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.
14 other VC59 records, with almost 3,000 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread but scattered; strongly concentrated along the south coasts of Cornwall through to Dorset, and Wales. Very scattered north of Oxfordshire (nbnatlas.org.uk).
Adults tend to emerge from February to March and feed voraciously on vegetation. After mating, gravid females dig small burrows in light soil and lay large quantities of eggs. The hatching tiny, orange larvae are very active and climb onto flowers. Around June/July, the larvae latch onto any visiting (usually solitary) bee to be brought back to the nest to then feed on the eggs, grub, and other nest provisions (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
As a genus, the adults are very distinctive with their metallic bodies, large abdomens, and short elytra. There are small but distinctive differences between the eight UK species.
Rhinocyllus conicus (Curculionidae), Cheshire East, VC58, 10/03/2025, C. Wilkins
C. Wilkins, 2025 (CC-BY-NC)
Dead adult found.
13 other VC59 records, with 728 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread across the South and Midlands of England, as far north as Yorkshire. Few records in Wales (nbnatlas.org.uk). It is classified as Nationally Notable A (eakringbirds.com).
Found on open and disturbed grounds, the larvae of this species feeds within heads of Cirsium and Curduus thistles. They were used as a biological control agent against invasive thistles in the US (naturespot.org.uk).
This species is fairly distinctive thanks to its short rostrum and chequered black and yellow pattern on the elytra.
Less than 10 other VC59 records, with 72 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread but scattered, occurring mainly in central and eastern counties of the UK (nbnatlas.org.uk).
The larvae feed on birches and alders, with early instars creating characteristic J-shaped holes within the central areas of the leaf. Later instars then move to the outer edges of the leaf and characteristically hold their posterior body segments curved downwards (sawflies.org.uk).
The J-shaped feeding signs are distinctive of this species, but another Hemichroa species, H. crocea also curves their end segments downwards. However, this species has two black stripes along the side of their body whereas H. australis is completely green. (sawflies.org.uk).
5 other VC59 records, with 82 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread but scattered across the South and Midlands of England, with records as far north as Yorkshire. A few unconfirmed Welsh records (nbnatlas.org.uk). It was first recorded in the UK in 1965 (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
The larvae mine the leaves of daffodils and sometimes eat the bulbs as well. It is thought that they were introduced into the UK through the importation of daffodil bulbs (as Merodon equestris was). In Spring, adults can often be found resting on and flying about daffodils, and females can be seen through to Autumn (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
N. spinipes is one of four British scathophagid species with strongly bristled forelegs, the others being species of Norellisoma. It can be most easily distinguished from the others by having only one row (instead of two) row of strong bristles beneath the foretibiae (flickr.com, Steven Falk).
Amauromyza labiatarum (Agromyzidae), Poynton, Stockport, VC59, 27/09/2024 (05/03/2025), A. Emmerson
A. Emmerson, 2024 (CC-BY-NC)
Larvae and mine found on Mentha sp. leaf.
Less than 10 other VC59 records, with 298 other published UK records. The distribution is widespread but scattered (nbnatlas.org.uk). It is considered common (agromyzidae.co.uk).
The larvae mine within various species of the plant family Lamiaceae, and can be found from May to December. They then pupate externally, and the adults can be found from May to September (agromyzidae.co.uk).
When on overlapping foodplants, the mine of this species can be similar to other Agromyzidae species; Agromyza flavipennis, Amauromyza morionella, and Phytomyza obscurella. Differences in the size of the mine and distribution of frass should differentiate these mines (agromyzidae.co.uk).
Possibly 1st VC59 record, with 11 published UK records with a widespread but scattered distribution (nbnatlas.org.uk). A rare imported pest to the UK.
The species is native to areas of Sub-saharan Africa, but has spread across the globe through importation of fruits. The larvae feed on a wide variety (over 200 confirmed!) of fruits and vegetables.
This species is quite distinctive with its contrasting black and white thorax, and black and yellow wing patterns and so it is unlikely to be confused with any UK species of Tephritid.
