Andy Pym
@exmoormothman.bsky.social
A raven mad naturalist with a passion for moths. Mainly Exmoor & the Bristol region.
Reposted by Andy Pym
1/2 #speciesaday no. 500 is Snow Flea (Boreus hyemalis). Not a flea but a mecopteran (same order as the scorpion-flies). Winter-active, I have seen them only twice in 2019 when I went with Tony to find them in the Wyre Forest in Feb, then stumbled on 1 in the suction sampler in the Roaches that Dec.
December 22, 2024 at 6:21 AM
1/2 #speciesaday no. 500 is Snow Flea (Boreus hyemalis). Not a flea but a mecopteran (same order as the scorpion-flies). Winter-active, I have seen them only twice in 2019 when I went with Tony to find them in the Wyre Forest in Feb, then stumbled on 1 in the suction sampler in the Roaches that Dec.
Reposted by Andy Pym
Just visited the Lacewing Recording Scheme website and there are lots of great identification guides available, e.g. www.laars.jamesjepson.com/neuroptera-l... - thanks to @jamesjepson.bsky.social and colleagues for putting this together
Neuroptera (Lacewings) Identification | Lacewing and Allies Recording Scheme
www.laars.jamesjepson.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Just visited the Lacewing Recording Scheme website and there are lots of great identification guides available, e.g. www.laars.jamesjepson.com/neuroptera-l... - thanks to @jamesjepson.bsky.social and colleagues for putting this together
Reposted by Andy Pym
My first Snow Flea (Boreus hyemalis) of the winter at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today. Nice of her to pose out in the open on a fallen leaf, so didn't need to spend hours waiting for one to emerge from the Polytrichum moss! @ynuorg.bsky.social #Mecoptera #Boreidae #ukwildlife
November 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
My first Snow Flea (Boreus hyemalis) of the winter at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today. Nice of her to pose out in the open on a fallen leaf, so didn't need to spend hours waiting for one to emerge from the Polytrichum moss! @ynuorg.bsky.social #Mecoptera #Boreidae #ukwildlife
Reposted by Andy Pym
Two lifers amongst 45:13 in a maple-packed woodland last night. The target was Plumed Prominent, and by 5.30pm two females had already appeared. An hour later and we were enjoying extravagantly plumed males. A hibernating Agonopterix purpurea was also NFM, with December Moth NFY. #TeamMoth
November 8, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Two lifers amongst 45:13 in a maple-packed woodland last night. The target was Plumed Prominent, and by 5.30pm two females had already appeared. An hour later and we were enjoying extravagantly plumed males. A hibernating Agonopterix purpurea was also NFM, with December Moth NFY. #TeamMoth
Reposted by Andy Pym
🎃 Happy Halloween, from the Charnwood Spider!
🕷️ Charnwood Forest is one of the only places in the UK that you can find the spider Mastigusa diversa. Unsurprisingly, it's also known as the Charnwood Spider!
🕷️ Charnwood Forest is one of the only places in the UK that you can find the spider Mastigusa diversa. Unsurprisingly, it's also known as the Charnwood Spider!
October 31, 2025 at 8:30 AM
🎃 Happy Halloween, from the Charnwood Spider!
🕷️ Charnwood Forest is one of the only places in the UK that you can find the spider Mastigusa diversa. Unsurprisingly, it's also known as the Charnwood Spider!
🕷️ Charnwood Forest is one of the only places in the UK that you can find the spider Mastigusa diversa. Unsurprisingly, it's also known as the Charnwood Spider!
Reposted by Andy Pym
Male Horrid Ground Weaver Nothophantes horridus in Plymouth, Devon. This UK endemic usually peaks in December but I found 16 (mostly adults) one day last week so seems to be having an earlier season this year.
October 27, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Male Horrid Ground Weaver Nothophantes horridus in Plymouth, Devon. This UK endemic usually peaks in December but I found 16 (mostly adults) one day last week so seems to be having an earlier season this year.
Reposted by Andy Pym
Hedgehog Harvestman Nemastomella bacilliferum, Plymouth, Devon, this very distinctive but tiny harvestman is found at several sites around the city. It has not been found anywhere else in the UK but may be overlooked? It is usually found sat on the underside of rocks lying on the ground.
October 27, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Hedgehog Harvestman Nemastomella bacilliferum, Plymouth, Devon, this very distinctive but tiny harvestman is found at several sites around the city. It has not been found anywhere else in the UK but may be overlooked? It is usually found sat on the underside of rocks lying on the ground.
Reposted by Andy Pym
Allochernes wideri confirmed new to Norfolk!
Found by a fellow county recorder; luckily I was present at the time and got to see them and take these photos.
Unfortunately, I now have to update my guide to pseudoscorpions in Norfolk...
#arachnids #pseudoscorpions
Found by a fellow county recorder; luckily I was present at the time and got to see them and take these photos.
Unfortunately, I now have to update my guide to pseudoscorpions in Norfolk...
#arachnids #pseudoscorpions
October 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Allochernes wideri confirmed new to Norfolk!
Found by a fellow county recorder; luckily I was present at the time and got to see them and take these photos.
Unfortunately, I now have to update my guide to pseudoscorpions in Norfolk...
#arachnids #pseudoscorpions
Found by a fellow county recorder; luckily I was present at the time and got to see them and take these photos.
Unfortunately, I now have to update my guide to pseudoscorpions in Norfolk...
#arachnids #pseudoscorpions
Reposted by Andy Pym
Little grains of sand on the move, Georissus crenulatus. This tiny beetle covers itself in sand. Decent bit of camouflage. #Coleoptera #Georissidae
September 6, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Little grains of sand on the move, Georissus crenulatus. This tiny beetle covers itself in sand. Decent bit of camouflage. #Coleoptera #Georissidae
Reposted by Andy Pym
Reposted by Andy Pym
Death's-head Hawk from the Obs moth-traps this morning
October 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Death's-head Hawk from the Obs moth-traps this morning
Reposted by Andy Pym
Much digging about in a compost / horse dung / straw heap in All Stretton on Weds produced several fab inverts including many of these 1.9mm long Compost Chernes/Chelifer pseudoscorpions (Pselaphochernes scorpioides) incl two females carrying eggs.
October 18, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Much digging about in a compost / horse dung / straw heap in All Stretton on Weds produced several fab inverts including many of these 1.9mm long Compost Chernes/Chelifer pseudoscorpions (Pselaphochernes scorpioides) incl two females carrying eggs.
Oedemera femoralis on the fence by the moth trap.
October 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Oedemera femoralis on the fence by the moth trap.
I'm glad I decided to put the trap out tonight. Merveille du Jour on the wall when I went out to check a short while ago. Surprisingly, only my 2nd in the garden. Also, White-point & Privet Weevil.
#teammoth
#teammoth
October 13, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I'm glad I decided to put the trap out tonight. Merveille du Jour on the wall when I went out to check a short while ago. Surprisingly, only my 2nd in the garden. Also, White-point & Privet Weevil.
#teammoth
#teammoth
Reposted by Andy Pym
Really awesome to see an adult male of the rare Glyphesis servulus in Cambridgeshire recently. A right whopper at 1mm! 😁 @britishspiders.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @graemelyons.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Really awesome to see an adult male of the rare Glyphesis servulus in Cambridgeshire recently. A right whopper at 1mm! 😁 @britishspiders.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @graemelyons.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social
Reposted by Andy Pym
Delighted to find my first Norfolk Homalenotus quadridentatus. A small juvenile under a brick in the gardens at Tacolneston Hall, found on a visit yesterday with Norfolk Fungus Study Group. This is a very scarce species in Norfolk. #Arachtober #Opiliones #Harvestmen #Arachnids
October 13, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Delighted to find my first Norfolk Homalenotus quadridentatus. A small juvenile under a brick in the gardens at Tacolneston Hall, found on a visit yesterday with Norfolk Fungus Study Group. This is a very scarce species in Norfolk. #Arachtober #Opiliones #Harvestmen #Arachnids
Jackdaws in two waves from the garden (well, it was actually my neighbour's, as I was dog sitting) in Filton just before it got dark y'day evening.
@bristolbirding.bsky.social
@bristolbirding.bsky.social
October 11, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Jackdaws in two waves from the garden (well, it was actually my neighbour's, as I was dog sitting) in Filton just before it got dark y'day evening.
@bristolbirding.bsky.social
@bristolbirding.bsky.social
Early morning shenanigans, plus my light has gone out! 😂
October 11, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Early morning shenanigans, plus my light has gone out! 😂
Quite a good catch in the garden last night, after returning from a few days down on Exmoor. This male Spiny Hook-tip was the best. My 3rd in the garden.
#teammoth
#teammoth
October 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Quite a good catch in the garden last night, after returning from a few days down on Exmoor. This male Spiny Hook-tip was the best. My 3rd in the garden.
#teammoth
#teammoth
Reposted by Andy Pym
Mark Telfer and I only went and refound Aulonia albimana on the Isle of Wight two days ago! Quite possibly the best spider find of my life! Lots of other records too. analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2025/10/whit...
#spiders #Isleofwight #biologicalrecording #panspecieslisting
#spiders #Isleofwight #biologicalrecording #panspecieslisting
October 9, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Mark Telfer and I only went and refound Aulonia albimana on the Isle of Wight two days ago! Quite possibly the best spider find of my life! Lots of other records too. analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2025/10/whit...
#spiders #Isleofwight #biologicalrecording #panspecieslisting
#spiders #Isleofwight #biologicalrecording #panspecieslisting
It was nice to see Odiellus spinosus low down on the back wall of the house while it was still dark early this morning. I noticed it after putting out some food for the foxes.
October 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
It was nice to see Odiellus spinosus low down on the back wall of the house while it was still dark early this morning. I noticed it after putting out some food for the foxes.
White-point the best for me this morning. Surprisingly, it's only the 2nd I've had in the garden. Only my 4th time trapping in the garden this month.
#teammoth
#teammoth
September 29, 2025 at 8:35 AM
White-point the best for me this morning. Surprisingly, it's only the 2nd I've had in the garden. Only my 4th time trapping in the garden this month.
#teammoth
#teammoth
Reposted by Andy Pym
Delighted to find my first Roncus lubricus aka Reddish Two-eyed Chelifer in west Norfolk last week. Not sure it was as pleased to see me though as it scarpered off pretty smartish! Certainly wasn't expecting this species to turn up in a churchyard. #pseudoscorpion #arachnids
September 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Delighted to find my first Roncus lubricus aka Reddish Two-eyed Chelifer in west Norfolk last week. Not sure it was as pleased to see me though as it scarpered off pretty smartish! Certainly wasn't expecting this species to turn up in a churchyard. #pseudoscorpion #arachnids