Records from Photographs

[Roger Morris]

Hello everyone

This is just a little prompt to say that networking sites and blogs can be an immensely useful way of helping biological recording schemes. I often find it strange that people think that just because their record is of a common species it is no value - not so - actually they can be very useful - fill in gaps on maps, update records etc. In the last few days I've worked my way through the photos on Wild About Britain and have extracted those data I can - 143 records in all. But, this could be so much more if the data were posted with the photo - Place, date and a grid ref. Ideally we would like a recorder name but we can use WAB as the source.

But, actually the most important part about common species is that because they are common large blocks of data can be assembled. Also, if they are common and readily identified then they are more likely to be useful for projects such as the national phenological network.

As a hoverfly specialist I always hope to see records of common species such as Epistrophe eligans, Rhingia campestris and Leucozona lucorum. This is because they are showing changes in emergence patterns as a consequence of climate change and rainfall. In addition, there are several species undergoing range expansion:

Volucella inanis, V. zonaria, Chrysotoxym festivum, Rhingia rostrata, Sphegina sibirica. We are also on the look out for moves by Chrysotoxum cautum but have no evidence at the moment. Equally we think that species such as Arctophila superbiens and Chrysotoxum arcuatum are likely to experience range contraction.

One final point - it seems that a high proportion of contributors are southern - any idea why as I'm sure there must be interested naturalists in Scotland?

Regards

Roger Morris
Hoverfly Recording Scheme