Ephydridae) – northern England 1st

SD546617, Little Cragg, near Clougha, 4 miles outside Lancaster (VC60), 02/11/2017, rec. det. rob Zloch.
Only 6 other national records on NBN atlas for this species.

Beetles (Coleoptera)

Agrilus laticornis (Buprestidae) – 1st for VC59

Hightown Dunes (VC59), May 2025, rec. det. Josh Boe. Beaten from oak.
Typically recorded in the southern half of Britain.
The larvae burrow through the bark of dead trunks and branches of Oak.

Bees, Wasps and Ants (Hymenoptera)

Orionis coxator (Braconidae) – 1st for VC58

Combermere Park, Cheshire, (VC58) 25/07/2022 rec. det. Tony Hunter. Adult female specimen swept from oak during a Tanyptera saproxylic invertebrate survey.
First recorded in the UK in Kent in 2020 by Gavin Broad who light trapped it in his garden; It has subsequently been recorded in Berkshire, Herefordshire, and the NHM garden.
Orionis coxator is thought to be a parasitoid of adult earwigs.

Centipedes & Millipedes (Myriapoda)

Scutigera coleoptrata (Scutigeridae)

Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston (VC60), 22/08/2024, rec. det. Samuel Hopkinson. Located and photographed indoors.
2nd ever record for VC60, following a 2023 record from Garstang.
Scutigera coleoptrata is a Mediterranean species that is occasionally found in the UK, typically in and around human homes. It is an insectivore, preying on insects and arachnids by envenomating them.

iRecord records summary Jan 2026

Group	No. of records	No. of species
insect - hymenopteran	61	11
insect - beetle (Coleoptera)	49	13
mollusc	47	21
insect - true fly (Diptera)	38	9
crustacean	37	6
spider (Araneae)	28	14
insect - true bug (Hemiptera)	15	10
springtail (Collembola)	8	4
millipede	5	3
centipede	4	3

iRecord top 10 species Jan 2026

Scientific name	Common name	Order	Family	No. of records
Phytomyza ilicis	Holly Leaf Gall Fly	Diptera	Agromyzidae	23
Andricus kollari/infectorius f. agamic agg.		Hymenoptera	Cynipidae	21
Coccinella septempunctata	7-spot Ladybird	Coleoptera	Coccinellidae	15
Oniscus asellus	Common Shiny Woodlouse	Isopoda	Oniscidae	14
Harmonia axyridis	Harlequin Ladybird	Coleoptera	Coccinellidae	12
Andricus foecundatrix f. agamic	Artichoke Gall Causer	Hymenoptera	Cynipidae	9
Philoscia muscorum	Common Striped Woodlouse	Isopoda	Philosciidae	9
Porcellio scaber	Common Rough Woodlouse	Isopoda	Porcellionidae	9
Steatoda nobilis		Araneae	Theridiidae	7
Andricus lignicola f. agamic	Cola-nut Causer	Hymenoptera	Cynipidae	7