Backyard Biodiversity Species

This Heritage Week we want you to look for and submit sightings of any of the below 20 species. The species chosen are a mix of vertebrates and invertebrates, from different taxonomic groups. Each of the species can be relatively easily identified, provided that key identification features are carefully noted. All records can be submitted through our dedicated online recording form: Backyard Biodiversity Recording Form 

	Peacock Large powerful butterfly, with four distinctive eyes visible when perched. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: No other Irish species has a similar pattern.
	Small Tortoiseshell Bright colourful butterfly, generally appearing reddish-orange but with a distinctive blue fringe to its upper wings. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: No other Irish species has a band of blue dots on its outer wings.
	Red Admiral Red Admiral is a large butterfly with broad red and white bands on the upperside of wings in contrast with dark interior of wings and body. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: Painted Lady has a similar white banded wing tip, but is orange in colour, compared to the dark brown of the Red Admiral.
	Hawthorn Shieldbug Its overall appearance is green with red speckles and distinctive red-tipped points on shoulders. The triangular area on the back between the shoulders (called the scutellum) is entirely green and the shoulders are red-tipped. There is a red sheen towards the back of the bug where the wings overlap. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: Birch Shieldbug is smaller, with rounded rather than pointed shoulders.
	Green Shieldbug All green except for a distinctive darker patch where the wing membranes overlap at the back of the bug. The body is ‘shield’-shaped, not round. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: There are a few other species of shieldbug that are green, but the others have some red markings.
	Common Carder Bee This species has distinctive ginger upper body (thorax) and black hairs on the abdomen. It is one of the commonest and widespread species of bumblebee. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: The Large Carder Bee lacks black hairs on the abdomen, they are yellow instead. The Large Carder Bee is also a much rarer species.
	Ashy Mining Bee A dark bee, with two distinct grey bands on its upper body (thorax). It is often seen entering its nest holes on earthen banks and other areas of bare soil. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: No other species of solitary bee is just black with the two grey bands.
	7-spot Ladybird The commonest ladybird. It has seven spots, three on either side of the body and a seventh large black dot behind the head. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: No other species of red ladybird has a similar pattern of dots.
	14-Spot Ladybird ID Tip: The 14-spot ladybird is a small yellow ladybird with distinctive “rectangle” markings on its body. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: The 22-spot ladybird is also yellow, but has more spots which are “round” in shape.
	22-spot Ladybird This is a small, yellow ladybird with round black dots on its body. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: The 14-spot Ladybird is also yellow, however, it has fewer markings that form a geometric pattern.
	Marmalade Hoverfly A common and widespread species of hoverfly. It is black and yellow in colour, with distinctive banding along the abdomen that separate it from other hoverfly species. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: There are many other black and yellow striped hoverflies in Ireland, but none with this particular banding pattern on the abdomen.
	Flower Crab Spider The Flower Crab Spider can range in colour from white to yellow in colour and uses adaptive camouflage to blend in with the flowering head that it sits on. From here it waits for unsuspecting visitors to the flower before grabbing its prey. Click here for a species profile.  Confusion species: No other species of spider has a similar colour and markings.
	Shaggy Ink Cap ID Tip: Shaggy Inkcaps are a distinctive mushroom. Tall cylinder-shaped mushrooms which becomes inky and liquify over time. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: There are other species of inkcaps, but do not have the same white, shaggy appearance.
	Hedgehog This species is unmistakable as it is the only species Irish mammal with a spiny coat. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: None.
	Red Fox Similar in appearance to a dog, but with reddish brown fur and a long bush tail, usually with a white tip. It has prominent erect ears, with black tips and backs. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: Should not be confused with any other species.
	House Sparrow Usually seen in small noisy family parties close to houses and farmyards.. Its overall appearance is grey brown with darker brown streaks on their back. Males have white cheeks and a distinctive black bib under their bill. Click here for a species profile. Confusion species: Tree Sparrow, which is less common and smaller. Males have a reddish-brown cap, compared to the grey of the House Sparrow.
	Starling A noisy energetic bird. From a distance it looks all black with a bright pointed bill, but at close quarters, its plumage has a green/purplish metallic sheen on black with lighter dots. It appears much slimmer than blackbirds, with a short pointed tail. Click here for a species profile.  Confusion species: Blackbird, but blackirds are more rounded shape with a long tail and do not have a metallic sheen.
	Swallow ID Tip: The Swallow has a glossy blue/black back and Creamy White Undersides. It has a distinctive and noticeably long tail and builds its nest inside buildings. Click here for a species profile.  Confusion species: House Marten, which has a white rump. Sand Marten is brown, but does not nest in gardens.
	Smooth Newt Similar in appearance to a lizard, but the newt prefers damp, shady places. It breeds in ponds during spring and summer and has smooth skin like a frog. Newts can be found away from water in autumn and winter, and hibernate under stones and wood. Click here for a species profile.  Confusion species: Lizard, which has a scaly skin and is usually seen basking in sunny spots.
	Common Frog Very familiar species. occurs in most gardens where it lays its distinctive spawn early in the year. Adults can be found at all times of the year. Click here for a full species profile. Confusion species: None.