Having collected Erigone aletris by beating shrubs around a fairly open cemetery, I thought that Winsford’s Mount Pleasant council estate with its recreation areas and tree planted screening (planted in the 1970’s) between the estate… Read more »

On another trip (04/07/25) to record Philodromus collinus and Philodromus albidus in a further hectad I chose to visit Witton Cemetery, Northwich (SJ665737) and beat for these arboreal species. Two female P. albidus were found… Read more »

Cheshire is full of oak trees and on the 02/07/25 I finally beat the right one. It was at Swanlow Park Cemetery SJ651640, when a female Araneus triguttatus was beaten from the lower branches of… Read more »

On the 09/06/25 I visited Middlewich Cemetery SJ698665 to beat trees and bushes for Philodromus collinus and Philodromus albidus, with both proving to be relatively frequent on the evergreen shrubs and trees. Whilst beating the bottom… Read more »

On 23rd May 2025, at a Tanyptera recording day at Hightown Dunes on the Sefton Coast, a surprising discovery was made: Phorbia penicillaris, a fly never before recorded in Britain. The find was amongst 74… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

Over the past few months I have been visiting churches across Cheshire at night, looking by torchlight for and collecting spiders and woodlice. The target species were Megalepthyphantes sp near collinus and Cryptachaea blattea. With… Read more »

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… Read more »

In Spring and Summer 2024, The Tanyptera Project carried out a saproxylic invertebrate survey using vane traps on mature trees in Knowsley Park, park of the Knowsley estate near Prescot, Merseyside. This site encompasses an… Read more »

Combermere Park is set in the privately owned 450 ha Combermere Abbey estate on the Cheshire/Shropshire border, established almost 900 years ago. Away from the abbey, estate buildings and formal gardens, the area includes extensive… Read more »

On the 25/02/25 I visited St Mary’s Church, Wistaston (SJ681536) by torchlight to collect spiders, harvestmen and woodlice. Amongst a reasonable catch of eleven species of spider was a subadult female Ero aphana. Due to… Read more »

On the 28/01/2025 I visited the churchyard of Christ Church in Winsford, SJ663665, late in the afternoon. I found very few specimens present with the most productive areas of search being the churches sewer and… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

A single adult male of the the Nationally Scarce Theridiid Robertus neglectus was found via vacuum sampling in Woolston Eyes SSSI, Warrington on 3rd August 2024 during a Tanyptera Project recording day. The author found… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

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… Read more »

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 copyright of… Read more »

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. Coleoptera (Beetles) Oligota granaria… Read more »

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, Lancs, Merseyside, Greater Manchester. Coleoptera (Beetles) Oxyporus rufus… Read more »

On 2nd June 2024 noticed a Rhagionid fly perched on a leaf in my garden.  It was obviously a species of Chrysopilus, but had patterned wings, which is unusual.  Using Stubbs & Drake and a… Read more »

The all black adults Notidobia ciliaris of were resting on plants at the very edge of the Llangollen branch canal at Acton on the afternoon of May 4th 2024. This caddis probably spread north into… Read more »

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, Lancs, Merseyside, Greater Manchester. Coleoptera (Beetles) Stenichnus subseriatus… Read more »

I first met Mike on the famous floating visitor village at Brockholes Lancashire Wildlife Trust Reserve soon after it opened in 2011. Along with his friend, the late Bill Gregory, they ‘owned‘ the chairs in… Read more »

A selection of notable records reported to Tanyptera. Includes older, but newly recognised regional vice county records (dates blue). ‘The region’ = VC58, 59, 60 + Cheshire, Lancs, Merseyside, Greater Manchester. This month’s notes feature… Read more »

A selection of notable records reported to Tanyptera. Includes older, but newly recognised regional vice county records (dates blue). ‘The region’ = VC58, 59, 60 + Cheshire, Lancs, Merseyside, Greater Manchester. Pteleobius vittatus (Curculionidae), Chester… Read more »

A selection of notable records reported to Tanyptera. Includes older, but newly recognised regional vice county records (dates blue). ‘The region’ = VC58, 59, 60 + Cheshire, Lancs, Merseyside, Greater Manchester. Coleoptera (Beetles) Otiorhynchus armadillo… Read more »

A selection of notable records reported to Tanyptera. Includes older, but newly recognised regional vice county records (dates blue). ‘The region’ = VC58, 59, 60 + Cheshire, Lancs, Merseyside, Greater Manchester. Stenopterapion tenue (Apionidae), Crowtrees… Read more »

A selection of notable records reported to Tanyptera. Includes older, but newly recognised regional vice county records (dates blue). ‘The region’ = VC58, 59, 60 + Cheshire, Lancs, Merseyside, Greater Manchester. Acari (Mites) Piona carnea… Read more »

A selection of notable records reported to Tanyptera. Includes older, but newly recognised regional vice county records (dates blue). ‘The region’ = VC58, 59, 60 + Cheshire, Lancs, Merseyside, Greater Manchester.  Hydrochara caraboides (Hydrophilidae), Near… Read more »

Acari (Mites) Rhinusa antirrhini (Curculionidae), Freshman’s Wood, Lancaster, VC58, 24/9, S. Garland Tribolium castaneum (Tenebrionidae), Pickmere, VC58, 24/9, C. Washington Leiodes rufipennis (Leiodidae), Formby, VC59, 21/9, C. Washington Hylastes angustatus (Curculionidae), Thelwell, Warrington, VC58, 17/9,… Read more »

Acari (Mites) Platyrhinus resinosus (Curculionidae), Thorn Wood, Weaverham, VC58, 2/8, C. Washington Musk Beetle Aromia moschata (Cerambycidae) Hightown Dunes, VC59, 16/8, P. Kinsella Blundellsands, VC59, 24/8, P. Kinsella Collembola (Springtails) Diplopoda (Millipedes) Pipiza austriaca (Syrphidae),… Read more »

Acari (Mites) Hadroplontus trimaculatus (Curculionidae), Northwich, VC58, 16/7, C. Washington Musk Beetle Aromia moschata (Cerambycidae), Freshfield Dune Heath, VC59, July, A. Hampson. Ontholestes murinus (Staphylinidae), Ribble Estuary NNR, VC59, 27/7, C. Washington. Brundinia marina (Staphylinidae),… Read more »

On 2nd July 2023, I found a female Mallota cimbiciformis feeding on bramble flowers at Ainsdale NNR, Merseyside. The sighting represents the first record for Merseyside and the Sefton Coast. There are just a few… Read more »

Acari (Mites) Steneotarsonemus phragmitidis (Tarsonemidae), Burton Mere, Wirral, VC58, 28/6, S.J. McWilliam. Appears to be a new record for VC58 and the region Mite gall causer on common reed. 11 records currently on NBN Atlas,… Read more »

In 2019 my wife and I discovered that Gordale Garden Centre in mid Wirral (SJ3375) had a population of the Garden Centre Spider Uloborus plumipes Lucas and we have enjoyed seeing it there on our… Read more »

Liophloeus tessulatus  (Curculionidae), Alt bridge, VC59, P.Smith Only second record for Sefton coast Previous record also from the same area Diverse habitat from “meadows to mountains”, feeding on a range of common wild plants such… Read more »

Bruchidius varius (Chrysomelidae), Diggle, Saddleworth, Greater Manchester, VC58/63 18/4, K. Gartside. Found at a high altitude, possibly 900ft asl One of only 3 records from the region but widespread in Southern England. Associated with flowers,… Read more »

Cryptops parisi (Cryptopidae), Nether Kellet, VC60, 5/3, N. Garnham. Probably the first VC60 and regional record. A non-native, naturalised species. Most UK records are from SW Wales. Found in bag of horse manure. Can be… Read more »

Collembola (Springtails) Bilobella braunerae (Neanuridae), Brabyns Park, Marple, VC58, 20/2, R. Atherton. Confirmed by Peter Shaw. Appears new to VC58 and the NW region. c.40 spotted under a small area of bark on a fallen… Read more »

Rhagium inquisitor (Cerambycidae), Ellesmere Port, VC58, 26/1, M. Bennett. Possibly a first record for Cheshire and the region. An adventive found in Sawmill. The natural species range is restricted to Central Scotland in the UK…. Read more »

The Marine Gardens at Crosby, Merseyside (SJ315980) comprise four walled ornamental public gardens, running from south to north and situated along the south-eastern perimeter of Crosby Marine Park. The gardens cover 4.86 hectares and total… Read more »

Orchesia micans (Melandryidae), Moore Nature Reserve, VC58, 27/12, C. Washington. A saproxylic. Previously known in Cheshire from well established sites (Oakmere, Styal, Wybunbury, Lyme Park etc). Occurrence at his relatively recently regenerated site, suggests Orchesia… Read more »

While checking a south-facing fence at Wick’s Path, Formby Point on 4th November 2022, I spotted an insect I didn’t recognise. It was about 9 mm long, rounded and greyish, with a prominent net-like pattern… Read more »

Southern Oak Bush-cricket Meconema meridionale is a pale green bush-cricket with a creamy-yellow dorsal stripe and two reddish spots on top of the pro-thorax. The female has a long, slightly upturned ovipositor, while the male… Read more »

Despite the occasional excessive heat and drought-like conditions during the Summer, 2022 proved to be an excellent year for me in the field. I recorded my highest yearly total of Syphidae species on the Sefton… Read more »

Oxypoda induta (Staphylinidae), Woolston Eyes, VC58, 1/11, C. Washington. Possible first VC58 record. Found in Phragmites litter. 26 scattered records on NBN Atlas from England, including 2 from Merseyside. Myrmecocephalus concinnus (Staphylinidae), Jacksons Brickworks LNR… Read more »

Strigamia maritima (Linotaeniidae), Heysham Head, VC60, October, N. Garnham. Found only at the top of the shore, around the High-Water Spring stand line on the seaward side of the shingle bank. Although generally common around… Read more »

On 31st August 2018, Steve Garland collected a solitary bee at North Walney NNR, Cumbria that he identified as Colletes halophilus (Sea Aster Colletes). This was an extraordinary find, as most of the world population… Read more »

Geophilus insculptus (Geophilidae), Elton Goit, VC59, 17/9, D. Bentley. New to Greater Manchester according to searchable data sources. Can be found under stones etc. in the upper layer of soil in a variety of habitats…. Read more »

Aphodius zenkeri (Scarabaeidae), Dunham Massey, VC58, 1/8, C. Washington. A woodland favouring dung beetle that may be at the limit of it’s current NW range in Britain but has been known from Dunham for over… Read more »

Between 21st May – 30th July 2021, 5 adult females of the brown lacewing S. klapaleki (image below) were caught in two vane traps placed on veteran oaks growing in open parkland 150 metres apart… Read more »

A total of three female W. balticus were found during hand searching amongst dense marram (image below), on semi fixed dunes at Formby National Trust, Merseyside (Image below) on 26th May and 8th June 2021…. Read more »

Araneae (Spiders) Leviellus stroemi (Araneae), M, Combermere Park, VC58, May & June 2022, Col. G. Hedges. Det. T. Hunter. New to VC58 and the region. Nationally Rare and Near Threatened. The most recent UK record… Read more »

Entomology, particularly in the past, has been a field dominated by men, and for some the word ‘Entomologist’ itself conjures an image of an eccentric bearded gentlemen armed with a butterfly net. There are, of… Read more »

  Conops strigatus (Dark-cheeked Beegrabber) (Fig. 1) is a scarce insect in Britain with scattered records as far north as Cumbria and hardly any for Central England. Only 78 records are shown on the NBN… Read more »

  The Beewolf (Philanthus triangulum) is a spectacular looking wasp that was once regarded a great rarity in Britain. In the 1990’s, the status of the species in Britain was considered to be Vulnerable, but it… Read more »

  On the late afternoon of 6th September 2021, I was searching for insects along the frontal dunes at Hightown, Merseyside. It was very warm and sunny and there were plenty about. As I scanned… Read more »

Anacampsis temerella is a rarely recorded, inconspicuous member of the Gelechiidae family, with a mainly coastal distribution and a Nationally Notable A conservation status (Figure 1). It is usually found as a larva in spinnings… Read more »

  Following on from the discovery of the Pine Hoverfly, Callicera rufa, at Formby in 2020 (see article), I visited that site on several occasions during May 2021, but failed to find it again. The… Read more »

On a visit to Hightown dunes on 10th April 2021, I found the Tachinid fly, Gonia ornata, a species apparently not recorded on the Sefton coast for thirty years. I had already seen Gonia picea… Read more »

During a National Museums Liverpool survey of parasitic wasps at Formby National Trust (VC59) on 29th September 2020, a female ichneumon resembling Ctenochira haemosterna was swept from the edge of a small mixed woodland with… Read more »

Although summer is often seen as peak time for entomology, many groups can be collected all year round if suitable techniques are used. This is particularly the case for beetles, as many species overwinter as… Read more »

Introduction Smith & Kinsella (2020) reported on six robberflies (Asilidae) they had recorded and photographed in the Sefton Coast sand-dune system, suggesting that four more species might be discovered through field survey, namely Dioctria atricapilla,… Read more »

My job revolves around protected sites and whilst I fully appreciate the invertebrate wonders to be found on nature reserves and sites of special scientific interest, since reading Ken Thompson’s ‘No Nettles Required’ well over… Read more »

On 19th July 2020 Don Stenhouse and I were hunting for beetles in Danebridge, Staffordshire. We were on a mission to find new sites for Bromius obscurus (we didn’t) but like most beetlers, couldn’t resist… Read more »

Other than the beetles associated with ant nests there are a couple of others that should interest Hymenopterists – and both are rarely recorded. Firstly is the Wasp Beetle (Metoecus paradoxus), the UK’s only representative… Read more »

Like many others, I’m spending even more time in my garden than usual with the current Covid situation. Although I’ve been photographing the insects in my Southport garden for over a decade, this extra time… Read more »

During summer 2020, I regularly visited an area of coarse grassland in the shelter of planted trees at Ravenmeols Local Nature Reserve near Formby. This supported plenty of flowering umbellifers that attracted a wide range… Read more »

The late and much respected entomologist and Botanist (and Curator at Oldham Museum) Leonard N Kidd wrote a small booklet in the 1990’s titled Flora of Saddleworth. It is still relevant and is used as… Read more »

On 28th June 2020 my wife Claire pointed out an unusual looking insect in our kitchen in Bromborough, Wirral (VC58). On inspection it was clearly a shieldbug, but not one I could recognise. I tasked… Read more »

On 25 May 2020, during a bee survey carried out as part of the biodiversity monitoring programme on the Nature Reserve at Chester Zoo (SJ4070), a single female Stelis phaeoptera was found investigating this log… Read more »

The afternoon of 22nd March 2020 was warm and sunny at Hightown dunes, Merseyside. There were plenty of insects on the wing and I had found good numbers of Vernal Mining Bees (Colletes cunicularius) and… Read more »

The hoverfly Callicera rufa is an enigmatic species that was once only found in the Caledonian forests of the Scottish highlands. Then in 2011, it was found south of the border in Shropshire and subsequently… Read more »

On April 15th, 2020, I noticed and photographed a male Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) guarding two old “rawlplug” holes in an east-facing wall of my garden in Formby (SD28380802). A week later, a pair… Read more »

On the 18th June 2019 I collected a small black bee from apple mint (Mentha suaveolens) in my urban garden in Longsight, Manchester. I later examined it under a microscope and identified it as a… Read more »

On 12th July 2017 I took 2 male and 2 female Dolichopodidae flies in Newton Beck Valley, a small wood on the edge of Lancaster. Unable to determine their genus, never mind species, I put… Read more »