Yesterday I made an exciting find, which was the Davies' Mining Bee (Colletes daviesanus). It is the first time this bee has been seen in Ireland in 40 years and it was thought to possibly have become extinct. Seen near Ballyhornan, Co. Down. Biodiversity Ireland All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

Heath Rivulet in northwest Sutherland! A second new Highland site in two weeks having spent years and years trying to rediscover it in historic East Lothian sites. Worth keeping a lookout in rocky,heathy places with Eyebright. #MothsMatter

Day 1 of a fascinating study of Small Scabious Mining Bee by SRUC student, Kelly Powell, Highland Folk Museum last week! The project is studying the bees' nest locations across its Scottish sites. We hope the results will help us better understand the species' habitat needs 🙌

It's not too late to sign up to join us and Bumblebee Conservation Trust this coming Sunday for a rare bee survey at Glenlivet. Fingers crossed for Small Scabious Mining Bee and Broken-belted Bumblebee! RSPB Scotland Cairngorms Nature Royal Zoological Society of Scotland Former NatureScot account BC Scotland BuglifeScotland

A much needed analysis of insect anatomy happening here! Next up we need a breakdown of bees, to include all the varied and wonderful bumblebees, cuckoo bees and solitary bees. RSPB Scotland BuglifeScotland BC Scotland Former NatureScot account Cairngorms Nature Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

A lovely variety of moths on Wildland Estate at the weekend, despite the Sturgeon moon! Some really beautiful species in the mix, including Autumnal Rustic, Bordered Beauty & Green Carpet. Moths giving us a design lesson in bold patterns & striking colours 😍 #lovemoths

Today, surveying for Broken-belted bumblebees & Small scabious mining bee w/ Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms on Glenlivet Estate. Thanks Mark Johnston for a fab site suggestion! Quite a few target bumblebee species spotted. Sadly, no Small scabious mining bee but could have been too cool & breezy.

Scalloped Hook-tip larva on birch in Glen Feshie this week. Mini dragon? Pet dog? Stylish whatever, both as a caterpillar and an adult moth. #MothsMatter

Fantastic new sites found for Small Scabious Mining Bee recently by our brilliant partner organisations. @CNPARangers Gillian Gibson has found the bee near Grantown while Royal Zoological Society of Scotland staff have found new sites Highland Wildlife Park & RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes Well done #teambee 🙌🐝

Meadows are great, don't get me wrong, but most were cut many weeks ago while lots of lives were still to be lived. So here's to uncut places, messy places, places sheltering life long in to autumn, here's to gardens like mine! #Life Bumblebee Conservation Trust Buglife Plantlife

✨Join the Buglife Team✨ Would you like to help bees & other #pollinators along the #RiverTweed? Do you have a passion for species-rich grassland management? Enjoy working with local communities? 🦋Pollinators Along the Tweed🐝 👇 buglife.org.uk/job/pollinator… #Conservation

A perk of Small Scabious Mining Bee surveys is delving into the world of parasitic bees 🧐 At SSMB nest aggregations we have found female Box-headed Blood Bee, Little Nomad Bee & Black-horned Nomad Bee. Important records of under-recorded species & fascinating to witness 🙌

Cracking little finds RSPB Scotland Abernethy y'day. The local moth, Grey Birch Button, (📸Carl Allott) originally only known from birch woods in the Scottish Highlands. And the handsome Ash Black Slug, a specialist of old woodlands. Diverse, old woodlands = magical species😍

Next Saturday we're taking over Perth Concert Hall for the #BigPictureConference. We can't wait to hear from our fantastic line-up of speakers, covering a wide range of rewilding topics in what will be a fascinating day. There's still time to get tickets: scotlandbigpicture.com/conference

It's not just the Pine Hoverfly who finds sanctuary in deadwood homes. While looking for the hoverfly larvae, we often find other creatures. Recently we've come across this beautiful social wasp nest inside a stump, plus a longhorn beetle larva & lots of newts!

Sixty years on from Rachel Carson's #SilentSpring the problems with #pesticides have only worsened, with flying #insects down 60% & bird populations more than halved in just 17 years Sign the petition to call for pesticide reduction targets now➡️petition.parliament.uk/petitions/6189… PAN UK

Some BIG news about a SMALL bee 🐝 As part of our work with Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms, we completed our first small scabious mining bee survey Highland Wildlife Park and found 70 bees and discovered important nest sites. Find out more 👉bit.ly/SmallScabiousS…