Megan Shersby

Oh that's neat

I don't think that's suitable in this case

Aha, I have not. Thank you

For anyone working in the area of dog walkers and green spaces, is there any research on which type of signage (wording, graphics, pics) actually work best for getting dog walkers to pick up after their dogs?

A small green growth on a nettle leaf

A small green growth on a nettle leaf

There's no break from my gall pics I'm afraid, as yesterday I spotted this Nettle Pouch gall at @wildlifebcn.org's Lings Wood in Northampton.

Caused by the Dasineura urticae midge.

A pinkish growth on a green plant

A pinkish growth on a green plant

My gall collection continues to grow! With this slightly unusual one that could be mistaken for a little flower.

Out on a corporate day with @wildlifebcn.org yesterday at Fulbourn Fen, and Iain W pointed out this gall on Germander Speedwell - caused by the midge Jaapiella veronicae.

A gall on the underside of a Walnut leaf

A gall on the topside of a Walnut leaf

Found myself a new gall at the weekend!

Aceria erinea is a mite that causes a gall on Walnut trees. Unsure of the common English name for it, as Walnut Blister is sometimes used - but that also seems to be used for Aceria tristriata galls, which are much smaller.

Two roles available at @wildlifebcn.org !

I must get along to one of these! None of the days/times so far have worked, but hopefully so more will be scheduled in the future 🤞

Ooh, having posted about the potential for Wasp Spiders in VC55 on LRWT socials earlier this summer, this is very exciting news indeed!

Called Willow Bead on iNaturalist, which is a cute name.

Small red lumps on a willow leaf

Underside of a willow leaf, and undersides of the red bumps

A relatively short lunchtime walk at Cambourne led by @brianecambs.bsky.social - especially brilliant because I learnt a new gall! And I'm a little obsessed by galls currently.

Caused by a mite gall (Aculus tetanothrix) on willow (specifically a Bay x White Willow hybrid).

Deadline for applications is this weekend!

I was trying to work out if the stripe was an actual stripe or just a reflection of the sun ☀️

Aha, thank you!

To add, I've just run it through Seek and it has identified it as Portuguese Laurel.

A red dragonfly perched on some stones

I thought this was Ruddy Darter due to the black legs, but the thorax isn't particularly red, so perhaps it is Common?

#Dragonflies #Insects

A bush with long green leaves, and black berries

#Botany #PlantID help requested. What is this ornamental plant please?

An ivy bee on flowering ivy

First Ivy bee of the autumn!

#NorthantsWildlife #Bees #Insects

A green cricket, lacking wings, and with an ovipositor, perched on a tree trunk

Female Southern Oak Bush-cricket.

#Insects #NorthantsWildlife

Australia approves world-first vaccine to save koalas from deadly chlamydia | Discover Wildlife The newly developed, single-dose vaccine could be a key tool in protecting the tree-dwelling marsupials from the chlamydia epidemic.

Positive news for #koalas!

A single dose vaccine has been approved to tackle chlamydia in the iconic species.

Having looked online now, I've learnt they can have a second generation. I'm not particularly southerly - am in Northants - but with the very warm weather, perhaps that has encouraged a second gen this year.

A solitary bee perched on a human finger. Zoomed in photo showing a small object on the abdomen of the bee

2. Is that a stylops???

A solitary bee perched on a human finger

A solitary bee perched on a human finger

A solitary bee perched on a human finger

A solitary bee perched on a human finger

Spotted this solitary bee in the garden, and have two thoughts on it.

1. It looks a lot like the Chocolate Mining Bee (A. scotica) and in the normal area of the garden that I get them. But that's a spring species, so unless there's been some unusual development, that's v unlikely.

#Bees #Insects

Assistant Reserve Officer | Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust To assist with habitat management, reserve maintenance and species monitoring at Rutland Water Nature Reserve ensuring appropriate and safe visitor access

Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust (one of my WT employers) is recruiting for an Assistant Reserve Officer at Rutland Water.

An amazing opportunity to work at one of the UK's most well-known and loved nature reserves.

Underside of an oak leaf featuring a small circular disc growth

I'm assuming this is an early stage of one of the spangle #galls? #invertebrates

A round mushroom, with some peeling on the top.

Small (3-4cm) mushroom on a roadside verge. There is a stem underneath. Any thoughts on ID welcome

Close up and slightly blurry image of the front of a Slug with its tentacles partially extended

Screenshot from a video, this was the extent that the tentacles came out

A Slug on an upturned plastic lid

A Slug on an upturned plastic lid

Leopard Slug? A small one perhaps?

#Invertebrates #Slugs #UKWildlife

A Common Blue butterfly perched on a grass stem with its wings closed.

A Common Blue butterfly perched on a grass stem with its wings closed.

A Common Blue butterfly perched on a grass stem with its wings closed.

A Small Copper butterfly perched on a seedhead with its wings open.

Some roosting Common Blue #butterflies in a farm field margin, and a bonus Small Copper.

#invertebrates #insects #Bedfordshire