Richard Sutton
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rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Richard Sutton
@rjsutton1975.bsky.social
130 followers 86 following 72 posts
Birds, mammals, insects, travel
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rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Work moth of the day today probably can’t get much better! Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini, found first thing this morning when I nearly trod on it. #teammoth
Clifden Nonpareil, a large grey moth with impressive blue and black hind wings Clifden Nonpareil, a large grey moth with impressive blue and black hind wings Clifden Nonpareil, a large grey moth with impressive blue and black hind wings
September 25, 2025 at 11:54 AM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Ok everyone is there any help with this one out there, I think this large ( c.2 cm ) and striking insect could be a Tenthredo but I admit I am struggling so any ID suggestions appreciated. Seen in North Staffs at the weekend

@dipteristsforum.bsky.social
A large slim black and yellow fly with silvery wings and long antenna sitting amongst green leaves A large slim black and yellow fly with silvery wings and long antenna sitting amongst green leaves A large slim black and yellow fly with silvery wings and long antenna sitting amongst green leaves
August 27, 2025 at 4:52 AM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Another new species for my Mum’s garden today, Red-thighed St Mark's Fly - Bibio pomonae
August 21, 2025 at 7:56 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
A very pleasant day trip to Nottinghamshire yesterday and 3 flys that I don’t often record were the highlight, 2 hoverfly and 1 Tachinid.
Ferdinandea cuprea, Dasysyrphus tricinctus and
Phasia hemiptera
Ferdinandea cuprea, a hoverfly with a brassy looking abdomen, grey stripes on its thorax and two wing 'clouds' on each wing Dasysyrphus tricinctus, a mostly back hoverfly with 3 bands of yellow on the abdomen in a distinctive pattern Phasia hemiptera, a very dark Tachinid fly with deep red eyes and a dark and light pattern on its wings
August 17, 2025 at 8:57 AM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Work moth of the day today was this Lesser Swallow Prominent, Pheosia gnoma almost 4 years to the day since i found Swallow Prominent in the same spot
#teammoth
August 12, 2025 at 11:31 AM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
The latest in a long list of amazing insects I have found in my Mum’s wonderful garden - Ferruginous Bee-Grabber, Sicus ferrugineus
😁
Ferruginous Bee-Grabber, Sicus ferrugineus a dark red fly with a yellow face and an abdomen that curls forwards under the rest of the body feeding on a bright purple Scabious flower Ferruginous Bee-Grabber, Sicus ferrugineus a dark red fly with a yellow face and an abdomen that curls forwards under the rest of the body feeding on a bright purple Scabious flower Ferruginous Bee-Grabber, Sicus ferrugineus a dark red fly with a yellow face and an abdomen that curls forwards under the rest of the body feeding on a bright purple Scabious flower Ferruginous Bee-Grabber, Sicus ferrugineus a dark red fly with a yellow face and an abdomen that curls forwards under the rest of the body feeding on a bright purple Scabious flower
July 25, 2025 at 5:18 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Work moth of the day today was this female Ghost Moth, Hepialus humuli a nice surprise as I walked out onto the yard for the first time #teammoth
Ghost Moth, Hepialus humuli a very attractive orange moth with intricate darker lines and blotches and a furry thorax
July 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Spent some time watching this fabulous Pied Hoverfly - Scaeva pyrastri in a North Staffs garden this afternoon 🙂
Pied Hoverfly - Scaeva pyrastri a good sized black and white Hoverfly with 3 curved white bars on its tail and silvery wings held spread to either side Pied Hoverfly - Scaeva pyrastri a good sized black and white Hoverfly this time with a head on view
July 9, 2025 at 8:04 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
As pretty as any butterfly - Latticed Heath, Chiasmia clathrata from yesterday.

#TeamMoth
Latticed Heath, Chiasmia clathrata a pretty little moth mainly white but with an intricate pattern of black checks and lines
July 6, 2025 at 10:12 AM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
A new hoverfly for me on Thursday, Eristalis intricaria, another of the bumblebee mimics and this one quite convincing as mimics go 🙂
A black and white hoverfly feeding on a purple Scabious flower A black and white hoverfly feeding on a purple Scabious flower A black and white hoverfly feeding on a purple Scabious flower
July 5, 2025 at 11:35 AM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
White-letter hairstreak found last weekend in Staffordshire. Only the third I have ever seen and my first self found- happy days! 😀
A small dark grey butterfly with distinctive white streaks on both wings and an orange border to the hind wing, 2 white tipped tails also on the hind wing. This one is feeding from a bramble flower
July 1, 2025 at 11:33 AM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
June has been particularly good for reptiles and amphibians this year, 5 days in Hamps/Dorset certainly helped with 3 lizard species seen during this break plus Adder and Grass Snake. Then the following weekend a Slow Worm was found in Shropshire.
Sand Lizard, a small brown lizard with stripes running down its back and dark spots with a white centres along its flank. Common Lizard, another small lizard again with pale stripes down its back but also a rich brown stripe down its flank which extends to form a mask around the eye Wall Lizard, a larger lizard with a long tail. Bright green in colour but with black areas around its eye and chin Slow Worm. A legless lizard resembling a small snake, it is bronzy brown all over and this one is hiding its head in moss
June 29, 2025 at 2:40 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
By my standards last night was a good catch with NFL Figure of Eighty - Tethea ocularis and NFG Pebble Hook-tip -Drepana falcataria being the highlights also Clouded Border - Lomaspilis marinate are always pretty 🙂 #TeamMoth
Figure of Eighty an attractive brown moth with a white mark resembling the number 80 on each wing Figure of Eighty an attractive brown moth with a white mark resembling the number 80 on each wing Pebble Hook-tip another attractive moth with hooked wing tips and an orange colour Clouded Border a pretty little moth mainly white but with a dark grey border
June 15, 2025 at 2:57 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Another visit and another 2 species recorded for my Mum’s garden 🙂. Figwort Weevil - Cionus scrophulariae which I have just found out also feeds on Buddleja and the hoverfly Platycheirus granditarsus
Figwort Weevil - Cionus scrophularia a tiny grey beetle with a black dot in the centre feeding on a Buddleja flower head Figwort Weevil - Cionus scrophularia a tiny grey beetle with a black dot in the centre feeding on a Buddleja flower head Platycheirus granditarsus a small shiny hoverfly with an orange tail and glossy head and thorax Platycheirus granditarsus a small shiny hoverfly with an orange tail and glossy head and thorax
June 13, 2025 at 7:29 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Not a great night’s mothing last night with only a handful visiting the trap but Dusky Brocade, Apamea remissa was new for the garden. #teammoth
Dusky Brocade, Apamea remissa an attractive mottled grey moth taken against a red tile background
June 12, 2025 at 8:49 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
It’s been a great week for insect in my Mum’s garden this week with 2 NFG Narcissus Bulb Fly - Merodon equestris and Meadow Plant Bug - Leptopterna dolabrata plus a new for life Fork Tailed Flower Bee - Anthophora furcata
Fork Tailed Flower Bee - Anthophora furcata a grey and ginger bee with a yellow face Fork Tailed Flower Bee - Anthophora furcata a grey and ginger bee with a yellow face Narcissus Bulb Fly - Merodon equestris a black and orange hoverfly that is an excellent mimic for a bumblebee Meadow Plant Bug - Leptopterna dolabrata a small black and yellow bug perched face down on a grass stem
June 12, 2025 at 7:54 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
On a mini break to the New Forest area and ran the moth trap last night. Nothing outstanding with 18/11 but best for me was Brussels Lace, Cleorodes lichenaria which we just don’t get back home
#teamMoth
Brussels Lace, Cleorodes lichenaria an intricately patterned grey, gold and black moth with it’s wings spread wide to the sides
June 3, 2025 at 11:17 AM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
A case of plant it and they will come today when I found this Tephritis neesii on the Oxeye daisies, we only seeded these daisies in the garden 3 years ago and this is the food plant for this fly 🙂
A very small grey fly with black patterning on its wings sitting on a green stem of Oxeye Daisy A very small grey fly with black patterning on its wings sitting on a green stem of Oxeye Daisy
May 30, 2025 at 6:55 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Not something you see everyday, a queen Tree Bumblebee - Bombus hypnorum plus 2 suitors
A queen Tree Bumblebee - Bombus hypnorum with 2 male Tree Bumblebee trying to mate with her amongst green leaves. All bees are black with gingery brown backs and a white tail.
May 22, 2025 at 4:29 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Some recent insects found at my Mum’s garden, it really is remarkable the diversity of insects to be found in this suburban garden. Narcissus Bulb Fly - Merodon equestris, Woundwort Shieldbug -
Eysarcoris venustissimus and Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum
Narcissus Bulb Fly - Merodon equestris, a black bodied hoverfly with a ginger collar and white tail Woundwort Shieldbug, 2 bronze coloured bugs attached together at the rear sitting on a green leaf Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum a long slim insect with pale blue bands down its tail
May 17, 2025 at 3:49 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
2 excellent beetles from the weekend just gone. An impressive Lesser stag beetle - Dorcus parallelipipedus and the ever popular Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn - Agapanthia villosoviridescens. Both found in Staffordshire
Lesser Stag Beetle, an impressive black beetle with strong jaws against a background of pale wood Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle, a yellow and black beetle with long black and white banded antennae sitting on a green nettle leaf
May 13, 2025 at 6:24 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
My moth trap continues to disappoint lately but I recently got a new species of caddisfly, Phryganea grandis. The
largest British caddisfly apparently!
May 5, 2025 at 9:11 AM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
My new favourite hoverfly from the weekend Common Dainty, Baccha elongata
A small slim hoverfly with red eyes and a yellowish band towards the end of its tail sitting on a green leaf A small slim hoverfly with red eyes and a yellowish band towards the end of its tail sitting on a green leaf
April 29, 2025 at 8:17 PM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
The highlight of my weekend was finding my first Wasp Beetle, Clytus arietis for Staffordshire
😀
Wasp Beetle, a striking black and yellow striped beetle with orange legs sitting on a green leaf Wasp Beetle, a striking black and yellow striped beetle with orange legs sitting on a green leaf
April 29, 2025 at 11:51 AM
rjsutton1975.bsky.social
Agreed one of the best flies there is in my opinion
April 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM