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.
Barkflies (Psocoptera)
Epicaecilius pilipennis (Caeciliusidae), Little Budworth Common, VC58, 01/12/2024, C. Washington
C. Washington, 2024
2nd VC58 record, with 87 other published UK records with a scattered distribution; records in South-west England, the Midlands, South Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland (nbnatlas.org.uk).
In the North, adults can be found all year (where adults have been found overwintering in bark), whereas Southern records appear to only be from Spring to late Autumn. They are most closely associated with the bark and branches of various deciduous tree species (National Barkfly Recording Scheme).
There are two forms of E. pilipennis, a long-winged (macropterous) form, and a short-winged (brachypterous) form. Both forms are dark in colour, with dark brown wings that have four light patches on it. This species looks similar to Valenzuela piceus, and E. pilipennis can be distinguished from it via the two light patches it has on its vertex (National Barkfly Recording Scheme).
Moths and Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Acleris logiana (Tortricidae), Spud Wood, Lymm VC58, 10/12/2024, J. Boe
J. Boe, 2024
Two adults found on the bark of birch trees at night.
Only 10 other VC58 records, the first of which was in 2022 (cheshire-moth-charts.org.uk). Previous UK distribution was restricted to Scotland, but can now be found in other areas of the UK (Stirling & Parson, 2023).
The species is double-brooded, but adults are most often found from September through to April where the autumn generation overwinters. The larvae feed on birch leaves, and pupate in a spinning between birch leaves (Stirling & Parson, 2023).
Acleris logiana is most similar to Acleriskochiella, and are often reliably separated via the stronger markings on A. kochiella. However, sometimes differences are unclear and they may need to be dissected to be distinguished (Stirling & Parson, 2023).
