Craneflies, a π§΅
We are approaching the time of year where the media publish scare stories about the annual emergence of certain species of
#cranefly
(aka
#DaddyLonglegs
).
This happens every year (the cranefly emergence & the anti-bug stories).
𧡠1/8
#ShareDontScare
π’BREAKING NEWS!
Today
@NaturalEngland
have confirmed protected SSSI status for
#SwanscombePeninsula
in Kent. This welcome decision takes us one step closer to preventing the colossal
#LondonResort
theme park development from destroying this wildlife haven.
πWe're disappointed that yet again bees & mayflies risk being exposed to harmful levels of
#neonicotinoid
#insecticides
as a result of the UK Government ignoring concerns of scientists & their own expert committee.
It's time that banned meant banned!
π
Have you noticed a lack of buzzing & flitting?
πΌFlowers lacking the visitors you'd usually expect to see?
#InsectDecline
is a real issue & concern; let's find out what's going on & keep bugs on the agenda
π
#CitizenScientists
needed for
#BugsMatter
π
Fields of flowers to some horizons. But. BUT Where are all the insects. Banks of bramble flowers in fabulous
@hanslope
ancient woodland devoid of bumblebees and hoverflies. Are you seeing the same?
It's
#NationalInsectWeek
! Every day we will be sharing some incredible insect facts and information on how you can help the small things that run the world.
Let's take a closer look at Cockchafers! Or perhaps you know them as May bug or Billy-witch? πͺ²
At this time every year we see alarmist articles about spiders in the media. Today we have heard that four schools have been closed in London due to the presence of False widow spiders. Here is our response to this entirely unnecessary over-reaction:
Did you know? The Distinguished jumping spider is one the UK's most threatened species - it can only be found on two sites! But, one of those sites is Swanscombe Marshes, and it is under threat from development. Please sign our petition to
#SaveSwanscombe
:
Please hold off mowing the lawn and let your dandelions flourish - they are a really important source of nectar and pollen for pollinating insects at this time of year!
#WednesdayWisdom
Have you noticed a lack of buzzing in your green & wild spaces this year?
π
#CitizenScientists
needed!
π¨βπ¬
#BugsMatter
survey season is nearly here & we'd love to welcome more people to our buggy family!
π
Lets find out what's going on!
@BBCEarth
Where are all the birds? Is it just me or has anyone else noticed how quiet it is this year? No birds on the feeders and not many insects buzzing about either.
Feared extinct in UK, the Great Fox-Spider hadn't been seen for 27 years. But Mike Waite, our
#spider
expert, never gave up hope of rediscovering one of UKβs largest spiders. He found it on
@DefenceHQ
@mod_dio
training land in Surrey. Happy Halloween!
"The Watches" have transported
#Nature
,
#Wildlife
&
#Conservation
into people's homes; showcasing some of the amazing creatures that we find here in the UK
If, like us, you think the decision to cancel
#AutumnWatch
should be reconsidered π
Craneflies, a thread...
It looks like we have reached the time of year where the media publish scare stories about the annual emergence of certain species of cranefly (daddy longlegs).
This happens every year (the cranefly emergence and the anti-bug stories).
Bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects are in trouble.
A lack of connected wildflower areas in our towns and countryside make it difficult for pollinators and other wildlife to live and move around.
But, we have a solution - B-Lines:
#Pesticides
deemed too harmful for use on crops are leaching into the environment from pet tick & flea treatments.
β£οΈ They're highly bee-toxic & threaten aquatic species. There are 300+ alternative products.
Time to get rid of these chemicals once & for all!
π§΅/1
#ToxicPetMeds
Wow! Look at this wonderful picture of mayflies - taken by the River Kennett by Peter Orr. Congratulations Peter on your Luminar Bug Photographer of the Year 2020 award!
A huge step towards saving Swanscombe Marshes!
@NaturalEngland
has recognised the outstanding wildlife value of the Swanscombe Peninsula and declared that it should be a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
@RSPBEngland
@KentWildlife
Light Pollution - a thread.
Today will see members of the House of Lords debate an amendment to the
#EnvironmentBill
that would require national targets on reducing
#LightPollution
. Read the thread below for just some of the reasons why targets are needed. 1/
π·William Warby
The Government is talking about restoring
#nature
by 2030. But it hasn't put that promise in law.
Join us in calling for a legally-enforceable
#StateofNature
target in the
#EnvironmentBill
to stop the decline of
#wildlife
once and for all.
We have confirmed 2 new sightings of
#Asianhornet
in
#Liskeard
and in
#Hull
The Fowey nest has been destroyed & we're continuing surveillance but if you suspect you've seen one report it using the Asian Hornet Watch app.
Find out more cc
@britishbee
:
This
#WildlifeWednesday
join us as we celebrate & congratulate Buglife founder & Vice President, Alan Stubbs MBE.
ποΈThe first MBE titled βfor services to invertebrate conservationβ.
"πππ£πππ π‘βπ π ππππ π‘βππππ π‘βππ‘ ππ’π π‘βπ ππππππ‘"
Sad to hear of the passing of Eric Carle, who introduced so many children to the wonderful world of insects through his book The Very Hungry Caterpillar
This female Black oil beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) was spotted in South Devon over the weekend. Spring is the time to be on the look out for these unusual beetles.
@OilBeetlesUK
@BBCSpringwatch
As nature wakes up this
#Spring
, our lawns are starting to grow again. But please don't be tempted to get the mower out - dandelions and other lawn flowers are essential to bees, hoverflies and other pollinating insects at this time of year. Let your lawn bloom!
#NoMow
Great to see cross-party support to reverse the Government's decision to allow the use of banned neonicotinoid pesticides. Thank you to all the MPs who signed this letter.
#NoInsectinction
In the midst of a global mass extinction, with insect populations collapsing, the Govt wants to lift ban on a deadly neonicotinoid
Pleased to have cross-party support for letter to George Eustice
@Defragovuk
urging him to reverse this damaging decision
@Pan_UK
@SoilAssociation
Thanks for all your tweets and RTs today. The more people who are aware of catastrophic insect declines, the better chance we have of changing human behaviour to reduce our impact on nature & live in harmony with the other species we share our planet with
Another step closer to saving our wild pollinators in England.
Yesterday, the new Pollinator Bill successfully passed its first reading in the House of Commons. Thanks to
@bbradleymp
for supporting it.
π·
@StevenFalk1
What a beautiful day to celebrate
#WorldBeeDay
! Here is a picture of one of our favourites, the Spined mason bee (Osmia spinulosa). This bee is associated with chalk and limestone grassland habitats where the females use empty snail shells in which to lay their eggs!
Shameful! The government has ignored the advice of its scientific advisers to allow sugar beet farmers to deploy a banned bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticide in 2022.
Read more here:
A new global scientific review has concluded that the shocking rate of extinction of insect species and loss of insect abundance threatens a βcatastrophic collapse of natureβs ecosystemsβ
We are recruiting! 4 posts: Conservation Officer (Wales), Conservation Officer (Scotland), Scotland Manager (maternity cover), and Fundraising Officer (closing soon!)
Join us & help the small things that run the world!
#ConservationJobs
#CharityJobs
Save the bees! (but which ones?)
Contrary to a popular belief, adding more honeybees is not the answer to pollinator declines. In fact, it may do more harm than good.
Craneflies, a π§΅
We are approaching the time of year where the media publish scare stories about the annual emergence of certain species of
#cranefly
(aka
#DaddyLonglegs
).
This happens every year (the cranefly emergence & the anti-bug stories).
#ShareDontScare
𧡠1/8
Right now, MPs are debating the governmentβs decision to allow a banned pesticide to be used to treat sugar beet in England. The decision goes against scientific advice and threatens pollinators and aquatic life. 1/
Billywitch, Doodlebug, May bug, Snartlegog... Cockchafers go by lots of different common names, but what do YOU call them?
#BugOfTheMonth
π·Zoe Foster
Some good news this week - the outdoor use of metaldehyde (slug pellets) to be banned to protect wildlife
Metaldehyde is known to harm freshwater molluscs and other invertebrates. A ban will help to create safer spaces for invertebrates.
#NoInsectinction
The Government is reneging on its manifesto pledges for
#nature
We're encouraging our members & supporters to participate in an action led by
@Natures_Voice
to write to your MP & let them know you are angry about this
#AttackOnNature
Find out more π
π₯ New populations of rare bees discovered in Cornwall π₯
We're delighted to share the discovery of two new populations of one of
#Cornwall
's most threatened
#bee
species ~ the Large Scabious Mining Bee (π΄ππππππ βππ‘π‘πππππππ)
π
π§΅/1
London Resort: Wildlife charities unite against theme park
In case you are wondering: the development will not deliver "a net gain in biodiversity" - it will destroy a nationally important wildlife site!
#DontBelieveTheHype
#SaveSwanscombe
Excited that our
@olds_liam
refound the Endangered Rock-rose pot beetle (Cryptocephalus primarius) in Gloucestershire last weekend as part of
@NatureBftB
@savebutterflies
#LimestonesLivingLegacies
surveys. There have been no sightings for a few years so this is a significant find
The news about
#ImACeleb
being investigated for releasing non-native species into the Welsh countryside is a serious concern for us. Non-native species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity & their introduction can cause economic damage too
Learn about invertebrates from the comfort of your own home! FREE upcoming online workshops from
@BuglifeScotland
include: dragonflies, stoneflies, mayflies, spiders & beetles
#BugsMatter
#CitizenScience
survey shows further decreases in UK insect numbers
πͺ°The troubling extent of
#InsectDeclines
in the UK has been highlighted once again by the 2023 Bugs Matter citizen science survey published today.
βΉοΈ Read the full story π
Our new report on bees in the East of England has more bad news for pollinating insects. But all is not lost, we have a plan - B-Lines are being mapped across the UK - they will create a national network of wildflower-rich pollinator habitat:
#WorldBeeDay
If youβre not entirely sure what a
#DaddyLonglegs
is, here's a handy guide!
Visit
@CRStipula
to find out more & record your sightings too!
All you really need to know about
#craneflies
is, they harm no one & most definitely ππππ'π venomous!
𧡠8/8
#ShareDontScare
Everyone loves a hoverfly right? But did you know that, as well as being important pollinators, their larvae munch on greenfly and other beasties that gardeners arenβt so fond of. So with a hoverfly you get a pollinator and a pest controller all in one!
#EcoHour
#FlyFacts
It's been quite a day for
@Buzz_dont_tweet
Founder & Vice President Alan!
They must have known at
@TheAthenaeum
that they had someone special dining & that
#inverts
were order of the day
We're sure you'll join us in congratulating Alan on his MBE (official pictures to follow)
The anti-bug media season usually starts with
#FlyingAnt
βinvasionβ stories in July, then anti-
#wasp
articles in August. In September we have the βhorrorβ of
#craneflies
& as we approach October the scary
#spider
stories appear.
𧡠2/8
#ShareDontScare
The evidence that light pollution has profound and serious impacts on ecosystems is overwhelmingly strong. It is imperative that society now takes substantial steps to make the environment safer for insects
#NoInsectinction
Charles Darwin on earthworms: "It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organised creatures."
#DarwinDay
Hundreds of volunteer hours have already gone into creating wildflower-rich sites for bees and other pollinators across our B-Lines. From clearing scrub to seeding and planting wildflowers. Here are some examples π
#BLines
#Noinsectinction
This weekβs news about insect declines has shocked many people. When we hear of global environmental problems they can seem so huge that we, as individuals, can feel helpless to do anything about them. Here are 5 things you can do right now to help insects
At this time of year, ivy flowers are an important source of food for pollinating insects. Please wait until your ivy has finished flowering before giving it a trim.
#WednesdayWisdom
Ants run secret farms on English oak trees, photographer discovers.
The giant pale aphid, Stomaphis wojciechowskii, has lived undiscovered for thousands of years on English oak trees, where it has been looked after by brown ants.
Some of the amazing invertebrates that we are able to give a brighter future thanks to the support of
@heritagelottery
and our project partners. These are our
#HeritageTreasures
Today at Bug House we are celebrating the birthday of the great Alan Stubbs. Buglife-co founder and volunteer, award-winning contributor to conservation, author and champion of diptera!
We hope you'll join us in wishing Alan a very happy birthday!
Four schools have been closed in London due to the presence of False widow spiders:
Here is our response to this unnecessary over-reaction.
More information about spiders bites here:
Extreme close-up!!
The astonishing detail in this Silver Y moth was captured by Stephen James, and was shortlisted in the Luminar Bug Photographer of the Year 2020.
We are starting to get that
#FridayFeeling
& this weekend's mission is to spot bee-flies!
The most common species is the Dark-edged bee-fly, you might be lucky enough to see one in your garden.
If you see one this weekend please let
@SoldierfliesRS
know:
Iβm A Celebrity 'brought invasive crayfish to Wales without a licence'
Buglife investigation finds show did not have permission for Turkish crayfish used in bushtucker trials