A selection of notable records reported to us or found on iRecord. Includes older, but newly recognised vice county records. ‘The region’ is VC58, 59, 60 plus Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester. All photos are copyright of the recorder unless stated otherwise.

Diptera (Flies)

Hybomitra lurida (Tabanidae)

Recorded by: Paul Brewster
Determined by: Andrew Grayson
Date: 6 May 2026
Site: Shemmy Moss
County / VC: Cheshire (VC58)

This horsefly is mostly recorded from Scotland but also occurs on a few English mosses in Shropshire and Cheshire. Strongly associated with cooler boggy areas.

It has not previously been recorded from the Abbots Moss complex. The only known local record appears to be from Pettypool in 1916. 

Ornate Brigadier Odontomyia ornata (Stratiomyidae)

Recorded by: Phil Smith
Determined by: Phil Smith
Date: 29 May 2026
Site: Sands Lake, Ainsdale and Birkdale Sandhills LNR
County / VC: Sefton Coast, Merseyside (VC59)

A large and very distinctive soldierfly.

Primarily a southern species, usually associated with marshy habitats and often linked to Hemlock Water-dropwort. There appear to be no previous North West England records, with the nearest known from Anglesey and Yorkshire.

Brachyopa insensilis (Syrphidae)

Recorded by: Steven Suttill
Determined by: Steven Suttill
Date: 27 May 2026
Site: Greenfield, Saddleworth
County / VC: Greater Manchester (VC63)

Strongly associated with exposed sap runs of mature elms and other broadleaved species.

Recorded on Horse Chestnut with larvae and adults present. Records in the North West remain scarce.

Scaeva selenitica (Syrphidae)

Recorded by: Roy Lowry
Determined by: Roy Lowry
Date: 30 May 2026
Site: Bebington, Wirral
County / VC: Cheshire (VC58)

One of our largest syrphines – resembling an oversized Eupeodes.

Widespread but with relatively few records in Cheshire.

Mostly encountered in coniferous woodland and heathland with pines but this individual was recorded visiting Smoketree flowers in a garden.

Phthitia plumosula (Sphaeroceridae)

Recorded by: Phil Brighton
Determined by: Phil Brighton
Date: 15 May 2026
Site: Risley Moss
County / VC: Cheshire (VC59)

Found on a Tanyptera Recording Day.

A small and rather featureless species, easily overlooked in the field.

This second confirmed record provides confidence in its presence in VC59. Nationally, it is sparsely recorded but widely scattered.

Zophomyia temula (Tachinidae)

Recorded by: Peter Brash
Determined by: Peter Brash
Date: 21 May 2026
Site: Birkenhead
County / VC: Cheshire (VC58)

An infrequently recorded parasitoid fly with only a few other North West records.

Occurs in a variety of habitats including flowery meadows, grassy arable margins, dune grassland, larger woodland rides/clearings, and chalk downland.

Widespread in the southern half of Britain with records extending north to Westmorland and Edinburgh.

Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps, Ants & Sawflies)

Curled Rose Sawfly Allantus cinctus (Tenthredinidae)

Recorded by: Ken Gartside
Determined by: Ken Gartside
Date: 29 May 2026
Site: Greenfield, Saddleworth
County / VC: Greater Manchester (VC63)

A female representing the first record for Greater Manchester. Widespread in Britain, with a few records across Cheshire and Lancashire in the North West.

Sickle-jawed Blood Bee Sphecodes puncticeps (Halictidae)

Recorded by: Chloe Aldridge
Determined by: Chloe Aldridge
Date: 29 May 2026
Site: Ness Gardens, Wirral
County / VC: Cheshire (VC58)

A cleptoparasitic bee with very few Cheshire records, previously known only from Crown Farm Quarry and Bickerton Hill.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Southern Britain, with records extending north to Cumbria.

The main hosts are Lasioglossum lativentre and L. quadrinotatum.

Tenthredo maculata (Tenthredinidae)

Recorded by: Phil Smith
Determined by: Phil Smith
Date: 22 May 2026
Site: Altcar, Sefton Coast
County / VC: Merseyside (VC59)

Only the second record for the Sefton Coast, following a record from Ainsdale in 2019.

Although widely distributed in Britain, it is distinctly local.

Giant Birch Sawfly Cimbex femoratus (Cimbicidae)

Recorded by: Tony Hunter
Determined by: Tony Hunter
Date: 15 May 2026
Site: Risley Moss
County / VC: Cheshire (VC59)

Found on a Tanyptera Recording Day.

One of the largest British sawflies and unmistakable when encountered.

Widespread but infrequently encountered.

Euura ampla (Tenthredinidae)

Recorded by: Nicola Garnham
Determined by: Kjeld Brem
Date: 15 May 2026
Site: Risley Moss
County / VC: Cheshire (VC59)

Found on a Tanyptera Recording Day.

Larvae recorded during the field meeting may represent a new record for VC59 and potentially the wider North West, with no regional records currently online.

Oriental Chestnut Gall Wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Cynipidae)

Recorded by: Chris Reiki
Determined by: Chris Reiki
Date: 5 May 2026
Site: Marbury Country Park
County / VC: Cheshire (VC58)

A notifiable invasive species and the most north-westerly British record to date.

The species forms galls on Sweet Chestnut and can significantly impact tree health.

Hemiptera (True Bugs & Allies)

Heather Shieldbug Rhacognathus punctatus (Pentatomidae)

Recorded by: David Williams
Determined by: David Williams
Date: 15 May 2026
Site: Risley Moss
County / VC: Cheshire (VC59)

Found on a Tanyptera Recording Day.

The only other recent VC59 record away from the Sefton Coast was from Caddishead Moss in 2014.

Associated with heathland and moorland.

Craspedolepta nebulosa (Psyllidae)

Recorded by: David Williams
Determined by: Keith Fowler
Date: 15 May 2026
Site: Risley Moss
County / VC: Cheshire (VC59)

Found on a Tanyptera Recording Day.

Only the second known record for VC59.

Common and widespread on or around Rose bay Willowherb in Southern Britain.

Small psyllids such as this are easily overlooked and potentially under-recorded.

Paradelphacodes paludosa (Delphacidae)

Recorded by: Keith Fowler
Determined by: Keith Fowler
Date: 15 May 2026
Site: Risley Moss
County / VC: Cheshire (VC59)

Found on a Tanyptera Recording Day.

A Notable A species associated with Sphagnum-rich bogs. It has a scattered British distribution, with strongholds in East Anglia and parts of Wales, and only a few outlying sites.

Top 10 iRecord Species Recorded May 2026

Top 10 iRecord Orders Recorded May 2026