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)
Spiniphora maculata (Phoridae) – 1st for VC59
- SD70740287, Cutacre (VC59), 25/02/2026, rec. det. Phil Brighton. Adult female specimen.
Bees, Wasps & Ants (Hymenoptera)
Diastrophus rubi – (Cynipidae)
- 53.207N, 2.928W, The Arches School, Blacon, Chester (VC58), 18/02/2026, rec. det. Remmy S. iNaturalist data. Record from old gall.
- Only 1 previous record for the VC from Carr Lane, Wirral in 2019 (James Hodkinson)
- Gall caused by Diastrophus rubi, a gall wasp affecting Bramble. The galls form as an elongated swelling on the stem, usually causing the stem to bend. They have a bumpy surface, each bump containing a separate gall chamber. The old, vacated galls are typically found with multiple exit holes, one for each chamber. The old vacated galls can persist for many years.
Hairy-footed Flower Bee Anthophora plumipes (Apidae)
- Bebington, Wirral, (VC58), 24/02/2026, rec. det. Roy Lowry. iRecord Data.
- One of the first regional records of this species in 2026.
- Anthophora plumipes is a characteristic early-spring bee across much of the North West, particularly associated with gardens, churchyards, and older urban areas offering suitable nesting sites.
Centipedes & Millipedes (Myriapoda)
Cylindroiulus londinensis – (Julidae)
- 53.388N, 2.928W, Greenbank Park, Liverpool (VC59), 25/02/2026, rec. det. Stephen James McWilliam.
- Widespread but uncommon in Britain and Ireland, with most records from south east England. One previous record in the region from Calderstones Park in 2022 (VC59).
Butterflies & Moths (Lepidoptera)
Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum (Sphingidae)
- Outside Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, 27/02/2026, rec. det David Costello
- Hummingbird Hawk-moths are typically seen between May and October, so encountering one in late winter this far north is unusual. It may have overwintered locally and been disturbed, or perhaps the mild weather encouraged it to get flying early.
iRecord records summary Feb 2026
| Group | No. of records | No. of species |
|---|---|---|
| insect - true fly (Diptera) | 129 | 46 |
| insect - beetle (Coleoptera) | 83 | 21 |
| insect - hymenopteran | 71 | 18 |
| mollusc | 38 | 13 |
| crustacean | 36 | 7 |
| insect - true bug (Hemiptera) | 26 | 13 |
| millipede | 16 | 7 |
| spider (Araneae) | 16 | 9 |
| flatworm (Turbellaria) | 9 | 3 |
| coelenterate (=cnidarian) | 7 | 2 |
iRecord top 10 species Feb 2026
| Scientific name | Common name | Order | Family | No. of records | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coccinella septempunctata | 7-spot Ladybird | Coleoptera | Coccinellidae | 33 | ||
| Phytomyza ilicis | Holly Leaf Gall Fly | Diptera | Agromyzidae | 23 | ||
| Harmonia axyridis | Harlequin Ladybird | Coleoptera | Coccinellidae | 16 | ||
| Oniscus asellus | Common Shiny Woodlouse | Isopoda | Oniscidae | 16 | ||
| Eristalis tenax | Common Drone Fly | Diptera | Syrphidae | 13 | ||
| Andricus kollari/infectorius f. agamic agg. | Hymenoptera | Cynipidae | 11 | |||
| Meliscaeva auricollis | Spotted Thintail Hoverfly | Diptera | Syrphidae | 9 | ||
| Apis mellifera | Western Honey Bee | Hymenoptera | Apidae | 9 | ||
| Bombus terrestris | Buff-tailed Bumblebee | Hymenoptera | Apidae | 9 | ||
| Porcellio scaber | Common Rough Woodlouse | Isopoda | Porcellionidae | 8 |
References / sources
- British Bugs – Online identification guide to UK Hemiptera
- NBN Atlas – National Biodiversity Network data portal
- iRecord – Citizen science recording platform
- Dipterists Forum – UK society for Diptera research
- Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union journal – Regional entomological records
- NatureSpot – Species accounts and distribution maps
- GBIF – Global Biodiversity Information Facility
- Diptera.info – International Diptera image and discussion forum
- British Myriapod and Isopod Group – Myriapoda and Isopoda research group and data resource
