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)
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Oxypoda induta (Staphylinidae), Woolston Eyes, VC58, 1/11, C. Washington.
- Possible first VC58 record.
- Found in Phragmites litter.
- 26 scattered records on NBN Atlas from England, including 2 from Merseyside.
Myrmecocephalus concinnus (Staphylinidae), Jacksons Brickworks LNR (8/11), Eastham Country Park (17/11), both VC58, C. Washington.
- Found in a compost heap at Jacksons Brickworks LNR and a woodchip heap at Eastham Country Park.
- An established non-native. There is a 1972 Birkenhead specimen in World Museum labelled ‘Ex. timber from Malaya’. It has since been found by Clive Washington at New Ferry Butterfly Park in August 2021, and now these two new sites demonstrate its firmly established on the Wirral.
- 21 records displaying on NBN Atlas.
Corylophus cassidoides (Corylophidae), Burton Point, VC58, 25/11, C. Washington.
- Found in Marram litter. Appears new to VC58.
- According to records on NBN Atlas, has only been recorded further North in the UK once (Barnaby Sands, VC60, 2020, Clive Washington).
- A mostly coastal species in the UK.
- The very small adults (1-.1.1mm) are mould feeders.
Sunius bicolor (Staphylinidae), Burton Point, VC58, 25/11, C. Washington.
- Five specimens from marram litter.
- A second North West site showing that it is now established. Previously found c.15km away at Oglet Shore, Speke in 2020 by Clive Washington.
- 42 records on NBN Atlas, mostly from Norfolk.
- Associated with fen litter and saltmarshes.
Oxypoda recondita (Staphylinidae), Burton Point, VC58, 25/11, C. Washington.
- Found in marram litter.
- Nationally Notable. Apparently only previously recorded in VC58 from Little Budworth Common in 2020 by Clive Washington, and at Dunham Massey in 1992 by Colin Johnson.
- 29 scattered records on NBN Atlas from Devon to Southern Scotland.
Acrotona obfuscata (Staphylinidae), Burton Point, VC58, 25/11, C. Washington.
- Nationally Notable
- Elsewhere in VC58, has been recorded from Cobbs Moss (Derek Lott, 2003) and Jacksons Brickworks (2020, Clive Washington).
- 58 widely scattered records in England and Wales on NBN Atlas.
Bembidion fumigatum (Carabidae), Burton Point, VC58, 25/11, C. Washington.
- Found in marram litter.
- The only previous NW records appear to be from Leighton Moss in the 1970s by P. Flint.
- Notable B. Widespread in Eastern England.
Diptera (Flies)
Xanthandrus comtus (Syphidae), F, Crosby Marine Park, VC59, 12/11, P. Kinsella.
- A late record of a strongly migratory species, which may now overwinter in the UK.
- Typically encountered at woodland edge and in scrubby habitats.
- As with most migrant species, it has been widely recorded in the UK with a strong southern bias.
Dasysyrphus albostriatus (Syphidae), Crosby Marine Park, VC59, 22/11, P. Kinsella.
- A late record of a common and widespread hoverfly.
- Occurs in a variety of habitats.
Hemiptera (True Bugs)
Issus coleoptratus (Issidae), Wicks Path, Formby, VC59, 4/11, P. Smith.
- New to VC59.
- Found on various woody plant and deciduous trees. May be still be detectable for the next few weeks.
- Appears widespread further south in the UK but few records showing on NBN atlas further North in England and into Scotland.
- The only similar species, Issus muscaeformis, is known from NW England but nationally much scarcer.
