Biodiversity Information Service for Powys & BBNP

12/06/2026

goes to the Azure Damselfly (𝐶𝑜𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑢𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎) known as Coenagrion Gyffredin in Welsh. A big thanks to Dorothy for submitting this photo and record

🧠Did you know? Azure Damselflies have a one-year life cycle, spending most of it as larvae. Hidden among underwater vegetation, the larvae ambush passing prey such as midge larvae and small crustaceans

🔍 Identify: Males are pale blue with black bands along the body with a black ‘U’ shaped marking below the base of the wings. Females are green and black

🌲Habitat: Small ponds and streams, found at the edges of larger water bodies

📅 When to find them: May - September

Share your sightings on the or submit your wildlife sightings to WiReD, our online recording database. https://record.bis.org.uk/

09/06/2026

Get involved in Bat Conservation by signing up to The British Bat Survey (BBatS) 2026 here: https://surveys.bats.org.uk/survey/87

This survey involves deploying and collecting an acoustic monitoring device (Audio Moth) to a selected site within a 1km square for two periods of five nights in July.

Take a look at the map to find a square near you.

Contact the BBatS team via the website above for more information.

#2026 🦇
South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre Cofnod - North Wales Environmental Information Service Biodiversity Information Service for Powys & BBNP Bat Conservation Trust

08/06/2026

📢 New Recording Day dates announced!

📅 2 July
📍 Near Talachddu, Breconshire

📅 7 July
📍 Near Llanfechain, Montgomeryshire

📅 20 August
📍 Near Tylwch, Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire

👉 Click on the post below to find out more and book your space.

BIS is the Biodiversity Information Service for Powys & Brecon Beacons National Park. We collect, collate, manage and distribute wildlife records and protected sites information for this area. We support recorders & encourage new biological recorders

05/06/2026

goes to the Pine Snakefly (𝐴𝑡𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑠). A big thanks to Sam for submitting this photo and record.

🧠Did you know? Snakeflies get their name from their elongated, narrow ‘necks’, which give them a snake-like appearance. There are four snakefly species in Britain, but they are rarely encountered because adults spend most of their lives high up in the tree canopy. This one was found in a moth lure during a recent recording day!

🔍 Identify: Two pairs of long oval overlapping wings that are translucent with intricate black veins. Wings extend well beyond the body. Black with reddish-brown legs and antennae

🌲Habitat: Coniferous and deciduous woodland, forest edges and clearings

📅 When to find them: May to August

🧐Seen something interesting but not sure what it is? Drop us a message, we’re here to help!

📲Submit your wildlife sightings using the or WiReD, our online recording database. https://record.bis.org.uk/

25/05/2026

The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) Biological Records Centre will be carrying out important updates, and unfortunately this means that iRecord and other Indicia systems are likely to be offline at the following times:

📅 Wednesday 27 May - Thursday 28 May
⏰ From 17:00
They expect to be back online during the morning of the 28 May.

This may affect anyone planning to submit wildlife records during this period via the LERC Wales app, iRecord or BIS WiReD.

22/05/2026

goes to the Hawthorn Shieldbug (𝐴𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑎 ℎ𝑎𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑟ℎ𝑜𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑙𝑒). A big thanks to Sarah for submitting this photo and record

🧠Did you know? This is the largest species of shieldbug in the UK and is one that you are most likely to encounter. Shieldbugs are known as ‘stink bugs’, they release a strong-smelling fluid when threatened

🔍 Identify: Usually bright green but can vary in colour and covered in small black dots. 1.3-1.7cm in length, pointed shoulders and red-brown wings

🌲Habitat: Grassland, Heathland, Moorland, Farmland, Woodland, Towns and gardens

📅 When to find them: May to October

Share your sightings on the or submit your wildlife sightings to WiReD, our online recording database. https://record.bis.org.uk/

20/05/2026

🐝Happy World Bee Day! 🐝

To celebrate, we've been taking a closer look at bee records received in recent weeks. Thanks to all of our recorders for submitting these fantastic photos and records.

1. Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) recorded by Martyn
2. Common Carder Bee ( Bombus pascuorum) recorded by Hayley-Anne
3. Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) recorded by Martin

Recording bees helps us to build a picture of local biodiversity, track changes over time and helps us to understand where conservation action is needed to support our amazing pollinators.

🔍Spotted any bees recently? Share your sightings on the or submit your wildlife sightings to WiReD, our online recording database. https://record.bis.org.uk/

15/05/2026

goes to the 24-spot Ladybird (𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑐𝑜𝑐𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝑣𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑢𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑎). A big thanks to Rebecca for submitting this photo and record

🧠Did you know? Unlike many other ladybird species, this one is herbivorous. Instead of feeding on aphids, it feeds on plant material

🔍 Identify: A very small (3-4mm) orange-red ladybird with black spots that can vary in number, covered in fine hairs which gives it a matt appearance

🌲Habitat: Typically found in grassland where it can be seen on grasses, thistle, nettle, knapweed and mugwort

📅 When to find them: All year round but most likely to be seen in summer and autumn

Share your sightings on the or submit your wildlife sightings to WiReD, our online recording database. https://record.bis.org.uk/