ID Guide – Hoopoe – A blog by nhbs

The NHBS Guide to UK Grassland Fungi

In the past 75 years, over 90% of western Europe’s grasslands have disappeared. These overlooked and undervalued habitats deliver essential ecosystem services that contribute to the function of the planet – they provide key wildlife habitat, can store large amounts of carbon, and are instrumental in mitigating soil erosion and flood management, which is essential as our landscapes adapt to climate change.

Grassland fungi – such as those outlined in this identification guide – form a distinctive community in these habitats and are key indicators of ancient meadow and unimproved grassland. These species fruit from late summer until winter, and vary greatly in size, shape, colour and texture, from the pale, spherical Earthball to vibrant, slender coral fungi.

In this guide, explore a selection of grassland fungi groups, as well as individual species, that are commonly found across Britain, and read about their identifying features, size and distribution.

Groups

Waxcaps (Hygrocybe)

Identification: There are about 150 different species of Hygrocybe (meaning ‘watery head’) in the UK, and these are a very easily identifiable group. They are characterised by their vibrant, smooth waxy caps that come in a range of bright colours, including red, pink, yellow, orange and brown. When present on the fruiting body, gills are thick but evenly coloured and spaced.

Distribution: Found in nutrient-poor grasslands, such as grazed upland, and often grow alongside other groups including Pinkgills, Corals, Clubs and Earthtongues throughout late summer and autumn.

Size: 5-7cm

Club and Corals (Clavariaceae)

Yellow club fungus. — Yellow club fungus by Jo Graeser.

Identification: These distinctive fungi are easily recognisable by their slender, forking branches that are often rooted in buried wood. They have thick, dense finger or club shaped stalks that grow from a central base, often in clusters, and can be bright yellow, pale pink or white. Coral fungi produce yellow spores from the tip of their branches.

Distribution: Coral fungi predominantly grow on wood, but can also be found in soil, leaf litter or in short grasses and moss from July to November.

Size: 4-10cm

Wood Pinkgill (Entoloma rhodopolium)

Brown caps of wood pinkgill mushrooms (Entoloma rhodopolium) in Huntsville State Park. Texas. — Brown caps of wood pinkgill mushrooms (Entoloma rhodopolium) via Texas Mushrooms.

Identification: Often found in large groups, this very common pinkgill mushroom is defined by its convex, rounded fruiting body that flattens at the bottom of the skirt. Juvenile mushrooms have tightly packed white gills, and turn a light shade of pink with maturity. They feature a long, smooth, lightly coloured stem measuring 4-9cm long.

Distribution: Most commonly found throughout the summer until late autumn in deciduous broadleaf woodlands.

Size: 3-5cm

Note: Poisonous

Species

Earthtongue fungi (Geoglossum fallax)

Earthtongues - Glutinoglossum by Lukas Large, via flickr. — Earthtongues – Glutinoglossum by Lukas Large, via flickr.

Identification: A widespread species found across Britain and Ireland, Earthtongues are characterised by black or dark brown stromata with a single, club-like fruiting body growing from a cylindrical, scaly stem. The head is grooved and makes up a third of the body, and it is covered in fine hairs to protect its fertile spores.

Distribution: Grows in mossy, unimproved and acidic grassland such as old churchyards from August to November.

Size: 2-7cm

Common Inkcap (Coprinopsis atramentaria)

Inkcap Trio by Derek Winterburn, via flickr.

Identification: Starting off as a smooth, egg-shaped ball with scaled central area, the grey or greyish-brown cap later expands into a soft bell shape with a slight curve at its margin. The stem of an inkcap is smooth and reddish-brown in colour, with hundreds of crowded gills that are white at first, but later darken to brown and black before being auto-digested by the fruiting head.

Distribution: Fruits in small clumps on tree stumps, buried hardwood, woodland footpaths and parkland from May until November. Some solitary specimens have been sighted on occasion.

Size: 3-7cm

Note: Poisonous

Petticoat Mottlegill (Panaeolus papilionaceus)

Identification: Petticoat Mottlegills are recognisable by their smooth bell caps with a serrated edge, and can be pale brown, greyish-brown or pallid grey, with a darker centre. The fused-together gills are a pale, greyish brown with white edges that turn dark brown and black with maturity, and the thin, cylindrical stem is covered in a fine white powder.

Distribution: Commonly located in groups on rotted dung from June to November.

Size: 6-12cm

Common Earthball (Scleroderma citrinum)

Identification: Ranging from light ochre to mid-brown or green, with a yellow tinge on its upper surface, the Earthballs rounded, fruiting body is attached to the ground with white mycelial threads and is stemless. It has tough, thick skin covered in coarse scales that vary in size and shape, which rupture as the head matures to allow the wind and rain to disperse its spores – which are white when young, and darken to brown or purple with age. These empty shells often remain in sheltered woodland hollows for many months before decaying.

Distribution: Acidic, well-drained soil near forest paths or on shady banks from July to early December.

Size: 4-10cm

Common Parasol (Macrolepiota procera)

Parasol Fungi by Bernard Spragg, via flickr.

Identification: This edible species of mushroom is round in shape with a pale brown, spherical cap that darkens as it nears the crown. The cap breaks into a scaly texture that features a darker brown, central bump called an umbo. The broad, crowded gills of Common Parasol mushrooms are white or pale cream, and the cap has a white flesh when cut into. The tough, fibrous stem is surrounded by a smooth, white double-edged ring decorated with small brown scales that are comparable to snakeskin.

Distribution: Commonly found on verges, neglected grassland or cliffs, with multiple mushrooms growing in a slightly wavy line, from July to November.

Size: 10-25cm

The NHBS Guide to UK Bracket Fungi

Bracket fungi (basidiomycetes), also known as shelf or polypore fungi, can grow on both dead or living trees and cause widespread heartwood decay deep inside its host. These fungal bodies appear year-round depending on the species and produce bracket-shaped fruit on the trunk, roots or branches of the host tree that can span up to 70cm in diameter.

There are over 1,000 species of bracket fungi worldwide, and here you can explore a selection of bracket fungi found in Britain, detailing their identifying features, when and where they can be found.

Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) – also known as Sulphur polypore’

Identification: This easy to spot, sulphur-yellow fungus can grow up to 40cm in diameter and features numerous thick, soft, overlapping brackets. When young, they have a velvety texture and orange bands across yellow flesh, which fades to light cream with age. Each bracket is fan-shaped with an undulating margin, while the underside has small pores and produces a yellow liquid when squeezed.

Distribution: June to November. Mainly grows on oak tree trunks, but can also be found on Yew, cherry, chestnut and willows.

Size: 10-40cm

Hen-of-the-Woods (Grifola frondosa)

Identification: This large, very distinctive fungus features many flat, interlocking lobes growing from a dense centre attached to the foot of a tree. The underside of the fronds are cream in colour, their top side can vary from brown to grey, and the flesh is pale cream. It’s very common for multiple growths to emerge from one host, and fully grown hen-of-the-woods can weigh several kilograms.

Distribution: August to November. Predominantly around the base of mature oak trees but they do occasionally grow on other deciduous species.

Size: Up to 70cm

Turkeytail (Trametes versicolor)

Turkeytail Fungi (Trametes versicolor) by Jo Graeser.

Identification: Turkeytail fungi produce thin but tough semi-circular caps in tight, overlapping tiers that have a slightly hairy, velvety texture. It has a range of concentrated coloured rings that are a mix of black, brown, grey, yellow, purple and green, however the outer ring along the edge of the bell is pale in colour. Often confused with Stereum ostrea (or False Turkeytail) this species can be correctly identified by its white underside featuring hundreds of visible pores.

Distribution: Can be found on fallen hardwood trees such as Beech or oak throughout the year, but is most abundant from late spring to autumn.

Size: 4-10cm

Beefsteak (Fistulina hepatica)

Beefsteak fungus (WGP). — Image by David Short via flickr.

Identification: This bracket fungus can be pink, red or brown in colour, with a light underside full of pores that turn red with age. Featuring a slightly inflated edge that flattens as it matures, Beefsteak fungus is moist to the touch and produces smooth, round, pale pink spores.

Distribution: August to November. Usually found in broadleaved woodlands on oak trees.

Size: 6-25cm

Birch Polypore (Piptoporus betulinus) – Also known as the Razorstrop fungus

Identification: Birch Polypore is a common bracket fungus that grows exclusively on birch trees. It has a rounded, brown-white cap with a rubber or leather-like texture and white pores on its underside.

Distribution: It can be found year-round on the lower trunk of birch trees and fallen birch branches.

Size: 10-20cm

Dryads Saddle (Cerioporus squamosus)

More Dryad's saddle. — Image by Andrew Hill via flickr.

Identification: This species of fungi grows in overlapping tiers on dead or dying broad-leaved trees, particularly elm, Beech and Sycamore. Recognisable by their distinctly textured, creamy-ochre brackets, these fungiemerge at soil level at the base of the host tree or higher up the trunk. The underside of the fruit features hundreds of honeycomb-shaped pores.

Distribution: This fungus fruits in the summer and again in autumn, and is most commonly seen from April to September on deciduous trees and fallen wood on the forest floor.

Size: Up to 70cm

Southern Bracket (Ganoderma australe)

Identification: Southern Bracket fungi can grow on both living and dying deciduous trees and first appear in the form of solid, white balls. Over a number of years, these develop into large, thick brackets with a flat brownish top and a white underside. As the fungus ages, the smooth top can become ridged and bumpy, and when the underside is scored it produces dark brown marks. This fungus can be easily confused with the Artists Fungi ( applanatum), however they can be distinguished by examining their spores under a microscope.

Distribution: This is the most common species of the Ganoderma genus and fruits on most deciduous trees from April to August.

Size: Up to 60cm

King Alfred’s Cakes (Daldinia concentrica)

Identification: These fungi present themselves in the form of hard, round lumps roughly the size of a golf ball and are a matt, pinky-brown colour when young. As they mature, they darken to a coal colour and become shiny in appearance. The outer surface is solid but cracks easily, while the inside of the fruit is easily identified by black and grey concentric rings that are darker than the flesh. King Alfred’s Cakes are also known as coal fungus as they can be used as kindling or firelighters.

Distribution: Can be found year-round in deciduous woodland, especially on fallen Beech and Ash branches.

Size: 2-10cm

Horses Hoof (Fomes fomentarius)

Horse Hoof Fungi, Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent. — Image by Nigel Turner via flickr.

Identification: As evident from the name, this species of fungi is typically shaped like a horse’s hoof, with a pointed top and wide bottom. Featuring concentrated ridges across its exterior and with a fleshy, fibrous inside, their blunt, rounded margin is often cream or yellow. Although they can vary from silvery-grey to black in colour, most specimens are shades of brown. Small circular pores under the bell start off cream in colour and darken to brown once the fruit has matured. On occasion, some Horses Hoofs appear in more of a traditional, flat bracket shape.

Distribution: Can be found growing year-round on weak, living or dead hardwood deciduous trees, particularly Birch.

Size: 5 to 45cm

The NHBS Guide to Grasshoppers and Bush-crickets

Here in the UK, we have 11 species of grasshopper and 23 species of cricket (around ten of these being bush-crickets), both subfamilies belonging to the order Orthoptera. Although similar in appearance, the two can be separated by their antennae – grasshoppers have short, stout appendages and bush-crickets have longer, thinner antennae. Bush-crickets also have a larger body size than grasshoppers, growing up to 5cm in length, and females have a distinctive ovipositor used to lay eggs.

Here, we look at a few species of grasshoppers and bush-crickets found in the UK, detailing ways to ID them and where they can be found.

Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus)

A brown grasshopper is sat on a small twig, it is dull in colour but has a vibrant yellow-orange abdomen under a darker wing — Image by Gilles San Martin via Flickr

ID Notes: Up to 2.5cm in length. This grasshopper is usually a mottled brown colour, but can vary from brown to grey, orange and purple. It has barring on the sides, and a very hairy underside which is the most straightforward way to identify this species. It is winged and able to fly. Their song consists of short, single chirrups repeated at short intervals.

Distribution: Common and widespread throughout Britain. Common Field Grasshoppers can be seen from May to October on short vegetation in dry, warm days. They can be found in grassy areas including farmland, grassland, heathland, moorland, towns and gardens.

Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelus)

A grasshopper on a green stem, it has a vibrant pink head, thorax and back legs. It has a green underbelly and black/yellow striping on its abdomen. Its wings are very short. — Image by Gilles San Martin via Flickr

ID Notes: Up to 2.3cm in length. Meadow Grasshoppers are usually green in colour, with some individuals brown or pink-purple coloured (pictured above). The wings are often brown and are long in males, whereas female wings are short and do not reach the end of the abdomen. This species has distinctive black knees and a dark brown stripe running across the flank to the eye. They are similar in appearance to Common Field Grasshoppers, but lack a hairy underside, which can be used to distinguish them from one another. Their song is a burst of around ten chirrups, making a ‘rrr’ sound.

Distribution: Common and widespread throughout Britain. Meadow Grasshoppers can be seen from April to October in damp pastures with long grass. They can also be found in meadows, grassland, heathland and moorland.

Common Green Grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus)

A green grasshopper is standing on a bed of moss, it is light green in colour with dark brown striping on its abdomen — Image by Billy Lindblom via Flickr

ID Notes: Up to 2.3cm in length. As the name suggests, this species is mostly green in colour, but males can also be olive brown. Lines on the shoulders are incurved and white or cream in colour. Common Green Grasshoppers are winged and can fly, but their wings do not exceed the body’s length. They produce a long, loud ticking song which can last for 20 seconds or more and is reminiscent of a fast-paced freewheeling bicycle.

Distribution: Common and widespread throughout Britain, although a little patchier in the lowlands. This species appears early in spring and can be seen from April to September. It can be found in coarse, moist grass in meadows, woodland rides, hillside pastures and farmland.

Mottled Grasshopper (Myrmeleotettix maculatus)

a brown and green grasshopper. it has small antennae a green head and green patches on the thorax and rear legs. the rest of the body is mottled brown in colour — Image by Frank Vassen via Flickr

ID Notes: Up to 2cm in length. This small grasshopper is most easily identified by its antennae – males’ are club-tipped, and females’ have a thickened tip. The body has several colour variations including green, brown, grey and orange. Their song is a repetitive ‘zrr’ ‘zrr’ sound lasting around ten seconds before stopping abruptly.

Distribution: Widely distributed across the UK, but uncommon. Mottled Grasshoppers can be found from April to October in areas of dry, short grass with access to rocks or bare ground, including grasslands, heathland and old quarries.

Oak Bush Cricket (Meconema thalassinum)

A small, lime green cricket is sat on three leaflets. It has very long, flexible antennae that are trailing off of the leaf and long, yellow legs — Image by Alison Day via Flickr

ID Notes: Up to 1.7cm in length. This species is the UK’s only native, arboreal cricket. It has a slender, lime green body with a yellow-orange or brown strip running along its back. Both sexes are fully winged, with wings reaching the end of the abdomen. Females have a long, upturned ovipositor and males have a pair of shorter, rounded claspers. The males do not produce a song, but instead drum their hind legs on nearby leaves.

Distribution: Common, found in England and Wales. The Oak Bush Cricket is common in the midlands and the south but is absent further north. It can be found in the canopy of mature trees in woods, hedges, garden shrubs and other deciduous trees from June to November.

Dark Bush Cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera)

A dark brown cricket is standing on a large leaf. It has very long thin antennae and a curved, pointed spine at the end of its body. Its long rear legs are outstretched, standing on another leaf — Image by Alison Day via Flickr

ID Notes: Up to 2.1cm in length. This species is typically reddish to dark brown, with occasional yellow green through the abdomen and a paler area along the top of the thorax. It has very small forewings and long, hair-like antennae. Females have a large, upcurved ovipositor.

Distribution: Fairly common in central and southern England and Wales, where it can be found in woodland, hedgerows, grassland, farmland, towns and gardens. It can often be spotted in large numbers around bramble patches, where they are basking in the sun.

Roesel’s Bush Cricket (Metrioptera roeselii)

A brown and green cricket with long rear legs and an upturned hook at the end of the abdomen. — Image by Charlie Jackson via Flickr

ID Notes: A short-winged and usually flightless species, Roesel’s Bush Crickets are typically dark brown or yellow in colour, sometimes tinged green. They have a green face, slightly orange legs and a cream-coloured margin to their thorax, with two or three yellow spots on the side. Their monotonous song is recognisable for its long, mechanical sound.

Distribution: Common, found mostly in the southeast of the UK, but currently expanding its range north and west. This species can be found from June to October in rough grassland, scrub, salt marshes and damp meadows.

Great Green Bush Cricket (Tettigonia viridissima)

A large green cricket is resting on a leaf. It has long, slightly yellow legs and its green wings extend further than the abdomen — Image by Gunera via Flickr

ID Notes: This large bush-cricket can easily be distinguished by its size, growing up to 7cm long. It is a vibrant green with an orange-brown stripe running the length of its back. Their wings are typically longer than the abdomen, and females have a long, downward curved ovipositor. This species has a loud, long song which sounds like a high-pitched sewing machine running continuously.

Distribution: Common throughout south England and Wales. It can be found from May to October in scrub, woodland, grassland and heathland, with a preference for light, dry soils.

Further Reading
Grasshoppers of Britain and Western Europe

Paperback | June 2021

The first guide to the 261 species of orthopterans of Britain and western Europe ever published. Features stunning, detailed images and information on the distribution and identification criteria. Includes a CD with over 200 orthopteran songs to aid identification.

Orthoptera and Dermaptera

Paperback | July 2024

A photo-based identification guide covering 28 native breeding species of the UK. This guide is part of FSC’s AIDGAP series (Aids to Identification in Difficult Groups of Animals and Plants), providing accessible identification tools for naturalists over the age of sixteen.

Guide to British Grasshoppers and Allied Insects

Unbound | August 1999

A reliable, fold-out chart with an introduction and a key to British grasshoppers and related insects, ideal for carrying in-field.

The NHBS Guide to UK Centipedes and Millipedes

If you look under logs, stones or through piles of leaf litter, you may find a Myriapod (a type of arthropod with many legs, related to insects and spiders). Although these misunderstood animals may strike fear in some, these invertebrates play a vital role in maintaining our ecosystems. One of their main roles lies in nutrient cycling, where they feed on organic matter and detritus, breaking materials down into a simpler form and thus releasing nutrition back into the soil. They also play an important role, both as predators and prey, in the ecosystem’s food chain and are often celebrated for their effectiveness as a natural biocontrol agent.

The UK has more than 50 species of centipede. This group are generally carnivorous and have around fifteen pairs of legs, with one pair present on each body segment. They have large forcipules, a pair of pincer-like, modified front legs that are used to inject venom into their prey. There are around 65 species of millipede in the UK, which can be distinguished by their shorter, more clubbed antennae, the absence of forcipules and their tendency to have two pairs of legs on most body segments.

Here, we look at a few species of centipede and millipede that can be found in the UK, detailing ways to ID them and where they can be found.

Common Centipede (Lithobius forficatus)

A small orange-brown centipede on a piece of wood, curled up in a c shape — Image by Frank Vassen via Flickr

ID Notes: Also known as the Brown Centipede, Lithobius forficatus is one the largest centipede species in the UK, growing up to 3cm in length. They have long, thin segmented bodies that are a reddish-chestnut brown colour. Each segment has one pair of legs, with 15 pairs in total. They have long antennae and an elongated pair of back legs, giving the illusion of a second pair of antennae at the rear of the body. This species is best identified by thorned projections on the outer edges of the 9th, 11th and 13th segments.

Distribution: Very common and widespread across the UK. This species can be found year-round but is most numerous in spring and autumn. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodland, grassland and gardens, and will spend most of the day nesting in soil or sheltered areas under stones, bark or dead wood before emerging at night to hunt for prey.

Stone Centipede (Lithobius microps)

an orangey brown centipede with many legs on a rock — Image by Keith Lugg, the British Myriapod and Isopod Group

ID Notes: Similar in colour to the Common Centipede, Lithobius microps is a ground-dwelling species that is usually chestnut brown in colour, although red and orange varieties can also be found. It is much smaller than its common cousin, reaching around 1cm in length, and its 15 pairs of legs are slightly shorter and paler than those of the Common Centipede.

Distribution: Fairly common in the south of Britain. This fast-moving species can be found year-round in gardens and bare soil in rotting wood and under rocks and stones.

Banded Centipede (Lithobius variegatus)

A brown centipede with striped legs is crawling over a stick on muddy floor, it has many legs and a large head — Image by J. P. Richards, the British Myriapod and Isopod Group

ID Notes: Measuring up to 3cm in length, this small, yellow-brown centipede is easily distinguished by the banding on its legs – these alternate pale and dark, are usually brown in colour and are more obvious on the rear pairs. It has a dark band running centrally along its back and much larger jaws when compared to other Lithobius species.

Distribution: Widespread and common in the UK. It can be found year-round living under stones and decaying plant matter during the day, and is commonly found in garden compost heaps.

Flat-backed Millipede (Polydesmus angustus)

a flat, armoured millipede with many legs and segments walking along muddy ground — Image by J. P. Richards, the British Myriapod and Isopod Group

ID Notes: This millipede grows to around 2.5cm in length, with a width of 4mm. It has a long, flat body with around 20 body segments, each containing between one and two pairs of legs. It is orange-brown in colour and has numerous off-white coloured legs.

Distribution: Widespread and common in the UK. They can be found in almost any environment in which millipedes occur, with frequent sightings in woodland under dead wood and leaf litter.

Striped Millipede (Ommatoiulus sabulosus)

a brown millipede with two orange stripes running down its body on its back. it is walking across a tree stump — Image by S. Rae via Flickr

ID Notes: Up to 3cm in length, this species is one of the largest millipedes found in Britain. It is thick and cylindrical in shape, usually dark brown to black in colour. It has orange coloured stripes running the length of its body on its back, but these can sometimes appear as a series of orange patches.

Distribution: Common and widespread throughout Britain and Ireland. The Striped Millipede can be found year-round in meadows, fields and woodland under leaf litter and logs. It is also known to climb on walls and trees to feed on algae and can be found during the day.

White-legged Snake Millipede (Tachypodoiulus niger)

A curled up black millipede, with paler almost white legs — Image by AJ Cann via Flickr

ID Notes: The White-legged Snake Millipede can grow to around 6cm in length. It is tubular-shaped with a shiny black body and contrasting white legs, of which there are around 100. Immature millipedes are brown, often with pale, longitudinal stripes down the back. It has a pointed telson (legless tail segment) at the end of its body.

Distribution: Common and widespread in the UK. This species can be found year-round in most habitats containing millipedes, including woodland and gardens, or areas with rocks or rotting vegetation to provide cover.

Additional Reading

Atlas of the Centipedes of Britain and Ireland

Paperback | January 2023

A comprehensive atlas of the 55 species of centipede in Britain and Ireland,. tThis guide provides species accounts, distribution maps and detailed colour photographs for easy identification.

Key to the Identification of British Centipedes

Paperback | December 2008

An identification guide from the Field Studies Council AIDGAP series, this book contains keys to the 57 species of centipede found in Britain.

The NHBS Guide to UK Solitary Bees

There are around 270 bee species in the UK, and over 90% of these are solitary – they do not nest in colonies, do not produce honey and don’t have a queen. Instead, these bees lead solitary lives, only coming together to mate. The group can be divided into ground-nesting species, found on lawns, paths and loose soil, or aerial nesters which utilise hollow plant stems, dead wood and man-made bee hotels to build a nest for larval bees.

Here we look at a small selection of these important pollinators found in the UK, outlining ways in which they can be identified and where they can be found.

Mason Bees

Mason bees is the name used to refer to bees of the genus Osmia. There are around 500 different species of mason bee across the world, and around 20 of these can be found in the UK. This group gets their name from their use of mud or clay in nest building, which takes place in naturally occurring gaps or cracks, and other small, dark cavities. Some species of mason bee will also use hollow stems or bore holes made by wood-boring insects.

Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis)

Two small, orange bees are sat on a head of purple flowers. One is sat on top of the other bee. — Osmia bicornis by Tim Worfolk, via Flickr.

Distribution: Widespread and common throughout England and Wales. Rarer in Scotland. These bees can be found from early spring in grassland, farmland, towns and gardens. Red Mason Bees are common in built environments and are often seen nesting in the crumbling mortar of old walls. This species is also a common inhabitant of bee hotels.

Identification: These fluffy bees grow up to 1.1cm long and are typically identified by dense, gingery hair. On both males and females, the head and thorax are brown with an orange abdomen. Males are typically smaller than their female counterparts and have a distinctive white tuft of hair on the head. Female Red Mason Bees have dense orange hairs on the abdomen, with pollen collecting hairs on the underside. This species also has a pair of short, distinct horns on the head.

Red-tailed Mason Bee (Osmia bicolor)

Red Tailed Mason Bee on a wooden fence with four holes drilled in it. — red tailed mason bee by Nick Goodrum, via flickr.

Distribution: Nationally rare in the UK. Red-tailed Mason Bees can be found from March to July in the south and east of England and south Wales. This species occurs exclusively on calcareous grassland over chalk or limestone, in quarries, grassland and brownfield sites.

Identification: This species has dense, black hair on the head and thorax. Bright orange-red hair is present on the abdomen and the lower legs, forming stripes of orange and brown on the upper abdomen. Males are slimmer and less vibrant than females, and can have pale, duller brown hairs on their head, thorax and abdomen.

Mining Bees

Sometimes referred to as digger bees, this group are named after their burrowing behaviours in which they create their nests. There are roughly 65 species in the Andrena genus, making mining bees the largest bee genus in Britain.

Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva)

A female tawny mining bee on a leaf. — A female Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) by Lukas Large, via flickr.

Distribution: Widespread and common in England and Wales. Populations are growing in Scotland. This species can be found in farmland, heathland, parks, towns and gardens from March to June.

Identification: Similar in size to a honeybee, with dense orange hair and a black face. Females tend to be larger and have a thick, orange coat covering the upper thorax and abdomen. The underside is covered with black hair, along with the head and legs. Males are trickier to identify but are generally smaller and slimmer. They have long mandibles and are browner in colour, but can be distinguished by white tufts of facial hair on the head.

Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria)

Ashy Mining Bee on a ribbed, green leaf. — Andrena cineraria by Tim Worfolk, via flickr.

Distribution: Common and widespread across Britain and Ireland. Can be found nesting in gardens, woodlands, riverbanks and urban environments from March to July.

Identification: A distinctive bee growing up to 15mm in length. Females have two, broad grey bands at the top and bottom of the thorax. The abdomen is sparsely haired, revealing a glossy black exoskeleton and the legs are covered with dense black hair. They also have a patch of ashy grey hair on their faces. Males have similar markings but are generally smaller in size. The bands are less distinct, and they have a spread of grey hair across their thorax.

Leafcutter Bees

Named for their nesting habits, these bees are known to cut circular leaf pieces to use as building material for their nests. Leafcutter bees lay their eggs in natural tree cavities where they use up to 40 pieces of harvested leaves and petals to create a chamber for safe incubation. There are seven different species of leafcutter bee in the UK – they can be found nesting in beetle holes, plant stems, deadwood, cliffs or old walls.

Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile centuncularis)

Megachile centuncularis harvesting pollen from a pink flower. — Megachile centuncularis by Gilles San Martin, via flickr.

Distribution: Widespread and common throughout the UK, although less common in the north. Patchwork Leafcutter Bees can be found in a range of habitats from April to August, including grassland, farmland, woodland, towns and gardens. This species is strongly associated with willowherbs, honeysuckle and roses.

Identification: Easily identified by the vibrant yellow-orange pollen brush under the abdomen, extending right to the tip. This species is a similar size to honeybees, growing up to 13mm. The female has defined white bands across the abdomen. Males are more challenging to identify – similar in appearance to a dark honeybee, with the characteristic vibrant underside and tan coloured hair around their thorax.

Willughby’s Leafcutter Bee (Megachile willughbiella)

Megachile willughbiella female bee on the petal of a pink flower. — Megachile willughbiella female by Line Sabroe, via flickr.

Distribution: Common and widespread across Britain. Frequently observed in brownfield sites from June to August. This species is also readily found in bee hotels.

Identification: Up to 18mm in size, Willughby’s Leafcutter Bees are similar in appearance to Patchwork Leafcutter Bees. They appear similar to dark honeybees, with little hair. The species varies in shades of black, with orange and gold throughout the coat and an orange pollen brush. Males can be distinguished by oversized front basitarsi, giving the appearance of white, wooly mittens.

The NHBS Guide to UK Jellyfish and Hydrozoa Identification

Jellyfish, or jellies (as some scientists would like them to be called), are mainly free-swimming members of the subphylum Medusozoa. The jellyfish form is actually the medusa phase of certain gelatinous Medusozoans, many of whom also have several other phases, including a sedentary polyp phase. Jellyfish are found across the world and fossil evidence shows that they have been in existence for at least 500 million years. The largest is thought to be the Lion’s Mane Jellyfish, whose tentacles have been recorded up to 36.6m long. The smallest is thought to be the Irukani Jellyfish, which measures one cubic centimetre (1cm3).

Hydrozoa are small, predatory animals that can live solitarily or in colonies. Mostly, they are permanently attached to the substrate, but some are pelagic (free-swimming). The individual animals of colonial hydrozoa are called zooids and they can play different roles within the colony, such as digestion (gastrozooid), reproduction (gonophores) and tentacle-bearing zooids (dactylozooids).

Both jellyfish and hydrozoans are part of the phylum Cnidaria. Most species within this phylum have stinging cells called nematocysts, located mainly on the tentacles. True jellyfish, however, also have them around the mouth and in the stomach. Also called cnidocytes, these explosive cells deliver a structure containing toxins, which can act as a weapon against predators or to immobilise or kill prey.

Cnidarians are thought to be amongst the most important planktonic and benthic predators in the sea as, when abundant, they are major consumers of plankton, including fish larvae and crustaceans. They also prey on small fish and other jellyfish species. Most are planktonic creatures, unable to swim against the current ,and are therefore carried by the currents throughout the oceans. Because of this, they cannot actively hunt prey, so many species have developed incredibly long tentacles to increase their chances of catching food.

This blog covers the identifying features of a number of species of Jellyfish and hydrozoa you are likely to find in UK waters, as well as the seasons they are present.

Jellyfish

Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita)

Season: All year

What to look for: This species is translucent, with a white tinge to its bell. Its most recognisable feature is the four horseshoe shapes or circles visible through the top of its body. These are reproductive organs called gonads, and can range from white to purple in colour. Moon Jellyfish have thin, short tentacles hanging from the edges of the bell, as well as four feeding appendages called oral arms which surround the mouth beneath the bell.

Compass Jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella)

Season: May to October

What to look for: Yellowish-white jellyfish with a brown fringe around the bell. Its name comes from the brown markings on the top of the bell, where v shapes radiate out from a central point, resembling a compass. Their oral arms are fringed, and they have long, thin tentacles around the edge of the bell.

Lion’s Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata)

Season: May to October

What to look for: Translucent brown jellyfish, although it can also be reddish. The bell of this species has eight lobes, rather than being simply circular. This species has a thick ‘mane’ consisting of hundreds of hair-like tentacles attached to the bell’s subumbrella. They also have a number of frilly oral arms extending from around the mouth, which are shorter than the tentacles.

Did you know? The Lion’s Mane Jellyfish is one of the longest animals in the world; its tentacles can grow to over 30m long!

Barrel Jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo)

Barrel Jellyfish swimming left to right with a scuba diver below it. — Barrel Jellyfish by heartypanther, via flickr.

Season: May to October

What to look for: The Barrel Jellyfish is a large translucent jellyfish, with a huge mushroom-shaped bell. They lack tentacles on the edges of their bell, but they do have a violet fringe containing sensory organs with eight frilly tentacles below this.

Blue Jellyfish (Cyanea lamarckii)

Bluefire jellyfish in Brofjorden at Sandvik. — Bluefire jellyfish (Cyanea lamarckii) by Ann-Sophie Qvarnström, via flickr.

Season: May to October

What to look for: Also called the Bluefire Jellyfish, this species can vary in colouration depending on maturity, so may have a blue, purple or yellow tone. Yellow toned individuals may be confused with Lion’s Mane Jellyfish, however Blue Jellyfish can be distinguished by their smaller size and fewer tentacles. They can grow up to 30cm in length, although most individuals usually measure between 10–20cm. They can have a dark blue, circular, sun-like pattern on the top of their bell, as well as long marginal tentacles and several, frilly oral arms.

Mauve Stinger (Pelagia noctiluca)

Season: July to October, but dependent on weather and ocean currents

What to look for: This species has a dome-shaped bell that is covered in wart-like stinging cells and eight marginal tentacles emanating from the edges of the bell. They also have four long oral arms that also have wart-like nematocysts down one side; while the other side is crenulated, giving the arms a slightly frilly appearance. The colour of this species varies from mauve, pink and purple to light brown or yellow.

Hydrazoa

Portuguese Man o’ War (Physalia physalis)

PortugueseMan o' War washed up on a sandy beach. — Portuguese Man o’ War by 4Neus, via flickr.

Portuguese man o' war swimming on the surface. — Portuguese man o’ war by Joi Ito, via flickr.

Season: September to December

What to look for: The Portuguese Man o’ War is not one animal, but a colony organism made up of four polyp types. The uppermost polyp is the gas-filled structure called the pneumatophore, which sits on the surface of the water and is the most visible. It is mostly transparent, with a blue, pink or purple tinge. The top edge of this structure resembles a sail. Two other polyps cooperate to allow the colony to hunt and feed: the polyp containing gastrozooids and the tentacles (dactylozooids). These tentacles can be a variety of colours, such as blue, purple or clear, and hang down below the surface. The final polyp type is the gonodendron, the compound reproductive structure that can be found hanging just below the pneumatophore. These can also vary in colour, and are often deep blue, pink or purple.

By-the-wind-sailor (Velalla velalla)

By-the-Wind Sailor by Philip McErlean washed up on a sandy beach in Ireland. — By-the-Wind Sailor by Philip McErlean, via flickr.

Season: September to March

What to look for: This species is also a colonial hydroid made up of multiple polyps, and contains gonozooids and dactylozooids. It has an oval disc that is deep blue in colour and acts as a float, with short tentacles hanging down from it. A semi-circular fan is set atop the float like a sail which aids its movement through the water via wind power.

The NHBS Guide to Thistles

Distinctively prickly with pink or purple flowers, thistles belong to the largest family of flowering plant in the UK (with the exception of the grasses) – Asteraceae. These common plants are found throughout Britain and Ireland, providing key services for invertebrates who seek safety in the sharp spines. The leaves and nectar of thistles are also excellent sources of food for other groups, including pollinators and Painted Lady caterpillars, and several bird species are known to eat the seeds.

Here we take a look at a selection of thistles found throughout the UK, highlighting their distribution and ways in which they may be identified.

Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Creeping Thistle by hedera.baltica via Flickr

ID Notes: This perennial flower is named for its far-reaching, creeping roots. The leaves are smooth and grey-green in colour, with wavy, spined edges. The stems are smooth, neither spined nor winged. The flowerheads produce small, pale pink flowers (1.5–2.5cm) in small clusters with pear-shaped bases covered with phyllaries pressed against the flowerhead, curving outwards.

Distribution: Widespread and common throughout Britain and Ireland. Creeping Thistles can be found from June to October on rough grassland, roadside verges and field edges – a preference for disturbed and cultivated ground is observed in this species.

Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Spear Thistle by Andreas Rockstein via Flickr

ID Notes: This thistle is particularly attractive to pollinators, who are often seen feasting on the deep pink flowers. The large flowerheads (up to three may be present per stem) sit on a bulbous, spiked base with long, spreading phyllaries. The leaves of a Spear Thistle have long, lanceolate segments tipped with spines, and the upper surface is bristly. The stem is covered with light hair and sporadic spiny wings.

Distribution: Widespread and common throughout Britain and Ireland. It can be found from July to October on disturbed ground such as roadside verges, field edges and pastures.

Welted Thistle (Carduus crispus)

Welted Thistle by Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden via Flickr

ID Notes: This plant has small, red-purple flowerheads that are clustered together. The base of the flower head has spiny, protruding bracts and the phyllaries project outwards. The branched stems have several rows of spiny wings, and the leaves have broader lobes than is typical for other thistles, with spiny margins.

Distribution: Widespread throughout Britain, except Ireland. This species shows a preference for nutrient-enriched substrates, including brownfields, field margins, meadows and beside streams.

Marsh Thistle (Cirsium palustre)

Marsh Thistle by Gertjan van Noord via Flickr

ID Notes: Growing up to 2m in height, this large thistle is easily identified by its purple tinge. The flowerheads are small and are found in large clusters, with small reddish-purple or white flowers and the phyllaries are pressed against the flower head, with tips facing downwards. Leaves are more slender and shorter, with hair visible on the upper surface, they are often tinged purple on the margins and have many spines.

Distribution: Widespread throughout Britain and Ireland, and can be found in marshes, damp grassland and meadows.

Meadow Thistle (Cirsium dissectum)

Meadow Thistle by Thibault Lefort via Flickr

ID Notes: Each Meadow Thistle has one flower head on a cottony stem, growing up to 80cm tall – the solitary flower has purple-tipped, long bracts and the base covered with light, white hair. The stems are not winged, and basal leaves are toothed in a rosette formation. The remaining leaves are finely toothed, without spines, and have light hair on top, with a white, cottony appearance underneath.

Distribution: Most common in the south of the UK, with strongholds in the south-west and south Wales. Meadow Thistles are scarce towards the north. They can be found in bogs, fens, grassland and meadows.

Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans)

ID Notes: Growing up to 2m in height, the Musk Thistle is recognised for its greyish-green colour. The flowerheads are large (3–5cm across), often nodding to one side after maturity, and have long, spiny phyllaries and two-lipped petals. The leaves are short and twisted, with spines present on the toothy lobes and are often woolly underneath.

Distribution: Widespread throughout Britain, but absent from Scotland and Ireland. Most commonly found on calcareous soil from May to September.

Woolly Thistle (Cirsium eriophorum)

Woolly Thistle by Olive Titus via Flickr

ID Notes: The Woolly Thistle gets its name from its wool-like covering. The leaves are ladder-like and narrow, tipped with spines and are white underneath. The stems are wingless and are covered in cobweb-like hairs, producing a single large flowerhead. The phyllaries on the flower base are downward curved, spread throughout the cobwebbing.

Distribution: Widespread throughout Britain, with strongholds in the Yorkshire Wolds and the Isle of Wight. The ‘queen of thistles’ often prefers chalky soils.

The NHBS Guide to Clovers

Often perceived as a pesky weed in garden lawns, clovers are low-growing, common plants belonging to the family Fabaceae – also home to beans, peas and legumes. These drought resistant plants can be found throughout Britain and Ireland in a range of habitats and are key food sources for a number of pollinators.

Here we look at a selection of clovers found in Britain, highlighting their identifying characteristics and where they can be found.

White Clover (Trifolium repens)

A view of clovers in the grass. Lots of small, white flowers tower above a bed of circular leaves — White Clover by Andreas Rockstein via Flickr

ID Notes: A familiar ‘weed’ of grassy spaces, the White Clover is easily recognised for its distinctive trefoil leaves – three leaflets bearing white markings. The flowers are white, sometimes pink toward the tips, with rounded heads made of many tubular blooms. Left to grow, this plant can grow up to 40cm in height, and is associated with Common Blue Butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) and bumblebees.

Distribution: Common and widespread throughout Britain and Ireland. This plant can be found in grassy areas from May to October, including gardens, roadsides, meadows and parks.

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

A pink clover, made of multiple smaller flowers, takes a globular shape. It is surrounded by three hairy leaflets with a lighter 'v' shape in the middle — Red Clover by Judy Gallagher via Flickr

ID Notes: Similar to White Clovers, this species has three green leaflets bearing white markings, often ‘V’ shaped. The rounded flower heads bear pink/red flowers, forming clusters that are 2–3cm across.

Distribution: Common and widespread throughout Britain and Ireland. This species will flower from May to October, and can be found in gardens, meadows, parks and roadsides. It is also sown as a fodder crop for livestock, so can be found in open pasture.

Strawberry Clover (Trifolium fragiferum)

On the left is a baby pink flower, the bottom half of it is more brown in colour and is dying. On the right is a pale pink fruit, it looks like a raspberry with a swollen, knobbly exterior — Strawberry Clover by Mark Gurney via Flickr

ID Notes: The Strawberry Clover has a densely packed flower head, brimming with pink-red pea-shaped flowers that turn darker throughout the growing season. The leaves have three leaflets, and the fruit resembles a pale raspberry.

Distribution: Common in the south-east of England, it is found both inland and at the coast. Throughout Wales and northern England, this plant is mostly found coastally. Strawberry Clover can be found in fields, gardens, grassland, woodland and rocky areas.

Hares-foot Clover (Trifolium arvense)

A white fluffy flower on a hairy stem with hairy leaves. — Hare’s-foot Clover by hedera.baltica via Flickr

ID Notes: These pale pink flowers (2–3cm in size) are covered with small soft hairs giving it a cottony appearance, like a hare’s paw, as the name would suggest. The trifoliate leaves are divided into three leaflets, narrower than other clovers and covered in fine hair. The stalks are also covered in fine, white hair.

Distribution: Fairly common in England and Wales, with a preference for coastal areas. Hares-foot Clover is uncommon in Scotland and Ireland. It can be found from June to September in dry grasslands, meadows, sandy soils and coastal areas.

Knotted Clover (Trifolium striatum)

A cylindrical shaped clover, with red veins in the base of the flower head. the leaves have three leaflets and are slightly pink on the edges — Knotted Clover by Thibault Lefort via Flickr

ID Notes: Up to 15mm across, the flowers of a Knotted Clover form pale pink (or white), ovoid flowerheads. The leaves are hairy on both sides and are divided into three toothed leaflets. This clover is easily distinguished by the knotting visible along the stem.

Distribution: Widespread throughout Britain. Mostly found flowering at coastal sites between May and July, it can be found on beaches, fields, grassland, meadows, roadsides and sand dunes.

Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium)

A bright, purple clover. the flower is made of multiple smaller flowers, and the leaves are more pointed with a light edge. — Zigzag Clover by Nina Laakso via Flickr

ID Notes: A dense flowerhead up to 3.5cm across, the Zigzag Clover is similar to the Red Clover, except that it has darker, reddish-purple flowers and spreading flowerheads. The leaves are longer and narrower, with less hair than other clovers and the stem is distinctively zigzagged allowing for easy identification.

Distribution: Common in England, Wales and Scotland, except the far north. Zigzag Clover can be found from May to July in gardens, grassland, roadsides and verges, often on poor soil.

Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum)

A bumble bee on a vibrant red pear-shaped flower. — Crimson Clover by Gerard Meyer via Flickr

ID Notes: This plant produces dense, conical-shaped heads of vibrant red flowers. The blooms of Crimson Clover are very attractive to bees, forming a close association in spring and summer. The stem and leaves are hairy, the latter composed of three leaflets.

Distribution: Not commonly seen in Britain. This species is mostly found from May to September in grasslands, gardens, cliffsides and meadows in the south of the UK.