Vanna Bartlett
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vannabartlett.bsky.social
Vanna Bartlett
@vannabartlett.bsky.social
1.5K followers 680 following 2K posts
Artist, naturalist, author, cyclist. Loves insects/invertebrates especially solitary bees & harvestmen. County Recorder for Harvestmen and Pseudoscorpions. Hefted to Norfolk.
Website https://arthropedia.co.uk/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
vc40ladybirds.bsky.social
After a two year hiatus, @vc40orthops.bsky.social and I were really pleased to finally find another Willow Ladybird (Scymnus limbatus) using our refugia yesterday. 🥰 New for my #LadybirdYearList #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird
November 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
vc40orthops.bsky.social
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
Willow Ladybird, a small (2mm or less) black beetle with a large, red patch on each wing-case, sitting back to back with a Hemipteran bug which is significantly bigger.
November 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
clothofnature.bsky.social
Daylight is snuffed out far too soon at this time of year…
So it made me smile to find candle snuff fungi standing in my path this afternoon — tiny winter sentinels said to glow faintly in the dark.
A small reminder that even when the light dips early, something quiet is still shining. #WildWonder
Image 1 A close-up of candle-snuff fungi growing from a decaying piece of wood on the forest floor. The slender black stems are tipped with pale, powdery white, reaching upwards like tiny matchsticks or ghostly flames. Around them lie damp autumn leaves in shades of russet, copper and brown, softening the scene with woodland colour. Image 2 A tight macro photograph of several candle-snuff fungi emerging from dark, decaying wood. Each thin black stem fades to a chalky white tip, contrasting against glossy brown beech leaves resting nearby. The fungi curve delicately upwards, resembling tiny extinguished candles among the wet leaf litter.
November 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
vannabartlett.bsky.social
Current research, delving into the first monographs on British harvestmen - Meade 1855 and Pickard-Cambridge 1890. Got the pdfs printed and bound together. Lovely plate from Pickard-Cambridge.
First page of Meade's monograph on British harvestmen dated 1855. First page of Pickard-Cambridge's monograph on British harvestmen dated 1890. Plate of drawings of harvestmen from Pickard-Cambridge's monograh.
November 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
mattipus.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
chikichanka.bsky.social
Tarentola mauritanica
Aracena, Huelva
November 22, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
vc40ladybirds.bsky.social
A good mooch in east Shropshire today, finding Myrrha 18-guttata (18-spot Ladybird), Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh Ladybird), Anatis ocellata (Eyed Ladybird) and Hippodamia variegata (Adonis Ladybird) #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird
A chestnut brown ladybird with white markings, on the end of pine needles. There are two white markings just behind the pronotum which look like a pair of elf boots! Two red elongate ladybirds on a fabric tray. One is tucked up as they typically do, and the other is walking across the tray. Our largest ladybird in the UK, a red ladybird with black spots, each with a pale ring around it, giving it its name. The pronotum is white with distinctive black markings. It is on a brown leaf. An elongated red ladybird with black spots towards the rear of the wing cases, on a fabric tray.
November 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
tjalamont.bsky.social
Sunday Surfing in the photo archives - here's a giant shield bug (family Tessaratomidae) from Malaysian Borneo awhile back. These are larger than the typical stink bugs we see here in the U.S. They can spray a defensive chemical that not only smells unpleasant, but can damage skin. 🐙🌿 #Bugsky
A photo of a shield bug, seen from above, perched at the joint of two pieces of wood, painted a dull red. The bug is bright orange with metallic-green speckles on the shield over its thorax. The shield also has horns on each side which project out and forward. The wood pieces meet at an angle in the top of the frame; below them the background is black.
November 23, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
sharkeee.bsky.social
A touch dry, but tonight we'll be searching the mossy trees for aboreal Opiliones like these 'amorous', Ramosus sp.
If you find these creatures fascinating, consider joining @megabunus.bsky.social et al, in a webinar on the 30th dec and learn more.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/arboreal-h...
November 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
zschierl.bsky.social
Since BlueSky seems to like (or dislike enough to hit "like") snakes, here's my favorite photo of a snake I've taken:

A smooth green snake knots its tail in a last-ditch effort to avoid being consumed by a garter snake. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO.

#photography #snake 🐍
A bright green snake has its tail in a knot as it is mostly swallowed by another snake with a multicolored pattern on its back.
November 23, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
jeremybartlett.bsky.social
St Andrew, Colney.

www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/colney/colne...

#Churches #Norfolk
St Andrew, Colney, view from south-east in low November afternoon light. St Andrew, Colney - tower, south porch and part of nave, in low sunlight. St Andrew, Colney - tower and south porch, with blue sky behind. Headstone, reset above south porch of church: "Sacred to the memory of John Fox who on the 20th December 1806 in the 79th year of his age was unfortunately killed near this spot having been thrust down and trampled on by the horses of a wagon. READER if thou drivest a team be careful and endanger not the life of another or thine own. "
November 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
jeremybartlett.bsky.social
Earthy Powdercap, Cystoderma amianthinum.

Found these small (but perfectly formed) specimens this afternoon, growing in mossy grass.

www.first-nature.com/fungi/cystod...

#Fungi #FungiFriends
Earthy Powdercap, Cystoderma amianthinum. Earthy Powdercap, Cystoderma amianthinum Earthy Powdercap, Cystoderma amianthinum. Picked specimen. Earthy Powdercap, Cystoderma amianthinum. Picked specimen.
November 23, 2025 at 4:16 PM
vannabartlett.bsky.social
A little saunter down to Colney church on the edge of Norwich with @jeremybartlett.bsky.social today led to the discovery of a Dicranopalpus larvatus harvestman. The only other site for this species in Norfolk is at Earlham Cemetery in Norwich. Good to finally get another site for them.
A flint built, round tower church with a slate roof in sunlight with blue sky behind and long dark shadows. A harvestman sitting on a whitish stone in bright sunlight. The harvestman has long dark grey legs that are hunched up around it. Its body is white with a dark patch around the dark eyes and a dark patch at the rear of the abdomen. A harvestman sitting on a whitish stone. The harvestman has long dark grey legs that are pulled up around it. Its body is white with a dark patch around the dark eyes and a dark patch at the rear of the abdomen. It has forked pedipalps held up in front of it. Close up of a harvestman sitting on a whitish stone. The harvestman has long dark grey legs that are pulled up around it. Its body is white with a dark patch around the dark eyes and a dark patch at the rear of the abdomen. It has forked pedipalps held up in front of it.
November 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
jeremybartlett.bsky.social
White Saddle, Helvella crispa.

When @vannabartlett.bsky.social and I were out walking this afternoon we were talked about how we hadn't seen any White Saddles this year.

A few yards further on, we found some - and then another group on a road verge near home.

#Fungi #FungiFriends
White Saddle, Helvella crispa. A single fruitbody that had already been picked, on a carpet of fallen leaves, White Saddles, Helvella crispa. Two fruitbodies amongst fallen leaves, by a path. White Saddles, Helvella crispa. Three fruitbodies amongst fallen leaves, by a path. White Saddles, Helvella crispa. One fruitbody amongst fallen leaves, by a path.
November 23, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
jtkindt.bsky.social
Basswood leafminer beetle, Baliosus nervosus, from late October ‘23. #bugsky #beetles #naturephotography #insects
Insect with small bumps all over its body; bumpy ridges on its abdomen with yellow, orange, and purplish coloration, on a green leaf.
November 23, 2025 at 5:11 AM
vannabartlett.bsky.social
Any insect people recognise the 'fly' depicted on second fragment of pottery alongside the dragonfly?
germanderspeedwell.bsky.social Germander Speedwell @germanderspeedwell.bsky.social · 1d
Here's a couple of 20th century fragments recently found on the foreshore: part of a lovely hand-painted tile, and a very curious large piece depicting an insect landing on something I can't quite identify! This was probably from a jug or vase; the style of decoration is particularly unusual.
November 23, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
germanderspeedwell.bsky.social
Here's a couple of 20th century fragments recently found on the foreshore: part of a lovely hand-painted tile, and a very curious large piece depicting an insect landing on something I can't quite identify! This was probably from a jug or vase; the style of decoration is particularly unusual.
November 23, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
lbflyawayhome.bsky.social
“Across this cloud-dappled sky skeins of wild geese are flying”
(What to Look for in Autumn, 1960)
Writer: EL Grant Watson
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
November 23, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
mikeo-g.bsky.social
You might not think you needed to see Kate Bush dressed as a bat today, but you were wrong.
4 photos of Kate Bush in a lacy bat costume in various poses.
November 22, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
kiwibyrne.bsky.social
Two Neobisium carcinoides pseudoscorpions from John's Hill, Co. Carlow this week.
Pseudoscorpion Neobisium carcinoides on white background. Pseudoscorpion Neobisium carcinoides on dark background.
November 21, 2025 at 9:39 PM
vannabartlett.bsky.social
Well, Friday was fun. Electricity went off at 09.40 and didn't come back on until 20.00. Thanks to UK Power Networks for finding & fixing fault but this is because of under investment in infrastructutre after privatisation. Profits not reinvested, high exec pay, shareholder payouts.
November 22, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
germanderspeedwell.bsky.social
Here's a longish thread about what turned out to be one of my favourite foreshore finds of the year... It started when I spotted this bottle. Another mudlark had just walked over that patch - did they not see it, or were they just uninterested in bottles? Or was it simply meant for me? Contd...
November 22, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
frankashwood.bsky.social
The cover art is finished for my new book and I LOVE IT!

This safari tour of the life in soil and what is means to us, is now available for pre-order as ebook, soft and hardcover in the UK and Commonwealth. Published in August next year (US date soon), I hope it'll entice everyone to love soil! 🧪🪱
A book cover featuring artwork of winding roots and soil animals, entitled 'THE WORLD BENEATH OUR FEET', with roots winding around the text.
November 20, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
tjalamont.bsky.social
#Bugsky 🐙🌿 Who wants another baby earwig update? Everyone? Thought so. The babies are now two days old and slightly darker than when they hatched. Mama is guarding them and will stay on the job until their second molt. Btw, in the earlier post, the newly-hatched babies only had--
A macro photo of a mother earwig guarding a cluster of her tiny, pale babies, all of them on damp earth.
November 20, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by Vanna Bartlett
stevewg.bsky.social
Mistletoe trying to go for some sort of Guinness Book of Records attempt
November 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM