Current news
Oak Knopper Galls
The first acorns are appearing on the oaks, and with them the first signs of the Knopper Gall produced by the gall-wasp Andricus quercuscalicis.  This is a relatively recent arrival in the north, and it has spread rapidly as in the animated map below.  The unmistakeable galls form on the acorns of Pedunculate Oak - the one with acorns on long stalks - and some hybrids.  We have one record of its rare occurrence on Sessile Oak. The galls are very irregular in size, shape and colour.  Some examples are pictured on the BPGS website.  Note the somewhat similar Andricus grossulariae and Andricus lucidus which occur on the acorn cup and which are not known from Scotland (yet - the latter is moving north!). If you find any, especially from the blank areas of the map, please email details to the .
© Gailhampshire
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Horse-Chestnut Leaf-miner moth
This moth, Cameraria ohridella, has spread rapidly since its first discovery in Europe in 1985, and through Britain since first recorded here in 2002.  For several years it has colonised widely in Edinburgh, but the first to be recognised in Highland was S of Inverness in 2023, and in 2026 in several sites around Inverness and the Black Isle.  It was found in Dingwall - the farthest north so far - in mid-October 2026.  It is very likely that it is elsewhere in our area, so please look carefully at any Horse Chestnut trees you encounter. You should consider confusion with the fungus Guignardia aesculi but that is fairly easily recognised as different.  In case of doubt please send a photograph.
Top and right - the leaf mines.  Bottom - late larva. © Murdo Macdonald
Useful sites are UK Moths, Bladmineereders, and UK Leaf-miners. If you find any anywhere in Highland, please email details to the .
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Harlequin ladybirds
The discovery of a Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis in Tain recently reminds us that we should be vigilant.  Although there have been a few records in Highland over the last 15 years or so this alien appears not to have established - yet.  Information on identification and its negative impacts on other ladybirds is available here, and the range of variation is well shown in this page.  The larva is distinctive.  All records should be supported by a photograph. If you find any please email details to the .  If you submit on other platforms (Ladybird Survey, iRecord or others) please copy all details to the  too.
© Entomart			© Gailhampshire
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A distinctive harvestman
Harvestmen (Opiliones) are not usually easy to identify, but one genus, Dicranopalpus, is very obvious in the field - especially as it is usually seen spread-legged on whitewashed walls.  The only species we know occurs in Highland is D. ramosus and some experience, or a body and microscope, is needed to be sure of the species as D. caudatus has been found in Fraserburgh.  However, even genus records from the blank areas of Highland are valuable.  Green dots show confirmed D. ramosus; orange dots show records where the species was not confirmed .
© Murdo Macdonald	© Murdo Macdonald
The spread-legged stance is very distinctive, and the forked pedipalps will confirm the genus.  Details of how to get to species are given in this paper. If you find any, especially from the blank areas of the map, please email details to the .
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