I’m using the letter N to highlight a few of the new insects I’ve been lucky enough to find during my 2023 meanderings. First up, in early spring, was a new fly species, the torpedo-shaped Nematus lucidus (below left) and then, in July, another, the bristly brute that is Nowickia ferox (below right).

Next up, a new bee-fly. We usually only see Dark-edged bee-flies (Bombylius major) in my part of south Wales so it was super to spot this Western bee-fly (Bombylius canescens) during a visit to Aberbargoed in mid June.

On 17 July, in my local ‘secret field’, I discovered the final instar of a new shieldbug, Eurygaster testudinaria (left), and, the following day, I had another new find, the pretty caddisfly, Mystacides azurea (right). I didn’t blog this little creature at the time as I wasn’t sure of my identification but you can read more about it on the Nature Spot website.

Last, but certainly not least as these are favourites of mine, are two new leafhopper species. The seventeenth of July was a red letter day, with two new species found in my ‘secret field’, both the shieldbug mentioned above and, perched on an Oak leaf, the vibrant little leafhopper Typhlocyba quercus (left). I’ll certainly be checking for more of these next summer. Then, in the middle of November, bopping around a Bramble bush in one of the local cemeteries, I spotted the beautifully patterned Ribautiana tenerrima (right), and was left wondering how I’d never seen them before. I’m already looking forward to what new invertebrate species 2024 will bring.