Invertebrate Notes April 2024

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, Lancs, Merseyside, Greater Manchester.

Coleoptera (Beetles)

Stenichnus subseriatus (Staphylinidae), Chester, VC58, 27/04, C. Washington

• Only one other record on iRecord
• 56 records distributed across Norway, Sweden and Finland (GBIF)

Following two records have recently been identified, collected in 2023

Noterus crassicornis (Noteridae), Delamere Forest park, VC58, 25/09/2023, D. Bentley

• 27 records in the VC58 – VC60 area (NBN Atlas)
• Patchy distribution in the UK. More widespread in places such as France and the Balkans
• Typically found in still or slow moving water bodies with plenty of vegetation and detritus

Gyrinus paykulli (Gyrinidae), Delamere Forest park, VC58, 25/09/2023, D. Bentley

• 7 recorded instances of this species in the VC58 – VC60 area (NBN Atlas)
• Commonly known as Whirligig beetles, this family can dive and fly though spend most of their time semi-submerged on the waters surface.

Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)

Eriocrania cicatricella (Eriocraniidae), Atherton, VC59, 08/04, J. Gorse

• Generally Scarce in VC58 (Cheshire Moth Atlas 2018)
• Widespread across most of mainland Britain.
• A spring flying moth that creates a blotch mine on birch during May, though is not often seen.

Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula (Erebidae), Formby point, Southport, VC59, 22/04, P. Smith

• A moth on the march north, originating from the South West. There are now a few Lancashire records, having first been recorded in the county as recently as 2016.
• Diurnal, flying in May and June. Occupies damp areas such as fen, river banks, and marshes.

Diptera (Flies)

Lasiopogon cinctus (Spring heath robberfly) (Asilidae), Ravenmeowls, Southport, VC59, 22/04, P. Smith

• 86 records from VC59 area, many of which are from the Sefton Coast.
• The first robberfly to emerge each year.
• Uncommon in the UK. Found on heathlands, dunes and other sandy places.

Following record has recently been reassessed, record collected in 2023

Grey S-veined Snail Killer Elgiva cucularia (Sciomyzidae), Ainsdale, Southport, VC59, 07/04/2023, P. Smith

• Possibly a first Sefton Coast record of this species.
• Found in swampy wetlands including lakes and pool margins, dune slacks, ditches and will also use slightly brackish coastal marsh.

Brachyopa pilosa (Syrphidae), Ainsdale NNR, VC59, 11/04, P. Kinsella

• There are few regional records of this Nationally Scarce saproxylic hoverfly but no Hoverfly Recording Scheme data is readily accessible.
• Favours beech for larval development, where the adults may also be seen feeding at sap runs.
• Adults recorded April to August, with numbers peaking in May / June.

Callicera rufa (Syrphidae), Formby, VC59, 23/04, P. Kinsella

• A newcomer to the region, having first been recorded by Pete Kinsella in 2020 (see articles). Thanks to diligent recording, now known to well established on the Sefton Coast at Formby and Ainsdale. Searches of other suitable areas could prove fruitful.
• Associated with Pine.

Criorhina floccosa (Syrphidae), Tarporley, Cheshire, VC58, 21/04, C. Aldridge

• Few previous Cheshire records publicly viewable. Most in the region on iRecord are from the Sefton Coast. No data currently online from the Hoverfly Recording Scheme.
• This saproxylic bee mimic is a fairly widespread species in England, being less recorded in Scotland and Ireland
• Adults feed on the flowers of Hawthorn, Rowan, brambles and roses.

Hemyda vittata, (Tachinidae), Formby, VC59, 16/04, P. Kinsella

• 4th record in the VC58 – VC60 area (iRecord) and 81 UK records (NBN Atlas).
• Found in woodland and well wooded areas.
• The larvae in common with all tachinids are parasitoids of other invertebrates.

Egle brevicornis, (Anthomyiidae), Birkdale, VC59, 21/04, P. Brighton

• 34 UK records (NBN Atlas), with this record being the third regional submission to iRecord.
• A Nationally Scarce species associated with creeping willow on coastal dune systems.

Lispocephala rubricornis, (Muscidae), Birkdale, VC59, 31/04, P. Brighton

• 8 prior records in the VC58 – VC60 area, with only 34 records in the UK (NBN Atlas).
• Listed as RDP3 (Rare).

Hemiptera (True Bugs)

 Graptopeltus lynceus (Lygaeidae), Ainsdale on sea, Southport, VC59, 19/04, J. Cresswell

• First recording in the VC58 – VC60 area since 2000 (NBN Atlas). Scarce nationally with a scattered distribution across southern England, particularly in the South East.
• Associated with dry, sparsely-vegetated habitats such as dunes, breckland and old sand or chalk pits.

Eurydema oleracea (Pentatomidae), Wybunbury Moss, VC58, 20/04, A. Lidgett

• On the move northward. This is now the 20th record for this species in the VC58 – VC60 (iRecord), most of which are from Cheshire.
• Can be found from May until July on a range of hostplants in the Brassicaceae family such as garlic mustard and horse-radish.

Agnocoris reclairei (Miridae), Woolston eyes SSSI, VC59, 30/04, P.Brighton

• Potentially the first sighting in the VC58 – VC60 area (NBN Atlas)
• This species is associated with wet areas and is most frequently found on white willow (Salix Alba), overwintering takes place in moss, litter or on conifers
• Originally only known to be in East Anglia, its range has expanded greatly and it is now much more widespread

Following record has recently been identified, Collected in 2023

Gerris argentatus (Gerridae), Delamere Forest park, VC58, 25/09/2023, D. Bentley

• 3rd known record in the VC58 – VC60 according to the Aquatic Heteroptera Recording Scheme.
• Occurs in pond ditches, small pools and sometimes on the edge of lakes, often in areas of excessive emergent vegetation and sometimes brackish conditions.

Hymenoptera (Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants)

Nomada Fabriciana (Fabricius’ Nomad Bee) (Apidae), Crewe, Cheshire, VC58, 20/04, D. Higginson-Tranter

• Widely distributed in England and Wales, especially in the south. Distribution scattered in Scotland and Ireland
• Can be spotted in areas where its host species, Andrena bicolor is established.

Andrena labiata (Andrenidae), Cholmondeley, Cheshire, VC58, 21/04, C. Aldridge

• A recent arrival to the region and becoming more frequently recorded.
• This species declined greatly between 1950 – 1990 though has become much more frequent since, and can now be seen throughout southern England to north Yorkshire and Wales.
• Mainly confined to sandy soils both on the coast and inland, predominantly in open grassland, edges of scrub and woodland.

Arachnida (Spiders & mites)

 Attulus saltator (Salticidae), Birkdale, Tanyptera recording day, VC59, 19/04, R.Gallon

• The second Sefton Coast record in 30 years of this Nationally Scarce spider, having been found by Tony Hunter during the Devil’s Hole Tanyptera Recording Day in 2023.
• This species occurs in sandy places, mainly on coastal sand dunes on open sand in the sunshine where it camouflages well, it is sometimes found on sandy heaths inland.
• This spiders apparent scarcity may be partly-accounted for by under recording due to its small size and camouflage.

Eriophyes similis (Eriophyidae), Holmeswood, Ormskirk, VC59, 20/04, S. Priestley

• Only 5 past instances in the VC58 – VC60 area (NBN Atlas).
• This Mite causes galls to form on the leaves of species of prunus, most often on blackthorn though also on plums and damsons, the galls are usually the largest around the leaf margins.
• Galls appear in May and are usually mature in August or September.

iRecord top 10 species April 2024

References

• https://www.ukbeetles.co.uk/gyrinidae
• https://www.ukbeetles.co.uk/noterus-crassicornis
• https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/eriocrania-cicatricella/
• https://ukmoths.org.uk/species/callimorpha-dominula/Scarlet Tiger | UKmoths
• Spring Heath Robberfly | Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme (brc.ac.uk)
• https://soldierflies.brc.ac.uk/spring_heath
• https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/grey-s-veined-snail-killerGrey S-veined Snail-killer. | NatureSpot
• https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/brachyopa-scutellarisBrachyopa scutellaris | NatureSpot
• https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/hemyda-vittata
• https://www.northwestinvertebrates.org.uk/callicera-rufa-a-new-hoverfly-for-lancashire-and-merseyside/Callicera rufa: A new hoverfly for Lancashire and Merseyside – North West Invertebrates
• https://dipterists.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-03/Newsletter%20No%2011.pdf
• https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Lygaeidae/graptopeltus_lynceus.html#:~:text=Graptopeltus%20lynceus%20Family%3A%20Lygaeidae%20A%20large%20and%20distinctive,pronotum%20is%20broader%20than%20the%20head%20and%20eyes.(Lygaeidae) Graptopeltus lynceus (britishbugs.org.uk)
• https://britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Pentatomidae/eurydema_oleracea.html
• https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/fabricius-nomad-beeFabricius’ Nomad Bee | NatureSpot
• https://aquaticbugs.com/gerris-argentatus/Gerris argentatus | Aquatic Bugs
• https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/criorhina-floccosa-0Criorhina floccosa | NatureSpot
• https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/girdled-mining-beeGirdled Mining Bee | NatureSpot
• https://bwars.com/bee/andrenidae/andrena-labiataAndrena labiata | BWARS
• https://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/Summary/s/Attulus+saltatorSummary for Attulus saltator (Araneae) (britishspiders.org.uk)
• https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/eriophyes-similis#:~:text=The%20mite%20Eriophyes%20similis%20causes,heaviest%20around%20the%20leaf%20margins.&text=Around%20Blackthorn.,mature%20in%20August%20or%20September.Eriophyes similis | NatureSpot