liamolds.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Today was the third monthy visit to a brownfield site in Cardiff. Among the species of interest were the leafhopper Athysanus argentarius, the tephritid/fruit fly Merzomyia westermanni, and Feathered Stem-moth (Ochsenheimeria taurella). Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) was an added bonus.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Hidden Life of Colliery Spoil: Biodiversity Guided Walk (FREE) Discover the surprising wildlife of Parc Melin Mynach, Gorseinon, on a guided walk led by entomologist Liam Olds. Explore how nature has reclaimed this former colliery site. Friday 11th July 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

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A few insects from yesterday's survey at Ffynon Helig lake, Pwll, Llanelli: the picture-winged fly Melieria omissa, the soldier beetle Silis ruficollis, Spotted Marsh Ladybird (Coccidula scutellata), and Scarlet Tiger (Callimorpha dominula). @wwbic1.bsky.social

submitted 6 days ago • 1 comment

Beautiful weather yesterday for invertebrate surveying of roadside verges along A470 and A4060 at Merthyr Tydfil for the South Wales Trunk Road Agency. This beautiful Golden-fringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) was spotted perched upon on one of the verges.

submitted 8 days ago • 2 comments

I brought home a Bearded Fieldcap (Agrocybe molesta) to check yesterday and found this beetle when I was about to check the cheilocystidia on the gills. #fungi #fungifriends

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Lychnis coronaria, Rose campion, first of this year's blooms. This plant is favoured by Wool Carder bees in my garden - she gathers wool from the stems to make nest for her young.

submitted 13 days ago • 3 comments

So a weaver fish is sitting in the sand, living its life under the sea and a human goes into the sea, stands on it and gets stung, but the fish is the "Venomous pests" The sort of gutter wildlife demonising clickbait you expect from the Daily Fail, not the BBC :(

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

Lovely day spent searching the coast path near Newgale, Pembrokeshire, for Short-necked Oil Beetle today. None found but some other invertebrates seen include Bordered Orbweaver (Neoscona adianta), Western Bee-fly (Bombylius canescens) and Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia). @wwbic1.bsky.social

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When warnings of Insectageddon were issued a few years ago, there was widespread denial. Less so now. It's devastating. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

submitted 18 days ago • 86 comments

Do you have unsubmitted data for the Gwent Levels? We are carrying out a data review project for Living Levels and would love to learn of any untapped data sources! You can email [email protected] to let us know about potentially missing data (no need to send the records at this stage).

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

Petition against the development of a hugely damaging Aqua Park at one of Glamorgan’s best wildlife sites. chng.it/hBdbBxwLLR

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Learn to use Pantheon to analyse invertebrate data & inform conservation! Join us at the Natural History Museum, London on 20 Aug. With specialist tutor @kitenet.bsky.social . £80. Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1372660337... @naturalengland.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social #conservation #ecology

submitted 21 days ago • 1 comment

🌼Webinar: Introduction to species-rich grasslands and their plants Thursday 26 June, 18:30 Join Vale LNP in partnership with @plantlifeuk.bsky.social to explore the vital role of species-rich grasslands in supporting biodiversity in our free online webinar Book: www.valenature.org/event-detail...

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

Fen Mason Wasp (Odynerus simillimus) - all males - in East Norfolk yesterday. I've been meaning to look for these for a while and they didn't disappoint! Beautiful little wasps. I didn't spot any females or nest "chimneys" so I'll have to go back again. #bugsky #insects #pollinators #wasps

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

This is so important! Dog owners, challenge vets when offered these unnecessary & deeply harmful treatments. I’ve had dogs all my life, & never had to use them. Ticks can be removed easily & safely, & dogs treated (& kept away from water) only IF they get fleas! @davegoulson.bsky.social

submitted 17 days ago • 3 comments

Crikey, I've never posted an image from The Sun before, but on this occasion.... Have a look at the petition - it's only got 4,127 signatures so far, but come on people of Wales, (& elsewhere), this just can't be right!

submitted 17 days ago • 3 comments

This is probably the last of the male Hairy-footed Flower Bees (Anthophora plumipes) we'll see in 2025. Photo'd yesterday and looks very different to the brown characters when they first appear. Still 3 females around yesterday. @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @liamolds.bsky.social

submitted 24 days ago • 4 comments

If you want to read more about the initial discovery of this remarkable bee population, check out the short article on ResearchGate 👇 www.researchgate.net/publication/...

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Mating pair of Golden-fringed Mason Bee (Osmia aurulenta) - one of several pairs seen at MoD Castlemartin Range, Pembrokeshire, on 23rd April. This population is nesting inside brass ammunition casings on the military range. We've also learnt that they use them for shelter during poor weather too!

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1st Plain Dark Bee (Stelis phaeoptera) of 2025 yesterday - feeding on Centaurea dealbata. They and their host, Orange-vented Mason Bees, really like Centaureas, along with Hardy Geraniums, Knapweeds and Thistles in our garden.

submitted 24 days ago • 1 comment

Labour promised to restore nature. ❌ Instead, their Planning Bill contains a licence to destroy it. We offered solutions. We’re done waiting. Part 3 of the Bill would gut the laws protecting our most precious habitats & species. Without significant change, it must be scrapped.

submitted 29 days ago • 12 comments

Coming over the next 2 weeks. Marsh Fritillary talk and flight season survey training across Wales. You can join me in Carmarthenshire (Thursday 5th June) & Rhondda Cynon Taf (next Friday, 30th May, including Welsh cakes!). Sorry, too late for the Ceredigion event.

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

Absolutely delighted to come across Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola) workers foraging on bird's-foot-trefoils at the former International Colliery, Blaengarw, this afternoon. We're so fortunate to have these beautiful bumblebees in the South Wales Valleys! @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social

submitted 29 days ago • 1 comment

Our suggested event this week is our #BioBlitz at Penllergare Valley Woods in #Swansea on Saturday! Help us to explore the wildlife of this fascinating Victorian estate. Join us on one of our guided walks (schedule below). Book here or come and find us on the day: penllergarebb.eventbrite.co.uk

submitted 33 days ago • 0 comments

Always a pleasure to come across a Golden-fringed Mason Bee (Osmia aurulenta) nest! This is one of 3 UK bee species to nest in empty snail shells. A female had just finished pasting leaf mastic over the entrance to the shell when I came across her yesterday at Porth Neigwl. #SolitaryBeeWeek

submitted 31 days ago • 5 comments

For #WorldBeeDay I joined the @naturambyth.bsky.social Pen Llŷn ac Ynys Môn project team & @natreswales.bsky.social to search for Cliff Mason Bee (Osmia xanthomelana) at Porth Neigwl. Lower numbers than expected (likely already peaked in abundance). Still great to see them. Old brood cells pictured.

submitted 31 days ago • 0 comments

What a beautiful landscape in which to work today 😍 Searching the cliffs of Porthdinllaen, Pen Llyn, for the Critically Endangered Cliff Mason Bee (Osmia xanthomelana). There is a historic record from this location, but unfortunately no sightings today (likely extinct here).

submitted 32 days ago • 0 comments

Rather exciting to find what I believe to be a female Black-headed Leafcutter Bee (Megachile circumcincta) on a coastal brownfield site in Neath Port Talbot yesterday (17th May). Unfortunately, it is a much declined species in Britain. Note, she was safely released after a few photos 😊

submitted 33 days ago • 4 comments

@vc40orthops.bsky.social and I are pleased to announce the publication today of the “Micro ladybirds of Britain and Ireland”, in collaboration with the FSC: www.field-studies-council.org/shop/publica...

submitted 36 days ago • 8 comments

Nice surprise to find the ground beetle Carabus granulatus outside the house this morning - a species I don't find that often. Great to know they are present locally.

submitted 38 days ago • 8 comments

Black-headed Mason Wasp (Odynerus melanocephalus) was today's star find at a rather lovely brownfield site in Cardiff. Some other nice species seen include a female Field Cuckoo Bee (Bombus campestris), the spider Nigma puella, Large Meadow Mining Bee (Andrena labialis) and the Rhinocyllus conicus.

submitted 39 days ago • 0 comments

Blue Mason Bee (Osmia caerulescens, male) in the garden, Leeds UK. May 2025. I've never had Blue Masons nesting in the garden before – such a lovely surprise! 💙 #Osmiacaerulescens #bluemasonbee #nikonphotography #solitarybees #ukbees #macrophotography #bees

submitted 40 days ago • 0 comments

2nd year of recording the bee Hoplitis claviventris at #RSPBMiddletonLakes, 11/05/25 #solitarybee #bee #Hoplitis @liamolds.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

submitted 40 days ago • 1 comment

Short-spined Nomad Bee (Nomada guttulata) appeared today, which is a cleptoparasite on the Red-girdled Mining Bee (Andrena labiata) that nest in the grass.

submitted 42 days ago • 3 comments

The weather forecast is looking good for next week's wild bee guided walks at Bryngarw Country Park, Bridgend. Hopefully we'll see some of the parts more noteworthy species such as the Cat's-ear Mining Bee (Andrena humilis) and Cat's-ear Nomad Bee (Nomada integra) @bridgend-lnp.bsky.social

submitted 42 days ago • 0 comments

Something a bit different today, assisting Christian 'Sparrow' Owen with an aquatic invertebrate survey of Ffynnon Helig (lake) at Pwll, Llanelli. A few vertebrates found in the water also 😊

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A few species from today's invertebrate survey of Avon Wildlife Trust's Burledge Hill Nature Reserve: the longhorn beetle Phytoecia cylindrica, the click beetle Ctenicera pectinicornis, and Brown-banded Carder Bee (Bombus humilis).

submitted 44 days ago • 0 comments

Thursday 15th May - Guided Walk - Bumblebees & Solitary Bees Join me on a guided walk at Bryngarw Country Park, Bridgend, exploring the wonderful world of wild bees (bumblebees and solitary bees). For more information and to book a place, visit: awenboxoffice.com/whats-on/gui...

submitted 46 days ago • 0 comments