We found this queen European hornet (Vespa crabro) in the garden at the weekend!
These beautiful animals, despite their reputation, actually have a very docile and relaxed personality. As well as being great pollinators, decomposers and pest controllers!

Dr Erica McAlister Soldierflies RS Dipterists Society Dipterists Forum Royal Entomological Society Torsten Dikow Steven Falk

For all UK sightings of robberflies, whether on #WorldRobberflyDay or any other day 😃, please send your records in to the recording scheme, preferably via iRecord - your records allow us to keep track of any changes in range and flight time - thanks! 🙏

About 4000 of the critically endangered European Hamster Cricetus cricetus live around Vienna, Austria - these were in a cemetery there last week

Dandelions are a fantastic source of nectar and pollen for Scotland's pollinators. Leave some dandelions to flower, and bumblebees, hoverflies, butterflies, solitary bees and beetles will all benefit. Hang on to dandelions, and congratulate yourself on helping our pollinators.

If you’re interested in Spring Scottish moths then we still have a couple of places available on our Cairngorms workshop in May. Targets inc Kentish Glory & Netted Mountain Moth amongst others. All profits to Butterfly Conservation 🦋 #TeamMoth #MothsMatter wild-discovery.com/identification…

Tony Juniper helen withers Natural England NW I’m afraid it’s misleading to insinuate Natural England NW wouldn’t support veg clearance. Here is their consultation response, indicating they may support substantial vegetation loss if protected plants were moved etc.

Is this really how Natural England want to be seen to treat SACs?

Looking forward to getting stuck into this.

I wasn’t expecting to see a Dormouse at Martin Down in the middle of the day! You can’t get much cuter - a real highlight
#dormouse #martindown

Dear BBC Weather. Your forecasts for my local patch (Warwickshire) are beyond a joke and have been for months. The worst predictions end up being the nicest days. Predicted nice days end up gloomy or with unforecasted rain. For someone doing weather-dependent work it truly sucks.

Fantastic to find the Pine Long-horned Hoverfly, Callicera rufa, again at Formby, Merseyside this week. This is the fifth year that the species has been present at this site. A fantastic insect Tanyptera Project #syrphids #diptera Steven Falk

Important new study on the dependence of crops on #pollinators such as #bees by Catarina Siopa et al. Take home: previous studies have under-estimated the role of pollinators for agricultural production - they are even more vital than we realised!

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/13…?

White-lipped Snail (I think) in the garden yesterday. The light reflections make it look like it was moving really fast; it wasn't ... #Snails #Gastropods

Potential sighting of a Great White Egret at Kenilworth Castle Castle yesterday by somebody familiar with our local Little Egrets. Any other reports in the area West Midland Bird Club Mike ?

Lovely new video featuring the bees of University of Warwick here: vimeo.com/932553984/34b6…. A great pleasure to be part of this. Lots of great conservation work going on at the university, showing that sensitive development can have substantial wildlife benefits.

Nice to finally get back to delivering in-person bee identification courses. Now that I have my own microscopes, I can deliver courses anywhere in the UK so get in touch if you'd like a course near you!

I spent yesterday searching an area of ancient woodland near Henley, and was rewarded with finding one of our rarest and most spectacular Craneflies, Ctenophora flaveolata. Without doubt the highlight of my year so far. Dipterists Forum

Wheeeee!!! 🤣