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)

Amauromyza morionella (Agromyzidae) – 1st for VC60

• SD472612, Lancaster (VC60), 02/10/2025, rec. det. Robert Homan. Record is from mines in Hedge Woundwort with conspicuous frass in initial corridor.
• Species classed as Nationally Scarce B in Britain.
• The larva mine the leaves of various Stachys and Lamium species. Frass is conspicuous in the mine and the mine is initially linear, then develops into a white blotch, often enveloping the early mine.

Agathomyia wankowiczii – Yellow Flat-footed Fly (Platypezidae)

• 53.347N, 2.706W, Mersey Gateway Bridge, Runcorn (VC58), 26/10/2025, rec. det. Bradley Hoffman. iNaturalist data.
• Despite being well known in Europe, this species was first found in the UK in Kent in 1990. Its distribution in Britain appears to be spreading northwards. Although it is likely not uncommon, it is infrequently recorded.
• Agathomyia wankowiczii is the only invertebrate in Britain known to cause a gall on a fungus: specifically, Artist’s Bracket fungus (Ganoderma applanatum). G. applanatum is a hard fungus which grows slowly enough for the fly to lay its eggs and harbour the growth of the offspring before the fungus decays. Because of this it is the only host that can support A. wankowiczii. Galls can be found on the underside of the fungus, and each wart contains a grub of the fly. Once the grub is fully grown, it bores a hole into the top of the gall and falls to the ground where it buries itself into the soil before it pupating into the adult fly.
• Adults of this species are a vivid orange, despite the name, and are the only completely orange member of the Platypezidae family in Britain.

Beetles (Coleoptera)

Tournotaris bimaculata (Erirhinidae)

• SD485710, Keer saltmarsh, Carnforth (VC60), 11/10/2025, rec. Nicola Garnham, det. Clive Washington. Saltmarsh flooded at spring tides.
• Few previous records of this species in the region.

Syntomium aeneum (Erirhinidae)

• 53.619N, 2.549W, Rivington Terraced Gardens, Bolton (VC59), 30/10/2025, rec. Jai, det. Lorenzo Locati. iNaturalist data.
• Nationally under recorded species and taxa, so distribution and species data are limited. A few previous records exist for the species in the region from previous years.

Bugs (Hemiptera)

Arboridia ribauti (Cicadellidae)

• SJ699503, Wybunbury Moss NNR (VC58), 29/10/2025, rec. det. Simon Van Toller. 4 specimens beaten from oak.
• Record is north of usual range for Arboridia ribauti. There are few previous records for this species in the region.

Drepanosiphum acerinum – Sapling sycamore aphid (Aphididae) – 1st for VC58

• SJ699501, Wybunbury Moss NNR (VC58), 29/10/2025, rec. det. Simon Van Toller. 20+ specimens beaten from Sycamore.
• Nationally scarce and likely under-recorded. The least common of the four European aphid species associated with sycamore.

Butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera)

Gypsonoma oppressana – Poplar Shoot moth (Tortricidae)

• SJ66807502, Neumanns flash (VC58), 12/10/2025, rec. Chris Hynes, det. Martin Gray and Ben Smart. Mine found on black poplar or hybrid.
• Relatively local species, classified as Nationally Scarce B in the Butterfly Conservation Microlepidoptera Report 2011.

Stigmella obliquella – Willow Pigmy (Nepticulidae)

• 53.319N, 2.268W, Wilmslow (VC58), 12/10/2025, rec. det. A Emmerson. iNaturalist data.
• Widely distributed, but uncommon. Classified as local in the Butterfly Conservation Microlepidoptera Report 2011.
• Eggs are laid on either side of the leaves of smooth-leaved willow. The larvae emerge in June and September and create a narrow mine, often parallel to the rib of the leaf. Adult moths emerge in two generations, in May and August.

Bees, Wasps and Ants (Hymenoptera)

Gregopimpla inquisitor (Ichneumonidae)

• SJ699501, Wybunbury Moss NNR (VC58), 29/10/2025, rec. det. Simon Van Toller. Specimen collected from general sweeping.
• Species considered rare but widespread. 1 previous specimen from Cheshire in the World Museum collection.
• Acts as both a solitary and gregarious parasitoid (depending on host size) of a wide range of lepidopteran pupae with flimsy cocoons.

Spiders (Araneae)

Mecynargus morulus (Linyphiidae)

• SD70128260, Green Hill (VC60), 11/10/2025, rec. det. Richard Gallon. Adult female specimen collected via vacuum sampling at a Sphagnum-fringed pool. Data collected as part of the Spider Recording Scheme.
• Nationally scarce and locally rare.
• Spider of high ground in Britain, found among grass and moss and under stones on high ground and mountain tops. Adults have been found from spring and summer until October, with a peak in July.

Harvestmen (Opiliones)

Platybunus pinetorum (Phalangiidae)

• Lords Lot (VC60), 12/10/2025, rec. det. Dominic Best, netted in bracken amongst pine trees.

iRecord top 10 species October 2025

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
• Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects, Royal Ent. Soc. ISBN 0901546720
• srs.britishspiders.org.uk – Spider and Harvestman Recording Scheme website