TL;DR: All things about Irish insects and invertebrates.
An Irish naturalist sharing experiences, education and enthusiasm.
Harvestman validator for the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
Founder of https://microwild.org
Call me: Brian
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Serendipity allowed me to catch the exact moment a tiny (1.5mm) Chthonius ischnocheles pseudoscorpion caught and ate a bark louse (Psocoptera).
For some reason, I assumed it would use its palps (pincers) more, but it didn't. It just chomped away with its chelicerae (jaws).
Meet Artioposthia exulans
This flatworm specimen was sent to me to photograph and share it with you all. A non-native visitor to this island, it seems to be located primarily in the south-west and most likely arrived on horticultural goods, once again, highlighting the importance of biosecurity.
I was out surveying today, Blessington lakeside, and turned a stone only to find not one but two really scarce harvestmen (and you know I liove my harvestmen).
The last time Mitostoma chrysomelas was recorded in the Republic of Ireland was way, way back in 1997.
Isn't it a little stunner!!!?
The males of Andrena clarkella don't sit still for long in the sunshine, so I had to grab one to show the camera.
I had a fantastic experience yesterday, as I was invited to DeafVillageIreland.ie to talk to the deaf community members about Irish bees. I've never felt so welcome nor witnessed so much interest in my talks.
Special thanks to Caroline (who also invited me) and Aoife for signing my talk.
Something new, big and never-before-seen is coming.
Have you ever wanted to camp in a field with your family and spend a weekend learning about insects? Me too!!!
Well, now you can...
invertopia.ie
Please share wide and far.
I've been working on building this app over the last month or so. If you're interested in biological recording, you might like it. It does cost (€4.99 a month), but just enough to cover the server costs. Works on mobile and desktop.
Would love to hear what you think? bionexus.pro
Spring is here for sure... Some finds from today and yesterday.
Andrena clarkella (Clark's Mining Bee)
Bombus lucorum agg. (White-tailed Bumblebee)
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly
It's time for you to go out and explore!
Argonemertes dendyi, a terrestrial proboscis worm from Australia, is now found across Europe. These worms capture and envenomate prey by ejecting a web-like structure from their mouths. Currently, it is in a stasis-like state, having built a cocoon to prevent drying out. Fascinating creatures! 🤯
There was a huge amount of activity at one of my local nesting aggregations today.
Andrena clarkella (pics 1 & 2) is one of the first mining bees to emerge each year. But look closely, and you might spot Nomada leucophthalma (pic 3), which is a brood parasite of A. clarkella.
