Steph Skipp
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stephskipp.bsky.social
Steph Skipp
@stephskipp.bsky.social
Entomologist - beetles 🐞 PhD in veteran tree invertebrates. Former NHM trainee & UEA Ecology student. Currently in freshwater ecology - views my own
Hey @jamesimcc.bsky.social , here’s another one from my compost heap. I think it might be Proisotoma minuta (although I struggled with the ocelli and abdominal seg separation). What do you think?
November 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM
A few extras
November 10, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Hi James, I’m back with new photos 😃 do these help?
November 10, 2025 at 11:05 AM
It is generally frowned upon to mount multiple insects on the same pin. It makes databaseing difficult + the chance that multiple species could be mounted together - a nightmare!
Even so, you have to admire the creativity and precision of this example from the UK Latridiidae collection at the NHM
November 8, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Here’s the empodium 👍 also is there a technique that allows you to extrude the mouthparts?
November 3, 2025 at 9:45 PM
@jamesimcc.bsky.social Hi James! I recently learnt that my village has no springtail records so I wanted to try and add a few. Do you think this could be Hypogastrura manubrialis? Think it has some tiny anl spines, 8x8 ocelli, foot with empodium, and skinny mucro. Found in compost
November 3, 2025 at 9:43 PM
I see what you mean about that rogue forewing now! Here are some more detailed photos
October 28, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Saw this lovely moss on a survey a few weeks ago. It is Hookeria lucens. I like how the field guide account describes jt as ‘a pleasure to find’ 🥰
October 25, 2025 at 5:27 PM
@arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Hi Derek, we found hundreds of these tiny wasps in a flight interception trap from an oak tree. Are they Trichogrammatidae? We’d be very grateful of your help 🙂
October 25, 2025 at 7:39 AM
In prep for the #Bioblitz at Mote Park today, we set up a few bottle vane traps in lovely old oaks. Highlights so far included Thanasimus formicarius, Tomoxia bucephala, and the chalcid wasp, Astichus arithmeticus 🌳 @kentfieldclub.bsky.social
August 9, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Been hoping to find this species for a few years, and yesterday it finally happened! Sat in a patch of nettles by the River Dove in the Peak District, I peeled some loose bark from a log and was delighted to spot these tiny ball-rollers! Armadillidium pulchellum ❤️
June 21, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Saw this crazy slime mould while on the BMIG field meeting last week. It was under a log in wet woodland. I think it’s Metatrichia floriformis. If you look closely, you can spot a globular springtail clambering around on it ❤️
April 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Recently, I found these weevils in a freshwater sample that was particularly dense in duckweed (mostly Spirodela polyrhiza). They are duckweed weevils! They walk around on the floating platform of duckweed and their larvae mine within the leaves! Cool that even the tiniest of leaves have leaf miners
April 20, 2025 at 11:02 AM
It’s so nice to see the hoverflies coming out! I saw my first one on Friday, a Meliscaeva auricollis. I was pleased that the iRecord AI agreed with my ID - I was wondering, does it take time of year into account?
March 2, 2025 at 11:48 AM
This lush, starry moss caught my eye yesterday. Thinking it is Homalothecium sericeum.
January 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Beetle doodle of the day
January 11, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Beetle doodle of the day
January 10, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Crochet stonechat on a stick

#Birbfest2025 Day 6 #Birbfest #Crochet #Bird
January 6, 2025 at 11:33 PM
A piping plover in crochet 🧶

#Birbfest2025 Day 2 #Birbfest #Plover #Crochet
January 3, 2025 at 12:02 AM
A…bird?!

Lady Ross’s Turaco for #Birbfest2025
January 1, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Haha what are the chances?! This was from 2020 😃 Wheelbug is amazing, I want to draw him too now
December 31, 2024 at 9:14 PM
Rove beetle yoga for the last day of #Invertefest2024

#Invertefest #Staphylinidae
December 31, 2024 at 1:33 PM
An acorn weevil getting ready to tuck into an oak salad

#Invertefest #Invertefest2024
December 30, 2024 at 10:11 AM
Last year I really wanted to find the boldly patterned woodlouse, Armadillidium pulchellum (or its bigger relative Armadillidium pictum). I painted this and had it printed on a top for luck. Unfortunately still haven’t seen it. Maybe 2025?

#Invertefest #Invertefest2024 #Isopod
December 29, 2024 at 10:18 AM
‘He used to impress her by defeating rivals. These days he did it through more domestic victories.’

Stag beetle sketch #invertefest
December 28, 2024 at 9:54 AM