David W. Williams
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vc40orthops.bsky.social
David W. Williams
@vc40orthops.bsky.social
290 followers 140 following 410 posts
Amateur entomologist, naturalist & photographer. Shropshire County Recorder & national iRecord verifier for Orthopteroid insects. Author of 'Orthoptera and Dermaptera' & co-author of 'Micro Ladybirds of Britain and Ireland' FSC Publications AIDGAP Guides.
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Reposted by David W. Williams
andrew-jewels.bsky.social
#LadybirdYearList Species #6: a couple of Arboreal Ladybirds (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides) tapped out of a Euonymus shrub in my Waltham Abbey garden today. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds
Two Arboreal Ladybirds: small brown and black beetles sitting on a pale canvas background.
January 7, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
vc40ladybirds.bsky.social
A couple more Red-rumped Ladybirds (Scymnus haemorrhoidalis) at lunchtime today, one with 16-spot and 22-spot, plus new for my #LadybirdYearList, Nephus redtenbacheri (Red-patched Ladybird). #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird
January 7, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
andrew-jewels.bsky.social
#LadybirdYearList Species #5: a single Bristly Ladybird (Rhyzobius lophanthae) tapped out of an ornamental juniper in an Upshire garden today. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds
Bristly Ladybird: a tiny beetle with black wing cases and a plum-coloured front sitting on a pale clear background.
January 6, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
vc40ladybirds.bsky.social
Thrilled to have a new garden tick this morning, with Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked Ladybird), then a couple more for my #LadybirdYearList with Propylea 14-punctata (14-spot Ladybird) and Scymnus haemorrhoidalis (Red-rumped Ladybird) at lunchtime. #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird
January 6, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
marburybirds.bsky.social
Fun, fascinating behaviour by the Ravens this morning. Not great photos but I've never seen this behaviour before so I wanted to share! Hope you're not bored of ravens; I'm a little obsessed! Here Chips is having a snow bath and one of them is hanging upside down from a tree! #ukbirding
Chips lying on his back, bathing himself in the snow! Chips enjoying the snow! Raven hanging upside down from a tree! Raven hanging upside down from a tree!
January 5, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
yvonnecouch.bsky.social
A 7-Spot and a Harlequin Ladybird huddled together in freezing temperatures in SE Essex today.
January 5, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
andrew-jewels.bsky.social
#LadybirdYearList Species #4: a single Cream-spot Ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata) tapped out of gorse at Fishers Green today. Always pleased to catch up with this species, not rare but rarely common and my sightings are always rather random. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds
Cream-spot Ladybird: maroon brown oval shaped beetle with white spots sitting on pale canvas background.
January 5, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
vc40ladybirds.bsky.social
And new for my #LadybirdYearList are Subcoccinella 24-punctata (24-spot Ladybird), Adalia bipunctata (2-spot Ladybird), Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Arboreal Ladybird), and just a few Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh Ladybird) 😂 #MicroLadybird
January 4, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
vc40ladybirds.bsky.social
Another good albeit chilly mooch today, finding another Stethorus pusillus (Dot Ladybird) with Bristly Ladybird, huddles of 7-spot & 16-spot Ladybirds with a small Harley, and more Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked Ladybird) including a red form #MicroLadybird
January 4, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
andrew-jewels.bsky.social
#LadybirdYearList Species #3: a single Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) tapped out of a Euonymus shrub in my Waltham Abbey garden today. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds
Harlequin Ladybird: red with black spots, sitting on a pale canvas background.
January 4, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
kitenet.bsky.social
No luck with Brown Hairstreak eggs on the Blackthorn, but met a charming couple hanging out in the cold 😍
A Seven-spot Ladybird (red with black spots) cuddling up to a much smaller Sixteen-spot Ladybird (yellow with black spots) on a rather exposed Blackthorn stem
January 3, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
andrew-jewels.bsky.social
#LadybirdYearList Species #2: a single 22-spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) tapped out of a Euonymus shrub in an Upshire garden today. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds
22-spot Ladybird: a yellow oval beetle with black spots on a pale canvas background.
January 3, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
andyjlamb.bsky.social
Here we go. Another year, another #LadybirdYearList. First stop, Saint Mary’s churchyard in Morpeth, my “home patch”. Quite low totals, but 5 species:

1. 7-spot Ladybird (x6)
2. Harlequin Ladybird (x9)
3. Cream-spot Ladybird (x2)
4. Orange Ladybird (x62)
5. 10-spot Ladybird (x1)

#NELadybirdSpot
Cream-spot Ladybird, a chestnut brown ladybird with white spots Four Orange Ladybirds, orange beetles with white spots A 10-spot ladybird of the guttopunctata form, brownish-red with white blotches, hiding behind two Orange Ladybirds
January 3, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Reposted by David W. Williams
vc40ladybirds.bsky.social
And finally, for my #LadybirdYearList are Rhyzobius lophanthae (Bristly Ladybird), Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy Ladybird), Stethorus pusillus (Dot Ladybird) and Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked Ladybird) 4 of 4 #MicroLadybird
January 2, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
vc40ladybirds.bsky.social
Next for my #LadybirdYearList are Adalia decempunctata (10-spot Ladybird), Harmonia quadripunctata (Cream-streaked Ladybird), Rhyzobius litura (Meadow Ladybird) and Chilocorus renipustulatus (Kidney-spot Ladybird) #MicroLadybird 3 of 4
January 2, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
vc40ladybirds.bsky.social
Continuing with my #LadybirdYearList from today are Calvia 14-guttata (Cream-spot Ladybird), Aphidecta obliterata (Larch Ladybird), Exochomus quadripustulatus (Pine Ladybird), Hippodamia variegata (Adonis Ladybird) 2 of 4
January 2, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
vc40ladybirds.bsky.social
A good chilly mooch today just over the border in Staffs, to kick off my #LadybirdYearList with Harmonia axyridis (Harlequin Ladybird), Coccinella septempunctata (7-spot Ladybird), Psyllobora 22-punctata (22-spot Ladybird) and Tytthaspis 16-punctata (16-spot Ladybird) 1 of 4
January 2, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
persmiseth.bsky.social
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
Acericerus heydenii. Cluster of Red-legged Shieldbug nymph, Orange & Harlequin Ladybirds. Acompocoris alpinus.
January 1, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
rockwolf74.bsky.social
Also from under bark today was this Dermestidae larva, which I think could be Megatoma undata 🤔 Happy to be corrected! 😁 #Coleoptera #Dermestidae
January 2, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
rockwolf74.bsky.social
Nice to see an Ant Beetle (Thanasimus formicarius) from under bark today (and put back carefully) #Coleoptera #Cleridae
January 2, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
andrew-jewels.bsky.social
#LadybirdYearList Species #1: plenty of 7-spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) in an Upshire, Essex garden today, including several hibernating clusters on fence posts. #UKLadybirds #EssexWildlife
7-spot Ladybird on grey background 7-spot Ladybird on black plastic background Cluster of 7-spot Ladybirds on wooden fence underneath wire fencing Cluster of 7-spot Ladybirds on wooden fence post underneath metal fencing
January 1, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
exmoormothman.bsky.social
Who needs fireworks, eh! Much better. I got this footage standing on top of the bench in the back garden in Filton a short while ago. I nearly lent back too far!
@bristolbirding.bsky.social
January 1, 2026 at 5:20 PM
vc40orthops.bsky.social
Other 2025 highlights: Cliff Tiger Beetle (Eype, May); Clytra quadripunctata ovipositing (Wyre, June); Compost Chernes female with eggs (Shrops, October) and 1st instar Land Caddis larva (Shrops, November).
Cliff Tiger Beetle: a metallic green beetle with long legs, very well adapted to running quickly. Similar to the common Green Tiger but smaller with slightly different spotting. It also tends to run but not fly when pursued. Sideways view of a beetle with orange wing-cases which have four black blotches (two each). She is head-upwards & has produced a large egg mass from her rear end which she is manipulating with her hind feet. A small pseudoscorpion, carrying a large circle of eggs beneath her abdomen. a tiny (less than 1.75mm) larva which is sheltering inside a tubular case. Its head & legs are protruding downwards.
December 31, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
blackdogbirder.bsky.social
Finishing the year with a new ladybird for Red Moss of Netherley: 𝘊𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘳𝘶𝘧𝘢 - Red Marsh Ladybird. Seems to be widespread but few Aberdeenshire records. This one was tucked away between the clasp and body of an Audiomoth case.

@ukladybirds.bsky.social
An adult 𝘊𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘳𝘶𝘧𝘢 (Red Marsh Ladybird) on a dead plant stem.
December 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Reposted by David W. Williams
andrew-jewels.bsky.social
2025 Flora highlights: Early Spider Orchid (Ophrys sphegodes), Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea), Monkey Orchid (Orchis simia) and Late Spider Orchid (Ophrys fuciflora) all seen in Kent this year; some beautiful species in some very special habitats. #UKOrchids #KentFlora
A single Early Spider Orchid in flower on short turf A single Lady Orchid in flower on a grassy bank Close up of Monkey Orchid flower with grassy background Single Late Spider Orchid in flower in dense grassy vegetation
December 31, 2025 at 4:29 PM