Megan Shersby
@meganshersby.bsky.social
Naturalist, writer and board gamer. Working at Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust, and @wildlifebcn.org. Lead author of Where to Watch Wildlife in Britain By Low-carbon Transport (January 2026). Owner of a dog/servant to a cat. She/her.
Since then, I've spotted both out in the wild whilst on some @wildlifebcn.org work days, first at the Wellcome Trust's nature reserve in Cambs and then today at Pitsford Water in Northants.
Even when the Lighthouse gall falls off, it leaves a very distinctive hole (shown in first pic).
Even when the Lighthouse gall falls off, it leaves a very distinctive hole (shown in first pic).
November 12, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Since then, I've spotted both out in the wild whilst on some @wildlifebcn.org work days, first at the Wellcome Trust's nature reserve in Cambs and then today at Pitsford Water in Northants.
Even when the Lighthouse gall falls off, it leaves a very distinctive hole (shown in first pic).
Even when the Lighthouse gall falls off, it leaves a very distinctive hole (shown in first pic).
New November galls - part 2!
A Rutland Water last week included a chat with Tim Sexton about galls, and he showed me a Ground-ivy leaf with the Lighthouse Gall on it, caused by midge Rondaniola bursaria.
I flipped the leaf over and found another gall - caused by rust fungus Puccinia glechomatis.
A Rutland Water last week included a chat with Tim Sexton about galls, and he showed me a Ground-ivy leaf with the Lighthouse Gall on it, caused by midge Rondaniola bursaria.
I flipped the leaf over and found another gall - caused by rust fungus Puccinia glechomatis.
November 12, 2025 at 5:43 PM
New November galls - part 2!
A Rutland Water last week included a chat with Tim Sexton about galls, and he showed me a Ground-ivy leaf with the Lighthouse Gall on it, caused by midge Rondaniola bursaria.
I flipped the leaf over and found another gall - caused by rust fungus Puccinia glechomatis.
A Rutland Water last week included a chat with Tim Sexton about galls, and he showed me a Ground-ivy leaf with the Lighthouse Gall on it, caused by midge Rondaniola bursaria.
I flipped the leaf over and found another gall - caused by rust fungus Puccinia glechomatis.
Soup season has begun!
I forgot about my courgettes at one point and ended up with marrows. Combined with my #homegrown potatoes (and some other bits), I've made some soup!
Still some marrow left, any #recipe suggestions?
I forgot about my courgettes at one point and ended up with marrows. Combined with my #homegrown potatoes (and some other bits), I've made some soup!
Still some marrow left, any #recipe suggestions?
November 7, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Soup season has begun!
I forgot about my courgettes at one point and ended up with marrows. Combined with my #homegrown potatoes (and some other bits), I've made some soup!
Still some marrow left, any #recipe suggestions?
I forgot about my courgettes at one point and ended up with marrows. Combined with my #homegrown potatoes (and some other bits), I've made some soup!
Still some marrow left, any #recipe suggestions?
I didn't have much hope I'd get an identification when I found this ichneumon #wasp.
But it seems that it is one of the easier ones, and on the excellent @nhm-london.bsky.social PDF ID guide.
A female Black Slip Wasp (Pimpla rufipes), a parasite on Lepidoptera caterpillar.
But it seems that it is one of the easier ones, and on the excellent @nhm-london.bsky.social PDF ID guide.
A female Black Slip Wasp (Pimpla rufipes), a parasite on Lepidoptera caterpillar.
November 5, 2025 at 10:36 PM
I didn't have much hope I'd get an identification when I found this ichneumon #wasp.
But it seems that it is one of the easier ones, and on the excellent @nhm-london.bsky.social PDF ID guide.
A female Black Slip Wasp (Pimpla rufipes), a parasite on Lepidoptera caterpillar.
But it seems that it is one of the easier ones, and on the excellent @nhm-london.bsky.social PDF ID guide.
A female Black Slip Wasp (Pimpla rufipes), a parasite on Lepidoptera caterpillar.
I've been looking more closely at the Cola-nut pics, and the little brown patch on the leaf.
Could it be a Blister Gall caused by Neuroterus numismalis f. sexual?
Could it be a Blister Gall caused by Neuroterus numismalis f. sexual?
November 4, 2025 at 1:02 PM
I've been looking more closely at the Cola-nut pics, and the little brown patch on the leaf.
Could it be a Blister Gall caused by Neuroterus numismalis f. sexual?
Could it be a Blister Gall caused by Neuroterus numismalis f. sexual?
November brings more galls - part one!
A walk through a local woodland yesterday, and I spotted two new (to me) gall species - both produced by Andricus gall wasps, and on oak trees.
1. Ramshorn gall (Andricus aries f. agamic).
2. Cola-nut gall (Andricus lignicola).
A walk through a local woodland yesterday, and I spotted two new (to me) gall species - both produced by Andricus gall wasps, and on oak trees.
1. Ramshorn gall (Andricus aries f. agamic).
2. Cola-nut gall (Andricus lignicola).
November 3, 2025 at 7:20 PM
November brings more galls - part one!
A walk through a local woodland yesterday, and I spotted two new (to me) gall species - both produced by Andricus gall wasps, and on oak trees.
1. Ramshorn gall (Andricus aries f. agamic).
2. Cola-nut gall (Andricus lignicola).
A walk through a local woodland yesterday, and I spotted two new (to me) gall species - both produced by Andricus gall wasps, and on oak trees.
1. Ramshorn gall (Andricus aries f. agamic).
2. Cola-nut gall (Andricus lignicola).
When you're given a cup of hot water with milk, and you have to add and brew the teabag yourself.
Just wrong.
Just wrong.
October 30, 2025 at 9:29 AM
When you're given a cup of hot water with milk, and you have to add and brew the teabag yourself.
Just wrong.
Just wrong.
She's growing out of tiny kitten phase, into being a small cat.
She and Leo (the dog) are getting on well (except when she takes playtime too far). Mowgli (the senior cat) watches from a distance with disdain, before retreating back to her heated bed.
She and Leo (the dog) are getting on well (except when she takes playtime too far). Mowgli (the senior cat) watches from a distance with disdain, before retreating back to her heated bed.
October 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
She's growing out of tiny kitten phase, into being a small cat.
She and Leo (the dog) are getting on well (except when she takes playtime too far). Mowgli (the senior cat) watches from a distance with disdain, before retreating back to her heated bed.
She and Leo (the dog) are getting on well (except when she takes playtime too far). Mowgli (the senior cat) watches from a distance with disdain, before retreating back to her heated bed.
National Black Cat Day seems like the right time to share the news of this Chaos Gremlin that came into our lives recently.
Actual name Lucy (short for Lucifee, short for Lucifer), but Chaos Gremlin is the usual name used.
Actual name Lucy (short for Lucifee, short for Lucifer), but Chaos Gremlin is the usual name used.
October 27, 2025 at 8:20 PM
National Black Cat Day seems like the right time to share the news of this Chaos Gremlin that came into our lives recently.
Actual name Lucy (short for Lucifee, short for Lucifer), but Chaos Gremlin is the usual name used.
Actual name Lucy (short for Lucifee, short for Lucifer), but Chaos Gremlin is the usual name used.
There's no break from my gall pics I'm afraid, as yesterday I spotted this Nettle Pouch gall at @wildlifebcn.org's Lings Wood in Northampton.
Caused by the Dasineura urticae midge.
Caused by the Dasineura urticae midge.
October 9, 2025 at 9:17 AM
There's no break from my gall pics I'm afraid, as yesterday I spotted this Nettle Pouch gall at @wildlifebcn.org's Lings Wood in Northampton.
Caused by the Dasineura urticae midge.
Caused by the Dasineura urticae midge.
My gall collection continues to grow! With this slightly unusual one that could be mistaken for a little flower.
Out on a corporate day with @wildlifebcn.org yesterday at Fulbourn Fen, and Iain W pointed out this gall on Germander Speedwell - caused by the midge Jaapiella veronicae.
Out on a corporate day with @wildlifebcn.org yesterday at Fulbourn Fen, and Iain W pointed out this gall on Germander Speedwell - caused by the midge Jaapiella veronicae.
October 8, 2025 at 5:10 PM
My gall collection continues to grow! With this slightly unusual one that could be mistaken for a little flower.
Out on a corporate day with @wildlifebcn.org yesterday at Fulbourn Fen, and Iain W pointed out this gall on Germander Speedwell - caused by the midge Jaapiella veronicae.
Out on a corporate day with @wildlifebcn.org yesterday at Fulbourn Fen, and Iain W pointed out this gall on Germander Speedwell - caused by the midge Jaapiella veronicae.
Found myself a new gall at the weekend!
Aceria erinea is a mite that causes a gall on Walnut trees. Unsure of the common English name for it, as Walnut Blister is sometimes used - but that also seems to be used for Aceria tristriata galls, which are much smaller.
Aceria erinea is a mite that causes a gall on Walnut trees. Unsure of the common English name for it, as Walnut Blister is sometimes used - but that also seems to be used for Aceria tristriata galls, which are much smaller.
October 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Found myself a new gall at the weekend!
Aceria erinea is a mite that causes a gall on Walnut trees. Unsure of the common English name for it, as Walnut Blister is sometimes used - but that also seems to be used for Aceria tristriata galls, which are much smaller.
Aceria erinea is a mite that causes a gall on Walnut trees. Unsure of the common English name for it, as Walnut Blister is sometimes used - but that also seems to be used for Aceria tristriata galls, which are much smaller.
A relatively short lunchtime walk at Cambourne led by @brianecambs.bsky.social - especially brilliant because I learnt a new gall! And I'm a little obsessed by galls currently.
Caused by a mite gall (Aculus tetanothrix) on willow (specifically a Bay x White Willow hybrid).
Caused by a mite gall (Aculus tetanothrix) on willow (specifically a Bay x White Willow hybrid).
September 30, 2025 at 7:14 PM
A relatively short lunchtime walk at Cambourne led by @brianecambs.bsky.social - especially brilliant because I learnt a new gall! And I'm a little obsessed by galls currently.
Caused by a mite gall (Aculus tetanothrix) on willow (specifically a Bay x White Willow hybrid).
Caused by a mite gall (Aculus tetanothrix) on willow (specifically a Bay x White Willow hybrid).
I thought this was Ruddy Darter due to the black legs, but the thorax isn't particularly red, so perhaps it is Common?
#Dragonflies #Insects
#Dragonflies #Insects
September 25, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I thought this was Ruddy Darter due to the black legs, but the thorax isn't particularly red, so perhaps it is Common?
#Dragonflies #Insects
#Dragonflies #Insects
September 25, 2025 at 10:47 AM
September 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
September 21, 2025 at 1:31 PM
2. Is that a stylops???
September 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM
2. Is that a stylops???
Spotted this solitary bee in the garden, and have two thoughts on it.
1. It looks a lot like the Chocolate Mining Bee (A. scotica) and in the normal area of the garden that I get them. But that's a spring species, so unless there's been some unusual development, that's v unlikely.
#Bees #Insects
1. It looks a lot like the Chocolate Mining Bee (A. scotica) and in the normal area of the garden that I get them. But that's a spring species, so unless there's been some unusual development, that's v unlikely.
#Bees #Insects
September 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I'm assuming this is an early stage of one of the spangle #galls? #invertebrates
September 18, 2025 at 11:54 AM
I'm assuming this is an early stage of one of the spangle #galls? #invertebrates
Small (3-4cm) mushroom on a roadside verge. There is a stem underneath. Any thoughts on ID welcome
September 17, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Small (3-4cm) mushroom on a roadside verge. There is a stem underneath. Any thoughts on ID welcome
Screenshot from a video, this was the extent that the tentacles came out
September 16, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Screenshot from a video, this was the extent that the tentacles came out
September 15, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Some roosting Common Blue #butterflies in a farm field margin, and a bonus Small Copper.
#invertebrates #insects #Bedfordshire
#invertebrates #insects #Bedfordshire
September 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Some roosting Common Blue #butterflies in a farm field margin, and a bonus Small Copper.
#invertebrates #insects #Bedfordshire
#invertebrates #insects #Bedfordshire