Promoting the study and conservation of invertebrates in North West England
Promoting the study and conservation of invertebrates in North West England
Invertebrate Notes January 2024
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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.
Otiorhynchus armadillo (Curculionidae), St Anne Street, Birkenhead, VC59, 20/01, E. Gildea
Will George (CC-BY) – Archive image
23 recordings of species in the VC58 – VC60 area according to iRecord, only 3 on NBN Atlas. 157 sightings recorded throughout the UK according to iRecord.
Mainly recorded in southern Britain though occurrences in the north are becoming more frequent.
Larvae feed on plant roots below ground, causing deterioration in small plants. Adults feed above ground on stems and leaves, causing damage to a lesser extent though these beetles are still considered a pest by gardeners.
Stethorus pusillus(Coccinellidae), Stockton Heath, Warrington, VC59, 09/01, C. Washington
Giles San Martin (CC-BY-SA) – Archive image
Potential second record for the VC58 – VC60 area with only one record on NBN Atlas and no records on iRecord. A fairly common species throughout the country though more frequent in central and southeast England with 614 records listed on NBN Atlas.
Lives in deciduous woodlands, grasslands, orchards and can also be found in gardens with a preference for privet gorse and deciduous trees.
A specialised spider mite predator but also known to predate on aphids.
Oxypoda spectabilis (Staphylinidae), Brereton Heath, Congleton, VC58, 11/01, C. Washington
Andrey Ponomorev (CC BY-NC) – Archive image
Second recording in the VC58 – VC60 area, only 63 records in the UK according to NBN Atlas though the genus Oxypoda has a cosmopolitan distribution.
O. spectabilis occurs mostly in forest areas under decaying plant matter and rotten wood. Adults usually observed from late autumn until early spring.
Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Rusty grain beetle) (Cucujoidea), Brereton Heath, Congleton, VC58, 11/01, C. Washington
7 records of species in the VC58 – VC60 range according to iRecord, though is commonly seen throughout the midlands with 206 records in total on NBN Atlas.
As the name implies, this beetle is a common pest to grain as well as dried fruits and nuts.
Adults lay up to 300 eggs and deposit them within the grain, ensuring the larvae will have adequate feed after hatching.
Adults range in size between 1.5-2.3mm.
Synchita undata (Zopheridae), Marbury Park, Northwich, VC58, 20/01, C. Washington
Pierrick Bloin (CC BY-NC) – Archive image
3 previous recordings for the VC58 – VC60 area. Seemingly not well recorded in the UK with only 91 dispersed records on NBN Atlas.
Often found on sycamore trunks, this species is believed to have an association with sooty bark diseases which is caused by the ascomycete fungus Cryptostroma corticale.
Aderus populneus (Aderidae), Moore, Warrington, VC59, 25/01, C. Washington
Udo Schmidt (CC) – Archive image
7 previous records of species in the VC58 – VC60 area. Seemingly more abundant in the midlands with 144 records in total on NBN Atlas.
A saproxylic species which develops within rotten wood in a variety of deciduous trees such as oak, lime and willows.
Feeds on fungus infected wood in larval stage and pupates in the late summer or early autumn. Adults may be found in decaying wood in the spring after overwintering and additionally in the autumn.
Sitona waterhousei (Curculionidae), Moore, Warrington, VC59, 25/01, C. Washington
Joel Kilgour (CCO) – Archive image
5 records of species in the VC58 – VC60 range according to iRecord. More commonly seen in the south of the country according to the 174 NBN Atlas records.
Widespread, though patchily distributed throughout Europe.
Sitona weevils are known to feed on various Fabaceae both as larvae and adults. Adults are exceptional fliers, moving between various feeding sites with ease. Eggs are deposited within the soil around suitable host plants with larvae burrow into root nodules to begin feeding. The development of larvae usually completes once they have made it through the root nodule and begin feeding on roots externally.
Diptera (Flies)
Phytobia carbonaria (Agromyzidae), Northwich, VC58, 12/01, C. Reiki
Chris Reiki (CC BY-CC)
5th recording for the VC58 area according to irecord.
Thought to be extinct in the UK until recently rediscovered. The majority of records on NBN Atlas date back to the early 1900’s though there have been 92 instances of the species identified between 2023 and 2024 on iRecord.
The larvae feed on the xylem tissue of young stems and can be identified from the scars that they cause. The markings around each development ring are caused by the larvae eating up and down the stem.
First VC60 record. This species has also been identified several times in Cheshire (VC58).
Thought to be extinct in the UK until recently rediscovered. The majority of records on NBN Atlas date back to the early 1900’s though there have been 92 instances of the species identified between 2023 and 2024 on iRecord.
The larvae feed on the xylem tissue of young stems and can be identified from the scars that they cause. The markings around each development ring are caused by the larvae eating up and down the stem.
Cerodontha iridis (Agromyzidae), Cyril cook park, Huyton, VC59, 12/01 S. McWilliam
Steve McWilliam (CCO)
12th record of species in the VC58-VC60 area. A common occurrence in the country with 558 records listed on iRecord.
Larvae form a blotch mine on the leaves of stinking iris (Iris foetidissima). The blotch may be quite large as several mines may merge.
Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Hemiptera (Bugs)
Kelisia sabulicola (Delphacidae), Crosby, VC59, 04/01, S. Hartnett
Sean Hartnett (CC BY)
Second record of species in the VC58-VC60 area. The last known instance was 1980. 74 UK records with primary distribution in Wales and East Anglia (NBN Atlas).
Only species in the genus to occur on coastal sandhills. Associated with Sand sedge (Carex arenaria).
40 VC58-VC60 records according to iRecord and only 8 instances according to NBN Atlas. However, fairly common elsewhere with 784 records on NBN Atlas.
A common lacebug on creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense) throughout much of Britain.
Known to overwinter as an adult and accumulate on their food plant in spring and early summer.
Siphonaptera (Fleas)
Nosopsyllus fasciatus (Northern rat flea) (Ceratophyllidae), Liverpool, VC59, 01/01 S. Hartnett
Sean Hartnett (CC BY)
Potential first recording for the VC58-VC60 areas. 57 recordings on NBN Atlas with the majority of sightings taking place in East Anglia.
Obligate nidiculous parasite on vertebrates, usually found on rats though can also be found on other vertebrates.
Native to Europe though commonly found worldwide due to commensal relationship between common host species (Rodents) and humans.
Collembola (Springtails)
Dicyrtomina Saundersi (Dicyrtomidae), Coronation park, Ormskirk, VC59, 21/01 S. Hartnett
Sean Hartnett (CC BY)
2 recordings in the VC58-VC60 area, though well recorded elsewhere with 467 records nationally according to NBN Atlas.
Identifiable from the distinctive ‘Multi-barred’ cross pattern at the posterior end of the abdomen. Additionally, this species has clear colour change at the joint of antennal segments 2 and 3, those both these features must be clearly defined to be classified as D. saundersi.
Can be found under stones and logs amongst other refugia.
Hymenoptera (Bees & Wasps)
Andricus aries (Rams horn gall wasp) (Cynipidae), Cyril cook park, Huyton, VC59, 12/01 S. McWilliam
Steve McWilliam (CCO)
58 records within the VC58-VC60 area, though well recorded nationally with 831 recorded instances shown on iRecord.
Common name derived from shape of gall formed on native Quercus species, which resembles the horns of a ram.
The adult wasp lays its eggs on various species of oak. These galls commonly form a chimera with another gall-causing species which can cause irregularly shapes. The presence of inquiline wasps Synergus spp can also change the shape of the gall, causing enlargement of the base.
