Page updated on 9th August 2022
The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas provides a platform for the UK biological data to be shared. It is run by NBN Trust, a charity with the aim of improving the availability of high resolution and high quality data to provide the evidence base for all environmental decision-making in the UK. Learn more
For invertebrate recorders, NBN Atlas can provide important context about a species record: is it rare? Is it new to the area / county? Does this record represent a distributional expansion? However, it’s sometimes unclear how comprehensive or up to date the picture of records you’re seeing is.
The idea behind this page is to highlight to recorders what key datasets are missing / far out of date and what level of detail can be seen or downloaded. This can help indicate what further research may be needed (e.g. contacting a LERC or Scheme for data). County Recorders, local atlases, checklists and museum collections are other important sources to check. Many new and historical NW checklists are downloadable from the resources pages, including signposting of online local atlases. Go to resources.
Local Environmental Records Centre datasets
RECORD (Cheshire)
The newest invertebrate data from RECORD is from August 2016 and current datasets only cover a very limited number of families / orders. For example, there are no records for two major orders; Diptera (True Flies) and Hemiptera (True Bugs), and Coleoptera (Beetles) is only represented by a single family; Coccinellidae (Ladybirds). The current datasets (below) are only available at low resolution (10 km) with no recorder or abundance information.
Higher resolution (2 km for non-protected species) access covering all invertebrate groups is provided via the RECORD website Data Search Facility but recorder names are not included and data cannot be downloaded (although is it possible to copy and paste each results page). Full resolution data is usually made available to the (voluntary) recorder community at no cost by contacting info@record-lrc.co.uk. Go to Data Search Facility.
| Dataset | Resolution | Records upto | No. Records | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aculeate Hymenoptera (bee, wasps and ants) | 10 km | 24/08/2016 | 10,217 | No recorder or abundance info |
| Butterflies | 10 km | 24/08/2016 | 268,926 | No recorder or abundance info |
| Coccinellidae (ladybirds) | 10 km | 17/08/2016 | 8,445 | No recorder or abundance info |
| Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) | 10 km | 17/08/2016 | 27,353 | No recorder or abundance info |
| Orthoptera (Grasshoppers and crickets) | 10 km | 17/08/2016 | 1,289 | No recorder or abundance info |
Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU)
None of the three datasets containing invertebrate records have data newer than February 2016 and most records are for butterflies only at low (10 km) resolution without recorder or abundance information (see table below). There may be a small number of protected invertebrates species records from other taxonomic groups contained in the ‘Species of Conservation Interest’ dataset, also at low resolution with no details.
Access to full resolution data for volunteer recorders and groups can usually be given free of charge by request to info@gmwildlife.org.uk. More information can be found on the GMEU website.
| Dataset | Resolution | Records upto | No. Records | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterflies | 10 km | 18/11/2014 | 7641 | Excludes any protected, UK BAP or any INNS (as defined by the Environment Agency). No recorder or abundance information. |
| Species of Conservation Interest in Greater Manchester | 10 km | 29/2/2016 | 15062 | Records of BAP and protected species in Greater Manchester not included in other GMEU data sets. Most records don't relate to invertebrates. |
| Bolton Museum Butterflies | 10 km | 20/9/2004 | 15275 | No recorder or abundance information |
Lancashire Environmental Record Network (LERN)
LERN publishes the vast majority of records in a single dataset on NBN Atlas at 2 km resolution, covering all invertebrate groups (see table below). The most records are 31/12/2016. No recorder, site or abundance information is included and dates are in whole year format only.
Access to full resolution data for volunteer recorders and groups can usually be given free of charge. See LERN’s Data Sharing and Usage Policy.
| Dataset | Resolution | Records upto | No. Records | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LERN Records (includes all invertebrate groups) | 2 km | 31/12/2016 | 1,417,658 (incl. non-inverts) | Date only supplied at whole year resolution. No recorder or abundance info. |
Merseyside BioBank
BioBank publishes five datasets covering all invertebrate groups, including two datasets containing unverified records. The newest records are April 2020. All datasets are downloadable at 2 km resolution with the exception of ‘North Merseyside Local Species Data’, which is available at full resolution (see table below). Recorder is now included in all datasets and abundance information in all but one. Overall, Biobank currently offers the most up to date and highest resolution data of all the regions LERCs.
Access to full resolution data for volunteer recorders and groups can usually be given free of charge but see BioBank’s Partner Support webpage and contact info@merseysidebiobank.org.uk for more information.
| Dataset | Resolution | Records upto | No. records | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merseyside BioBank (unverified) | 2 km | 06/04/2020 | 148,524 (incl. non-inverts) | Now has recorder and abundance information. |
| Merseyside BioBank (verified) | 2 km | 31/12/2019 | 231411 (incl. non-inverts) | Now has recorder and abundance information |
| Merseyside BioBank Active Naturalists (unverified) | 2 km | 22/04/2019 | 45935 (incl. non-inverts) | Now has recorder and abundance information |
| Merseyside BioBank Active Naturalists (verified) | 2 km | 22/04/2019 | 29461 (incl. non-inverts) | Now has recorder and abundance information |
| North Merseyside Local Species Data (DEFRA Grant 23169) | Full | 22/02/2017 | 43927 (incl. non-inverts) | No abundance information |
National Recording Schemes
Access to National Recording Scheme data via NBN Atlas varies between schemes from completely up to date datasets with hundreds of thousands of detailed records at full resolution all the way through to no data published. There can be a variety of reasons for such discrepancies in data availability via NBN Atlas such as capacity, resources (most schemes are run by volunteers), and data sharing policies.
Many national schemes (+ other surveys) currently have an arrangement between the Biological Records Centre (BRC) and NBN Atlas whereby iRecord datasets are updated every 2 months at full resolution (see iRecord NBN Sharing page for the most up to date list). This represents the closest to ‘live’ invertebrate data currently available via NBN Atlas. Some schemes such as those run by the British Arachnological Society and BWARS who don’t currently publish datasets on NBN Atlas host informative websites with distribution maps, status reviews and ecological information for UK species. A few of latest invertebrate recording schemes to sign-up to regular NBN Atlas update via iRecord are:
- Auchenorrhyncha Recording Scheme (leafhoppers and allies)
- Hippoboscidae and Nycteribiidae Recording Scheme (flat-flies, keds and bat-flies)
- Kelp Fly Recording Scheme
- Oil Beetle Recording Scheme
- Rhinophoridae Recording Scheme (woodlouse-flies)
- Sciomyzidae Recording Scheme (snail-killing flies)
| Recording Scheme (with links to dataset info) | Group | Resolution | Records up to | No. Records | Recent national status reviews (2000 onwards) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opiliones (Harvestman) Recording Scheme | Arachnids | Full | 30/04/2004 | 25,486 | A BRC dataset. Data originating from the BAS. Maps and species ecology info via BAS website. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Pseudoscorpion Recording Scheme - records verified via iRecord | Arachnids | Full | Updated every 2 months | 3,246 | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Acari Recording Scheme (mites) | Arachnids | N/A | N/A | No records | For orders Mesostigmata, Sarcoptiformes and Trombidiformes. Ticks (order Ixodida) have a separate scheme. No Recording Scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 14/05/2026). See 2019 NW Oribatida mites checklist. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| British Arachnological Society - Spider Recording Scheme | Arachnids | N/A | N/A | No records | P. Harvey, M. Davidson, I. Dawson, A. Fowles, G. Hitchcock, P. Lee, P. Merrett, T. Russell-Smith, H. Smith. 2017. A review of the scarce and threatened spiders (Araneae) of Great Britain: Species Status No. 22. NRW Evidence Report No: 11, 101pp, Natural Resources Wales, Bangor | No Recording Scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 11/06/2026). Maps and species ecology info via BAS website. See also BRC scheme page. |
| Barkfly Recording Scheme: Psocoptera (outdoor species) | Barkflies | N/A | N/A | No records | No Recording Scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 14/05/2026). Species accounts available via the scheme website. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Balfour-Browne Club (Water Beetles) | Beetles | Full | 25/12/2003 | 284,963 | FOSTER, G.N. 2010. A review of the scarce and threatened Coleoptera of Great Britain. Part 3: aquatic Coleoptera. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. | Recording scheme now under joint stewardship between the Balfour-Browne Club and the Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust. About 39,000 records (2009 onwards) not on NBN can be accessed through the National Biodiversity Data Centre at Waterford. |
| Aquatic Coleoptera Conservation Trust | Beetles | Full | 03/10/2010 | 1,252 | data from SNH site condition monitoring of SSSIs for water beetles, 2010. | |
| Chrysomelidae Recording Scheme (iRecord) | Beetles | Full | Updated every 2 months | 60,331 | HUBBLE, D.S. 2014. A review of the scarce and threatened beetles of Great Britain. The leaf beetles and their allies Chrysomelidae, Megalopodidae and Orsodacni. Natural England Commissioned Report 161 | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. |
| Soldier Beetles and Allies Recording Scheme (iRecord) | Beetles | Full | Updated every 2 months | 65,094 | ALEXANDER, 2014. A review of the beetles of Great Britain. The Soldier Beetles and their allies. Natural England Commissioned Report 134 | iRecord data only, including unverified records (46% of records have verified identifications). Contains records for families Cantharidae, Lampyridae, Lycidae and Drilidae. See also BRC scheme page. |
| UK Ladybird Survey | Beetles | Full | Updated every 2 months | 280,631 | iRecord data only (contains virtually all scheme data) - BRC dataset | |
| Cantharoidea (Soldier Beetle) and Buprestoidea (Jewel Beetle) Recording Scheme 1984-2000 | Beetles | Full | 02/10/1999 | 40,480 | ALEXANDER, 2014. A review of the beetles of Great Britain. The Soldier Beetles and their allies. Natural England Commissioned Report 134 | Dataset includes records for the families: Cantharidae, Buprestidae, Lampyridae, Lycidae and Drilidae. A BRC dataset. No recorder information. |
| Atomariinae Recording Scheme | Beetles | 10 km | 15/08/1992 | 10,699 | No recorder information. Dataset is Atomariine Beetle (Coleoptera) records from the Atomariinae and Ptiliidae Recording Scheme (Britain and Ireland) up to 1992. Dataset digitised and provided to NBN by the BRC. Recording scheme is no longer active, so there is no mechanism for updating this taxon group. | |
| The National Longhorn Beetle Recording Scheme | Beetles | Full | Updated every 2 months | 33,801 | ALEXANDER, K.N.A., 2019. A review of the status of the beetles of Great Britain – Longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae). Natural England Commissioned Reports No. 272 | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. |
| Ground Beetle Recording Scheme (main database) + Ground Beetle Recording Scheme (iRecord) | Beetles | Full | 31/12/2014 + iRecord dataset updated every 2 months | 432,562 | TELFER, M.G. 2016. A review of the beetles of Great Britain: Ground Beetles (Carabidae): Species Status No.25. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 189. | BRC datasets - Main dataset has now been archived and the data merged with the iRecord dataset. iRecord dataset includes unverified records (92% of records have verified identifications). |
| Silphidae Recording Scheme | Beetles | Full | Updated every 2 months | 12,465 | LANE, S.A. 2020. A review of the status of the beetles of Great Britain – The Silphidae (Carrion Beetles). Natural England Commissioned Reports No. 316 | Scheme verified iRecord data only. |
| The Weevil and Bark Beetle Recording Scheme | Beetles | Full | Updated every 2 months | 101,316 | iRecord data only, which in this case includes unverified data (only 40% of records verified as of 23/04/2026). See also 2019 VC58-60 Checklist by C. Washington. | |
| Non-scheme Coleoptera via iRecord | Beetles | Full | Updated every 2 months | 182,193 | ALEXANDER, K.N.A, 2017. A review of the status of the beetles of Great Britain - The woodboring beetles, spider beetles, woodworm, false powder-post beetles, hide beetles and their allies – Derodontidoidea (Derodontidae) and Bostrichoidea (Dermestidae, Bostrichidae and Ptinidae) Natural England. Commissioned Reports, Number 236. | BRC dataset. Coleoptera records from iRecord for families not covered by a recording scheme. Records collated via iRecord for a set of 45 Coleoptera families that are either not included in any national recording scheme, or are not currently being reviewed for verification. Most of the records are unverified (36% of records have verified identifications). |
| Oil Beetle Recording Scheme | Beetles | Full | Updated every 2 months | 5,451 | Scheme verified iRecord data only. Contains species records for all extant UK species in the family Meloidae (oil beetles and allies) that have been verified by the recording scheme. | |
| Clown Beetles Recording Scheme | Beetles | N/A | N/A | No records | LANE, S.A, 2017. A review of the status of the beetles of Great Britain - The clown beetles and false clown beetles - Histeridae and Sphaeritidae. Natural England. Commissioned Reports, Number 235. | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 23/04/2026). See also BRC scheme page. |
| Dermestidae Recording Scheme | Beetles | N/A | N/A | No records | ALEXANDER, K.N.A, 2017. A review of the status of the beetles of Great Britain - The woodboring beetles, spider beetles, woodworm, false powder-post beetles, hide beetles and their allies - Derodontidoidea (Derodontidae) and Bostrichoidea (Dermestidae, Bostrichidae and Ptinidae) Natural England. Commissioned Reports, Number 236. | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 23/04/2026). See also BRC scheme page. |
| Elateroidea Recording Scheme | Beetles | N/A | N/A | No records | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 23/04/2026). See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Ptiliidae Recording Scheme | Beetles | N/A | N/A | No records | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 23/04/2026). See also NBN scheme page. | |
| Scarabaeoidea Recording Scheme | Beetles | N/A | N/A | No records | LANE, S.A, 2016. A review of the status of the beetles of Great Britain – The stag beetles, dor beetles, dung beetles, chafers and their allies - Lucanidae, Geotrupidae, Trogidae and Scarabaeidae. Natural England. Commissioned Reports, Number 31. | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 23/04/2026). See also BRC scheme page. |
| Scirtidae Recording Scheme | Beetles | N/A | N/A | No records | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 23/04/2026). See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Staphylinidae Recording Scheme | Beetles | N/A | N/A | No records | BOYCE, D.C., A review of the status of the beetles of Great Britain: The Staphylinidae (Rove Beetles) (NECR390). LANE, S.A., 2019. A review of the status of the beetles of Great Britain – The Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae beetles. Natural England Commissioned Reports No. 265 | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 23/04/2026). See also BRC scheme page. |
| Stenini Recording Scheme | Beetles | N/A | N/A | No records | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 23/04/2026). See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Tenebrionoidea Recording Scheme | Beetles | N/A | N/A | No records | ALEXANDER, K.N.A, DODD S. &. DENTON, J.S. 2014. A review of the beetles of Great Britain. The Darkling Beetles and their allies. Natural England Commissioned Report 148. | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 23/04/2026). See also BRC scheme page. |
| UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) + Wider Countryside Butterfly Scheme (WCBS) | Butterflies and Moths | Full (UKBMS), 1km (WCBS) | UKBMS up to 27/10/2024, WCBS up to 23/10/2024 | 10,209,486 (UKBMS) + 541,401 (WCBS) | FOX, R., WARREN, M.S. & BRERETON, T.M. 2010. A new Red List of British Butterflies. Species Status 12; 1-32. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. | UKBMS dataset is comprised of records from traditional fixed transect sites, aka 'Pollard Walks'. WCBS is a standarised monitoring scheme based on sampling along transects within 1km squares selected at random across the UK (stratified by BTO or BC regional networks). Due to the low level of sampling effort (and unlike conventional transects), WCBS data is not used to derive local measures of butterfly abundance. |
| Butterfly Distributions for Scotland - Butterfly Conservation & BRC | Butterflies and Moths | 1 km | 20/12/2014 | 433,020 | FOX, R., WARREN, M.S. & BRERETON, T.M. 2010. A new Red List of British Butterflies. Species Status 12; 1-32. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. | |
| Butterfly Conservation (Macro-moths) | Butterflies and Moths | 2 km | 31/12/2019 | 30,822,537 | FOX, R.,PARSONS.M.S. & HARROWER, C.A. (2019) A review of the status of macro-moths in Great Britain. Butterfly Conservation Report to Natural England. | |
| Butterfly Conservation (Butterflies) | Butterflies and Moths | 2km | 31/12/2019 | 15,817,021 | FOX, R., WARREN, M.S. & BRERETON, T.M. 2010. A new Red List of British Butterflies. Species Status 12; 1-32. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. | |
| Crambidae & Pyralidae Recording Scheme | Butterflies and Moths | N/A | N/A | No records | DAVIS, A.M. (2012). A Review of the Status of Microlepidoptera in Britain. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. (Butterfly Conservation Report No. S12-02) | No data on NBN atlas as of 13/05/2026. See also BRC scheme page. |
| Gelechiid Recording Scheme | Butterflies and Moths | N/A | N/A | No records | DAVIS, A.M. (2012). A Review of the Status of Microlepidoptera in Britain. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. (Butterfly Conservation Report No. S12-02) | No data on NBN atlas as of 13/05/2026. See also BRC scheme page and scheme website. |
| Incurvarioidea Recording Scheme | Butterflies and Moths | N/A | N/A | No records | DAVIS, A.M. (2012). A Review of the Status of Microlepidoptera in Britain. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. (Butterfly Conservation Report No. S12-02) | No data on NBN atlas as of 13/05/2026. See also BRC scheme page. |
| Leaf-mining Moth Recording Scheme | Butterflies and Moths | N/A | N/A | No records | DAVIS, A.M. (2012). A Review of the Status of Microlepidoptera in Britain. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. (Butterfly Conservation Report No. S12-02) | No data on NBN atlas as of 13/05/2026. See also BRC scheme page and scheme website. |
| Plume Moth Recording Scheme | Butterflies and Moths | N/A | N/A | No records | DAVIS, A.M. (2012). A Review of the Status of Microlepidoptera in Britain. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. (Butterfly Conservation Report No. S12-02) | No data on NBN atlas as of 13/05/2026. See also BRC scheme page. |
| British Myriapod and Isopod Group - Non-marine Isopoda Recording Scheme (Woodlice & Waterlice) | Isopods | Full | 18/06/1996 | 59,016 | LEE, P. 2015. A review of the millipedes (Diplopoda), centipedes (Chilopoda) and woodlice (Isopoda) of Great Britain. Natural England Commissioned Report 186. | Interim dataset held by the BRC on behalf of the British Myriapod and Isopod Group and the Non-marine Isopoda Recording Scheme. Data is derived from both the 1985 atlas and more recent 'post-atlas' records. See also BRC scheme page. |
| Hypogean macro-Crustacea records | Crustaceans | Full | 24/05/2014 | 1,963 | Sceme covers british and Irish macro-Crustacea found in groundwater, hyporheic and cavernicolous habitats. Includes the British and Irish species of Niphargus, Microniphargus leruthi, Crangonyx subterraneus, Proasellus cavaticus and Antorbathynella stammerri. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| British Dragonfly Society Recording Scheme | Dragonflies & Damselflies | Full | 12/31/2025 | 2,212,458 | DAGUET, C.A., FRENCH, G.C. & TAYLOR, P. 2008. The Odonata Red Data List for Great Britain. Species Status 11; 1-34. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. | Dataset combines entire historical Dragonfly Recording Network (DRN) data and modern records maintained via iRecord. Updated annually. Species accounts can be found on the BDS website. |
| Earthworm Society of Britain (Recording scheme database) + National Earthworm Society of Britain (Research records) + National Earthworm Society of Britain (Environment Agency Eiseniella tetraedra Records) | Earthworms | Full | Recording scheme database 2014-2023, Research records database 1994-2023, Environment Agency E. tetraedra database 1965-2020. | 6,997 (Recording scheme database) + 10,489 (Research records database) + 5,313 (Environment Agency E. tetraedra database) | All scheme records verified/from recognised recorders. A British Isles checklist and detailed information on all aspects of the scheme can be found on the ESOB website. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Freshwater Flatworm Recording Scheme: Tricladida (freshwater species) | Flatworms | Full | Updated every 2 months | 30 | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Terrestrial Flatworm Recording Scheme: Tricladida (terrestrial species) | Flatworms | N/A | N/A | No records | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 24/06/2026) | |
| Siphonaptera and Phthiraptera Recording Scheme | Fleas & lice | Full | Updated every 2 months | 102 | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Grasshopper Recording Scheme (original database, up to 2015) + Grasshopper Recording Scheme (via iRecord) | Grasshoppers and Crickets | Full | 19/11/2015 + iRecord data updated every 2 months | 110,861 + 109,658 via iRecord | SUTTON, P.G. 2015. A review of the Orthoptera (Grasshoppers and crickets) and allied species of Great Britain. Orthoptera, Dictyoptera, Dermaptera, Phasmida. Natural England Commissioned Report 187 | BRC datasets. iRecord data verified by the recording scheme. Covers Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Dictyoptera and Phasmida. Species accounts can be found on the scheme website. |
| Sawfly Recording Scheme | Hymenoptera | Full | Updated every 2 months | 44,103 | iRecord data only. BRC dataset. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Bees, Wasps and Ants (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) (iRecord) | Hymenoptera | N/A | Updated every 2 months | 342,341 | A BRC dataset. Records verified by the BWARS iRecord verification team. Detailed species accounts with images and 10 km resolution maps are on the BWARS website. See also the online Cheshire Aculeate Atlas and 2019 Lancs checklist. | |
| Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society (BWARS) | Hymenoptera | N/A | N/A | No records | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 23/04/2026). Detailed species accounts with images and 10 km resolution maps are on the BWARS website. See also the online Cheshire Aculeate Atlas and 2019 Lancs checklist. | |
| Parasitic Wasps Recording Scheme: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea (nocturnal) | Hymenoptera | N/A | N/A | No records | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 13/05/2026). Keys and literature are on the Ichneumoninae of the World portal. See also 2018 NW Checklist and BRC scheme page. | |
| Bumblebee Conservation Trust | Hymenoptera | 1 km | 07/07/2024 | 324,745 | Data from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust's BeeWalk bumblebee distributions for Great Britain surveys. | |
| Lacewings and Allies Recording Scheme | Lacewings and allies | Full | 31/03/1999 | 18,501 | BRC dataset. Includes taxa from orders Neuroptera, Megaloptera, Raphidioptera and Mecoptera. See also BRC scheme page and scheme website. | |
| Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland - Marine Mollusc Recording Scheme | Molluscs | Full | 25/02/2025 | 209,639 | Includes all the archival records which have so far been digitised, plus modern data. A portion of the historic records are yet to be digitised. This dataset is constituted from data where the recorder has signed the Society's access policy and represents the majority of the data holdings. The remainder of the records are held in a separate dataset on the NBN Atlas where access is more restricted. Detailed species accounts can be found on the scheme website. | |
| Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland - Non-marine Mollusc Recording Scheme (main database) + Conchological Society of Great Britain & Ireland - Non-marine Mollusc Recording Scheme (1999 Atlas dataset) | Molluscs | Variable- see notes. | 31/12/2025 (main database),1999 (1999 Atlas dataset) | 385,071 (main database) + 198,230 (1999 Atlas dataset) | M.B. SEDDON, I.J. KILLEEN & A.P. FOWLES. 2014. A Review of the Non-Marine Mollusca of Great Britain: Species Status No. 17. NRW Evidence Report No: 14, 84pp, Natural Resources Wales, Bangor. | Main database includes all accepted, digital records held by the Society’s Honorary Non-marine Recorder up until the date of publication. This is comprised of 1) data from the cards that were originally digitised at 10 km square (hectad) resolution as part of the publication of the Atlas of Land and Freshwater Molluscs of Britain & Ireland (Kerney, 1999); and 2) a subsequent redigitisation of those records at finer resolution, usually 1 km square (monad) or better. It also includes 3) the substantial number of records received between 1999 and the present, from an increasing variety of sources. All records from both datasets are verified. |
| British Myriapod and Isopod Group, Millipede Recording Scheme | Myriapods | Full | 12/12/2005 | 48,243 | LEE, P. 2015. A review of the millipedes (Diplopoda), centipedes (Chilopoda) and woodlice (Isopoda) of Great Britain. Natural England Commissioned Report 186. | No recorder information. Data from the 2006 atlas published by BMIG. Detailed species accounts can be found on the BMIG website. See also BRC scheme page. |
| British Myriapod and Isopod Group - Centipede Recording Scheme | Myriapods | N/A | N/A | No records | LEE, P. 2015. A review of the millipedes (Diplopoda), centipedes (Chilopoda) and woodlice (Isopoda) of Great Britain. Natural England Commissioned Report 186. | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 11/06/2026). Detailed species accounts can be found on the BMIG website. See also BRC scheme page. |
| Ephemeroptera Recording Scheme (Main database, 1906-2017) + Ephemeroptera Recording Scheme (iRecord) | Riverflies | Full | Main database from 1906-2017, iRecord dataset updated every 2 months. | 208,443 + 8,085 (iRecord) | MACADAM, C.R. 2016. A review of the status of the mayflies (Ephemeroptera) of Great Britain. Natural England. Commissioned Reports, Number 193. | Two datasets on NBN Atlas; the recording scheme main database where the bulk of the records originate and iRecord data verified by the scheme. Recorders from countryside agencies are not named. |
| Plecoptera (Stonefly) Recording Scheme (Main database) + Plecoptera (Stonefly) Recording Scheme (iRecord) | Riverflies | Full | Main database from 1955-2005, iRecord dataset updated every 2 months | 38,197 + 6271 (iRecord) | MACADAM, C.R. 2015. A review of the stoneflies (Plecoptera) of Great Britain. Natural England Commissioned Report 174. | Two datasets on NBN Atlas; the main database compiled of survey records, and iRecord data verified by the scheme. See also 2016 NW Checklist. |
| Caddisfly Recording Scheme (main database) + Caddisfly Recording Scheme (iRecord) + Caddisfly Recording Scheme (iNaturalist) | Riverflies | Full | Main database up to 31/12/2023, iRecord dataset updated every 2 months, iNaturalist up to 15/02/2021. | 474,524 (main database) + 44,475 (iRecord) + 1,060 (iNaturalist) | WALLACE, I.D. 2016. A review of the status of the caddis flies (Trichoptera) of Great Britain - Species Status No.27. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 191. | Three datasets on NBN Atlas; the recording scheme main database where the bulk of the records originate, iRecord data verified by the scheme, and records verified from iNaturalist. See also 2016 NW Checklist. |
| Collembola Recording Scheme | Springtails | 10 km | 31/08/2008 | 10,633 | No recorder information. Database initially compiled by the late Steve Hopkin from a thorough search of UK literature records and specimens preserved on slides or in spirit (mainly from NHML) and the majority of the database is comprised of these records. See also BRC scheme page. Species lists, taxanomic descriptions and distribution maps originating from Steve Hopkin & maintained by Peter Shaw can be found here. | |
| Tick Surveillance Scheme | Ticks | Full | 13/08/2008 | 4,591 | No recorder details. BRC dataset. Data should be reliable as material was identified by experienced taxonomists. Where taxonomic difficulties were expected (e.g. Ixodes dorriensmithi, I. guernseyensis and I. arvicolae), Kieran Martyn re-identified specimens. Primarily data extracted from museum collections by Kieran Martyn, with additional records added from the tick recording scheme. See also BRC scheme page and the Tick Surveillance Scheme webpage. | |
| Terrestrial Heteroptera Recording Scheme: Plantbugs and allied species (iRecord) | True Bugs | Full | Updated every 2 months | 90,299 | BANTOCK, T. 2016. A review of the Hemiptera of Great Britain: The shieldbugs and allied families: Species Status No.26. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 190 | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. Detailed species accounts and an extensive image gallery can be found on the British Bugs website. |
| Terrestrial Heteroptera Recording Scheme: Shieldbugs & allied species (iSpot 2008-2010) + Terrestrial Heteroptera Recording Scheme: Shieldbugs & allied species (Flickr 01) + Terrestrial Heteroptera Recording Scheme: Shieldbugs & allied species (iRecord) | True Bugs | Full | iSpot records from 2008 up to 27/12/2010, Flickr (01) up to 09/12/2011, iRecord dataset updated every 2 months. | 317 (iSpot) + 1,904 (Flickr (01)) + 205,257 (iRecord) | BANTOCK, T. 2016. A review of the Hemiptera of Great Britain: The shieldbugs and allied families: Species Status No.26. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 190 | Scheme verified data via iRecord, plus two small additional datasets with pre-2011 citizen science web data. Detailed species accounts and an extensive image gallery can be found on the British Bugs website. |
| Aquatic Heteroptera Recording Scheme (Main database) + Aquatic Heteroptera Recording Scheme (iRecord) | True Bugs | Full | Main database up to 18/11/2012 + iRecord dataset updated every 2 months. | 41,887 (main database) + 22,105 (iRecord) | COOK, A.A. 2015. A review of the Hemiptera of Great Britain: The Aquatic and Semi-aquatic Bugs. Dipsocoromorpha, Gerromorpha, Leptopodomorpha & Nepomorpha. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 188. | Two datasets on NBN Atlas; the recording scheme main database where the bulk of the records originate and verified iRecord data. Detailed species accounts can be found on the scheme website. |
| Auchenorrhyncha Recording Scheme | True Bugs | Full | Updated every 2 months | 66,856 | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. Detailed species accounts and an extensive image gallery can be found on the British Bugs website. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Psylloidea Recording Scheme | True Bugs | N/A | N/A | No records | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 23/04/2026). Detailed species accounts and an extensive image gallery can be found on the British Bugs website. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 187,927 | DRAKE, C.M. 2017. A review of the status of Larger Brachycera flies of Great Britain - Species Status No.29. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 192 | Dataset contains records for the families: Stratiomyidae, Tabanidae, Asilidae, Rhagionidae, Therevidae, Bombyliidae, Acroceridae, Athericidae, Scenopinidae, Xylophagidae and Xylomyidae. Scheme pages on BRC website contains 2018 provisional atlas download. See also checklist for NW Diptera. |
| Anthomyiid Recording Scheme | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 43,421 | FALK, S.J, & PONT, A.C. 2017. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Calypterate flies in the UK. Natural England. Commissioned Reports, Number 234. | Data via iRecord only. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Dixidae and Thaumaleidae Recording Scheme: Meniscus midges | True Flies | Full | 31/12/1988 | 1,462 | FALK, S.J. & Chandler, P.J. 2005. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Part 2: Nematocera and Aschiza not dealt with by Falk (1991). Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. | Not strictly a Recording Scheme dataset. Held by the BRC and checked by the Scheme Organiser at the time. Records for dixidae only. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Cranefly Recording Scheme (main database) + Cranefly Recording Scheme (iRecord) | True Flies | 1 km (main database), Full (iRecord) | Main database up to 29/12/2016, iRecord data updated every 2 months. | 137,395 (main database) + 52,769 via iRecord | Two datasets on NBN Atlas; Cranefly (Diptera; Tipuloidea) records for Britain to 2016 dataset (provided by the BRC) which contains a large proportion (but not all) pre 2016 scheme records and verified iRecord data. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. | |
| Stilt and Stalk Flies Recording Scheme (Main database) + Stilt and Stalk Flies (iRecord) | True Flies | Full | Main database up to 19/09/2022, , iRecord data updated every 2 months. | 6,409 (main database) + 1,572 (iRecord) | FALK, S.J., ISMAY, J.W. & CHANDLER, P.J. 2016. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Acalyptratae flies in the UK. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number217. | Two datasets on NBN Atlas; the main database with records direct from the recording scheme (specimens and academic records) and iRecord data verified by the scheme. Both datasets provided by Dipterists Forum. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Sepsidae Recording Scheme | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 6207 | FALK, S.J., ISMAY, J.W. & CHANDLER, P.J. 2016. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Acalyptratae flies in the UK. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 217 | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. One of the Dipterists Forum datasets. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Tachinid Recording Scheme (main database) + Tachinid Recording Scheme (iRecord) | True Flies | Full | Main database up to 08/11/2015, iRecord dataset updated every 2 months. | 22,586 (main database) + 26,056 (iRecord) | FALK, S.J., ISMAY, J.W. & CHANDLER, P.J. 2016. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Acalyptratae flies in the UK. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 217 | iRecord data verified by the recording scheme. Species accounts and various identification aids are available on the scheme website. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Mosquito Recording Scheme | True Flies | Full | 10/09/1993 | 3,096 | FALK, S.J. & Chandler, P.J. 2005. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Part 2: Nematocera and Aschiza not dealt with by Falk (1991). Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. | No recorder information. Historic non-exhaustive dataset. All specimens identifierd by experienced taxonomists. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Calliphoridae Recording Scheme | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 11,562 | FALK, S.J, & PONT, A.C. 2017. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Calypterate flies in the UK. Natural England. Commissioned Reports, Number 234. | iRecord data only - on BRC dataset. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Non-scheme Diptera via iRecord | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 114,666 | FALK, S.J., ISMAY, J.W. & CHANDLER, P.J. 2016. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Acalyptratae flies in the UK. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 217 FALK, S.J. & CHANDLER, P.J. 2005. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Part 2: Nematocera and Aschiza not dealt with by Falk (1991). Species Status 2: 1-189. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. | Diptera records from iRecord for families not covered by a recording scheme. Only 27% of records are verified. A BRC dataset. See also checklist for NW Diptera. |
| Heleomyzid Recording Scheme | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 7,639 | FALK, S.J., ISMAY, J.W. & CHANDLER, P.J. 2016. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Acalyptratae flies in the UK. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 217 | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. Dataset provided by Dipterists Forum. Contains species records for the 61 species of spiny-winged flies (Diptera: Heleomyzidae/Trixoscelididae) covered by the recording scheme. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| UK Sarcophagidae Recording Scheme | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 15,962 | FALK, S.J, & PONT, A.C. 2017. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Calypterate flies in the UK. Natural England. Commissioned Reports, Number 234. | iRecord data only. Dataset contains species records for the 63 species of flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) covered by the recording scheme. Dataset provided by Dipterists Forum. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Rhinophoridae Recording Scheme - verified via iRecord | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 1,451 | FALK, S.J, & PONT, A.C. 2017. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Calypterate flies in the UK. Natural England. Commissioned Reports, Number 234. | iRecord data only. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Hippoboscidae and Nycteribiidae Recording Scheme | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 506 | DRAKE, C.M. 2017. A review of the status of Larger Brachycera flies of Great Britain - Species Status No.29. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 192 | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. Dataset provided by Dipterists Forum. Includes records collated from old museum records and published literature where records remain valid after changes in taxonomy or are reliably identifiable from the descriptions. Also includes data from the "2021 Mapping the UK's Flat Flies Project" and its 2020 pilot study. See also scheme page on Dipterists Forum (distribution maps and additional info), checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Kelp Fly Recording Scheme | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 470 | FALK, S.J. & Chandler, P.J. 2005. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Part 2: Nematocera and Aschiza not dealt with by Falk (1991). Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. Dataset provided by Dipterists Forum. Contains species records for 3 families of Diptera (Coelopidae, Helcomyzidae and Heterocheilidae) that have been verified by the recording scheme. No recorder information. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Agromyzidae Recording Scheme | True Flies | N/A | N/A | No records | FALK, S.J., ISMAY, J.W. & CHANDLER, P.J. 2016. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Acalyptratae flies in the UK. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 217 | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 24/06/2026). See checklist for NW Diptera. See also the scheme website and BRC scheme page. |
| Chironomidae Study Group | True Flies | N/A | N/A | No records | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 24/06/2026). See checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. | |
| Chloropid Study Group | True Flies | N/A | N/A | No records | FALK, S.J., ISMAY, J.W. & CHANDLER, P.J. 2016. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Acalyptratae flies in the UK. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 217 | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 24/06/2026). See checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Conopid Recording Scheme | True Flies | Full | 29/03/2014 | 537 | CHANDLER, P.J. 2017. A review of the status of the Lonchopteridae, Platypezidae and Opetiidae flies of Great Britain Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number246. | Recording scheme covers the families Conopidae, Lonchopteridae, Ulidiidae, Pallopteridae and Platystomatidae. Incomplete dataset on NBN atlas of Conopidae records only & based on records collected by Steve Falk to 2014 (digitised via Dipterists Forum Project) with further additions via iRecord. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Empidid and Dolichopodid Recording Scheme - via iRecord | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 28,970 | FALK, S.J. & CROSSLEY, R. 2005. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Part 3: Empidoidea. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. DRAKE, C.M. 2018. A review of the status of the Dolichopodidae flies of Great Britain - Species Status No.30. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number195. | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. Dataset now contains species records for all seven families included within the Recording Scheme: Empididae, Brachystomatidae, Hybotidae, Atelestidae, Dolichopodidae, Iteaphilidae and Ragadidae. All records verified by the scheme. Dataset provided by Dipterists Forum. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Flat-footed Fly Recording Scheme | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 424 | CHANDLER, P.J. 2017. A review of the status of the Lonchopteridae, Platypezidae and Opetiidae flies of Great Britain Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number246. | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. Dataset provided by Dipterists Forum. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Fungus Gnat Recording Scheme (iRecord) | True Flies | Full | 08/12/2024 | 148,730 | FALK, S.J. & Chandler, P.J. 2005. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Part 2: Nematocera and Aschiza not dealt with by Falk (1991). Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee. | Dataset provided by Dipterists Forum. Scheme includes flies from five families of fungus gnats: Bolitophilidae, Diadocidiidae, Ditomyiidae, Keroplatidae and Mycetophilidae. Records were passed on to the UKCEH Biological Records Centre who have brought them in to the iRecord system to facilitate sharing with NBN Atlas. See also historical NW checklist, checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Hoverfly Recording Scheme (iRecord) | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 455,293 | BALL, S.G. & MORRIS, R.K.A. 2014. A review of the scarce and threatened flies of Great Britain. Part 6: Syrphidae. Species Status 9: 1-130 Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. | Scheme verified data via iRecord only (not a full copy of the Hoverfly Recording Scheme's dataset). Dataset provided by BRC. Species accounts and distribution maps can be found on the scheme website. See also 2020 VC58-60 checklist by G. Rostron, checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Oestridae Recording Scheme | True Flies | N/A | N/A | No records | FALK, S.J, & PONT, A.C. 2017. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Calypterate flies in the UK. Natural England. Commissioned Reports, Number 234. | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 02/07/2026). See checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Pipunculidae Study Group | True Flies | N/A | N/A | No records | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 02/07/2026). See checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. | |
| Scathophagid Recording Scheme | True Flies | N/A | N/A | No records | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 02/07/2026). See checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. | |
| Tephritid Flies Recording Scheme | True Flies | N/A | N/A | No records | FALK, S.J., ISMAY, J.W. & CHANDLER, P.J. 2016. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Acalyptratae flies in the UK. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 217 | No recording scheme data on NBN Atlas (as of 08/07/2026). See NW picture-wing flies checklist, checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Lesser Dung Fly (Sphaeroceridae) Study Group | True Flies | Full | Updated every 2 months | 3,883 | Scheme verified data via iRecord only. Dataset provided by Dipterists Forum. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. | |
| Sciomyzidae Recording Scheme (Main database) + Sciomyzidae Recording Scheme (iRecord) | True Flies | Full | Main database up to 17/10/2020, iRecord data updated every 2 months. | 9,689 (Main database) + 6,341 (iRecord) | FALK, S.J., ISMAY, J.W. & CHANDLER, P.J. 2016. A Provisional Assessment of the Status of Acalyptratae flies in the UK. Natural England Commissioned Reports, Number 217 | Two datasets on NBN Atlas; the recording scheme main database (personal records and submissions made directly to the Sciomyzidae Recording Scheme by several contributors) and iRecord data verified by the recording scheme. Both datasets provided by Dipterists Forum. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. |
| Small Acalypterate Families Recording Scheme (Main database) + Small Acalypterate Families Recording Scheme (iRecord) | True Flies | Full | Main database up to 08/10/2009, iRecord data updated every 2 months | 235 (Main database) + 1,235 (iRecord) | Two datasets on NBN Atlas; the recording scheme main database (data submitted directly to the recording scheme: includes records covering: Acartophthalmidae, Asteiidae, Aulacigastridae, Braulidae, Camillidae, Campichoetidae, Canacidae, Carnidae, Clusiidae, Diastatidae, Dryomyzidae, Milichiidae, Odiniidae, Periscelididae and Piophilidae) and iRecord data (including records sourced from iNaturalist UK) verified by the recording scheme - with records currently limited to Aulacigastridae, Braulidae, Dryomyzidae and Piophilidae. Both datasets provided by Dipterists Forum. See also checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. | |
| National Stag Beetle Surveys (Great Stag Hunts) | Beetles | 1 km | 30/09/23 | 93,379 | LANE, S.A, 2016. A review of the status of the beetles of Great Britain – The stag beetles, dor beetles, dung beetles, chafers and their allies - Lucanidae, Geotrupidae, Trogidae and Scarabaeidae. Natural England. Commissioned Reports, Number 31. | Dataset limited to records collected between 1998 and 2007 and then from 2015-2023. All records validated by the scheme. Dataset provided by the People's Trust for Endangered Species. |
| Cladocera Interest Group (Water fleas) | Water Fleas | Full | 02/11/2016 | 2,969 | Species distribution maps can be found on the Cladocera Interest Group website. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Freshwater Leech Recording Scheme | Leeches | Full | Updated every 2 months | 1656 | iRecord data only. BRC dataset. All data is subject to verification checks by the scheme prior to upload. See also BRC scheme page. | |
| Muscidae and Fanniidae Study Group | True Flies | N/A | N/A | No records | No data on NBN atlas as of 02/07/2026. See checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. | |
| Muscidae (Diptera) records from Britain and Ireland to 1985 | True Flies | Full | 08/12/1985 | 2,258 | Historic dataset from the former Sepsidae and Muscidae Recording Scheme, now defunct. See also checklist for NW Diptera and the BRC scheme page for the Muscidae and Fanniidae Study Group. | |
| Lonchaeidae Study Group | True Flies | N/A | N/A | No records | No data on NBN atlas as of 02/07/2026. See checklist for NW Diptera and BRC scheme page. | |
| British Myriapod and Isopod Group - Marine Isopod Recording Scheme | Isopods | N/A | N/A | No records | No data on NBN atlas as of 11/06/2026. See also BRC scheme page. |
