Staff at Leicester's Central lending Library had a shock recently when this large yellow mystery insect turned up. As staff ushered it outside, Matthew Barker was on hand to take a photo on his phone. Matthew sent the image to NatureSpot where it was confirmed as Cimbex connatus, a rare sawfly, and believed to be the first record for Leicestershire! More...
The first Leicestershire record of the 
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. 
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. 
Our Leicestershire and Rutland 
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. 
The season may be over for most fungi but one species comes into its own at this time of year - Velvet Shank, Flammulina velutipes - which can be commonly found growing on dead wood. 
These weird arachnids are often abundant at this time of year and with only 25 species known in the UK it is possible to learn to identify many of them relatively quickly. Our 
This fascinating and historic site has now been set up as a Wild Place - see 
Two new Wild Places pages have been set up for Cloud Wood, near Breedon, and Hill Hole Quarry in Markfield. 
A spectacular new arrival has appeared in Leicestershire and we are asking the public to report any sightings. The Western Conifer Seed Bug – Leptoglossus occidentalis is a large (2cm), colourful but harmless insect, that feeds on the sap of conifer cones but may turn up in houses later in the year as it looks for a hibernation site. 
