The Green Hairstreak is a rare butterfly in Leicestershire and Rutland but it now has a 'champion'. Andrew Harrop has been appointed species champion for the Green Hairstreak in the East Midlands and is keen to hear of any sightings. More...

Would you like to improve your plant ID skills? The University of Leicester, in conjuction with BSBI, the Wildlife Trust and NatureSpot, are offering a module-based course - starting in May. More info and application form.

The latest newsletter from Leicestershire Fungi Study Group is now available and can be viewed here, with reports on the fungi found locally this season.

Little Egrets have become a relatively common sight in our area but occasional Great White Egrets have been seen too. Learn how to recognise the difference by watching a new BTO bird ID video guide to these two species.

A new report from Butterfly Conservation into the State of Britain's Moths, clearly shows that moths are in decline.Two thirds of moth species show decreasing population trends over the 40 year study and over one-third (37%) of the species decreased by more than 50%. Read the report.

The latest newsletter from the Leicestershire Entomological Society has been published and can be read or downloaded here. Issue 48 is a bumper edition with news of several interesting findings across the county.

The latest newsletter from the Leicestershire Amphibian and Reptile Network is now available here.

A study of the water beetles at Priory Water, near Melton, has just been published by the Leicestershire Entomological Society. Tony Cook and Frank Clark found 29 species of water beetles, including a few nationally rare species. The report can be viewed or downloaded on the LES page.

You might not know your ocelli from your frons, but getting to grips with fly identification requires a good grasp of anatomical terms. A wonderful, interactive online guide is now available to lead you through fly anatomy - complete with a virtual magnifying glass to zoom in closer.

Some species are not welcome in Leicestershire and Rutland and this is the case with the fungus Chalara fraxinea which causes Ash Dieback - a major threat to our native trees. Whilst out and about, look for the signs and report any finds. More...

One of the longest standing mysteries of migration has finally been solved after scientists discovered where the UK’s Painted Lady butterfly population goes each autumn. More...

The latest newsletter from the Leicestershire Entomological Society can now be viewed or downloaded from our LES page. This edition reports on several new species found in Leicestershire and Rutland, plus a provisional checklist of the ants of the two counties.

Links have now been added to the species pages to allow you to jump to the relevant group and family. This is particularly helpful if you want to look at related species. Note also that clicking on any group in the Species Library menu displays links to all the families within that group.

Buglife is reporting an unprecedented number of Hornet hoverfly, Volucella zonaria, records this summer and they appear to be moving north towards Leicestershire. Look out for this striking insect - a harmless mimic of the Hornet. More...

The first Leicestershire record of the Girdled Snail, Hygromia cinctella, turned up at the recent Bioblitz in Evington Park, Leicester. This common Mediterranean species arrived in Britain in 1950's and has been gradually spreading northwards ever since. The Conchological Society are keen to track its progress and all records submitted to NatureSpot will be passed on. More...

The latest edition of the excellent and free Beetle News is now available and includes a beginners guide to identifying broad-nosed weevils found in trees. Now is the best time to look for these beetles whilst they are fresh and fully-scaled. Download here. Previous copies of Beetle News are available on the AES website.

The long-awaited Field Guide to the Micro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland has now been produced and is available from 31st May (to pre-order use the link). Illustrated by the best insect artist around, Richard Lewington, this book is a companion to the excellent Field Guide to (macro) Moths, also from British Wildlife Publishing, and covers 1,033 species of micro-moths. A must have book for all moth enthusiasts!

An outbreak of the Asian Longhorn Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), an exotic beetle pest, has been found in Kent and the Food & Environment Research Agency say it could have severe consequences for British trees. There are fears that it may be expanding and the public are asked to look out for it. More...

Our Leicestershire and Rutland Species Library has now passed the 3,000 barrier and continues to grow at more than a new species every day. The Species Library offers photos (all taken locally), descriptions and status information for every species - together with a map showing every record submitted to NatureSpot. The 3,000'th species was the sawfly - Pamphilius betulae. More...

Every wildlife sighting submitted to NatureSpot will immediately add a dot to the county distribution map. You can view these maps on every page in our Species Library. Help us to plug the gaps - even common species are often under-recorded and more data is needed. More...