Brian Nelson, Curator of Freshwater Invertebrates

Department of Natural Sciences
National Museums Northern Ireland
153 Bangor Road
Cultra
Holywood
Co. Down, BT18 0EU
Telephone: (44)(0)28 9039 5265
Email:

Responsible for: The collections of freshwater invertebrates

Deals with enquiries regarding: Freshwater invertebrates, insects, birds and general natural history

Research interests: Distribution and conservation of Irish insects especially water beetles (Coleoptera), bugs (Heteroptera), dragonflies (Odonata) and bees and wasps (Hymenoptera). The taxonomy and status of the two wood white butterfly species Leptidea sinapis and L. reali in Ireland.

Books, papers and contracted reports:

• Nelson, B. 1985. Coenagrion lunulatum (Odonata) new to Co. Fermanagh. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 21: 503-504
• Nelson, B. 1985. Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in the Mournes, Co. Down. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 21: 545-546
• Nelson, B. 1986. Records of uncommon Hemiptera-Heteroptera from Co. Down including Alydus calcaratus new to Ireland. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 22: 81-82.
• Nelson, B. 1986. The Odonata of the North of Ireland. Journal of the British Dragonfly Society 2: 21-23
• Nelson, B. 1988. Records of uncommon Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) from Northern Ireland. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 22: 453
• Nelson, B. 1988. Conostethus brevis (Hemiptera: Miridae) new to Ireland. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 22: 454-455
• Rippey, I. and Nelson, B. 1988. Odonata in the north of Ireland in 1986/87. Journal of the British Dragonfly Society 4: 13-18
• Nelson, B, Northridge, R. and Rippey, I. 1989. The Odonata of Co. Fermanagh. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 12: 113-134
• Nelson, B. 1990. Xanthandrus comtus and Xylota abiens (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Co. Fermanagh. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 23: 221
• Nelson, B. 1990 Records of Bombus monticola (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from the north of Ireland. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 23:221-222
• Nash, R., Boston, M. and Nelson, B. H. 1990. The Hymenoptera Aculeata in the superfamilies Pompiloidea, Sphecoidea and Apoidea of Murlough National Nature Reserve, Co. Down. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 23:247-255
• Foster, G. N., Nelson, B. H., Bilton, D.T., Lott, D.A., Merritt, R., Weyl, R.S. and Eyre, M. D. 1992. A classification and evaluation of Irish water beetle assemblages. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 2: 185-208.
• Nelson, B. 1995. The distribution of the aquatic and semi-aquatic Heteroptera in Northern Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 18: 66-131
• Anderson, R. and Nelson, B. 1995. Recent records of Cheilosia chrysocoma (Meigen) and C. grossa Fallén (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Northern Ireland. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 25: 78-79
• Nelson, B. 1995. Records of uncommon bumblebee species: Bombus sylvarum (L.) and B. monticola Smith,F. in Cos Clare and Londonderry. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 25: 116-117
• Nelson, B. 1996. The Status and Distribution of the Irish Damselfly Coenagrion lunulatum in Northern Ireland. Environment and Heritage Service Research and Development Series. No. RC98/1
• Nelson, B. 1997. Records of Aquatic Heteroptera from Northern Ireland and Co. Kerry Irish Naturalists’ Journal 25: 342-343
• Nelson, B. 1997 Scolpostethus grandis Horváth new to Ireland and a second Irish record of S. puberulus Horváth (Hemiptera-Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) Irish Naturalists’ Journal 25: 343-344
• Nelson, B. and Smiddy, P. 1997. Records of the bat bug Cimex pipistrelli Jenyns (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) from Cos Cork and Waterford. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 25: 344-345
• Nelson, B. 1997. A record of Gyrinus urinator Illiger (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae) from Meath Irish Naturalists’ Journal 25: 345
• Nelson, B. 1997. Species Inventory for Northern Ireland: Aquatic Coleoptera. Environment and Heritage Service Research and Development Series. No.97/4
• Nelson, B. 1997. Species Inventory for Northern Ireland: Odonata. Environment and Heritage Service Research and Development Series. No.97/5
• Nelson, B. 1997. Species Inventory for Northern Ireland: Butterflies and Larger Moths (Lepidoptera). Environment and Heritage Service Research and Development Series. No.97/6
• Brown, R.A., Curry, R., Donaghy, A., Hughes, D., Kitchen, J., Mellon, C., and Nelson, B.1997 Biodiversity in Northern Ireland Priorities for Wildlife Conservation: A discussion document.
• Nelson, B., Foster, G., Weyl, R. and Anderson, R. 1997 The distribution of aquatic Coleoptera in Northern Ireland. Part 1: Families Haliplidae, Hygrobiidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae and Gyrinidae. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 20: 179-296.
• Nelson, B. 1997. Regional Guide Ireland. In Brooks, S.J.(editor) pp 46-47 Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland British Wildlife Publishing.
• Nelson, B. 1997. Scarce Emerald Damselfly Lestes dryas. In Brooks, S.J.(editor) pp 66-67 Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland British Wildlife Publishing.
• Nelson, B. 1997. Irish Damselfly Coenagrion lunulatum. In Brooks, S.J.(editor) pp 78-79 Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland British Wildlife Publishing.
• Nelson, B. 1998. A Survey of the Invertebrates of Fens of Counties Armagh and Down. Environment and Heritage Service Research and Development Series. No.98/1
• Nelson, B. and Anderson, R. 1998 Chapter 5.3 Land and freshwater Invertebrates. In Coastal Directory Region 17 Northern Ireland. HMSO
• Nelson, B., Foster, G., Weyl, R. and Anderson, R. 1998. The distribution of aquatic Coleoptera in Northern Ireland. Part 2: Families Hydraenidae, Helophoridae, Hydrochidae, Hydrophilidae, Elmidae and Dryopidae. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 22: 128-193.
• Nelson, B. 1999. The status and habitat of the Irish damselfly Coenagrion lunulatum (Charpentier) (Odonata) in Northern Ireland. Entomologist’s monthly Magazine 135: 59-68
• Nelson, B. and Anderson, R. 1999. Records of uncommon wetland beetles from N. Ireland, with particular reference to Biodiversity and RDB list species. Coleopterist 8: 11-16
• Anderson, R., Simms, M. and Nelson, B. 2000. A review of Lowland Wood Pasture and Parkland in Northern Ireland.Unpublished report for Environment and Heritage Service.
• Nelson, B., Thompson, R. and Morrow, C. 2000. DragonflyIreland http://www.habitas.org.uk/dragonflyireland
• Nelson, B. 2000. Dragonflies of the Burren and surrounding areas. Atropos 11: 9
• Speight, M.C.D., Good, J. A., Marnell, F., Moorkens, E. and Nelson, B. 2000. Invertebrate (Arachnida, Insecta and Mollusca) records from some County Mayo localities, Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 24: 43-68.
• Speight, M.C.D. and Nelson, B. 2000. The changing status of Helophilus trivitattus (Fabr.)(Diptera: Syrphidae) in Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 24: 171-174.
• Nelson, B. 2000. Aquatic Insect communities of Northern Irish freshwaters Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie 27: 891-894
• Nelson, B. 2001. The wetland invertebrates of Ireland. British Wildlife 12: 256-263
• Nelson, B., Hughes, M., Nash, R. and Warren, M. 2001. Leptidea reali Reissinger 1989 (Lep.: Pieridae): a butterfly new to Britain and Ireland. Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation 113: 97-101.
• Nash, R., Hughes, M., Nelson, B. and Warren, M. 2001. Real’s Wood White Leptidea reali Reissinger 1989 - a butterfly new to Britain and Ireland. Atropos 14: 12-16.
• Nelson, B., Thompson, R. and McFerran, D. 2001 Guide to the Dragonflies of Ireland. MAGNI Publication No 005. NMGNI, Belfast.
• Nelson, B. 2002. Records of two uncommon ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) at Portmore Lough, Co. Antrim. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 26: 430-431
• Thompson R., and Nelson, B. 2002. The Butterflies and Moths of Northern Ireland. http://www.habitas.org.uk/moths
• Nelson, B. 2002. Dragonfly News Ireland 2001 British Wildlife 13: 206-207
• Nelson, B., Ronayne, C., Nash, R. and O’Connor, J.P. 2002. Additions and changes to the Irish aculeate Hymenoptera checklist. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 26: 464-466
• Nelson, B. 2002. The distribution, status, habitat of the Marsh Fritillary butterfly Euphydryas aurinia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Northern Ireland Irish Naturalists’ Journal 27: 129-139
• Nelson, B. 2003. Dragonfly News Ireland 2002 British Wildlife 14: 207-208
• Nelson, B., Ronayne, C. & Thompson, R. 2003. Colonization and changing status of four Odonata species, Anax imperator, Anax parthenope, Aeshna mixta and Sympetrum fonscolombii, in Ireland 2000-2002. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 27: 266-272.
• Neale, M., Nelson, B and Rippey, B. 2003. Notable records of aquatic insects (Plecoptera, Hemiptera and Coleoptera) from Northern Ireland. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 27: 295-300.
• Nelson, B. 2003. Community analysis of Northern Ireland freshwater insects. Unpublished PhD thesis, Queen’s University of Belfast.
• Nelson, B. 2004. Dragonfly News Ireland 2003. British Wildlife 15: 207-209
• Thompson, R. and Nelson, B. 2004. Ireland’s odonates and the formation and success of the DragonflyIreland project. Atropos 23: 3-11
• Nelson, B. and Thompson, R. 2004. The Natural History of Ireland’s Dragonflies. MAGNI Publication No 013. NMGNI, Belfast.
• Nelson, B. and Foster, G. 2005. Hydrovatus clypealis (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) new to Ireland and corrections to the Irish Coleoptera list. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 28: 35-36
• Nelson, B. 2005 Surveys of the insects, spiders and other invertebrates of fens in counties Armagh, Down and Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society. 29: 3-85
• Thompson, R. and Nelson, B. 2006. The Butterflies and Moths of Northern Ireland. MAGNI publication No 018. NMGNI, Belfast.
• Aukema, B., Hermes, D.J., Nelson, B. and O’Connor, J.P. 2007. Eleven land and water bugs new to the Irish list (Insecta: Heteroptera) Irish Naturalists’ Journal 28: 327-333
• Cuppen, J.G.M. and Nelson, B. 2007. Micronecta griseola Horváth, a new water boatman for Ireland (Heteroptera: Corixidae) Irish Naturalists’ Journal 28: 410-413
• Nelson, B., Walsh, J. and Foster, G. 2007. Finding jewels amongst the reeds: a review of the Irish donaciine beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society. 31: 177-193
• Nelson, B. 2007. Bagous lutosus and Stenopelmus rufinasus new to Ireland and recent records of two other rare Irish weevils (Curculionidae and Erirhinidae) The Coleopterist 16: 141-145
• Hughes, M., Nelson, B. and Bond, K. 2008. Two wood whites in Ireland – how and when did they arrive? Mind the Gap: Postglacial colonization of Ireland. Irish Naturalists’ Journal Special Supplement: 135
• Nelson, B. 2007. Agabus melanarius Aube (Dytiscidae) a water beetle new to Ireland The Coleopterist 17: 151-153
• Foster, G. N., Nelson, B. H. & O Connor, Á. 2008. Ireland Red List No. 1 – Water beetles. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment,Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland. (available as a pdf from http://www.npws.ie/en/PublicationsLiterature/RedLists/)

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