Most invertebrates pass the winter months in egg, larval or pupal form but a few notable groups brave the winter in adult form, so if you’re up for the challenge read on to find the best places to look for them…

Under logs

Even in winter there’s a whole new world to discover in this habitat. It’s home to tiny globular springtails such as Dicyrtomina saundersi and the white banded springtail Entomobrya albocincta, Banded Centipedes, Pill Millipedes and woodlice such as the Common Shiny Woodlouse. Some of our largest beetles can be found such as the Lesser Stag Beetle Dorcus parallelipipedus and ground beetles such as Carabus problematicus and ground bugs such as Drymus (Sylvadrymus) sylvaticus. Please lower the log gently back in to place after looking under it.

Under loose bark

Is another great place to find beetles and woodlice, you might even find an overwintering wasp such as the Darwin Wasp Ichneumon bucculentus or even a queen Common Wasp. Be careful not to pull the bark off when looking underneath. 

Under leaves of evergreens

Winter greenery isn’t always easy to find, but when you do it can be a rewarding place to look for invertebrates. Look under fern leaves for bugs such as Eupteryx filicum, a leafhopper that's associated with ferns, and ladybirds like the Orange Ladybird Halyzia sedecimguttata. Conifers are worth a close look in addition to species such as the Grey Waxy Pine Needle Aphid. Many species of bug use the shelter they provide to over winter. 

In grass tussocks

Burrow your way right into the centre to find tussock’s residents - sheltering ground beetles, ladybirds such as the Seven Spot, Weevils and Rove Beetles.

Don’t need capitals for ground beetles or ladybirds as these are just the common names

Sheds or outbuildings

If you want to track down some larger species have a good look in a shed as you might find some overwintering butterflies such as Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells.

Around and about

When the sun is shining you may be rewarded with an active flying insect or two. Flowers such as dandelions are worth a look – you might spot a Marmalade Hoverfly and if you’re in a woodland, craneflies such as the Three-banded Limonia might be on the wing. I’ve recorded both species from our area in January.

If you’re still having no luck, look for holly: you’re almost certain to find signs of the Holly Leaf Gall Fly. It may not be the insect itself, but it’s better than nothing. Searching for leaf mines, which might be seen as blotches or trails on leaves, is a great way to extend the insect-recording season. I’ve recorded Phytomyza ranunculi on buttercups in January and Phytomyza hellebori on Stinking Hellebore in early February.

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