Invertebrate Notes June 2023

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.

Acari (Mites)

Steneotarsonemus phragmitidis (Tarsonemidae), Burton Mere, Wirral, VC58, 28/6, S.J. McWilliam.

• Appears to be a new record for VC58 and the region
• Mite gall causer on common reed.
• 11 records currently on NBN Atlas, all further south and mostly East Anglia.

Araneae (Spiders)

Philodromus albidus (Philodromidae), Kirkby, 7/6/23, C.Felton.

• Species thought to be expanding North-West
• A new record for the region
• ID also confirmed by Richard Gallon
• The spider is usually found in broad-leaved or mixed woodland on the lower branches of broad-leaved trees such as oak at the edge of clearings or rides.

Chilopoda (Centipedes)

Coleoptera (Beetles)

Asemum striatum (Cerambycidae), Kirkby, 7/6/23, P. Kinsella.

• Apparently only recorded from the Sefton Coast in VC59. First found in 1948 at Freshfields, and then on 3 occasions in the 1990s by Tom Eccles at Ainsdale NNR.
• ID also confirmed by multiple other sources
• Often found in pine trunks, head downwards.
• Larvae feed on rotting or dead pine wood

Collembola (Springtails)

Diplopoda (Millipedes)

Diptera (Flies)

Hilara hirtipes (Empididae), Warton Crag, VC60, 2/6, P. Brighton.

• New to VC60
• This follows a first Greater Manchester record in 2022. Widely scattered distribution according to NBN Atlas.

Platypalpus excavatus (Hybotidae), Warton Crag, VC60, 2/6, P. Brighton.

• New to VC60
• 52 records on NBN Atlas. Widely scattered from the South coast of England to Northern Scotland.

Platyura marginata (Keroplatidae), Warton Crag, VC60, 2/6, P. Brighton.

• New to VC60
• Widely recorded in the West Midlands and the Welsh borders. 127 records on NBN Atlas.

Dryope flaveola (Dryomyzidae), Warton Crag, VC60, 2/6, P. Brighton.

• New to VC60
• Apparently shade-loving. Widespread but local.
• 129 record on NBN Atlas. The majority in the west.

Cleigastra brevifrons (Scathophagidae), Warton Crag, VC60, 2/6, P. Brighton.

• New to VC60
• Just 18 NBN Atlas records but widely scattered.

Actia crassicornis (Tachinidae), Houghton Green Pool, VC59, 12/6, P. Brighton.

• New to VC59
• 102 record on NBN Atlas. Recorded throughout the UK.

Symballophthalmus fuscitarsis (Hybotidae), Houghton Green Pool, VC59, 12/6, P. Brighton.

• New to VC59
• 65 Records on NBN Atlas. Widely scattered.

Pherbellia brunnipes (Sciomyzidae), Houghton Green Pool, VC59, 12/6, P. Brighton.

• New to VC59
• 98 Records on NBN Atlas. Widely scattered.

Colobaea punctata (Sciomyzidae), Houghton Green Pool, VC59, 22/6, P. Brighton.

• New to VC59
• 187 record on NBN Atlas. Only recorded as far North as Yorkshire.

Dioctria atricapilla (Asilidae), Ainsdale NNR, VC59, 7/6, P. Smith.

• Only four previous records registered on NBN atlas
• Possible first record for Ainsdale NNR
• Found in reasonably high numbers within only 1.5 hours of searching
• Like most robber flies, the violet black-legged robber fly feeds by perching on lower stems of grasses and attacks prey as it flies by.

Neoitamus cyanurus (Asilidae), Ainsdale NNR, VC59, 4/6/23, P.Kinsella.

• Possible first record for VC59 and Merseyside
• Single female found on the site
• Reasonably widespread but had not made it into the local area

Hemiptera (True Bugs)

Metatropis rufescens (Berytidae),  Potts Wood, VC60, P.Brighton.

• A second VC60 record after a being recorded by Gary Hedges on a Tanyptera field trip to Challan Hall Allotment in 2022.
• Usually located in the South including Wales and Ireland.
• It occurs in shady, mostly moist habitats in deciduous forests.

Coriomeris denticulatus (Coreidae), N.Hunt.

• Very few local records
• Mainly distributed in the south of the country so maybe be travelling north
• Associated with dry, open habitats on chalky or sandy soils
• Feeds on Black Medick and other clovers. All year round.

Closterotomus trivialis (Miridae), Ravenmeols, VC59, 16/06/23, P.Smith.

• Found on Hogweed
• Distribution has recently spread into local area and London
• Native to the Mediterranean and first reported from London in 2009.
• This species has a rather variable appearance but is usually fairly distinctive once known.

Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps & Ants)

Bees

Nomada flavopicta (Apidae), Ainsdale NNR, VC59, 16/6/23, P. Kinsella.

• One of the larger-sized, summer-flying Nomada
• Only the second record for the North-West and the first for Merseyside.
• A kleptoparasite of Blunthorn Bees (Melitta species).

Wasps

Ctenichneumon panzeri (Ichneumonidae), Victoria Park, Crosby , VC59, 21/6/23, P. Kinsella.

• First record for VC59 and Merseyside.

Sawflies

Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Erythromma viridulum (Coenagrionidae), Crosby Marine Park VC59, 23/06/23, P. Kinsella.

• Reasonable population including mating pairs and at least 11 males
• The pond is only about 30 x 10m.
• Can be separated from other species due to the small dot on the thorax after the spur marking

Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Orthoptera (Grasshoppers and Crickets)

Roeseliana roeselii (Tettigoniidae), Speke Hall estate meadows  VC59, 21/06/23, J. Styles.

• Possibly only the second record of the cricket in Merseyside
• Large numbers, maybe in the 100s, of singing males
• Originally found on saltmarshes and dunes in coarse vegetation but currently expanding its range west and north to urban wasteland, agricultural set-aside, marsh areas and coarse grassland.

iRecord top 10 species

References

• Hodge, P.J. (1997). Bruchidius varius (Olivier) (Chrysomelidae) new to the British Isles. The Coleopterist 5(3): 65.