BUGBYTES FROM BUGLIFE APRIL’S NEWS. IT’S ALL ABOUT INVERTEBRATES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE

Buglife Logo saving the small things that run the planet View this email in your browser Dear John Welcome to the April edition of Buglife's e-newsletter, BugBytes! This week sees the exciting conclusion of Buglife’s Big Give Earth Raise campaign, Invertebrates: The Backbone of Species Recovery. Citizen Science Month may also be coming to an end but there are still plenty of activities you can get involved with too. So, let’s buzz on over and take a look. Invertebrates: The Backbone of Species Recovery This week we have been absolutely blown away by your support and with just 24 hours to go we are currently sitting at 94% of our campaign target. Can you help us with one final push to achieve our fundraising goal? Double my donation today! Our supporters are amazing and we would like to "thank you" now, for supporting our work and our appeal in any way you can; whether that's by making a donation, forwarding the email you’ve received on to a friend, even liking or sharing our social media posts. Good to know: Once our campaign target has been reach, donations will no longer be doubled, but they will enable us to do more and possible secure additional funding in the future - so every penny counts and it all helps! Beyond Citizen Science Month It's a brilliant time to explore the great outdoors, spend time with family and become a Citizen Scientist, if you aren't already! There are lots of fantastic bug-gy activities to get involved with; check out some of our suggestions below: Bugs Matter Will the lack of insects be a hot topic again this year? There are a number of ways you can help support anecdotal discussion with science and data, starting with our very own Bugs Matter! (open 1 April until 30 September) Bugs Matter Search for the Strandline Beetle Heading to the beach in the South West? Keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you spot one of these strandline scuttlers. (open year round) Join the search Be a BeeWalker If you have a few spare hours every month, want to enjoy a short walk and help monitor the abundance of bumblebees with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, this is the survey for you! (open March until October) Be the Bees Knees Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola) © Charlotte Rankin Short-necked Oil Beetle (Meloe brevicollis) © Peadar O’Connell Oil Beetle Hunt Have you spotted a strange looking blue-tinged beetle whilst out walking? Be sure to take a picture and log your sighting. Whilst our Buglife Scotland Team are keen for reports of Scottish Oil Beetles, records can be submitted from across the UK! (open year round) Join the hunt PoM Scheme FIT Counts No running required! Help monitor how pollinator populations are changing with PoM Scheme Flower Insect Timed (FIT) Counts! With your help data is being gathered on a wide range of flower-visiting insects. All you need is a flower and 15 minutes. (open April until 30 September) Let’s get counting! Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) © David Price (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Nature Connectedness at Night The University of Derby are currently running two surveys, Buglife Safari and Curious Craneflies, exploring how nighttime nature experiences affect our wellbeing, environmental awareness and our relationship with the natural world. (now open) Step outside after dark… Ham or Jam? Bring a little Citizen Science to your summer picnic with this quick survey brought to you by Professor Seirian Sumner. Learning about the type of food wasps are after tells us about their life-cycle and predicting behaviours may help us live together more harmoniously. (open soon) Find out, is it Ham or Jam? Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) © Sid Mosdell (CC BY 2.0 DEED) Yellow-legged Hornets making the headlines The media are once again sharing information about sightings of the non-native Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina), here in the UK. As a result of these early sightings conservationists feel that it is highly probable the hornets have overwintered and may now be successfully breeding in the UK. A native to Asia, this Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) was first recorded in the UK in 2016. Since this time sightings have increased and during 2025, 544 credible sightings were recorded. As the Yellow-legged Hornet has now been reported as active, we would like to ask our followers to report any suspected sightings as soon as possible; vigilance is particularly required in southern parts of England, Northern Ireland and Wales and around major ports, but they could be found anywhere across the UK. Reporting sightings is easy to do and can be done either via the Asian Hornet Watch App or via an online form. Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) © Gilles San Martin (Flickr, CC) Identifying a Yellow-legged Hornet Learn more… Visit the map Exciting opportunities for Buglife supporters! We will shortly be starting our first One Million Steps 2026 challenge and we’re inviting you to join us! Walk, jog, run, hop or dance your way to a million steps in 100 days. That's 500 miles or the distance from London to Zurich, Switzerland BUT it's just the 10,000 average a day; or, if you need another comparator or two: 🗺️ Brighton to Inverness, Scotland; 🚶‍♀️ More than 18 marathons. It really is something to be proud of and to add a bit more incentive you could help us save the small things that run the planet by taking part and asking others to sponsor you! Go solo or sign up with friends to support each other to that finish line! Take the first of One Million Steps… Giveaway details: As a thankyou to you, our supporters, we have a small number of FREE entries remaining to help you along your way. Just sign up via the One Million Steps website and enter the code Buglife50 when asked for payment details. Get in there quick to avoid disappointment - registration closes Monday 18 May 2026! Browse our Bug Directory Did you know that we have almost 200 invertebrate species profiles on our website, and counting? Let’s meet one of the species that you’ll like be seeing a lot of at the moment! St Mark’s Fly (Bibio marci) © Jaybee www.phocus-on.co.uk This month we’re taking a look at the St Mark’s Fly (Bibio marci), so called because they emerge around St Mark’s Day, on 25 April every year, and can be seen in flight in May. The St Mark’s Fly is a species of true fly, known as Hawthorn Flies. Found around woodland edges, hedges, rough grassland and wetlands the St Mark’s Fly can be seen throughout the UK in spring, these flies are quite distinctive. Males are around 12mm in length with clear wings, have large eyes and long dangling hind legs whilst the females are around 14mm in length, with smoky brown wings and much smaller eyes and legs. ℹ️ Did you know: The male’s eyes are divided by a groove and have separate connections to the brain; this allows the males to use the upper eye part to look out for females and the lower part to monitor their position in relation to the ground, allowing them to hover in the same position. For more information about this not so speedy fly with an eye on the calendar, visit our Bug Directory. Take me to the Bug Directory! Which bug would you like to see added to the directory next, there's plenty to choose from! ICYMI ~ When does protection mean protection? Earlier this month a report from Wild Justice made headlines when it revealed that the Government’s environmental advisor Natural England has stopped designating Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). ...there hasn’t been a single new SSSI designated in England since 2023! While SSSIs are often called ‘the backbone of our protected sites network’, do they actually serve the needs of the creatures without backbones – the invertebrates – that Buglife is dedicated to protecting? Join Buglife Programmes Manager, Jamie Robins, as he explores this question in our latest blog, "When does protection mean protection?" Read the blog… Swanscombe © Julie Preston Upcoming events Friday 1 May ~ Plantlife’s No Mow May begins Sunday 3 May ~ Spring Community Celebration at Brockwell Park with Brockwell Park Greenhouses (Brockwell Park London) Thursday 5 May ~ Orbweb Spiders with The Biological Recording Company (online) Wednesday 6 May ~The Bug Bunch! For Home Ed Families (Canvey Wick, Essex) Wednesday 6 May ~ Invertebrate Study Day with The Biological Recording Company (Natural History Museum, London) Thursday 7 May ~ Pollinator FIT Count workshop with Bright Green Nature and Buglife Scotland (Selkirk, Scotland) Tuesday 12 May ~ Bookworms! preschool story time at Canvey Island Library (Canvey, Essex) Wednesday 13 May ~ Walk the Wick! Spring 2026 (Canvey Wick, Essex Thursday 14 May ~ Blue Ground Beetle Identification at Bovey Valley Woodlands with Moor Invertebrates (Bovey Tracey, Devon) Monday 18 May ~ Blue Ground Beetle Identification at Dart Valley Woodlands with Moor Invertebrates (Newbridge Hill, Devon) Wednesday 20 May ~ The Bug Bunch! For Home Ed Families (Canvey Wick, Essex) Wednesday 27 April ~ Walk the Wick! Spring 2026 (Canvey Wick, Essex) Thursday 28 May ~ Underexplored Freshwater Habitats in Ireland: Case Studies Using Riverflies with The Biological Recording Company (online) Tuesday 2 June ~ Friend, Foe, or Freeloader? The Flower Crab Spider with The Biological Recording Company (online) a person holding up a cell phone displaying the words Bugs Matter Please do remember that our website Events Page is being updated all the time so, to keep up to date with both current and future Buglife events, as well as events from partners and supporters, be sure to visit regularly. What’s the buzz? Anger as potential Site of Special Scientific Interest sand dunes are destroyed Wildlife experts have been left devastated by the continued intentional destruction of dune habitat on the Ardeer Peninsula in Ayrshire by its landowners – despite the dunes being ear-marked as part of a potential Site of Special Scientific Interest. Local community groups and national wildlife organisations called on Scottish Government agency NatureScot to designate the special habitats of the Ardeer Peninsula as part of a Garnock Estuary SSSI back in 2022, building on a long-running local campaign to protect its wildlife. Report front cover: The effects of veterinary tick and flea treatments on freshwater invertebrates and ecosystems Damage to Ardeer Peninsula Read the story… Open letter, veterinary parasiticides in the environment March Brown Mayfly (Rhithrogena germanica) © Richard Bartz (CC BY-SA 2.5) Earlier in April Buglife joined many other voices, writing to the Environment Minister Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to raise concern about chemicals in common flea and tick treatments contaminating the UK’s rivers, lakes, ponds, and wildlife. Together with SongBird Survival, WildFish, we stand alongside leading environmentalists, academics, and veterinary professionals calling for action. Find out more and read the full letter Read the story… For all our latest news please visit our website News Pages. Buglife shop The Buglife Shop is open for all your invertebrate needs, offering more ethical options and ways for you to support bugs. Whether you’re looking for clothing, insurance, home accessories or gifts for a loved one; there’s something for everyone! a packet of native wildflower seeds Nurture the Night Shift Jute Bag Visit Buglife’s shop Adopt a Bug Exciting shop news: In addition to our usual offerings our Spring/Summer Brochure, brought to you in partnership with Red Robin, is here! From stationary to home furnishings, bee hotels to clothing - bring a little cheer to your home and support Buglife in the process! Spring/Summer Brochure Don't forget you can stay up to date with the work of the Buglife team via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube! Thank you for your continued interest in and support of our work; together we can save the small things that run the planet! The Buglife Team Donate Join the Buglife Community Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon Website icon Buglife Logo Copyright © 2026 Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive Member communications electronically following becoming a Member. Thank you. Our mailing address is: Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust Allia Future Business Centre London Road Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 8AN United Kingdom Company No. 04132695 | Registered Charity No. 1092293 | Scottish Charity No.SC040004 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

FROM MARINE CONSERVATION—WHAT GOES IN THE WATER GETS INGESTED

Help us stop harmful chemicals causing more damage View in browser A bottlenose dolphin and its baby are swimming in the ocean. A yellow smear appears on the mother dolphin and in the water surrounding it, to represent harmful chemicals. Text overlaid reads: Stop the Ocean Chemical Crisis Hi John, What do sea otters, bottlenose dolphins, northern gannets and polar bears all have in common? Exposure to harmful forever chemicals, otherwise known as PFAS. These beloved species are being damaged by human-made chemicals, but we're determined to put a stop to it and protect the ocean for generations to come. A sea otter floats on its back on top of water. There is a lurid yellow smear overlaid on the otter's fur to represent harmful chemicals You'll hopefully recognise the adorable, fluffy sea otter. Sadly, these beautiful animals are struggling to fight off infection because their immune systems have been damaged by exposure to forever chemicals. And they're not the only species affected. Forever chemicals have been shown to disrupt reproduction, thyroid activity, metabolism and development in fish. They've also been linked to neurological impacts in polar bears, which could impact behaviours from searching for food to mating. Perhaps most shocking of all is the fact that PFAS have been shown to pass from sea birds to their eggs, pre-polluting the chicks inside before they've even been born. But hope is not lost. If we work together, we can stop the ocean chemical crisis. We're asking for a universal restriction on PFAS to be introduced by 2030, to stop more of these harmful chemicals polluting the ocean and the marine life that calls it home. With your donation to our Big Give appeal, John, we'll have more funds to be able to lobby the UK Government for change. We'll also be able to research both the continued impacts of PFAS, and other solutions needed to tackle them. Donate now to help protect marine life from the ocean chemical crisis, and remember that your donation will be doubled for this week only! Double your impact and donate today Thanks so much for your support. Francesca Policy and Advocacy Manager (Chemicals) Marine Conservation Society Test your PFAS knowledge Put what you've learnt to the test with our PFAS quiz. Find out if you're a PFAS expert - here's the first question to get you started: First things first, what actually are PFAS? Natural chemicals found in seaweed that are rich in nutrients and primarily used as fertilizers Human-made chemicals used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products Text speak for Piranha Fish Are Scary Donate Contact us Unsubscribe The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. Marine Conservation Society | Company Limited by Guarantee (England and Wales) No. 2550966 Registered Charity No. England and Wales No. 1004005 | Scotland No. SC037480 VAT No. 321 4912 32 Registered Office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US. Scottish Office: CBC House, 24 Canning Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG.

PROTECT THE WILD—THE SAVAGERY EXPOSED OF THROWING LIVE FOXES TO THE HOUNDS AND FILMING IT

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more They filmed it and shared it like a trophy. ROB POWNALL APR 26 READ IN APP I need to tell you about three foxes. The first was in Norfolk. A fox, cornered in a private back garden. Nowhere to run. Hunt supporters looked on as the hounds closed in and tore them apart. In someone’s garden. A place that should have been a sanctuary. The second was in Wiltshire. Footage filmed by hunt supporters and shared in WhatsApp groups showed the Avon Vale Hunt throwing two foxes directly to their hounds. Not a mistake. Not an accident. A deliberate act carried out by people who filmed it and shared it like a trophy. This is what fox hunting actually is. Not a tradition. Not a sport. A blood ritual carried out by people who believe they are untouchable. This week, the hunting season officially ended. For the first time in years, we go into the off-season on the front foot. The government is now formally consulting on banning trail hunting for good. We helped force that moment. Viral animations seen by millions. Groundbreaking undercover investigations and reports. Years of lobbying. Millions of campaign emails. Hunt saboteurs and monitors supported in the field, season after season. That is what got us here. But here is what I need you to understand. The hunts are not done. They are regrouping right now. Lobbying quietly. Waiting for the consultation to pass without delivering a proper ban. They have money, they have lawyers, and they have friends in high places. What we have is you. Today I am asking you to adopt a fox. Adopt a Fox Every adoption directly funds the final push, the work that turns a government consultation into an actual ban. In return you will receive a soft toy fox, sent straight to your door. These also make a perfect gift for any fox lover in your life. A reminder of exactly who we are fighting for. We are closer than we have ever been. But close does not finish the job. Thank you for standing with us. Rob Pownall Founder, Protect the Wild SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — SWIFT NESTING HOLES RE-OPENED BUT AT WHAT COST

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more VICTORY! Network Rail to reopen nesting holes for Swifts! ROB POWNALL APR 25 READ IN APP I have some brilliant news to share! Network Rail has confirmed it will reopen the swift nesting holes at Chapel Milton viaduct and work is already under way. High Peak Borough Council has confirmed that listed building consent is not required to reopen the three holes identified by campaigners. Network Rail says it is now mobilising contractors to carry out the work as quickly and safely as possible. Swift boxes are also being installed on the viaduct to provide additional nesting habitat. This is the outcome we campaigned for. The nesting holes will be reopened before the birds return. None of this would have happened without you. Local campaigners raised the alarm, gathered evidence, and refused to let this issue be dismissed. More than 12,800 people signed Protect the Wild’s petition and turned concern into real pressure. Network Rail has acknowledged that pressure directly, recognising the strength of feeling both locally and across the country. Swifts are one of the UK’s most rapidly declining species. They return each year to the same nesting sites, and when those sites are blocked, they cannot breed. Getting these holes reopened before nesting season was always the priority and that is exactly what has been achieved. There is still work to be done to ensure swifts are properly protected during future infrastructure works. But today is a day to recognise what collective action can accomplish. Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, and spoke up for these birds. This one is yours. Adopt an Animal and support our work By adopting an animal with Protect the Wild, you are directly supporting frontline campaigns that protect some of Britain’s most persecuted species. Our fox adoption symbolises our fight to finally end hunting for good. Our badger adoption represents our determination to stop the badger cull and protect wildlife from government-sanctioned killing. Our peregrine falcon adoption stands for our work exposing the bird shooting industry and defending birds of prey from persecution as we work to take that industry down. Adopt an Animal SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM AMY AT MARINE CONSERVATION

Your donation will be doubled for this week only View in browser Hi John, Our work to stop forever chemicals reaching the ocean will not only benefit amazing wildlife, but you too. From walks along the beach and birdwatching by the coast, to rock pooling, beach days and surfing in the waves, we'll all be enjoying healthier seas. A few of our staff and ocean ambassadors, including Zoe Lyons, (and a little cameo from budding marine biologist, Henry) have recorded a special message for you. Watch our super-short videos to find out what they have to say: Our goal of seeing a universal restriction on PFAS by 2030 will also future-proof the seas for the next generation, so that children will be able to experience an ocean filled with wonder for years to come. Please donate to our Big Give appeal today. You can double your impact for this week only, as every donation is doubled by matched funding. Donate today Thanks so much for your support. Amy Marine Conservation Society Donate Contact us Unsubscribe The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. Marine Conservation Society | Company Limited by Guarantee (England and Wales) No. 2550966 Registered Charity No. England and Wales No. 1004005 | Scotland No. SC037480 VAT No. 321 4912 32 Registered Office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US. Scottish Office: CBC House, 24 Canning Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG.

FROM THE SABOTUERS —- JUST EIGHT WEEKS TO GO? TO MAKE HUNTING HISTORY

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter EIGHT WEEKS TO MAKE HUNTING HISTORY! A month ago, the government launched its long-awaited consultation on how to ban ‘trail hunting’. This is a once in a generation opportunity to blow away the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’ and close the many loopholes in the 2004 Hunting Act. This poor fox was hunted and killed on the anniversary of the Hunting Act. This leaves you just eight weeks to complete the consultation, which closes on the18th June 2026. To makes this process quick, easy and effective the HSA has produced guidance which you can find here. One of the key things to remember is that your submission should be individual and, where possible, capture your direct experience of hunts. By way of example, we reproduce below three accounts from the hundreds we receive on our Tip-Off line every year. Because of the violence endemic in the hunting world, we have removed any identifying information. We regularly hear from country people who are traumatised by the sudden arrival of the hunt into their area: “The hunt - several men on horses and around fifty hounds - were in the little scrap of woodland just west of XXX Farm just outside the village. There was a lot of shouting, hounds were manic, baying crazily and we heard the most terrible screaming of I can only assume a fox being ripped apart. We were on a footpath close-by walking our dog. The animal screaming only lasted a minute or two but all I could think of was to get away. I’m sorry I didn’t get a picture, but my old dog was also really frightened and to be honest I was afraid for her. So, we legged it. We felt afraid, upset and so incredibly sad for the fox as well and bloody angry that this barbaric activity still goes on.” "We heard the most terrible screaming..." It is also common for people out enjoying the peace of the countryside to have their experience totally ruined when the hunt shows up: “We saw a large fox hunt, all in uniform. Two foxes ran past us, followed closely by the hunt. They ran past us and I shouted at them, they said they were following a pre-laid trail and it’s not their fault if the foxes get in the way. They had about 30 dogs with them, hunting calls being used and multiple split up horse groups. The dogs were yapping and very excited, with many people stopped on the roads watching, looking like they were watching for the fox.” Hunts cause havoc and upset wherever they go. Every year, we receive reports of companion animals being terrorised or even killed by hunts: “Hunt arrived unannounced into the village. A single male rider was trying to control 20+ dogs with just a horn. The dogs were out of control and running into gardens and private land that residents house their horses in. Residents were frightened for their animal’s safety and had to rush to get chickens locked away. They were running and pushing my husband on the playing field, and it was lucky that children weren’t playing unsupervised as it would have been frightening. They were seen chasing a fox that lives in the village out into some residential gardens then out into the field.” The Western Hunt hounds rip a beloved cat to pieces, March 2021. If you have had any similar experiences with hunts – and we know many of you have- please record them when you complete your consultation. Your contribution is important – please complete the consultation today! Have your say Join the Hunt Saboteurs Association! Support our vital work by becoming a member. Join The HSA Spread the word! Please share our news Share via email Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Logo Copyright (C) 2026 Hunt Saboteurs Association. All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Hunt Saboteurs Association. Our mailing address is: BM HSA, London, WC1N 3XX, U.K. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

FROM AMY AT MARINE CONSERVATION ASKS CAN YOU HELP THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS

Donate to our Big Give appeal and your donation will be doubled View in browser Banner image: Right: A northern gannet is looking down at her nest which has an egg in it. The egg and the gannet have a lurid yellow smear on them. Text: Stop the Ocean Chemical Crisis. Hi John, Happy Earth Day! Our Big Give appeal to Stop the Ocean Chemical Crisis is now live. For this week only, any donation you make will be doubled by the Big Give and our generous partners at Sonardyne and the Marsh Charitable Trust. This means your £5 becomes £10, £10 becomes £20 and £25 becomes £50, at no extra cost to you. Donate today A short video clip of a bottlenose dolphin swimming playfully above coral Credit: vkilikov Because it's Earth Day, I thought I'd share some facts about one of my favourite marine mammals: the highly sociable bottlenose dolphin. Did you know that when they breach the water, they can leap up to 5m above the waves? They're also incredibly clever. One study placed marks on two dolphins’ bodies; both dolphins used a mirror to investigate the marked parts of their bodies, suggesting that they can recognise their own reflection. How incredible is that? Unfortunately for the bottlenose dolphin, they're one of the many marine species that are being impacted by the ocean chemical crisis. Exposure to harmful 'forever chemicals', called PFAS, means they're struggling to fight illness because their liver, kidney, blood and immune systems aren't working effectively. I find it utterly heartbreaking to think that animals are suffering because of humans. At the Marine Conservation Society, we've been campaigning for a universal restriction on PFAS. We've been making great progress, with the UK Government announcing their PFAS Plan in January of this year. We know we can do more, but we need your help, John. You can double your impact by donating to our Big Give appeal today. Every donation we receive will enable us to continue demanding change for our ocean, as well as provide us with funding for vital scientific research to better understand how PFAS affect the health of our ocean and the marine life that call it home. Stop the ocean chemical crisis poisoning dolphins. Donate today. Thanks so much for your support. Amy Marine Conservation Society Donate Contact us Unsubscribe The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. Marine Conservation Society | Company Limited by Guarantee (England and Wales) No. 2550966 Registered Charity No. England and Wales No. 1004005 | Scotland No. SC037480 VAT No. 321 4912 32 Registered Office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US. Scottish Office: CBC House, 24 Canning Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG.