2023 Summary

2023 has still been a quiet year for water bugs but up on the previous few years. During the spring the breeding season was running late  and condensed into a shorter period, however the autumn remained warm till late with plenty of water courses with water in.  

The data increased by 172 new records this year to 11,348 in the dataset. iRecord is continuing to build and 904 records were added from there containing all the records for this year.

There were no additional species this year, still recording 46 of the 67 species in the Water bugs group. With 7 Litter bugs and Shore bug species still being recorded from 28 on the UK list. 

We haven't recorded in anymore 10Km or 5Km squares this year. We are still recording in 43 of the 45 10km grid squares, just 2 more to go. We are also recording in 110 of the 128 5Km squares with most of those now missing only in the South of the county and around the edges of the county. 

I am still on the hunt for Micronecta griseola from the River Nene, however searching this year only threw up a great Sigara iactans.

The keys have continued to be enhanced this year with a few new photographs and also a consolidation into one document that has been published on the site. I again held a Pond Dipping for Adults course for the Wildlife Trust BCN training workshops and took a nature trail class for Year 2’s at Earl Spencer primary School.