A visit to Borris, Co. Carlow produced 3 female Andrena rosae, all foraging on Angelica growing along the river Barrow. As far as I know, this is the first record of the summer brood in Ireland since 1930. A real treat to see.

Our #LadybirdAtlas2025 project is a perfect way to get involved with recording during #HeritageWeek2024 Why not keep an eye out for our 3 most common species, which are 7-Spot, 14-Spot and 22-Spot Ladybirds, all pictured below. Submit sightings here: records.biodiversityireland.ie/record/ladybir…

Heather Ladybird was #LadybirdYearList species no. 1️⃣9️⃣

Tortoise Bug (Eurygaster testudinaria) nymph & Heather Colletes (Colletes succinctus) ♀️ from wet heath at Granabeg, Co. Wicklow last week.

18-spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata) tapped from Scots Pine along Blessington Lake at Valleymount, Wicklow last week. #LadybirdAtlas2025

Tingid bug Derephysia foliacea off Ivy at a graveyard in Rathoe, Co. Carlow today.

Armadillidium depressum in the grand surroundings of Dunbrody Abbey, a ruined Cistercian monastery on the Hook Peninsula in south County Wexford today.

Striped & Eyed Ladybirds, found by vc40ladybirds 🐞 & me at Rhos Fiddle recently. The UK's 2 biggest spp. & have always wanted to get them together - but this Striped is a v. small individual! Still v. nice to see though.

Rayless Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. dunensis) at Morriscastle Beach, Wexford today.

The middle ground in the nature/farming debate is rich and diverse! I was in Myshall, Co Carlow today to hear from farmers and env practitioners with decades of experience putting theory into practice. So inspiring! Huge thanks to CarlowCountyCouncil #BiodiversityOfficer Shane Casey 👏

Nice patch of Corn Marigold (Glebionis segetum) in a barley field along the Slaney at Kildavin bridge, Carlow this weekend.

Banchine wasp (Ichneumonidae: Banchinae) from tribe Glyptini swept from wet heath at Granabeg, Wicklow earlier this month. Thanks to Jaswinder Boparai for pointers. Need to invest in Brock's RES handbook!

📢 Latest news 📢 During the past 5 years, over 30 insect species have been found in Ireland for the first time. Many of these have been recorded by our fantastic citizen science network. You can read more about these exciting discoveries here: biodiversityireland.ie/newly-discover…

Common Calamint (Clinopodium ascendens) on the walls of Ballymoon Castle east of Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow yesterday.

Marsh Fritillary monitoring at 2 sites on the Carlow side of Blackstairs Mountains today. Drew a blank for both sites. One site with no management & succeeding to scrub (natives & non-natives incl. Rhodo & Cotoneaster. The other site recently drained, reclaimed and over-grazed.

Tiny 2mm megaspilid wasp in our garden in Kildavin, Carlow today. Fascinating to watch scurrying about.