*Appropriately-spooky Record Of The Week* This Death's-head Hawk-moth (Acherontia atropos) was spotted today in Alexander Road Bearwood by Charlotte Smith. This moth, which is the largest to occur in the UK, is a rare migrant whose larval food plant is potatoes - so they are often associated with allotments. We only have one previous record of this species in B&BC, but they have also been seen elsewhere in the Midlands. We don't know if this individual reached us naturally, or whether it was released by a breeder.

The dates of the 2025 City Nature have been announced, and Birmingham & the Black Country will once again be taking part! 25 - 28 APR: making observations🐝🦆 29 APR - 4 MAY: time to get all observations uploaded & work on identifying observations 🔎 5 MAY: results announced!📣

One to spot: 👀 This magnificent-looking beetle - Rose Chafer - has been spotted this summer in nearby Pershore. We haven't had any records of this southernly species in Birmingham & Black Country yet, but its range seems to be moving north, so its worth keeping an eye out for!

Take part in our Ivy Bee Survey to help us to monitor Ivy Bees in Birmingham and the Black Country! Ivy Bees are common in continental Europe, but they have only fairly recently made the hop across the channel to the UK. They were first recorded in Dorset in 2001 and in 2015 they were recorded in Birmingham and the Black Country for the first time. We need your help to discover how widespread this species is in 2024. Ivy Bees' main food source are Ivy flowers and are seen from September to late November during the flowering period of Ivy. They are a solitary species, but nest in dense aggregations underground in sandy, light soils. Ivy Bees are fairly easy to identify, but to the untrained eye, may resemble Honey Bees, which are a similar size. We’ve put together this ID guide below to help you tell the difference: Take part in our Ivy Bee Survey by visiting an Ivy bush that is in flower on a dry, clear day and photograph any Ivy Bees you see. Send us your photograph and let us know: How many you saw When you saw them Where you saw them Please send us your photos and sighting information either by emailing them to enquiries@ecorecord.org.uk Or by submitting them using our online form below: https://forms.gle/zC6a7A7ppNAxPto7A

We had a lovely day surveying the plants and invertebrates of the meadows next to Castle Hill in Dudley with the Birmingham and Black Country Invertebrate Group. Highlights included a White-hairstreak Butterfly, as well as tonnes of hoverflies! Thanks for joining us Jas @forij.co.uk @getpappeduk and for your great photos!

Here's a Demoiselle ID guide for our Damsels and Dragons project on iNaturalist - don't forget to upload your sightings. Now is the perfect time to get spotting! 🐉 Check the link in bio to find out more! #damselflies #dragonflies #insects #nature #bugs #wildlife #citizenscience #outdoors #inaturalist 3 d

Here's another Damselfly ID guide for our Damsels and Dragons project on iNaturalist - don't forget to upload your sightings. Now is the perfect time to get spotting! 🐉 Check the link in bio to find out more! #damselflies #dragonflies #insects #nature #bugs #wildlife #citizenscience #outdoors #inaturalist 3 d

What a great day we had at Saltwells NNR! We were surveying the Tailings Tip area of the reserve as part of a Birmingham & Black Country Invertebrate Group Event - here's one of the highlights - a Puss Moth caterpillar! If you have an interest in invertebrates and would like to hear about B&BC Invertebrate Group's upcoming field visits please sign up to our mailing list here: https://forms.gle/8hyX5VyEknEuSPie6

There is believed to be 21 Damselfly species in the UK, and here are some of them! They can be seen in wetland areas during the summer months, even canals and ditches. Our Damsels and Dragons project on iNaturalist is still live - don't forget to upload your sightings. Now is the perfect time to get spotting! 🐉 Check the link in bio to find out more! #damselflies #dragonflies #insects #nature #bugs #wildlife #citizenscience #outdoors #inaturalist 3 d

Our Damsels and Dragons project on iNaturalist is still live - don't forget to upload your sightings. Now is the perfect time to get spotting! 🐉 Check the link in bio to find out more! #damselflies #dragonflies #insects #nature #bugs #wildlife #citizenscience #outdoors #inaturalist