When and what to report?

[Miss Caretaker]

I'm rather new to all this so please forgive all the questions! I was wondering how to find out whether or not a species was worth reporting to the County Recorder or not. For example I spotted a longhorn beetle which I later identified as Agapanthea villosoviridescens but didn't get a picture as the batteries died i my camera . I am trying to find out what the status of this is in my area (Basingstoke, Hampshire) but can't really find the right info. I don't want to inundate the County Recorder with hundreds of sightings of common species

I'd appreciate any help with how to get my head around all this reporting/recording business

Thanks, Jo

[Jason Green]

Evening Jo, and welcome to WAB!

Well, it's a Notable B-status species to the best of my knowledge, so please report it - try Contact Us · About Us · HWT. I'd advise you call them, and find out who the invertebrate recorder is. You'll most lkely have one for each different area such as flies, beetles, or even family-based recorders such as Hoverflies and Long-horned Beetles.

Now... as for clarifying records - generally the rarer the insect, the more you'll need to back it up. I'm sure the recorder will accept your Long-horn, but for some a photograph will really be needed. Of course, some can't be accepted even on the basis of a good photograph - and so will need a specimen for confirmation (some insects need putting under the microscope to see subtle hairs or structures - or even the removal and examination of male genitalia).

All records would be useful, really. Send in a list of whichever you have rare or not, along with your name, the name of the site it was found on and the grid ref. for each site. Sometimes information relating to the habitat and the hostplant would be welcomed too.

Try the contact method I suggested and get in contact with the recorder - they'll tell you what they'll accept, and what they can't under which circumstances and what you may need in future to have them added to the database.

Finally, we love helping so feel free to post any ID requests you may need here

Take care,

Jason

[Miss Caretaker]

Thanks for the speedy reply! I saw the longhorn on my butterfly transect and as I walk my dogs there every day I'm determined to get a picture. Thanks for your help, I'm sure I'll need lots of assistance with idents in the future!

[Paul mabbott]

In most cases recorders will want any and every observation you can make. However, they might not be too happy dealing with them in ones or twos - best to save records up until you have a reasonable batch to send.
However some other things need considering.
If you're not moderately competent with the taxa that you're reporting, the recorder will want it verified - either by themselves or an expert.
Therefore if you find something which is apparently rare get it verified - check out with your recorder what their requirements are.
Some County (or whatever) recording offices will collate records of all plants, animals or fungi but don't necessarily have expertise on every taxon! It's good, if possible, to build up a network of 'experts' who you can contact for advice and assistance.
Your County Council may have a Biiological Records Office or recording may be carried out by the Museum or by a local Society. Your first task is to find out where the recorders are!

If you can't find a local recorder then it would be worth contacting the national recording scheme for any particular taxon.

The beetkle recorder for North Hampshire (VC12) is Jonty Denton, Kingsmead, Wield Road, Medstead, Alton, Hampshire GU34 5NJ. If you refer to The Coleopterist website The Coleopterist it will probably give his e-mail. That page also notes various national schemes, museum resources & .... for beetles only!

With regard to A. villosoviridescens, this used to be a rare species outside of a band running across central England (Lincs to Staffordshire sort of thing) but it has spread considerably over the last decade - I don't know how far south it has got but certainly the record should be of interest.

[Jason Claxton]

As regards to the distribution of Agapanthia villosoviredescens in Hants ,I have seen it at least as far south as Winchester and I have seen at Martin Down also,where it is found on Thistles.
The Provisional atlas of the longhorn beetles(Coleoptera,Cerambycidae)of Britain by PFG Twinn and P T Harding does not show it in Hampshire,so it appears to have spread quite a bit south and west at least according to my observations.It was once Nationally Scarce Notable B,I'm not sure what its current status is now.
Do you have a Natural History Society,near you in Basingstoke,they would be pleased to take your record .Also the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre(HBIC)is a possibility,but they tend to deal with batches of records as opposed to a few records.

Cheers Jason

[Miss Caretaker]

Thanks for all the info, I'll wait until I have a number of records to send before I contact anyone! I did manage to get a photo today, they were in the same place as yesterday and there were 4 of them this time.