Tiger, Tiger

This mornings moth trap yielded the second garden record of Grey Birch Aethalura punctulata. Like the one a couple of years ago, this moth was settled on the wall of the house. This is a reasonably common species, and it's foodplant  - Alder Alnus glutinosa - grows along the stream in Batch Valley.

Grey Birch Alnus glutinosa

I also recorded the first Buff-tip Phalera bucephala of 2015. This is a real crowd-pleaser of a moth, with it's resemblance to a birch twig. This is quite an early record, perhaps it will be a good year for this species.

Buff-tip Phalera bucephala

The real highlight of the day came at lunchtime, when I found this caterpillar on the Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare. This is the larva of a Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula, a species which appears to be spreading quickly in Shropshire. I will certainly be on the lookout for the adults in a few weeks time.

Scarlet Tiger Callimorpha dominula

Alexanders

On our drive back inland from Skomer, we stopped to investigate the Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum that seem to line all of the roads in this part of Pembrokeshire. Theye were alive with insects on a beautiful sunny afternoon, and I spent some time photographing and identifying all the insects I could find.

Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum

There were St Mark's Fly Bibio marci everywhere. There name obviously comes from their emergence around the 25 April, and two weeks later there were plenty in evidence.

St Mark's Fly Bibio marci

We also picked up a Noon Fly Mesembrina meridiana, a distinctive jet black fly with orangey-gold bases to the wings and feet.

Noon Fly Mesembrina meridiana

I also spotted this lovely hoverfly and managed to get a picture. This is Leucozona lucorum, a new species for me, with a distinctive pattern to the abdomen and wings, looking like someone has drawn on it with a black marker pen.

Leucozona lucorum

Delving into the base of the vegetation we found a few frisky Bloody-nosed Beetle Timarcha tenebricosa. This species produces a red substance from its face when it is challenged, giving it the rather interesting name.

Bloody-nosed Beetle Timarcha tenebricosa

Finally there were many Yellow Dung Flies Scathophaga stercoraria, a very common species but quite a good looking one. This is a carnivorous fly, catching smaller insects. it lays its eggs in cowpats, hence the name.

Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria

Heavyweight

This bug was crawling up the wall at the back of the house this afternoon. It is Megalonotus dilatatus, a species of groundbug (Lygaeidae).

Megalonotus dilatatus

This is a bruiser of a bug, a bug chunky heavyweight species, which is found in grassland and heathland habitats, though is not particularly common.

Megalonotus dilatatus

Also in the garden today was the soldier beetle Podabrus alpinus.

Podabrus alpinus

Images of Skomer

A selection of images from a beautiful birthday on Skomer Island.

Wall Pennywort Umbilicus rupestris

Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Puffin

Sea Campion Silene uniflora

Unknown beetle

Unknown plant

Razorbills and Guillemots

A time to dance

A curious dipterid today in my Batch Valley garden. This is my first of the Empididae dance flies this year, and a wonderful insect it is.

Empis tessellata is a common fly found in gardens, hedgerows and woodlands. It is quite a large fly, with the bronze-tinged wings and black thighs helping to identify it from others in the genus. This is a predator which strikes fear into smaller insects - the long, pointed proboscis piercing their bodies. Males collect small insects and offer these to the female as part of a macabre approach to courtship. The males will not be allowed to mate by the female unless she recieves her 'romantic' gift.

Empis tessellata

These flies will also visit flowers for nectar, particularly umbellifers. On release this one decided to refuel on one of the Vibernum tinus. Diptera fans can find more information on this wonderful insect here.

Empis tessellata

Velvet Hills

On Sunday I was on the Mendips, at the amusingly named Velvet Bottom. Out interest here was a botanical one, with some new species seen.

Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia) is a species of damp woodland, but was found in more open areas here. This plant was a faourite of medieval herbalists, who used it in marriage rituals and the guard against witches.

Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia)

Along Velvet Bottom there are heaps of spoil from the lead mining pst. My eye was taken by s sedum, and though not in flower, it was an attractive contrast againsyt the black of the spoil. This was Biting Stonecrop (Sedumn acre).

Biting Stonecrop (Sedum acre)

We finally made it down to the woodland, where there was an attractive carpet of Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta).

Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

A beautiful mystery

I found the most beautiful insect in the garden today. A combination of striking black, yellow and red this was a distinctive individual. I knew it was one of the Ichneumonidae, a family of parasitic wasps, and that identification would be challenge.

A little investigation led me to realise that identification was going to be impossible. There are about 2,300 of Icheumon wasps, this sheer number makes them difficult. There are also no guides or keys, and only a handful of species can be identified by an amateur entomologist. In fact there seems to be virtually no-one in the country who looks at this group, a challenge for a brave entomologist looking for a niche.

Despite the lack of identification, you can still appreciate this wonderful insect. Vene though the next time I catch one in my sweep net I may quickly let it go...

Ichneumon species