Insects

In 2010, as part of the initiative to review the State of Knowledge on Ireland’s Biological Diversity the National Biodiversity Data Centre produced an inventory of sources of biodiversity data. The inventory was developed by inviting recognised national experts to identify the state of knowledge.

The Biodiversity Inventory is laid complete in sections following taxonomic grouping with an overview. Each section follows the same format; Irish checklist, number of species, primary sources of distribution data, National conservation assessment, and monitoring or repeat surveys in place. This layout allows the reader to compare the state of knowledge of different groups.

Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata) – Oisín Duffy

Irish checklists

All Irish insects either have, or are currently being checklisted. Table of checklists for Irish Insects

Note: Invertebrate Ireland aims to put online all checklists of Irish invertebrates compiled by acknowledged experts.

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) – Oisín Duffy

Number of insect species

Number of insect species:

11,422+ (Regan et al., 2010)

Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris) – Oisín Duffy

Primary sources of distribution data

Beetles: Chrysomelidae and Bruchidae (accessible through NBN Gateway )
Beetles: Click Beetles (records held by Howard Mendel)
Beetles: Ground Beetles of Ireland (CEDaR)
Beetles: Ladybirds of Ireland (CEDaR)
Beetles: Steninae (records held by Jonty Denton)
Beetles: Water Beetles of Ireland*
Beetles: Weevils (records held by Mike Morris)
Butterflies: Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme*
Butterflies: Butterflies of County Waterford*
Butterflies: Irish Wood White Database*
Butterflies: Butterfly Ireland survey, Dublin Naturalists’ Field Club
Butterflies: Distribution Atlas of Butterflies in Ireland 1979 (An Foras Forbartha)*
Butterflies: Butterflies of Ireland (National Biodiversity Data Centre)*
Dragonflies; Dragonfly Ireland*
Ephemeroptera of Ireland*
Fleas (Siphonaptera) of Ireland*
Flies: Anisopodidae and Thaumaleidae (Diptera: Nematocera) of Ireland*
Flies: Chironomids (records held by Declan Murray)
Flies: Craneflies of Ireland*
Flies: Dixidae (Diptera) of Ireland*
Flies: Hoverflies – Syrphids of Ireland* (Dr. Martin Speight and Dr. Tom Gittings)
Flies: Mosquitoes of Ireland*
Flies: Non-biting midges (records held by Peter Langton)
Flies: Biting midges (Blue Tongue Vector Surveillance Programme)
Flies: Simulidae (Tierney et al., 2005)
Hemiptera: Heteroptera of Ireland* (Dr. Brian Nelson)
Hymenoptera: Bees of Ireland*
Hymenoptera: Braconidae (O’Connor et al., 1999)
Hymenoptera: BWARS database
Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea (O’Connor et al., 2000)
Hymenoptera: Diapriinae (O’Connor and Ashe, 1992)
Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae (O’Connor et al., 2007)
Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea and Proctotrupoidea (O’Connor et al., 2004)
Hymenoptera: Sawflies (O’Connor et al., 1997)
Lice (Phthiraptera) of Ireland*
Microlepidoptera (National Museum of Ireland)*
MothsIreland*
Neuroptera of Ireland*
Phasmids of Ireland*
Thrips (O’Connor, 2008)
Trichoptera: Trichoptera (caddisflies) of Ireland* (John Brophy)
Trichoptera: Caddisfly Records, Edenvale, Co. Wexford 2010* (Martin Gammell)

*Databases held by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and made accessible through Biodiversity Maps

Osmia aurulenta – Oisín Duffy

National conservation assessment

Article 17 reporting – 1 species (Marsh fritillary) listed in EU Habitats Directive: National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2013.The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland. Species Assessments, Volume 3, Version 1.0. National Parks and Wildlife Service. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin. Ireland.
Article 17 reporting – 1 species (Marsh fritillary) listed in EU Habitats Directive: National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2008. The status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland. NPWS, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin.

FitzPatrick, Ú., Murray, T.E., Byrne, A., Paxton, R.J. and Brown, M.J.F., 2006. Regional Red List of Irish Bees. National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland) & Environment & Heritage Service (Northern Ireland).

Foster, G. N., Nelson, B. H. and O Connor, Á., 2009. Ireland Red List No.1 – Water beetles. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Dulin, Ireland.

Kelly‐Quinn, M. & Regan, E.C. (2012) Ireland Red List No. 7: Mayflies (Ephemeroptera). National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin,Ireland.

Regan, E.C., Nelson, B., Aldwell, B., Bertrand, C., Bond, K., Harding, J., Nash, D., Nixon, D., Wilson, C.J., 2010. Ireland Red List No. 4 – Butterflies. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland.

Nelson, B., Ronayne, C., Thompson, R., 2011. Ireland Red List No. 6 – Damselflies and Dragonflies (Odonata). National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland.

No National conservation assessment of other species

Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum) – Oisín Duffy

Monitoring or repeat surveys in place:

Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (National Biodiversity Data Centre)
Irish Bumblebee Monitoring Scheme (National Biodiversity Data Centre)
Water Framework Monitoring Programme (EPA): includes freshwater invertebrates, some of which are identified to species level.
Rothamsted Light Trap Network (Moths): currently 4 sites (Dublin Zoo, Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, Fota Wildlife Park and Connemara National Park)
Monitoring of pests in forests (Forest Service)