Liam Olds
@liamolds.bsky.social
🏴 #Entomologist in South Wales & Director of @gloinatur.bsky.social (formerly @collieryspoil.bsky.social). Conservation Officer at #Buglife Cymru. Organiser of Oil Beetle Recording Scheme. Obsession with #collieryspoil #brownfields and #invertebrates.
Big news! 🌿 After 10 years of work celebrating the biodiversity of South Wales’ coal spoil sites, I’ve launched Glo i Natur CIC - a new community interest company protecting, restoring & celebrating our coalfield nature.
➡️ Follow @gloinatur.bsky.social to join the journey 💚
#CoaltoNature
➡️ Follow @gloinatur.bsky.social to join the journey 💚
#CoaltoNature
November 7, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Big news! 🌿 After 10 years of work celebrating the biodiversity of South Wales’ coal spoil sites, I’ve launched Glo i Natur CIC - a new community interest company protecting, restoring & celebrating our coalfield nature.
➡️ Follow @gloinatur.bsky.social to join the journey 💚
#CoaltoNature
➡️ Follow @gloinatur.bsky.social to join the journey 💚
#CoaltoNature
Amazing moment seeing my first ever Purse Web Spider (Atypus affinis) at Broad Haven South Dunes last night (spotted by my colleague Christian Owen). This incredible species is more closely related to the tarantulas and trapdoor than to any other British spider!
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@britishspiders.bsky.social
September 11, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Amazing moment seeing my first ever Purse Web Spider (Atypus affinis) at Broad Haven South Dunes last night (spotted by my colleague Christian Owen). This incredible species is more closely related to the tarantulas and trapdoor than to any other British spider!
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Thousands of Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) at Freshwater East, Pembrokeshire, yesterday. Amazing to watch them, especially the mating balls.
September 11, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Thousands of Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) at Freshwater East, Pembrokeshire, yesterday. Amazing to watch them, especially the mating balls.
Join the Buglife Cymru Coal Spoil Connections team, Lost Peatlands Project - Prosiect Adfer Mawndiroedd, KeyCreate, and others for a WildBlitz at Clydach Vale Country Park!
🗓️ Friday 29 August
🕙 10:30 - 15:00
📌 Clydach Vale Country Park
No need to book, just turn up at Cambrian Colliery Memorial.
🗓️ Friday 29 August
🕙 10:30 - 15:00
📌 Clydach Vale Country Park
No need to book, just turn up at Cambrian Colliery Memorial.
August 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Join the Buglife Cymru Coal Spoil Connections team, Lost Peatlands Project - Prosiect Adfer Mawndiroedd, KeyCreate, and others for a WildBlitz at Clydach Vale Country Park!
🗓️ Friday 29 August
🕙 10:30 - 15:00
📌 Clydach Vale Country Park
No need to book, just turn up at Cambrian Colliery Memorial.
🗓️ Friday 29 August
🕙 10:30 - 15:00
📌 Clydach Vale Country Park
No need to book, just turn up at Cambrian Colliery Memorial.
Autumn is almost upon us 🍁
Almost on cue, a male House Spider (Eratigena saeva) appeared in the bathroom overnight. Last sighting in the house (also a male) was last autumn on 17th September 2024.
Male palps shown in pictures.
Almost on cue, a male House Spider (Eratigena saeva) appeared in the bathroom overnight. Last sighting in the house (also a male) was last autumn on 17th September 2024.
Male palps shown in pictures.
August 23, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Autumn is almost upon us 🍁
Almost on cue, a male House Spider (Eratigena saeva) appeared in the bathroom overnight. Last sighting in the house (also a male) was last autumn on 17th September 2024.
Male palps shown in pictures.
Almost on cue, a male House Spider (Eratigena saeva) appeared in the bathroom overnight. Last sighting in the house (also a male) was last autumn on 17th September 2024.
Male palps shown in pictures.
It's always a pleasure to encounter the striking snail-killing fly Coremacera marginata, the larvae of which attack terrestrial snails. Seen at Avon Wildlife Trust's Burledge Hill Nature Reserve today.
August 20, 2025 at 3:08 PM
It's always a pleasure to encounter the striking snail-killing fly Coremacera marginata, the larvae of which attack terrestrial snails. Seen at Avon Wildlife Trust's Burledge Hill Nature Reserve today.
The satellite fly Miltogramma punctata, Lesne's Earwig (Forficula lesnei), the weevil Rhinocyllus conicus, the spider-hunting wasp Ceropales maculata, Shrill Carder Bee (Bombus sylvarum) and the tephritid fly Acanthiophilus helianthi were among some of the finds today on a #Cardiff brownfield site.
August 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The satellite fly Miltogramma punctata, Lesne's Earwig (Forficula lesnei), the weevil Rhinocyllus conicus, the spider-hunting wasp Ceropales maculata, Shrill Carder Bee (Bombus sylvarum) and the tephritid fly Acanthiophilus helianthi were among some of the finds today on a #Cardiff brownfield site.
The Nationally Scarce jumping spider Marpissa nivoyi, seen along the Tennant Canal at Jersey Marine yesterday. Though the species occurs mainly on coastal sand dunes, I've only ever encountered it in wetlands near the coast.
@britishspiders.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk
@britishspiders.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk
August 14, 2025 at 6:11 AM
The Nationally Scarce jumping spider Marpissa nivoyi, seen along the Tennant Canal at Jersey Marine yesterday. Though the species occurs mainly on coastal sand dunes, I've only ever encountered it in wetlands near the coast.
@britishspiders.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk
@britishspiders.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk
Greater-streaked Shieldbug (Odonotoscelis fuliginosa) surveys this week on coastal sand dunes of south Pembrokeshire with fellow entomologist Christian Owen (pictured at Freshwater East yesterday). Stackpole today.
August 5, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Greater-streaked Shieldbug (Odonotoscelis fuliginosa) surveys this week on coastal sand dunes of south Pembrokeshire with fellow entomologist Christian Owen (pictured at Freshwater East yesterday). Stackpole today.
For anyone interested in wild bees (bumblebees and solitary bees), I'm leading a 'get to know your bees' day at The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, on Sunday 3rd August with @clancic.bsky.social.
It should be a great day ☺️ See the flyer for further info and booking.
It should be a great day ☺️ See the flyer for further info and booking.
July 28, 2025 at 6:51 AM
For anyone interested in wild bees (bumblebees and solitary bees), I'm leading a 'get to know your bees' day at The Globe, Hay-on-Wye, on Sunday 3rd August with @clancic.bsky.social.
It should be a great day ☺️ See the flyer for further info and booking.
It should be a great day ☺️ See the flyer for further info and booking.
And another, since it's such a beautiful plant 😍
July 27, 2025 at 2:05 PM
And another, since it's such a beautiful plant 😍
Marsh Gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) from Cors Goch National Nature Reserve, Ynys Mon (Anglesey), yesterday. Greatful to @northwaleswt.bsky.social staff for showing us this during our search for rare fen invertebrates.
July 27, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Marsh Gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) from Cors Goch National Nature Reserve, Ynys Mon (Anglesey), yesterday. Greatful to @northwaleswt.bsky.social staff for showing us this during our search for rare fen invertebrates.
And we also found the species we were looking for most of all - the nationally rare and endangered Clubbed General (Stratiomys chamaeleon)
July 27, 2025 at 1:58 PM
And we also found the species we were looking for most of all - the nationally rare and endangered Clubbed General (Stratiomys chamaeleon)
At the same location we saw the very scarce leafhopper Cicadella lasiocarpae, and the rather uncommon Small Scabious Longhorn (Nemophora minimella).
July 27, 2025 at 1:55 PM
At the same location we saw the very scarce leafhopper Cicadella lasiocarpae, and the rather uncommon Small Scabious Longhorn (Nemophora minimella).
Absolutely brilliant day on Ynys Mon (Anglesey) yesterday looking for rare fen Invertebrates with @naturambyth.bsky.social @natreswales.bsky.social @northwaleswt.bsky.social. Richard Gallon of @britishspiders.bsky.social was able to show us the nationally rare Sedge Jumper (Attulus caricis).
July 27, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Absolutely brilliant day on Ynys Mon (Anglesey) yesterday looking for rare fen Invertebrates with @naturambyth.bsky.social @natreswales.bsky.social @northwaleswt.bsky.social. Richard Gallon of @britishspiders.bsky.social was able to show us the nationally rare Sedge Jumper (Attulus caricis).
Sadly no Red Squirrels sightings at The Dingle/Nant y Pandy Local Nature reserve in Llangefni, Anglesey, this evening. Pleasing to find the barklouse Bertkauia lucifuga though, which doesn't appear to have been recorded in North Wales before.
July 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Sadly no Red Squirrels sightings at The Dingle/Nant y Pandy Local Nature reserve in Llangefni, Anglesey, this evening. Pleasing to find the barklouse Bertkauia lucifuga though, which doesn't appear to have been recorded in North Wales before.
Plenty of Shrill Carder Bee (Bombus sylvarum) workers seen on today's survey of a brownfield site in Cardiff - we're so lucky to have these beautiful bees in South Wales! 😍 Brown-banded Carder Bee (B. humilis) also present in abundance.
July 22, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Plenty of Shrill Carder Bee (Bombus sylvarum) workers seen on today's survey of a brownfield site in Cardiff - we're so lucky to have these beautiful bees in South Wales! 😍 Brown-banded Carder Bee (B. humilis) also present in abundance.
Brilliant day spent at Whiteford Burrows #Gower yesterday surveying for the scarce chalcid wasp Chalcis sispes on the saltmarsh, which parasitises Stratiomys larvae. We were fortunate to find 5 of the wasps and a few of their Stratiomys singularior (Flecked General) hosts. Survey conducted for NRW.
July 19, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Brilliant day spent at Whiteford Burrows #Gower yesterday surveying for the scarce chalcid wasp Chalcis sispes on the saltmarsh, which parasitises Stratiomys larvae. We were fortunate to find 5 of the wasps and a few of their Stratiomys singularior (Flecked General) hosts. Survey conducted for NRW.
Looking for something to do this weekend? Why not attend the first BioBlitz Festival at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in celebration of the Garden’s 25th anniversary.
There's a great lineup of speakers, walks and workshops. For more info, visit botanicgarden.wales/visit/whats-....
There's a great lineup of speakers, walks and workshops. For more info, visit botanicgarden.wales/visit/whats-....
July 18, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Looking for something to do this weekend? Why not attend the first BioBlitz Festival at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in celebration of the Garden’s 25th anniversary.
There's a great lineup of speakers, walks and workshops. For more info, visit botanicgarden.wales/visit/whats-....
There's a great lineup of speakers, walks and workshops. For more info, visit botanicgarden.wales/visit/whats-....
A scorcher on the chalk downlands of North Wiltshire this morning leading a guided bee walk 🥵 Not many bees around in the heat, but the butterflies were plentiful 🦋
July 12, 2025 at 1:58 PM
A scorcher on the chalk downlands of North Wiltshire this morning leading a guided bee walk 🥵 Not many bees around in the heat, but the butterflies were plentiful 🦋
Today's guided walks at Parc Melin Mynach, Gorseinon, explored the former Mountain Colliery site.
Highlights included Marbled White, Six-belted Clearwing, Brown-banded Carder Bee, prowling spider Cheiracanthium virescens, and picture-winged fly Herina palustris.
Great turnout despite the heat! 🥵
Highlights included Marbled White, Six-belted Clearwing, Brown-banded Carder Bee, prowling spider Cheiracanthium virescens, and picture-winged fly Herina palustris.
Great turnout despite the heat! 🥵
July 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Today's guided walks at Parc Melin Mynach, Gorseinon, explored the former Mountain Colliery site.
Highlights included Marbled White, Six-belted Clearwing, Brown-banded Carder Bee, prowling spider Cheiracanthium virescens, and picture-winged fly Herina palustris.
Great turnout despite the heat! 🥵
Highlights included Marbled White, Six-belted Clearwing, Brown-banded Carder Bee, prowling spider Cheiracanthium virescens, and picture-winged fly Herina palustris.
Great turnout despite the heat! 🥵
A hot but enjoyable day spent with the biodiversity team of South Wales Trunk Road Agency today leading an invertebrate ID training session at Coryton Interchange, Cardiff. We encountered a good abundance and diversity of invertebrates in the beautiful meadows.
July 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
A hot but enjoyable day spent with the biodiversity team of South Wales Trunk Road Agency today leading an invertebrate ID training session at Coryton Interchange, Cardiff. We encountered a good abundance and diversity of invertebrates in the beautiful meadows.
Another day, another cracking spider!
♀️ Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius) - one of two females and at least three nursery webs - spotted during a survey at Pant-y-Sais NNR, Jersey Marine, today with Christian Owen.
@britishspiders.bsky.social @naturambyth.bsky.social
♀️ Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius) - one of two females and at least three nursery webs - spotted during a survey at Pant-y-Sais NNR, Jersey Marine, today with Christian Owen.
@britishspiders.bsky.social @naturambyth.bsky.social
July 1, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Another day, another cracking spider!
♀️ Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius) - one of two females and at least three nursery webs - spotted during a survey at Pant-y-Sais NNR, Jersey Marine, today with Christian Owen.
@britishspiders.bsky.social @naturambyth.bsky.social
♀️ Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius) - one of two females and at least three nursery webs - spotted during a survey at Pant-y-Sais NNR, Jersey Marine, today with Christian Owen.
@britishspiders.bsky.social @naturambyth.bsky.social
As a wonderful bonus, we also spotted the nationally rare jumping spider Phlegra fasciata, which in Wales is found only in this part of Gower.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@britishspiders.bsky.social
June 30, 2025 at 7:29 PM
As a wonderful bonus, we also spotted the nationally rare jumping spider Phlegra fasciata, which in Wales is found only in this part of Gower.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@britishspiders.bsky.social
What an incredible place to work today! Spent the day surveying the stunning limestone cliffs of Gower - around Horton, Port Eynon, and Overton - for the nationally rare ground bug Macroplax preyssleri. We were lucky enough to find them in good numbers around their foodplant, Common Rock-rose.
June 30, 2025 at 7:26 PM
What an incredible place to work today! Spent the day surveying the stunning limestone cliffs of Gower - around Horton, Port Eynon, and Overton - for the nationally rare ground bug Macroplax preyssleri. We were lucky enough to find them in good numbers around their foodplant, Common Rock-rose.