GB hectad distribution map for Argiope bruennichi from the new SRS Atlas
GB hectad distribution map for Erigone welchi from the new SRS Atlas
Our new Atlas of UK spider, harvestmen and pseudoscorpion records is now online at britishspiders.org.uk/atlas. It gives access to 1.6 million records and is constantly updated with data submitted and verified via irecord.org.uk/enter-srs-records.
One blue tit egg in a cozy looking nest lined with feathers.
Plot showing the first egg date recorded for the project between 2014 and 2026.
The first egg for the 13th year of data collection along the Phenoweb Transect was laid on 12th April 2026! Looking like we’re in for a fairly ‘average‘ year up here in Scotland, with nest building and budburst progressing slightly slower than in 2025, especially in the North of the transect🪺🌳
NEW PAPER:
We obtained a COXI sequence from a specimen of the parasitic louse/flat fly Pseudolynchia garzettae (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) collected in the UK & provide a full morphological description of the specimen to aid future researchers in case of future taxonomic issues.
1/🧵My first preprint!🐛🌡️
We examine how environmental effects experienced during one life-history stage persist and modulate environmental responses in later life-history stages.
With Lea Beaupere, @sheldonbirds.bsky.social, @rona-learmonth.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Screenshot of one page from the updated identification guide to VIlla bee-flies, showing examples of male Buff-tailed Villa (Villa hottentotta)
... 2/2 Finding Buff-tailed Villa (Villa hottentotta) in UK meant the Villa ID guide needed updating! See dipterists.org.uk/soldierflies.... Convincing photos of the new Villa were taken in 2025, but we need a specimen to fully confirm it. If anyone finds more next summer please let me know!
Screenshot of the first part of the Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme newsletter no. 12
The latest recording scheme newsletter (no. 12) was sent out to members of @dipteristsforum.bsky.social recently, and is also available from the recording scheme web page dipterists.org.uk/soldierflies... - includes exciting news of a possible new Villa bee-fly species in the UK 🤩 1/2 ...
Looks like I need to head to the woods.
Dandelion clocks in an Exmoor hedgerow this morning before the strong wind and rain started. #wildflowerhour
Does genetic diversity help species keep up with, or tolerate, climate change? 🌡️🌍
Our new BioShifts paper shows that high genetic diversity 🧬:
1) Reduces range contractions under fast warming
2) Accelerates range expansion under moderate warming
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
It's on the left if you scroll down.
🚨🚨Job Alert 🦇🚨🚨
Come to join my group! We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in population genomics and bioinformatics to work on the UK serotine bats and Lyssavirus transmission project with APHA. 18 months project based @exeter.ac.uk 🦇🧪🌍🌐🧬
jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
Does it get any clearer if you plot the locations of the eastern clades on a map?
We have a new record 🚨 the warm month of march in the Netherlands had its effect on the first laying date of the Great tits! Breaking the record by two days the first egg date this year is 21st March. One blue tit went even beyond that and noted a first egg date on 19th of march! #breedingseason2026
🚀 Incredible movement alert!
Our @PulsarWild sponsored CTT-tagged Jack Snipe has just completed an astonishing journey reaching Belgium from Staffordshire in just 7 hours 9 minutes! 🇬🇧➡️🇧🇪
That’s an average speed of 30+ mph for one of our most elusive and secretive species. 🤯
🚨🚨 Breaking news from Wytham Woods: The 80th year of data collection of the long-term tit study officially started today with this nest with 3 Blue Tit eggs (pic: @mcmahok.bsky.social). First egg inferred 23 March which is our earliest EVER nest - beating the previous record of 26 March by 3 days!🚨🚨
I’m one of the “experts” if anyone wants to hear me talk about flat flies/louse flies.
Scarlet Tiger Moth caterpillars on Comfrey, Green Alkanet, Herb Robert and Stinging Nettle in Somerset #wildflowerhour #teammoth
Hippoboscidae are best looked at under a low magnification microscope, as you may need to look at a lot of bristles and other small structures in detail to ID them A lot haven’t been described and there’s a chance that you will find a new species, so it’s worth preserving some in ethanol.
Hill I'm prepared to die on. Journals that insist on the use of taxonomic authorities should employ copyeditors who understand them, so that they don't convert them into random citations.
Just collected another 7. Weird that there are so many tonight when it isn’t raining.
29 toads picked up from the lane heading towards the garden pond this evening. Unfortunately, we were too late to save one of them. Good to see a lot more large females this year.
2/3 picture 4 is Snowdrops and Lesser Celandine. This is the one I meant to add! #wildflowerhour
New paper out. We detected Bartonella and a new sigmavirus in UK Deer Keds. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Sounds like some of the Hippoboscidae especially those in the genus Pseudolynchia
We’re doomed and sadly we have condemned most of the planet with us.
I’m happy to look at any Hippoboscidae if you find any but no good at other other Diptera.
