Sam Thomas
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sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Sam Thomas
@sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
980 followers 380 following 700 posts
Naturalist, botanist and entomologist. He/him.
England Officer @bsbibotany.bsky.social views my own
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sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
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
Lateral macro of a small fly in ethanol. The thorax is dark while most of the head, legs and abdomen is orange/yellow.
November 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
I'm currently updating and making corrections to the Ephydridae key prepared for the @dipteristsforum.bsky.social workshop. Please let me know if you've noticed any errors or anything that might need updating. Comments, DM or email to sjthomasbotanyATgmail.com please.

#Diptera #entomology
Cover page of keys to the British Ephydridae with lateral macro images of two small ephydrid flies
November 8, 2025 at 10:25 AM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Empis digramma female #Empididae. A distinctive pale yellow species with short bristles and two stripes on the scutum. Frequent in the north of the UK.

#Diptera #Entomology #insectphotography #inverts #bugsky #macro
Lateral macro of the head and thorax of a fly. Mostly pale yellow/brown with long dark antennae. Very long mouthparts.
October 26, 2025 at 12:13 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
The very small #Chloropidae Pseudopachychaeta ruficeps swept this spring from alpine sedge flushes, Beinn Ghlas, Ben Lawers NNR. This species develops in the inflorescences of Eriophorum (Cottongrass) species.

#Diptera #Entomology @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
Lateral macro of a small, reddish-brown fly with paler markings on the face and pleurae
October 25, 2025 at 7:10 AM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Gonatherus planiceps female #Scathophagidae. A uncommonly collected, spring-flying, species of upland flushes and other wet habitats in the mountains. This one from Beinn Ghlas in the Ben Lawers NNR this May.

#Diptera #Entomology @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
Lateral macro of a small dark grey fly with brown shaded wings, yellow legs and a pale yellow lower half of the head Lateral macro the head and thorax of a small dark grey fly with a pale yellow lower half of the head Dorsal macro the head and thorax of a small dark grey fly with yellow frons Head-on macro the head of a small dark grey fly showing the geniculate arista and pale whiteish yellow face
October 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Rock sea-lavenders from the Afon Crigyll Estuary Ynys Môn: Limonium recurvum subsp. crigyllensis (with rough scape) described in 2022 by Ivor Rees and only know from this site where it grows with the more widespread L. procerum (smooth scape). @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
Alt text - Limonium recurvum subsp. crigyllensis - A small, multi-stemmed plant with lilac flowers growing among a carpet of red and green vegetation Alt text - Limonium procerum subsp. procerum - A small, multi-stemmed plant with lilac flowers growing among a carpet of red and green vegetation Alt text - A composite image showing a individual plant of Limonium recurvum subsp. crigyllensis against a grey background with a zoomed in section of the scape showing the rough texture Alt text - A composite image showing a individual plant of Limonium procerum subsp. procerum against a grey background with a zoomed in section of the scape showing the smooth texture
July 27, 2025 at 5:38 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Hypopitys monotropa (Yellow Bird’s-nest) from an evening woodland walk. This is subspecies hypophegea which is completely glabrous, often delicate, yellowish with fewer flowers. Now is the time to check the subsp. ID of your local populations with Fred Rumsey's
@bsbibotany.bsky.social News key.
Four buffy-yellowish-brown stems of a small achlorophyllous plant with drooping, off-white flowers growing amongst leaf litter. Side on view of a clump of buffy-yellowish-brown stems of a small achlorophyllous plant with drooping, off-white flowers growing amongst leaf litter. Lateral macro of the flower of a buffy-yellowish-brown achlorophyllous plant. Some petals and sepals removed to show the ovary, stigma and other internal parts. A screen shot of a key to the British and Irish taxa of Hypopitys monotropa (Yellow Bird’s-nest) from a recent BSBI News article by Fred Rumsey. Text: 1 Floral parts glabrous subsp. hypophegea 1 Floral parts with some hairs 2 2 Stem and external surfaces of flower finely pubescent var. tomentosa* 2 Stem and external surfaces of flower glabrous 3 3 Inner petal surfaces, style and ovary conspicuously prickly hairy, ovary taller than wide, style equalling to exceeding ovary, flower narrowly urceolate, petals usually 11–13 mm subsp. monotropa 3 Inner petal surfaces and other floral parts with scattered prickly hairs, showing various combinations of the characters given above but not all, flower shorter and more campanulate, petals usually 10 mm or less ‘intermediate’ [? sub-var piligera]
July 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
A final stop on Rannoch Moor before the long drive south rounded things off nicely with Scheuchzeria palustris (Rannoch-rush) and Nuphar pumila (Least Water-lily). The latter out in a loch and impossible to photograph properly. 5/5
Scheuchzeria palustris. Small, upright plant with narrow, sharp leaves and large brown fruits. Nuphar pumila. Floating lily-pad leaves and small, yellow flowers in a loch.
June 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
In a steep gully near the summit were three very rare small plants with white flowers: Cerastium cerastoides (Starwort Mouse-ear), Saxifraga cespitosa (Tufted Saxifrage) and Saxifraga rivularis (Highland Saxifrage) 4/5
Cerastium cerastoides. A small creeping plant with white flowers against a background of scree. Saxifraga cespitosa. A small, upright plant with cup-shaped white flowers against a background of moss Saxifraga rivularis. A small, upright plant with white flowers and lobed leaves.
June 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Then the big 14 hour day on Ben Nevis with many amazing alpines including: Veronica alpina (Alpine Speedwell), Poa flexuosa (Wavy Meadow-grass) and Carex lachenalii (Hare's-foot Sedge) around Coire na Ciste 3/5
Veronica alpina. A clump of delicate upright small plants topped by deep blue flowers. Poa flexuosa. A clump of grass with drooping flower heads amongst scree Carex lachenalii. Macro of yellowish brown 'cone-like' spiky flower heads on a grass-like stalk.
June 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Between Mallaig and Fort William I dropped in on two very rare sedges: Carex buxbaumii (Club Sedge) and Carex salina (Saltmarsh Sedge). The latter only discovered in the UK in 2004. 2/5
Carex buxbaumii. Several 'catkin-like' or 'cone-like' green and dark brown seed heads Carex buxbaumii. Several 'catkin-like' or 'cone-like' green and dark brown seed heads Carex salina. An upright grass-like plant with 'catkin-like' or 'cone-like' green and red brown seed heads and papery old male flowers at the top.
June 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Scotland trip started on Skye: Koenigia islandica (Iceland-purslane) only just germinating and the weather too bad for Arabis alpina on the Cuillins. However, Ligusticum scoticum (Scots Lovage) was looking lovely at Armadale. 1/5

@bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
Koenigia islandica. Macro of a very small seedling with oval green and reddish leaves against a background of gravel. Ligusticum scoticum. A small plant with reddish stems and umbels of small white flowers against a grassy background. Ligusticum scoticum. An umbel of small white flowers against a black background.
June 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Just back from a mostly productive botany trip around western Scotland, still need to edit the plant photos so here's a delightful male Snow Bunting singing on the summit of Ben Nevis in the evening sunshine.
June 21, 2025 at 8:50 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Received the pdf of my paper adding Philotelma parvum to the UK list in the upcoming issue of Dipterists Digest. A rather obscure little Ephydridae (shore fly) collected from the New Forest, emphasising again the importance of New Forest mires for rare Diptera
drive.google.com/file/d/1FCwH...
Composite image of the title and introduction of the paper with one of the figures showing the head from above. Text: Philotelma parvum (Kramer) a shore fly (Diptera, Ephydridae) new to Britain from the New Forest National Park SAM J. THOMAS Hayling Island, Hampshire; sjthomasbotany@gmail.com Summary Philotelma parvum (Kramer, 1917) (Diptera, Ephydridae) is recorded for the first time from the British Isles, based on one specimen taken in June 2023 from the New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England. The identification and distribution of P. parvum are discussed. Introduction A single male Philotelma was swept by the author from the margin of Hatchet Pond in the New Forest National Park in June 2023. The specimen keyed to Philotelma parvum (Kramer, 1917) based on the revision of the genus by Mathis et al. (2009). This identification was confirmed by examination of the male genitalia. A review of published distributional data (Mathis et al. 2009; Zatwarnicki 2011), the most recent update to the checklist of the Diptera of the British Isles (Chandler 2024) and consultation with UK experts (Martin Drake and Tony Irwin, both 2024 pers. comm.) shows this specimen to represent the first record of P. parvum in the British Isles.
May 8, 2025 at 11:55 AM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Very unexpected & rare: Anticheta obliviosa female #Sciomyzidae from saltmarsh on Hayling Island, Hampshire. Previously known in the UK from fens around Huntingdon and singles from Cheshire and Yorkshire - all inland. Nice find for a quick evening sweep
#ento #diptera @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
Anterolateral macro of a mostly blackish fly with patches of silvery dusting, orange hind legs and orange areas on the head
May 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Glenanthe sp. female from Hayling Island the other day. A very small saltmarsh #Ephydridae with distinctively 'upside down pear' shaped eyes. Likely G. ripicola but can't rule out G. fuscinervis without a male.
#Diptera #ento #macro @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
Lateral macro of a very small brown-grey fly with green eyes
May 1, 2025 at 7:23 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Almost forgot #WorldRobberFlyDay but luckily reminded by @flygirlnhm.bsky.social. Here's the puparium of Laphria flava (Bumblebee Robberfly) collected from a pine log in Abernethy Forest a few years back. @dipteristsforum.bsky.social #diptera #ento #macro
Lateral macro of the empty puparium of a large robber fly. A elongated papery structure with large horns at the front and rings of spikes towards the rear.
April 30, 2025 at 12:45 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Chlorops varsoviensis a pNationally Scarce #Chloropidae of upland marshy areas.
Now added to the (slowly) growing Chloropidae UK Flickr group. Please add any relevant identified photos or message me and I can help add them www.flickr.com/groups/14873...
#diptera #ento @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
April 21, 2025 at 2:14 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Rhamphomyia maculipennis, a costal #Empididae with two dark marks on the wing in females, from Hayling Island today.
#diptera #ento @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
Lateral macro of a grey fly with elongate mouthparts Macro of a fly wing showing venation and dark markings
April 19, 2025 at 4:35 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Swift moth caterpillar-eye view of a female Alomya debellator wasp - a specialist parasitoid of root-feeding Hepialidae which it hunts in the caterpillar's underground burrow.
Face on macro of a black and orange-brown wasp with large jaws and curled antennae
April 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
A few pics of cranefly male terminalia from Ben Lawers last summer. Part of an occasional effort to produce decent images for these as I often find the line drawings in the book difficult to interpret.
Composite microscope image of the male terminalia of a cranefly dorsally and ventrally. Dicranota subtilis (Pediciidae) Composite microscope image of the male terminalia of a cranefly dorsally and ventrally. Erioconopa trivialis (Limoniidae) Composite microscope image of the male terminalia of a cranefly dorsally and ventrally. Gonomyia dentata (Limoniidae) Composite microscope image of the male terminalia of a cranefly dorsally and ventrally. Ormosia pseudosimilis (Limoniidae)
March 28, 2025 at 9:40 AM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Extremely nice habitat, montane Salix scrub and species rich tall herb communities. I've had two of them in this sample and I know Steven had it as well. These were swept, haven't got round to the Malaise sample yet. Will pop it on iRecord for you once I've finished the sample.
February 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Scoliocentra flavotestacea female #Heleomyzidae from Creag an Lochain, Ben Lawers last summer. An uncommon species according to @suillia.bsky.social great ID resources available here: dipterists.org.uk/heleomyzid-s...
Lateral macro of the head and thorax of a orange-brown fly with large black bristles
February 19, 2025 at 7:23 PM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
Flip-Flop taking his #NewYearPlantHunt 2025 Support Team role very seriously this morning - at the ready to identify any tricky plant finds @bsbibotany.bsky.social
A three-legged black and white cat on a work desk with a computer monitor showing NYPH feeds in the background
December 30, 2024 at 11:39 AM
sjthomasbotany.bsky.social
It seems like there are a few issues with Dryopteris names on PSL @panspecieslisting.bsky.social. Nothing is solid with this group but see attached from Fred the other month. Unless the current approach is based on expert input I think some need to be removed, see comments in alt text.
Image of a table showing the main taxa in the Dryopteris affinis group in the UK along with their ploidy levels from a presentation by Fred Rumsey. - D. "robusta" - not a valid name and generally treated as a morphotype of D. borreri - D. kerryensis - generally treated as a subspecies of D. affinis - D. cluthensis - published as subspecies of D. affinis and not on Fred's list - D. lacunosa - published at species level but is generally treated as a subspecies or morphotype of D. borreri. - D. rigida - a synonym of D. submontana - D. paleaceolobata listed as one of Fred's top level taxa but also generally recorded at subspecies level Suggest: Remove D. "robusta", D. cluthensis, D. rigida, D. lacunosa and D. kerryensis Retain D. paleaceolobata, D. pseudodisjuncta and D. pseudocomplexa based on Fred's table
December 2, 2024 at 1:39 PM