Ian Beavis
@ianbeavis.bsky.social
Research Curator at the Amelia, Tunbridge Wells. Entomologist. Natural historian. Local historian. Ecology & heritage of Scilly & the Channel Islands
Four queens & two workers of Buff-tailed Bumblebee visiting Mahonia on the terrace in Dunorlan Park today
November 26, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Four queens & two workers of Buff-tailed Bumblebee visiting Mahonia on the terrace in Dunorlan Park today
Reposted by Ian Beavis
A chilly and quick, for me, walk round Dunorlan Park this morning as the mist rose and the frost lay yielded 29 bird species including a small number of Lesser Redpolls.
#TunbridgeWells
#TunbridgeWells
November 26, 2025 at 1:44 PM
A chilly and quick, for me, walk round Dunorlan Park this morning as the mist rose and the frost lay yielded 29 bird species including a small number of Lesser Redpolls.
#TunbridgeWells
#TunbridgeWells
An interesting example of the recent phenomenon of spring-flying mining bees producing a small 2nd generation in the autumn
With awful news (e.g. Planning Bill), I escape in nature. #Greenwich: Moth trap (12th) - Feathered Thorn + 2 Udea ferrugalis (at last a little for @migrantmothuk.bsky.social!). 3 Teal on Park lake briefly (Oct) - until fountain began; my 1st autumn Ashy Mining Bee (Sept) a sign of the climate times.
November 26, 2025 at 10:23 PM
An interesting example of the recent phenomenon of spring-flying mining bees producing a small 2nd generation in the autumn
Reposted by Ian Beavis
My favourite newby this year, found on the car windscreen after a light shower, just so happens i had a dead Birch in the garden that i had cut to a stump, build them and they will come. #teammoth
November 25, 2025 at 9:55 PM
My favourite newby this year, found on the car windscreen after a light shower, just so happens i had a dead Birch in the garden that i had cut to a stump, build them and they will come. #teammoth
See how small this Locust Blowfly is compared to a dronefly. Such small specimens are a likely indicator of breeding in egg pods of native grasshoppers, much smaller than their regular locust hosts. Also note the worker ant Formica fusca foraging on the Fatsia flowers
November 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
See how small this Locust Blowfly is compared to a dronefly. Such small specimens are a likely indicator of breeding in egg pods of native grasshoppers, much smaller than their regular locust hosts. Also note the worker ant Formica fusca foraging on the Fatsia flowers
Surprised to see three male Locust Blowflies feeding at Fatsia in Calverley Grounds today
November 25, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Surprised to see three male Locust Blowflies feeding at Fatsia in Calverley Grounds today
The winter-active hoverfly Meliscaeva auricollis in Calverley Grounds today
November 25, 2025 at 10:34 PM
The winter-active hoverfly Meliscaeva auricollis in Calverley Grounds today
Foraging worker with full pollen-baskets and queen of Buff-tailed Bumblebee in Calverley Grounds today
November 25, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Foraging worker with full pollen-baskets and queen of Buff-tailed Bumblebee in Calverley Grounds today
First honeybees I've seen for a while in Calverley Grounds today
November 25, 2025 at 10:31 PM
First honeybees I've seen for a while in Calverley Grounds today
Reposted by Ian Beavis
I thought it would be a few more years before I would encounter this species in my neck of the proverbial woods. Orange Porecap (Favolaschia claudopus) - a non-native species originally from Madagascar - at Chaddesden Wood LNR, Derby
November 23, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I thought it would be a few more years before I would encounter this species in my neck of the proverbial woods. Orange Porecap (Favolaschia claudopus) - a non-native species originally from Madagascar - at Chaddesden Wood LNR, Derby
Reposted by Ian Beavis
Leeds Castle's Neverland Christmas was still under construction when I visited last week - and building it looked like the best fun ever. 😀 Much piratical cheerfulness was evident, including sea-creatures galore. ⚓🦀🦜
November 24, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Leeds Castle's Neverland Christmas was still under construction when I visited last week - and building it looked like the best fun ever. 😀 Much piratical cheerfulness was evident, including sea-creatures galore. ⚓🦀🦜
Reposted by Ian Beavis
It has taken over two years for @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social & I to attract another Willow Ladybird (Scymnus limbatus), an extremely small & elusive species, to the refugia we designed in an attempt to learn more about them. It has been a long wait but we found one yesterday, plus an Anthocorid bug
November 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
It has taken over two years for @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social & I to attract another Willow Ladybird (Scymnus limbatus), an extremely small & elusive species, to the refugia we designed in an attempt to learn more about them. It has been a long wait but we found one yesterday, plus an Anthocorid bug
Reposted by Ian Beavis
I never expected the reaction I’ve had to Urban Plants. So many wonderful comments from so many wonderful people. The satisfaction from knowing I’ve inspired people to look at the urban world with different eyes is indescribable and deeply rewarding #ChristmasBooks #ChristmasReading #WildlifeBooks
November 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I never expected the reaction I’ve had to Urban Plants. So many wonderful comments from so many wonderful people. The satisfaction from knowing I’ve inspired people to look at the urban world with different eyes is indescribable and deeply rewarding #ChristmasBooks #ChristmasReading #WildlifeBooks
The humble Daisy, and late-flowering Yarrow in Calverley Grounds #wildflowerhour
November 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The humble Daisy, and late-flowering Yarrow in Calverley Grounds #wildflowerhour
Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax), bluebottle, Common Wasp & 7-spot Ladybird in Calverley Grounds today
November 23, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax), bluebottle, Common Wasp & 7-spot Ladybird in Calverley Grounds today
Reposted by Ian Beavis
Troides aeacus is the only birdwing butterfly that extends into the northern temperate zone. Seen here in the first plate in Adalbert Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the Palaearctic Region
November 22, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Troides aeacus is the only birdwing butterfly that extends into the northern temperate zone. Seen here in the first plate in Adalbert Seitz's Macrolepidoptera of the Palaearctic Region
Following that last repost with some South American skippers from H L Lewis' Butterflies of the World (1973)
November 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Following that last repost with some South American skippers from H L Lewis' Butterflies of the World (1973)
In the northern hemisphere, skippers are mostly subdued in coloration. Some S American ones are very different.
Good evening from butterfly brilliant Bolivia 🇧🇴
November 22, 2025 at 10:43 PM
In the northern hemisphere, skippers are mostly subdued in coloration. Some S American ones are very different.
Reposted by Ian Beavis
I haven’t been posting on here very much recently, but thought I’d post this photo of a Dicyrtoma fusca springtail. What a beauty…
November 9, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I haven’t been posting on here very much recently, but thought I’d post this photo of a Dicyrtoma fusca springtail. What a beauty…
Reposted by Ian Beavis
A dipterist's dipteron, the elusive Borboropsis puberula. The only member of the family in the UK. Restricted to the Scottish Highlands. This one from Ben Lawers is probably the 7th UK record.
#Diptera #Entomology @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
#Diptera #Entomology @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
A dipterist's dipteron, the elusive Borboropsis puberula. The only member of the family in the UK. Restricted to the Scottish Highlands. This one from Ben Lawers is probably the 7th UK record.
#Diptera #Entomology @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
#Diptera #Entomology @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
Reposted by Ian Beavis
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
On cold but bright days, winter-active Diptera spend a lot of time sunning themselves on light coloured surfaces like this young tree trunk in Calverley Grounds. Five of the six flies seen here are Calliphora (bluebottles) & one is a cluster fly (Pollenia)
November 21, 2025 at 11:11 PM
On cold but bright days, winter-active Diptera spend a lot of time sunning themselves on light coloured surfaces like this young tree trunk in Calverley Grounds. Five of the six flies seen here are Calliphora (bluebottles) & one is a cluster fly (Pollenia)
Male Common Wasp still active on Fatsia in a sunny Calverley Grounds today, despite low temperature
November 21, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Male Common Wasp still active on Fatsia in a sunny Calverley Grounds today, despite low temperature
Dorothy Hodges' remarkable book 'The Pollen Loads of the Honeybee' (1952) has seasonal colour charts to identify which flowers the pollen comes from
November 19, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Dorothy Hodges' remarkable book 'The Pollen Loads of the Honeybee' (1952) has seasonal colour charts to identify which flowers the pollen comes from