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lancefly.bsky.social
Entomologist. Obsessed with flies. Keen on wasps and bees. Enjoy other insects, birdsong, finding places free of cars and dogwalkers. I don't look much like my avatar image anymore. Love a pint or two of a well served pale ale in a cosy pub with no tv.
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Good. Very good. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Serious stuff occurring in mid Wales!

submitted 14 days ago • 1 comment

Huge congratulations to Worcester City FC on winning their play off final for back to back promotions. Great times!

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

I had a wonderful insect safari in my village wood, Gamlingay Wood LNR, this morning. It's hard to choose a Fly of the Day, one of these two probably. Conops vesicularis "Hornet Grabber" Fam. Conopidae. Criorhina asilica "Pale-banded Bearfly" Fam. Syrphidae.

submitted 24 days ago • 2 comments

Oh gosh. This is such dissapointing news. No more spectacular fireworks either. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

submitted 36 days ago • 0 comments

Interesting distribution map for the Pteromalid wasp Callitula pyrrhogaster. Due to the efforts of a local band of naturalists, Shropshire is apparently the UK epicentre for this tiny wasp. These have mainly been found by suction sampling and very keen eyes.

submitted 36 days ago • 1 comment

Dolichopus diadema, from marshy areas on s'Albufereta NNR Mallorca 2023, showing the extended ventral part of the face. #dolichopodidae #ecology #dipterid #imaging Now taking on clients for Diptera identification from UK, North, Central and Southern Europe. www.dipteraid.co.uk Please share. thanks

submitted 56 days ago • 0 comments

Extremely overdue project started today and it's going to be a long, long haul. My overflowing reference collection will be expanded into new draws and boxes. First to get attention are the Muscidae, which have degenerated into a chaotic mess. Expecting to finish in about 2 years time!

submitted 59 days ago • 0 comments

2 unexpected finds in the mid March sunshine at a fen in north Shropshire on Wednesday. The rarely recorded Angioneura acerba, and an unusual inland record for the shore fly Philtotelma nigripenne. A good start to the Diptera spring season!

submitted 61 days ago • 1 comment

Following the excellent workshop on shoreflies by @sjthomasbotany.bsky.social and Dave Gibbs the key and other resources are noe available to DF members, see dipterists.org.uk/news/new-res... plus the start of an Ephydridae group on Flickr www.flickr.com/groups/ephyd...

submitted 68 days ago • 0 comments

Garden treat in the March sunshine. This Pogonocherus hispidus paid us a visit today. Shrewsbury, UK.

submitted 74 days ago • 0 comments

This is Macrocillix maia & he's a moth who mimics bird poo. But he's taken it to the next level, he's also mimicking flies feeding on the bird poo, right down to the shimmer of their wings! I have wanted to see one for so long, but never thought I would! In Trus Madi entomology camp in Borneo. 1/2

submitted 75 days ago • 11 comments

First Anthophora plumipes of 2025 this afternoon. A single female feeding at winter honeysuckle flowers.

submitted 79 days ago • 0 comments

Comprehensive true flies ID service for ecological consultancies, landowners, govt agencies, conservation orgs; all sizes of projects undertaken. 1st fly this year (in the house), Hydrophoria linogrisea, Anthomyiidae, larvae found under bark, assumed predatory. www.dipteraid.co.uk #ecology #flies

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

Searching for winter active Heleomyzidae on a recently dead Muntjac on Wednesday, yielded a Shropshire first Neoleria propinqua. Also present were Crumomyia fimetaria & Spelobia clunipes (Sphaeroceridae) Unrelated, but does anyone know what this very dome shaped Chrysomelidae is? Oomorphus perhaps?

submitted 83 days ago • 4 comments

My first male Osmia cornuta for 2025. This is one of the bees that has shrunk the most in size over the past few decades. 40 years ago it weighed on average 67 mg, now it has shrunk down to 54 mg, or a ~20%. Fore more details on Cazorla'a shrinking bees see our study here doi.org/10.1002/ecy....

submitted 98 days ago • 3 comments

The EU is leaving X! I love this! I finally feel seen! 😅 😭 💙 #eXit

submitted 123 days ago • 9 comments