Invertebrate Notes January 2025

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.

Caddisflies (Trichoptera)

Chydorus latus (Chydoridae), Hatchmere SSSI, Delamare Forest, VC58, 09/2023 (01/01/2025), D. Bentley

Archive Image: Donald Hobern, 2014 (CC)
  • Widespread but scattered distribution (nbnatlas.org.uk), but considered Nationally Scarce, and Local in VC58.
  • Found as a larva.
  • The larvae of this species is found in ponds, swamps, fens, and other wetland habitats where it feeds mainly in plant matter but is occasionally predatory. Adults can be found from May to July (trichopteraireland.wordpress.com)

Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)

Coenagrion pulchellum (Coenagrionidae), Hatchmere SSSI, Delamere Forest, VC58, 2023 (01/01/2025), D. Bentley

Archive Image: Charles J. Sharp, 2016 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Widespread distribution across much of England, mostly towards the East and South (also very widespread in Ireland and Northern Ireland) (nbnatlas.org.uk). Considered a Red Data Book species, and Near Threatened, as well as Local in VC58.
  • Larvae found.
  • The larvae can be found in well-vegetated ditches, canals and ponds, and rarely in flowing water. Like other Odonatans, the larvae are voracious predators. The adults can be found from April to August, but mainly in May to July (british-dragonflies.org.uk).
  • The larvae can be recognised by spotting on the back of the head, and from rounded caudal lamellae (which distinguishes it from C. puella). The adults have a range of forms (hence the common name “Variable Damselfly”, but can be recognised by the tri-lobed pronotum and other markings (british-dragonflies.org.uk).

Water Fleas (Diplostraca)

Chydorus latus (Chydoridae), Hatchmere SSSI, Delamere Forest, VC58, 2023 (01/01/2025), D. Bentley

Archive Image: G.O. Sars (Public Domain)
  • Only 6 records on nbnatlas.org.uk, all from Seaton Carew, Durham. Otherwise listed as rare in British Freshwater Cladocera by Scourfield & Harding 1966. Also recorded from deer puddles in Tatton Park (Bentley, 2025).
  • Little is known about the ecology of species due to its lack of records, possibly because of being overlooked/underrecorded.
  • Similar to other Chydorus species, C. latus is larger and thinner (artsdatabanken.no)

True Flies (Diptera)

Scenopinus niger (Scenopinidae), Tatton Park, Knutsford, VC58, 21/05/2021-10/06/2021 (21/01/2025), Tanyptera Vanes Trap (Det: Grayson, A)

Archive Image, Scenopinus fenestralis: Aleksandrs Balodis, 2017 (CC)
  • 2nd regional record since 2011, with 126 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread from the Midlands to south England (nbnatlas.org.uk). It is considered Near Threatened and Nationally Scarce (Drake, 2017).
  • This record was from vanes traps that were surveying the saproxylic invertebrate fauna around ancient trees and deadwood around Tatton Park.
  • This species, also known as the Forest Windowfly, is found in open areas with veteran trees and standing deadwood. The larvae and pupae have been found in red-rotten hearts of veteran Oak and Beech trees. The adults fly from late May to early August, and males are known to hover (flickr.com, Steven Falk)
  • The Forest Windowfly is very similar to another species in its genus, Scenopinus fenestralis. S. niger has much darker femora and tibiae than S. fenestralis, and prefers different habitats (flickr.com, Steven Falk).

Dioxyna bidentis (Tephritidae), Tatton Park, Knutsford, VC58, 21/05/2021-10/06/2021 (21/01/2025), Tanyptera Vanes Trap (Det: Grayson, A)

Archive Image, Rhipidia maculata: Gail Hampshire, 2017 (CC)
  • 1st possible VC58 record, with 41 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread but scattered across most of England and Wales (nbnatlas.org.uk).
  • This record was from vanes traps that were surveying the saproxylic invertebrate fauna around ancient trees and deadwood around Tatton Park.
  • Little is known on this species due to the lack of records, but most describe an association with decaying heartwood of various deciduous trees (ccw.naturalis.nl).
  • Like most Limoniids and other cranefly groups, species can be quite similar to each other. Rhiphidia uniseriata is most similar, and requires close examination of the forelegs (ccw.naturalis.nl).

Rhipidia ctenophora (Limoniidae), Norely Moss, Hatchmere SSSI, Delamere Forest, VC58, 2019 (01/01/2025), D. Bentley

Archive Image: Alvesgaspar, 2008 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
  • Less than 8 VC58 sites, with 126 published UK records. Widespread but scattered distribution (nbnatlas.org.uk), and Nationally Notable.
  • This species feeds on the flower heads and under-developed seeds Bidens tripartita, which itself grows in wet and muddy conditions (essexfieldclub.org.uk).

Beetles (Coleoptera)

Otiorhynchus porcatus (Curculionidae), Grappenhall, Warrington, VC58, 15/01/2023, C. Washington

Archive Image: Pierre Bornand, 2019 (CC BY-NC 2.0)
  • Possibly 2nd VC58 record (other record also made by C. Washington), with 82 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread in Scotland, with few further down south into the North (nbnatlas.org.uk).
  • Recorded from a large compost heap.
  • In Europe, the species is polyphagous and feeds on a variety of garden plants. In the UK, it is mainly associated with Primula, where it feeds on the roots as larvae and the leaves as adults (bladmineerders.nl)

Atheta debilis (Staphylinidae), Carrs Park, Wilmslow, VC58, 15/01/2023, C. Washington

Archive Image, Atheta lognicornis: Udo Schmidt, 2020 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
  • Possibly 1st VC58 record, with 95 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread across the Midlands, with a scatter of records in the South and North, as well as some in Wales (nbnatlas.org.uk).
  • Recorded when the River Bollin overflowed and flooded into adjacent fields, accumulating large amounts of litter and debris.
  • Not much is known about this species due to its scarcity, but some Atheta species are sold commercially as biocontrol agents against various horticultural pests such as fungus gnats and thrips

Sepedophilus constans (Staphylinidae), Carrs Park, Wilmslow, VC58, 15/01/2023, C. Washington

Archive Image, Sepedophilus bipunctatus: Udo Schmidt, 2009 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
  • Possibly 1st VC58 record, with 38 other published UK records. The distribution is scattered with records across Wales, and from the Midlands towards the North (natlas.org.uk). It is also Nationally Notable.
  • Recorded when the River Bollin overflowed and flooded into adjacent fields, accumulating large amounts of litter and debris.
  • Not much is known about this species due to its scarcity, however other Sepedophilus species are associated with forest leaf litter and debris, under bark, and sometimes polypore fungi (bugguide.net). S. marshami is associated ants nests and deadwood (naturespot.org.uk).

Oxypoda collinsi (Staphylinidae), Carrs Park, Wilmslow, VC58, 15/01/2023, C. Washington

Archive Image, Oxypoda opaca: Udo Schmidt, 2009 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
  • Possibly 1st VC58 record, with 45 other published UK records. The distribution is scattered; most records around East Midlands (nbnatlas.org.uk).
  • Recorded when the River Bollin overflowed and flooded into adjacent fields, accumulating large amounts of litter and debris.
  • Not much is known about this species due to its scarcity, however other Oxypoda species feed in leaf litter and other decaying matter.

Drupenatus nasturtii (Curculionidae), Beavers Brook, Hatchmere SSSI, Delamere Forest, VC58, 2023 (01/01/2025), D. Bentley

Archive Image: Udo Schmidt, 2014 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
  • Less than 7 VC58 sites, with 204 published UK records. Widespread but scattered distribution (nbnatlas.org.uk), and Nationally Notable B.
  • Recorded on Nasturtium officinale.
  • This species is a wetland specialist, feeding on Water-cress (Bentley, 2025)

Niptus hololeucus (Ptinidae), Common End, Chorley, VC59, 07/01/2025, D. Ashcroft

D. Ashcroft, 2025 (CC BY-NC)
  • Possibly 1st VC59 record, with 114 other published UK records with a scattered distribution; records are mostly in Wales and West Midlands, with few in southern England and northern Scotland (nbnatlas.org.uk).
  • The species has a worldwide distribution, and is a pest of stored products such as grains and seeds, but it also feeds on wools and textiles. It can be found in dark areas (nhm.ac.uk).
  • The adults have a large and rounded abdomen with a narrow thorax, and are covered in golden hairs (nhm.ac.uk).

iRecord records summary January 2025

GroupNo. of recordsNo. of species
springtail (Collembola)8710
insect - beetle (Coleoptera)5015
mollusc3910
insect - true fly (Diptera)219
crustacean195
insect - hymenopteran168
spider (Araneae)97
insect - true bug (Hemiptera)74
centipede41
millipede41

iRecord top 10 species January 2025

Scientific NameCommon NameFamilyOrderNumber of Records
Entomobrya intermediaEntomobryidaeEntomobryomorpha37
Dicyrtomina saundersiDicyrtomidaeSymphypleona17
Limacus maculatusGreen Cellar SlugLimacidaePulmonata11
Harmonia axyridisHarlequin LadybirdCoccinellidaeColeoptera10
Halyzia sedecimguttataOrange LadybirdCoccinellidaeColeoptera9
Oniscus asellusCommon Shiny WoodlouseOniscidaeIsopoda9
Orchesella cinctaEntomobryidaeEntomobryomorpha9
Dicyrtomina ornataDicyrtomidaeSymphypleona9
Cornu aspersumCommon Garden SnailHelicidaePulmonata8
Phytomyza ilicisHolly Leaf Gall FlyAgromyzidaeDiptera7

References