Wildlife Review 2025: Other insects and invertebrates

Barkflies (Psocoptera)
Small winged insects with a simple wing vein structure. A mixture of families, also known as barklice. With some exceptions, most are found in woodland. Eight species recorded this year including two new for the Recording Area; Propsocus pulchripennis, a rarely recorded stand-line species and first for Devon on 28th August and Cerobasis guestifalica, a common and widespread species, on 12th October.

Propsocus pulchripennis 28th August - Alan Keatley

Other species included, in June, Elipsocus hyalinus on 8th, Ectopsocus petersi on 14th and Valenzuela flavidus on 28th. In August, Graphopsocus cruciatus on 24th, in September Trichopsocus clarus on 27th and in October, Pteroxanium kelloggi on 30th.

Valenzuela flavidus - Alan Keatley

Bristletails (Archaeognatha)
Elongated, wingless primitive insects that feed on leaf litter, algae and mosses. Only seven UK species with just three in the Recording Area. Sea Bristletail Petrobius martimus frequently found on rocks a near the sea from 4th February, Dilta littoralis from 5th March and a continuing outdoor colony of Silverfish Lepisma saccharinum from 29th April.

Dilta littoralis - Alan Keatley

Lacewings (Neuroptera)
Adult and larval lacewings feed on small insects are found in scrub and woodland edges. Micromus variegatus, one of the brown species, was recorded on 4th May, with two other species recorded on the same date, 5th June, Common Lacewing Chysoperla carnea and Pearl Lacewing Chysopa perla.

Pearl Lacewing Chysopa perla - Alan Keatley

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera)
Adults are short lived, nymphs are aquatic. The reserve hasn't the right water bodies to support many mayflies; Pond Olive Cloeon dipterum is the only regularly recorded species with one on 17th August.

Caddisflies (Trichoptera)
Day flying insects that could be mistaken for micro-moths. Larvae are aquatic that build protective portable cases. Out of 200 UK species only six have been recorded on site. This year Glyphotaelius pellucidus was noted to light on 1st May.

Glyphotaelius pellucidus - Kevin Rylands

Stylops (Strepsiptera)
Parasites of mining bees, a female Stylops melittae was found attached to a Buffish Mining Bee on 20th March.

Scorpionflies (Mecoptera)
Three very similar UK species with patterned wings, frequenting bramble and nettles. Panorpa germanica on 1st May and P. communis recorded from 13th May., both common species.

Springtails (Collembola)
Springtails are arthropods, although they have six legs and, in some respects, resemble tiny insects, and used to classed as insects. Found all year, they occur in almost any habitat and are one of the most abundant animal groups. Fourteen species were recorded this year. Some are globular, others are elongated in shape. 

Globular springtails included Dicyrtoma fusca, D. minuta and D. saundersi from 11th January. Allacma fusca, was a new species on 29th July, with D. ornata overlooked until 28th December.

Allacma fusca 29th July - Alan Keatley

Other January springtails included Entomobrya intermedia, Pogonognathellus longicornis and Orchesella cincta from 14th, with E. nivalis on 23rd. In February the marine springtail Anurida maritima were abundant on the beach and saltmarsh from 3rd, with Neanura muscorum, a tiny moss springtail from 9th March. An Entomobrya albicincta was noted on 13th April.

Anurida maritima 10th May - Kevin Rylands

Later in the year Entomobrya multifasciata was recorded on 27th September and E. nicoleti on 28th.

Millipedes and centipedes (Myriapoda)

There are only eleven species on the site audit, compared with over 120 UK species. Their subterranean habitat and identification requiring microscopic examination in many species are the main reasons for the low number. 

Millipedes included Common Flat-backed Millipede Polydesmus angustus and Blunt-tailed Snake Millipede Cylindroiulus punctatus from 12th January, Cylindroiulus latestriatus on 27th February and the common Striped Millipede Ommatoiulus sabulosus and White-legged Snake Millipede Tachypodoiulus niger from 27th March.

Striped Millipede Ommatoiulus sabulosus - Alan Keatley

Only one centipede positively identified, a new species, Western Yellow Centipede Stigmatogaster subterranea on 12th January.

Western Yellow Centipede Stigmatogaster subterranea - 12th January - Alan Keatley

Worms (Annelidae)

Another group of invertebrates difficult to identify. Five species identified and all common species. Compost Worm Eisenia veneta and Redhead Worm Lumbricus rubellus from 13th February, Green Worm Allolobophora chlorotica on 27th March, Brandling Worm Eisenia fetida from 19th April and in the mudflats, a Blow Lugworm Arenicola marina on 4th July.

Flatworms (Rhynchodemidae)
Just one flatworm recorded, Microphana terrestris found under logs from 3rd February.

Microphana terrestris - Alan Keatley