Charlie Forrest-King

🪲 Weevils! The UK boasts 600+ species, almost as many as birds! Join us on 13 Oct (7–8pm) for an entoLIVE with @markgurn.bsky.social to explore their ecology, habitats & quirky plant preferences. It is FREE!!! Don’t miss it! 🧪 🌎

🔗 Sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1491232379...

The beautiful Platycheirus rosarum hoverfly, a few around at Doxey Marshes, #Staffs 02/08/25 @c-forrest-king.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social #Syrphidae #hoverfly

Thank you Les 🙂, will do.

And the last two 🙂. Thank you

Wondered if I could have help with an ID please if it is possible to tell?
I wondered about Crambus pascuella?

Each image is a different one from from my most recent moth trap.
Just working through the IDs of a few still before recording 🙂

@lesevanshill.bsky.social @bc-westmids.bsky.social

Thank you. I'm amazed it sat still for long enough!

Another stunning clearwing this week, this time whilst carrying out a survey. Welsh Clearwing (Synanthedon scoliaeformis). I love their iridescent scales!

Two came to lure - recorded
-Staffordshire 20/06/25

@bc-westmids.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

Definately worth an early morning in the garden before work this week. I got to see two beautiful Lunar Hornet Moths (Sesia bembeciformis)! One of my favourite mimics.

@bc-westmids.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #mimics #ukmoths #gardenforwildlife

There were plenty of Libellula quadrimaculata, Four-spotted Chaser dragonflies at #RSPBArne 28/05/25 and this one posed nicely for me @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #dragonfly #Odonata

Beautiful sunny day, and a treat to have this Beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) land infront of me.

#damselfly #naturewalk #naturetherapy

The garden meadow and hedge are looking amazing 😍 Lovely to come home to after a busy day.

#wildlifegardening #plantwildflowers

Thank you 🙂

Poster: Ten steps to carry out a FIT Count 1. A FIT Count requires 10–15 minutes to enjoy watching and counting insects! 2. Take part on any day with good weather from 1 April to 30 September. 3. "Good weather" is dry, and with temperature at least 13°C in sunny conditions, or at least 15°C when cloudy. 4. Choose just one type of flower as your target flower – use a FIT Count target flower if you can, or choose any other flower as the target. 5. Mark out a 50 × 50 cm patch containing your target. 6. Count how many individual target flowers are in your patch. 7. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and count all insects that touch (land or are already sitting) the target flowers. 8. Identify the insects into their broad groups (bumblebees, hoverflies etc.) – any that you don't recognise should be counted as "other insects". 9. Answer some simple habitat and weather questions. 10. Don't forget to send in your results via our FIT Count app or website recording form (even if your result is zero insects!). Full details on the POMS website and FIT Count app.

The new FIT Count season is nearly here 🎉🎆👏 From 1st April onwards, when weather is good, enjoy spending 10 minutes counting the insects that visit flowers - wherever you can find flowers, and as often as you wish, to help monitor #pollinators. Full details on our website ukpoms.org.uk/fit-counts

Spotted in the garden, a type of Tephritidae fly I think... Beautiful wing patterns.
Staffordshire - 23/05/2025

@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @lisawilliams30.bsky.social

This was my first Green Tortoise beetle (Cassida viridis). As amazing as i had hoped, and especially well camouflaged!

I'm still working through putting up some City nature challenge images.
- Staffordshire 27/04/25

I love seeing these Red-and-black Froghoppers (Cercopis vulnerata).

Had taken my smaller lens out to practice with, and pretty pleased with this photo.
Hopwas quarry
04/05/2025

A Small Yellow Underwing, Panemeria tenebrata, seen at Hopwas Quarry, #Staffs 04/05/25 @bc-westmids.bsky.social #Lepidoptera #moth

The garden is coming to life! I spotted this Mottled Umber (Erannis defoliaria) munching on our Saskatoon berry whilst watering this evening.

They like a lot of different plants that we have, so hopefully we will still get some tasty berries to eat!

Haha! I was just looking this up! Very cool! Lovely pictures :)

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) sitting on a leaf with wings closed.

Great day at Hopwas Quarry yesterday. Lucky to have a close up view of this beautiful Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines).
04/05/2025

@lisawilliams30.bsky.social @nickmott7.bsky.social

@c-forrest-king.bsky.social @nickmott7.bsky.social

Spotted this stunning Cramp-ball Fungus Weevil (Platyrhinus resinosus) during the City Nature Challenge 2025.
- Staffordshire, UK

#citynaturechallenge2025

I've had pulmonaria in the garden a while, but no luck with Anthophora plumipes. Then I saw my 1st ever female in a garden centre on this Lithodora & I had to buy it! Today a first record in my garden & it visited the pulmonaria too! So happy!
-Staffordshire, 20/04/25
@lisawilliams30.bsky.social

Glad there are still lots around. They were flitting everywhere as I walked along the other week! Great to see!

Made the jump and joined you all over here.
First post is from a great moment with my volunteers.

We saw three male Emperor moths (Saturnia pavonia). Staffordshire, 09/04/25.