MARCH E-NOTES FROM BUGLIFE INTERNATIONAL ON BUGBYTES

Buglife Logo saving the small things that run the planet View this email in your browser Dear John Welcome to the March edition of Buglife's e-newsletter, BugBytes! March has seen the clocks “springing” forwards and us welcoming the start of British Summer Time here in the UK. And, do you know what that means? Lighter evenings and more daylight hours to spend marvelling at our awesome invertebrates! As we move into April we celebrate Citizen Science Month. That’s right, a whole month for you to do something great and contribute to science! So, let’s buzz on over and take a look, as spring begins to really get its feet under the table. Nature Connectedness at Night Did you remember that the clocks went forwards last weekend? While most will be looking forward to gaining an extra hour of evening light, here at Buglife we’re also looking at what happens when we step outside and connect with nature after the sun sets. This week we’ve relaunching our Nature Connectedness at Night project, in partnership with the University of Derby. Two citizen science surveys, Buglife Safari and Curious Craneflies, exploring how nighttime nature experiences affect our wellbeing, environmental awareness and our relationship with the natural world. We’re looking for participants to take part in the surveys this spring, summer and autumn. The surveys don’t require expertise or equipment. Just a local green space, and a curiosity about what’s out there in the dark. Every observation will contribute to the study! Make a simple bug trap and participate in Curious Craneflies or head out into your garden or local green space after dark with a torch for a Buglife Safari and notice what nocturnal invertebrates you can spot - or why not do both?! Curious Craneflies Buglife Safari Nature Connectedness at Night Discover more: Step outside after dark… Bugs Matter is Back! April not only sees the start of Citizen Science Month but also marks the start of our biggest ever survey season for Bugs Matter! That's right! You can now take part in Bugs Matter from Wednesday 1 April until Wednesday 30 September across the UK, the Republic of Ireland and now France, for the first time! 📲 If you have a Smartphone and are travelling for work or pleasure, why not take part? You can do so following these easy steps: 1️⃣ Download the app which is available free in both IOS and Android; 2️⃣ Create an account to sign up; 3️⃣ Start surveying on any journey you make in a vehicle between 1 April to 30 September. The more journeys you conduct the survey on, the better – and counts of zero bugs are just as important to submit. Let’s make every journey count in 2026! Kelpie at Splash © Safar Fiertze (CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr) Let’s make every journey count! Show Your Support ~ stricter regulations on veterinary medicines We're pleased to see an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to urgently implement stricter regulations on veterinary medicines to effectively reduce the concentrations of the harmful pesticides, such as fipronil and imidacloprid, pesticides banned for outdoor agricultural use, which are still being widely used in domestic veterinary treatments for ticks and fleas in cats and dogs. Thanks to Rachael Maskell MP for sponsoring the motion! We would like to ask you to please consider writing to your MP to ask them to support the motion - details of which can be found below Feel you need to know more about pet flea and tick treatments and the impacts they have on our invertebrates, and other wildlife, before writing? Check out our new web pages, linked below. Once done, we’ve also shared below a handy link to help you find details for your MP. Early Day Motion Find You MP Impacts of pet flea and tick treatments Volunteering for Nature As the Changing Chalk partnership project comes to an end, the team are celebrating some of the great things that have been achieved and the legacy the project leaves behind. We’re pleased to share the first in a short series of Changing Chalk films from the National Trust, exploring people’s connections with the South Downs. This film celebrates the volunteers who care for the South Downs’ unique chalk grassland, from practical conservation to learning new skills, and highlights the people at the heart of nature recovery ~ including some lovely conversations with Buglife’s Wart-biter Bush-cricket volunteers. We hope you enjoy watching! 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 and discover how you can get involved during Citizen Science Month! Short-necked Oil Beetle (Meloe brevicollis) © Peadar O'Connell This month we’re taking a look at the Short-necked Oil Beetle (Meloe brevicollis) Most commonly found in wildflower-rich coastal grassland (including machair grassland) and sand dune habitat, the Short-necked Oil Beetle is one of the rarer of the five oil beetle species, still found in the UK. It’s shiny black in colour, and males are typically smaller in size than females. Similar in appearance to Black or Violet Oil Beetle, but it has a rectangular-shaped thorax as opposed to a square-shaped thorax. ℹ️ Good to know: Oil beetles are rather strange-looking beetles, their large abdomens protruding from under short elytra (wing cases) – they have been described as looking like some one whose waistcoat won’t button up! For more information about this beautiful beetle, and the other oil beetle species, visit our Bug Directory. Here, you will also find details on how to join the oil beetle hunt and, who knows, you might help us discover new populations! (Please note: whilst our oil beetle hunt webpages specifically reference Scotland, the oil beetle recording scheme is open to all regions of the UK.) Join the hunt Which bug would you like to see added to the directory next, there's plenty to choose from! Vote for Buglife (again!)! No, you’re not seeing things, we are asking you to vote for us once again! We're delighted to share that "Coal Spoil Connections ~ the legacy" was selected as a finalist in its category at the Charity Film Awards. ❓What does that mean? A second round of voting is now open and the most voted for film (combined votes from both the first and second round) will win the People’s Choice Award! Wouldn't it be a fantastic end to the Buglife Cymru Coal Spoil Connections project to win at the Smiley Charity Film Awards? ✅ So, head on over. Check out the film and, even if you have voted previously, make sure you click that Vote button as every vote counts! Vote for Buglife Voting closes on Thursday 23 April 2026 so get clicking and share with family/friends! Upcoming events Wednesday 1 April ~ Bugs Matter Citizen Science Survey (UK, ROI, France) Wednesday 1 April ~ Earthworm Sampling Day with The Biological Recording Company (Welsh Harp Open Space, London) Thursday 2 April ~ iRecord 101 with The Biological Recording Company (online) Tuesday 7 April ~ Revealing Insect Pest Pathways with The Biological Recording Company (online) Wednesday 8 April ~ Canvey Critters: Easter holiday family fun! (Canvey Wick, Essex) Wednesday 8 April ~ Walk the Wick! Spring 2026 (Canvey Wick, Essex) Wednesday 8 April ~ Invertebrate Study Day with The Biological Recording Company (Natural History Museum, London) Thursday 9 April ~ Canvey Critters: Easter holiday family fun! (Canvey Wick, Essex) Tuesday 14 April ~ Mollusc Field Recorder Day with The Biological Recording Company (Ealing, London) Tuesday 14 April ~ Bookworms! preschool story time at Canvey Island Library (Canvey, Essex) Wednesday 15 April ~ The Bug Bunch! For Home Ed Families (Canvey Wick, Essex) Thursday 16 April ~ Soldierflies with The Biological Recording Company (online) Wednesday 22 April ~ Backyard Bees: Private Green Spaces and Pollinator Diversity in Cities with The Biological Recording Company (online) Wednesday 22 April ~ Walk the Wick! Spring 2026 (Canvey Wick, Essex) Thursday 23 April ~ Mollusc Field Recorder Day with The Biological Recording Company (Lesnes Abbey Lodge, London) 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? Buglife Appoints Co-Leader and Director of Transformation to Lead Ambitious Growth Phase Conservation charity strengthens leadership team as strong financial position enables major expansion in response to critical invertebrate decline. Buglife, the invertebrate conservation charity, has appointed Christie Gregg as Co-leader and Director of Transformation, marking a pivotal moment as the organisation prepares for significant growth in its conservation delivery at a time of accelerating biodiversity crisis. Report front cover: The effects of veterinary tick and flea treatments on freshwater invertebrates and ecosystems Read the story… A step back for species-rich grasslands: why removing them from the Sustainable Farming Initiative matters for our endangered invertebrates Common Carder Bee in flight © Claire Pumfrey Read the story… Six-spot Burnet Moth (Zygaena filipendulae) © Claire Pumfrey When the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and the inclusion of the option GRH6: Manage priority habitat species-rich grassland in 2024, it was a huge win for nature restoration as it provided a realistic, accessible pathway for landowners to be rewarded for creating and maintaining these priority habitats. With the removal of GRH6 in SFI 2026, landowners seeking meaningful financial support for species-rich grassland management must now apply through Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier schemes administered by Natural England. 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 the Buglife shop Shop News: 🎉 Our Bug E-Adoptions are available to purchase for yourself or as a gift to the bug enthusiast in your life, from just £15. The perfect, thoughtful last minute gift and great for those that can’t eat chocolate! 🖍️ Each virtual adoption pack includes a downloadable certificate, featuring original artwork by the amazing Alexandre Marrigues of Nera Studio, and a factsheet on your adopted species. Check out our zippy Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)! 🕷️ Did you know? Dragonflies have three life stages: egg, nymph or larva and adult. Many are familiar with the adult form; fast, graceful and ferocious. But did you know that this is the shortest part of its lifespan, often living as an adult for just a matter of weeks. Want to know more? Head on over to our shop to adopt one today! Adopt a Bug 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 Join the Buglife Community Donate 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