Per Smiseth
@persmiseth.bsky.social
Behavioural ecologist @ University of Edinburgh. Parental care & family conflict, inbreeding. Biological recording & natural history in cemeteries, burial grounds & churchyards.
Reposted by Per Smiseth
Another hour in Topsham Cemetery today and a few goodies: Beetles and Barkflies: looks like two new species for me.
Names in Alt Texts
Names in Alt Texts
February 12, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Another hour in Topsham Cemetery today and a few goodies: Beetles and Barkflies: looks like two new species for me.
Names in Alt Texts
Names in Alt Texts
10 species of #ladybirds found yesterday on gravestones in Newington Cemetery, #Edinburgh. Surprisingly good haul (best of 2026 so far) despite the dreich weather. Part 1: Cream-streaked, Eyed & Larch Ladybirds … #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
February 12, 2026 at 1:51 PM
10 species of #ladybirds found yesterday on gravestones in Newington Cemetery, #Edinburgh. Surprisingly good haul (best of 2026 so far) despite the dreich weather. Part 1: Cream-streaked, Eyed & Larch Ladybirds … #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Female Dotted Border, male Pale Brindled Beauty & female Chilenocaecilius ornatipennis from Grange Cemetery, #Edinburgh, yesterday. The latter a non-native #barkfly originally from S America; 1st recorded in UK in 2016. #moths #psocodea #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
February 11, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Female Dotted Border, male Pale Brindled Beauty & female Chilenocaecilius ornatipennis from Grange Cemetery, #Edinburgh, yesterday. The latter a non-native #barkfly originally from S America; 1st recorded in UK in 2016. #moths #psocodea #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Highlights from Newington Cemetery, Edinburgh, today: Sphaeriestes castaneus (Salpingidae), Striped Ladybird (Coccinellidae), Western Conifer Seed Bug (Coreidae) & Ectopsocus axillaris (Ectopsocidae). #insects #beetles #hemiptera #psocodea #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
February 9, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Highlights from Newington Cemetery, Edinburgh, today: Sphaeriestes castaneus (Salpingidae), Striped Ladybird (Coccinellidae), Western Conifer Seed Bug (Coreidae) & Ectopsocus axillaris (Ectopsocidae). #insects #beetles #hemiptera #psocodea #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Rabocerus gabrieli, #Salpingidae, found today in Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh. Nationally scarce. Small (3-4mm) & active in winter. My 66th record from Edinburgh’s cemeteries (+1 from Perthshire). #beetles #coleoptera #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
February 6, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Rabocerus gabrieli, #Salpingidae, found today in Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh. Nationally scarce. Small (3-4mm) & active in winter. My 66th record from Edinburgh’s cemeteries (+1 from Perthshire). #beetles #coleoptera #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Mixed species clusters of overwintering ladybirds from today’s visit to Grange Cemetery, #Edinburgh. Hoping to learn more about these clusters this winter. #ladybirds #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
February 5, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Mixed species clusters of overwintering ladybirds from today’s visit to Grange Cemetery, #Edinburgh. Hoping to learn more about these clusters this winter. #ladybirds #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglussus occidentalis) on gravestone under Austrian Pine in Newington Cemetery, #Edinburgh, this afternoon. My 1st record of this non-native bug originally from North America. #Hemiptera #Coreidae #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
February 2, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Western Conifer Seed Bug (Leptoglussus occidentalis) on gravestone under Austrian Pine in Newington Cemetery, #Edinburgh, this afternoon. My 1st record of this non-native bug originally from North America. #Hemiptera #Coreidae #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Highlights from #Edinburgh cemeteries last week: Male Pale Brindled Beauty, Ocys quinquestriatus (nationally scarce), cluster of 2-spot, Harlequin, 10-spot & Cream-spot Ladybirds & Buchananiella continua with Anthocoris nemorum. #insects #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
February 1, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Highlights from #Edinburgh cemeteries last week: Male Pale Brindled Beauty, Ocys quinquestriatus (nationally scarce), cluster of 2-spot, Harlequin, 10-spot & Cream-spot Ladybirds & Buchananiella continua with Anthocoris nemorum. #insects #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Grypotes puncticollis found today on gravestone under pine in Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh. 3rd Scottish record I think. Associated with pine. #leafhopper #GrypotesPuncticollis #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
January 17, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Grypotes puncticollis found today on gravestone under pine in Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh. 3rd Scottish record I think. Associated with pine. #leafhopper #GrypotesPuncticollis #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Some of yesterday’s records from Newington Cemetery, #Edinburgh. Highlight was Neobisium carcinoides, my 1st #pseudoscorpion on a gravestone. Also #beetle Phloiophilus edwardsii, #fly Drosophila suzukii (male) & #leafhopper Balclutha punctata. #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
January 14, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Some of yesterday’s records from Newington Cemetery, #Edinburgh. Highlight was Neobisium carcinoides, my 1st #pseudoscorpion on a gravestone. Also #beetle Phloiophilus edwardsii, #fly Drosophila suzukii (male) & #leafhopper Balclutha punctata. #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Yesterday’s records from Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh (VC83) included 3 species 1st recorded in Scotland (as far as I know) as part of #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity: Buchananiella continua, Peripsocus milleri & Acericerus heydenii. #iRecord #insects
January 11, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Yesterday’s records from Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh (VC83) included 3 species 1st recorded in Scotland (as far as I know) as part of #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity: Buchananiella continua, Peripsocus milleri & Acericerus heydenii. #iRecord #insects
Highlights from today’s visit to Grange Cemetery, #Edinburgh: Female Mottled Umber, Cuneopalpus cyanops (a barkfly), Rabocerus gabrieli & several species of ladybirds. #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
January 7, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Highlights from today’s visit to Grange Cemetery, #Edinburgh: Female Mottled Umber, Cuneopalpus cyanops (a barkfly), Rabocerus gabrieli & several species of ladybirds. #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
My 1st ever record of an undescribed species of #Tephrochlamys. ID confirmed. Unlike other members of the genus, this species has a pair of presutural dorsocentral bristles. #Diptera #Heleomyzidae #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
January 7, 2026 at 5:27 PM
My 1st ever record of an undescribed species of #Tephrochlamys. ID confirmed. Unlike other members of the genus, this species has a pair of presutural dorsocentral bristles. #Diptera #Heleomyzidae #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Happy New Year! My 1st records for #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity for 2026, all from my local Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh: Acericerus heydenii, cluster of Red-legged Shieldbug nymph, Orange & Harlequin Ladybirds & Acompocoris alpinus. #iRecord #ladybirds
January 1, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Happy New Year! My 1st records for #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity for 2026, all from my local Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh: Acericerus heydenii, cluster of Red-legged Shieldbug nymph, Orange & Harlequin Ladybirds & Acompocoris alpinus. #iRecord #ladybirds
Some of today’s records of #insects from Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh, part 1: Orange & Harlequin Ladybirds, Phloiophilus edwardsii … #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
December 19, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Some of today’s records of #insects from Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh, part 1: Orange & Harlequin Ladybirds, Phloiophilus edwardsii … #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Collection of #insects found on gravestones in Comely Bank Cemetery, #Edinburgh, on 15 December, part 1: Tetratoma fungorum, female Mottled Umber & Cream-streaked Ladybird … #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
December 18, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Collection of #insects found on gravestones in Comely Bank Cemetery, #Edinburgh, on 15 December, part 1: Tetratoma fungorum, female Mottled Umber & Cream-streaked Ladybird … #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Female Winter Moth walking across old spiderweb with Harlequin Ladybird hiding underneath. Spotted yesterday in Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh. #Moths #WinterMoth #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
December 17, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Female Winter Moth walking across old spiderweb with Harlequin Ladybird hiding underneath. Spotted yesterday in Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh. #Moths #WinterMoth #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Reposted by Per Smiseth
✨ A huge thank you to everyone who joined us! 🍻
Special shout-out to our featured scientists:
🪲 @persmiseth.bsky.social , Lecturer in Animal Behaviour
🪰 @darrenobbard.bsky.social, Professor of Evoluntionary Genetics
🦋 Simon Martin, Royal Society University Research Fellow
#ScienceCommunication
Special shout-out to our featured scientists:
🪲 @persmiseth.bsky.social , Lecturer in Animal Behaviour
🪰 @darrenobbard.bsky.social, Professor of Evoluntionary Genetics
🦋 Simon Martin, Royal Society University Research Fellow
#ScienceCommunication
November 16, 2025 at 2:50 PM
✨ A huge thank you to everyone who joined us! 🍻
Special shout-out to our featured scientists:
🪲 @persmiseth.bsky.social , Lecturer in Animal Behaviour
🪰 @darrenobbard.bsky.social, Professor of Evoluntionary Genetics
🦋 Simon Martin, Royal Society University Research Fellow
#ScienceCommunication
Special shout-out to our featured scientists:
🪲 @persmiseth.bsky.social , Lecturer in Animal Behaviour
🪰 @darrenobbard.bsky.social, Professor of Evoluntionary Genetics
🦋 Simon Martin, Royal Society University Research Fellow
#ScienceCommunication
Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata) from Warriston Cemetery, #Edinburgh, this morning. #Ladybirds #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
October 19, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata) from Warriston Cemetery, #Edinburgh, this morning. #Ladybirds #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Collection of critters from yesterday’s visit to Newington Cemetery, #Edinburgh: 18-spot, Larch, Eyed, Orange & Harlequin #Ladybirds (I counted 356 of the latter, including 1 eating a hoverfly larva) ... #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
October 16, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Collection of critters from yesterday’s visit to Newington Cemetery, #Edinburgh: 18-spot, Larch, Eyed, Orange & Harlequin #Ladybirds (I counted 356 of the latter, including 1 eating a hoverfly larva) ... #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Collection of #barkflies from today’s visit to Duddingston Kirk Graveyard, #Edinburgh: Blaste quadrimaculata, Elipsocus hyalinus, Valenzuela flavidus & Cerobasis guestfalica. #Psocoptera. #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
October 6, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Collection of #barkflies from today’s visit to Duddingston Kirk Graveyard, #Edinburgh: Blaste quadrimaculata, Elipsocus hyalinus, Valenzuela flavidus & Cerobasis guestfalica. #Psocoptera. #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Collection of #barkflies from today’s visit to Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh: Peripsocus milleri, Graphopsocus cruciatus, Cerobasis guestfalica & Valenzuela flavidus. #Psocoptera. #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
September 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Collection of #barkflies from today’s visit to Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh: Peripsocus milleri, Graphopsocus cruciatus, Cerobasis guestfalica & Valenzuela flavidus. #Psocoptera. #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Female Metylophorus nebulosus from Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh (VC83), this afternoon. A large (6-7mm) & attractive #barkfly. #Psocoptera #Metylophorusnebulosus #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
September 19, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Female Metylophorus nebulosus from Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh (VC83), this afternoon. A large (6-7mm) & attractive #barkfly. #Psocoptera #Metylophorusnebulosus #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Bagworm - possibly Lichen Case-bearer (Dahlica lichenella) - feeding on gravestone in New Calton Burial Ground, #Edinburgh. Initially mistaken for snail poo. #TeamMoth #Moths #Psychidae #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
August 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Bagworm - possibly Lichen Case-bearer (Dahlica lichenella) - feeding on gravestone in New Calton Burial Ground, #Edinburgh. Initially mistaken for snail poo. #TeamMoth #Moths #Psychidae #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
Dinocampus coccinellae cocoon guarded by 7-spot Ladybird found today on gravestone in New Calton Burial Ground, #Edinburgh. #Braconidae #Parasitoids #Ladybirds #Dinocampuscoccinellae #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.
August 1, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Dinocampus coccinellae cocoon guarded by 7-spot Ladybird found today on gravestone in New Calton Burial Ground, #Edinburgh. #Braconidae #Parasitoids #Ladybirds #Dinocampuscoccinellae #CemeteryWildlifeWatch recording activity on #iRecord.