Invertebrate Notes March 2023

A selection of notable records reported to Tanyptera. Includes older, but newly recognised regional vice county records (dates blue). ‘The region’ = VC58, 58, 60 + Cheshire, Lancs, Merseyside, Greater Manchester.

Araneae (Spiders)

Chilopoda (Centipedes)

Cryptops parisi (Cryptopidae), Nether Kellet, VC60, 5/3, N. Garnham.
(c) N. Garnham
  • Probably the first VC60 and regional record. A non-native, naturalised species.
  • Most UK records are from SW Wales.
  • Found in bag of horse manure.
  • Can be found in various situations near the ground, often in woodland areas.

Coleoptera (Beetles)

Phyllotreta astrachanica (Chrysomelidae), Helsby Quarry, VC58, 12/3, C. Washington.
  • Probably the first VC58 and regional record.
  • Records up to South Yorkshire on NBN Atlas maps. Generally scarce.
  • According to Duff (2016), feeds on various Brassicacaeae and hibernates in various locations such as under bark.
Psylliodes luteola (Chrysomelidae), Formby, VC59, 19/3, C. Washington.
  • Probably the first VC59 and regional record.
  • According to Duff (2016), local and scarce in Central and Southern England.
  • Feeds on various grasses, trees and shrubs.
Mecinus collaris (Curculionidae), Formby, VC59, 19/3, C. Washington.
Archive image. Mark Gurney (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
  • Not recorded in the regional since 1927. Local in England.
  • Gall causer on Sea Plantain (in salty marshes) and most record on iRecord relate to detection via the distinctive gall formation.
Otiorhynchus rugosostriatus (Curculionidae), Helsby Quarry, VC58, 12/3, C. Washington.
Archive image. Mark Gurney (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
  • Few regional records, and only found in VC58 according to the C. Washington (2020) checklist.
  • Feeds on a range of herbaceous plants where the larvae are external root-feeders.
  • Adults are parthenogenetic and so far only females have been recorded.
  • Appears widely distributed in England and Wales but local and with a seemingly coastal bias.

Collembola (Springtails)

Diplopoda (Millipedes)

Diptera (Flies)

Platycheirus ambiguus (Syrphidae), Ainsdale NNR, VC59, 27/3, P. Kinsella
P. Kinsella (CC-BY)
  • A male on a flowering Prunus. This may be the 1st Sefton Coast record but within the region, has been recorded from The Fylde and in the Manchester area.
  • Strongly associated with Blackthorn. The larvae feed on aphids on the foliage of Blackthorn and other Prunus species.
  • Widespread but local in the UK.

Hemiptera (True Bugs)

Acericerus heydenii (Cicadellidae), Mossley, Greater Manchester, VC63, 17/3, S. Suttill
(c) S. Suttill
  • Appears to be a new record for Greater Manchester.
  • Also reported in Feb 2023 notes, having also been found in VC59 (Formby).
  • This leafhopper has spread rapidly through the UK since being detected in 2010 in southern England. There are now 5 regional records, having been first identified by Steve McWilliam in Woolston in 2021. Apparently not yet recorded from VC60.

Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps & Ants)

Bees

Wasps

Sawflies

Aglaostigma aucupariae (Tenthredinidae), Alexandra Park, Crosby, VC59, 26/3, P. Kinsella
  • A common and widespread Sawfly in the UK but this seems to be only the 2nd Sefton Coast record (1st in 2000 by Tom Green at Ainsdale)
  • A species with an early flight period. The larvae feed on bedstraws.
P. Kinsella (CC-BY)

Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Orthoptera (Grasshoppers and Crickets)

iRecord records summary

GroupNo. of recordsNo. of species
insect – true fly (Diptera)14531
insect – hymenopteran14228
insect – beetle (Coleoptera)7132
mollusc4421
crustacean4010
insect – true bug (Hemiptera)2812
spider (Araneae)148
millipede123
annelid76
centipede73

iRecord top 10 species

Accepted nameOrderFamilyNo. of records
Bombus terrestrisHymenopteraApidae29
Eristalis tenaxDipteraSyrphidae20
Meliscaeva auricollisDipteraSyrphidae17
Phytomyza ilicisDipteraAgromyzidae17
Oniscus asellusIsopodaOniscidae16
Andrena clarkellaHymenopteraAndrenidae15
Bombus lapidariusHymenopteraApidae15
Anthophora plumipesHymenopteraApidae14
Eristalis pertinaxDipteraSyrphidae13
Syrphus torvusDipteraSyrphidae12
Palomena prasinaHemipteraPentatomidae12