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List by scientific name

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British Invertebrates - terrestrial and freshwater

Species 1 - 25 of 25

Acosmetia caliginosa (Reddish buff moth)
The Reddish Buff moth's name provides a good description of the adult. It is a night-flying moth and hides up in vegetation during... More	2 Images	1 Video

Agabus brunneus (Diving beetle)
This chocolate-brown beetle has no common English name. It is difficult to distinguish from a number of similar species, needing... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Aglais urticae (Small tortoiseshell)
The small tortoiseshell is one of the most widespread and familiar butterflies in Britain. Its beautiful patterning, comprising of... More	21 Images	6 Videos

Ampedus cardinalis (Cardinal click beetle)
This click beetle has russet-red wing cases (elytra), a shiny black thorax and a covering of fine orange hairs. The larvae are... More	2 Images	0 Videos

Ampedus rufipennis (Cardinal click beetle)
This click beetle has bright red wing cases (elytra), a shiny black thorax and a covering of fine black hairs. The larvae are... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Anax imperator (Emperor dragonfly)
The emperor is Britain's largest dragonfly; they are a spectacular sight with their broad wings and powerful flight. After emerging... More	13 Images	4 Videos

Anisodactylus nemorivagus (Ground beetle)
This ground beetle is black in colour with reddish legs. The outer edges of the wing-cases (elytra) are covered in fine hairs and... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Anisodactylus poeciloides (Ground beetle)
This beetle is of 'medium' size (in beetle terms), with an attractive colouration and the 'typical' ground beetle shape. The colour... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Anobium punctatum (Furniture beetle)
The furniture beetle, also known as ‘woodworm’, is a notorious pest of timber in buildings and old furniture. Very few people... More	8 Images	5 Videos

Anthocharis cardamines (Orange-tip)
Only male orange-tip butterflies actually have orange tips to their forewings; females have black or greyish wing tips. In both... More	19 Images	3 Videos

Apatura iris (Purple emperor)
Males of this beautiful butterfly have an iridescent purple or bluish sheen to the upper surface of the wings when viewed from a... More	21 Images	5 Videos

Aphis fabae (Black bean aphid)
Although sometimes called ‘blackfly’, the black bean aphid is actually a true bug (a member of the order Hemiptera). All true bugs... More	5 Images	1 Video

Apis mellifera (Honey bee)
The honey bee is probably one of the best-known of all insects in the world; it performs a vital role in the pollination of... More	27 Images	7 Videos

Araneus diadematus (Garden spider)
The garden spider is a very common, large orb-web spider. The colour is variable, ranging from pale yellow to blackish-brown, with... More	19 Images	8 Videos

Argynnis adippe (High brown fritillary)
This large and attractive butterfly has orange upperwings chequered with black, and pale green hindwings with mottled white, black... More	16 Images	0 Videos

Argyroneta aquatica (Water spider)
This species is the only spider in the world that spends its entire life under water. It has a number of adaptations for this... More	9 Images	2 Videos

Aricia artaxerxes (Northern brown argus)
This small butterfly is dark brown in colour with orange crescents towards the edge of the wings, those on the forewings are absent... More	5 Images	0 Videos

Arion distinctus (Common garden slug)
Once included in the aggregate species Arion hortensis agg, the garden slug (Arion distinctus) is still confused with... More	2 Images	1 Video

Armadillidium vulgare (Pill woodlouse)
Woodlice are not insects, but are crustaceans; more closely related to crabs and shrimps than insects. The body is divided into... More	9 Images	2 Videos

Armandia cirrhosa (Lagoon sandworm)
This rare, small worm is ribbon-like in appearance, and has three eyes on its head. The body comprises of 26 or 27 segments, each... More	1 Image	0 Videos

Asilus crabroniformis (Hornet robberfly)
This fearsome looking fly, large and giving every appearance of aggression is, nonetheless, completely harmless to man. Most of the... More	10 Images	4 Videos

Aspitates gilvaria gilvaria (Straw belle moth)
The hindwings of this moth are white with a faint diagonal grey streak and a dot on the upper surface. The forewings have a... More	3 Images	0 Videos

Athetis pallustris (Marsh moth)
This moth is highly secretive and unpredictable in its appearances. There is a noticeable size difference between the male and the... More	3 Images	2 Videos

Atypus affinis (Purse-web spider)
This spider belongs to the same suborder (Orthognatha) as tarantulas, funnel web spiders and trap-door spiders. Just one genus... More	7 Images	0 Videos

Austropotamobius pallipes (Freshwater white-clawed crayfish)
The only freshwater crayfish native to the UK, this species is olive-green to brown in colour and can reach up to 12 centimetres in... More	8 Images	1 Video

Species 1 - 25 of 25

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Leafy seadragons hatch from the male and will reach maturity within 2 years of life.
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