Ectopsocus axillaris female

Ectopsocus axillaris female subgenital plate

Great Excitement!
Well, not so much because of tiny invertebrate blindness - it's not a pretty butterfly but it is the first record for #VC55.
Barkfly, Ectopsocus axillaris.

#Insects #Psocoptera #Entomology

Apolygus - simplified Apolygus is a tricky genus, but the impact of a new paper (if widely accepted) on that British list is that Apolygus lucorum and Apolygu...

Apolygus - simplified
Apolygus is a tricky genus, but the impact of a new paper (if widely accepted) simplifies things. As a confirmed taxonomic lumper, I approve! - ajcarthropoda.blogspot.com/2026/03/apol...
#Bugs #Hemiptera #VC55 #Miridae

Orius laevigatus

Orius laevigatus middle tibia pake brown

Orius laevigatus.

#Bugs #Hemiptera #VC55 #Anthocoridae

Slime mold, Trichia crateriformis.

This shot may not win any of them fancy #macrophotography awards, but ... Trichia crateriformis.

#slimemoulds #slimemolds #Myxogastria #Amoebozoa #macro #OMSystem #VC55

Botryobasidium aureum

Botryobasidium aureum

Botryobasidium aureum spores

Botryobasidium aureum.

#Fungi #Mycology #VC55

Diapriidae, I think Trichopria? Species possible?
@davidnotton.bsky.social ?

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Yellow-legged Mining Bee, Andrena flavipes

Yellow-legged Mining Bee, Andrena flavipes

Lots of Yellow-legged Mining Bee, Andrena flavipes, on the Blackthorn today.

#Bees #Hymenoptera #VC55

Swamped with Spangles Over the last week we have been swamped with these tiny wasps. They're all over the inside of the windows and the car, and the moth trap w...

Swamped with Spangles
We're drowning in tiny wasps.
With some help I've figured out what's going to happen next: ajcarthropoda.blogspot.com/2026/03/swam...

#Wasps #Hemiptera #Cynipoidea #VC55

Pteromalus spp (?)

Pteromalus spp (?)

Another tricky Pteromalus(?). Struggling to get beyond genus with these at present.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

#Amphibians #Leicester #Leicestershire #Rutland #environment #nature #wildlife #VC55

Frog and toad spawn

NatureSpot: Seen any spawn?
Your records of frog and toad spawn are needed for the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Learn more: www.naturespot.org/node/265320

#Amphibians #Leicester #Leicestershire #Rutland #environment #nature #wildlife #VC55

The Making Of: Trissolcus cultratus.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Scelionidae

Trissolcus cultratus - frons with characteristic parallel arched ridges.

Trissolcus cultratus.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Scelionidae

Frogspawn, eggs of Common Frog.

I was beginning to think we'd missed out on a visit from the Tapioca Monster this year, but better late than never. And compared with recent years, it is late.

#Amphobians #VC55 #UKWildlife

Euplectrus bicolor female

Euplectrus bicolor female

Euplectrus bicolor female

Euplectrus bicolor female on a UK 2nd class postage stamp

Euplectrus bicolor.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Aprostocetus spp. on a pencil

Aprostocetus spp. female

Aprostocetus spp. female

Aprostocetus spp. female

Aprostocetus spp.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Microterys tricoloricornis on a UK 2nd class postage stamp.

Microterys tricoloricornis on the royal nose.

#wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #PutItOnABanknote

Springtail, Katiannidae genus nov.1. sp. nov.2

Katiannidae genus nov.1. sp. nov.2

One day it will get a formal name...

#Springtails #Collembola #VC55

Peacock Butterfly, Aglais io

Two tatty overwintered Peacocks, Aglais io, chasing each other round the garden.

#Butterflies #VC55

Puccinia lapsanae, gall on young Nipplewort leaves.

Puccinia lapsanae, galls on young Nipplewort leaves.

Puccinia lapsanae, galls on young Nipplewort leaves.

#Fungi #VC55 #galls

Oak Beauty, Biston strataria

I was fearful of a blank last night but my first trap of the year brought, alongside the Common Quakers, my first garden Oak Beauty, Biston strataria.

#VC55Moths #VC55 #moths

Asaphes vulgaris female

Asaphes vulgaris female

Asaphes vulgaris.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Pteromalidae

Pteromalidae, but I'm not sure beyond that.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Stenomalina, possibly S. gracilis ... ?

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Microterys hortulanus female

Microterys hortulanus frontovertex

Microterys hortulanus ovipositor

Another day, another Microterys hortulanus - from a different site. This thing is clearly here in good numbers.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Bristly Ladybird, Rhyzobius lophanthae

The Bristly Ladybirds, Rhyzobius lophanthae, have survived the wet winter and are still kicking around in the conifers in good numbers.

#Beetles #Coleoptera #VC55 #OlympusTG6

Microterys tricoloricornis?

Microterys spp.

A little Microterys help please?
I think the first is Microterys tricoloricornis - F4-6 pale?
Second one - Unsure F5-6 pale - ??
@arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Telenomus spp. solitary wasp

Telenomus spp. solitary wasp on tip of a pencil for scale

Telenomus spp.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Scelionidae

Epiclerus panyas female

Epiclerus panyas female

Epiclerus panyas

#wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Tetracampidae

Cyrtogaster vulgaris female

Cyrtogaster vulgaris female

Cyrtogaster vulgaris

"I have rarely found any other Chalcidoid (except Cyrtogaster vulgaris) hibernating in grass."
Graham, M.D.V. (1969) The pteromalidae of north-western Europe (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Under Callitula bicolor, p 461.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55