Roesel's Bush-cricket

Hot on the heals of my first last weekend in Hampshire it was great to find one of these insects locally. It was a very productive visit to Prior's Fen with Holly Blue and Wall butterflies and a Silver Y moth as well as the following good birds:
Little Egret, 2
Wood Sandpiper, 2
Green Sandpiper, 5
Common Sandpiper, 2
Greenshank, 2 (perhaps 3)
Little Ringed Plover, 1, juv.
Kingfisher, 1
Yellow Wagtail, 10, approx
Swift, 12, over
Sand Martin, 6
Turtle Dove, 1

Roesel's Bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii)



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Forest Shieldbug

An interesting addition to the non-lep fauna attracted to the moth light.

Forest Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes)


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More Hants Moths

A session at my parents' garden in the Test Valley near Stockbridge.

146 moths of 48 species
** = first for me
0424 Bird-cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella) 1
1260 Chestnut Tortrix (Cydia splendana) 1
1304 Agriphila straminella 4
1305 Agriphila tristella 8
**1306 Agriphila inquinatella 2
1309 Agriphila geniculea 3
1316 Catoptria falsella 2
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 3
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 1
1356 Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis) 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 4
1470 Euzophera pinguis 1
1640 The Drinker (Euthrix potatoria) 1
1702 Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata) 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. remutata 2
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) typical 1
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 1
1868 Lesser Treble-bar (Aplocera efformata) 1
1890 Sharp-angled Peacock (Semiothisa alternaria) 2
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 4
1913 Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria) 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 3
2003 Pebble Prominent (Eligmodonta ziczac) 2
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 1
2007 Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) 4
2009 Maple Prominent (Ptilodontella cucullina) 1
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 3
2030 Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) 1
2037 Rosy Footman (Miltochrista miniata) 1
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 5
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) ab. stramineola 2
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 1
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
2087 Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 8
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 13
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 3
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 11
2112 Least Yellow Underwing (Noctua interjecta) 2
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 2
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 4
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 1
2318 The Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina) 1
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 4
2353 Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea) 14
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 4
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) 5

Sharp-angled Peacock (Semiothisa alternaria)



Rosy Footman (Miltochrista miniata)


The Drinker (Euthrix potatoria)


Lesser Treble-bar (Aplocera efforma)


Agriphila inquinatella


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Hants Leps

A couple of dayflying lepidoptera rounds of this batch of insect photos from the weekend in Hampshire.

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui


Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola ab. stramineola)


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Hants Hovers

As well as a few orthopteran firsts for me this weekend around Pitt near Winchester there was also this impressive hornet mimic hoverfly. I've seen the slightly smaller V. inannis around Elton before but both species are moving northwards so perhaps this one will occur at home too. The Chrysotoxum species below is also new to me but I am not sure of the ID. It could be arcuatum but I don't know if it is possible to tell from the photo alone. Any help would be welcome.

Volucella zonaria




Chrysotoxum festivum


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Wasp Spider

This was a first for me and was another great find by my sharp-eyed son. It was along the watermeadows of the River Ichen near Winchester. This is a large and impressive beast, apparently a female as the males are much smaller and more feeble.

Click it for a bigger picture if you have the bandwith and the courage!

Argiope bruennichi (Wasp Spider), female


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Anyone for Cricket

Three firsts for me in a small patsh of long grass on the chalk downland next to my inlaws' place near Winchester. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of the one Short-winged Conehead (Conocephalus dorsalis) I found but the other two are here along with a late instar Dock Bug nymph.

Long-winged Conehead (Conocephalus discolor)
Male

Female


Roesel's Bush-cricket (Metrioptera roeselii), female


Dock bug (Coreus marginatus), nymph


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Castor Honey

To think we nearly didn't go to the Hanglands. Well we were glad we did as the reward was a Honey Buzzard (my third and Weedon's World of Nature's first in the PBC area) circling over Ailsworth Heath before being encouraged to drift off roughly west by a Common Buzzard rising from the wood calling.

The insects were also good with some more of the Euro-wasps" seen feeding on umbellifers plus these.

Emerald Damselfly (Lestes sponsa), female



Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)


Conops quadrifasciata a happy couple of conopid flies


Sphaerophoria (scripta?) (a hover fly)



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Good Start to August

Nearly didn't drag myself to Stibbington last night but I'm glad I did as there was an excellent selection of moths waiting for me in the morning. This is the first adult Square-spotted Clay I've seen, unless the moth I saw briefly on honeydew in the garden last night turns out to be one. Unfortunately both the Bordered Beauties and one of the Canary-shouldered Thorns were in spiders webs.

80 moths of 41 species
** = first for me
0695 Agonopterix alstromeriana 1
0972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) 1
1016x Cnephasia sp. 5
1169 Gypsonoma dealbana 2
1290 Chilo phragmitella 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 1
1304 Agriphila straminella 1
1316 Catoptria falsella 5
1329 Donacaula forficella 1 (TBC)
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 1
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 1
1348 Ringed China-mark (Parapoynx stratiotata) 6
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) 4
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) typical 1
1724x Red/Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia/ferrugata) 3
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
1777 July Highflyer (Hydriomena furcata) 2
**1838 Tawny Speckled Pug (Eupithecia icterata) 1
1907 Bordered Beauty (Epione repandaria) 2
1913 Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria) 2
1919 Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria) 1
1921 Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria) 2
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
1997 Sallow Kitten (Furcula furcula) 1
2003 Pebble Prominent (Eligmodonta ziczac) 2
2007 Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula) 3
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 3
2047 Scarce Footman (Eilema complana) 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 1
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 3
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 2
**2131 Square-spotted Clay (Xestia rhomboidea) 1
2289 Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis) 1
2298 Svensson's Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera) 2
2318 The Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina) 3
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 4
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 3
2349 Mere Wainscot (Photedes fluxa) 1
2353 Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea) 1

Square-spotted Clay (Xestia rhomboidea)


Tawny Speckled Pug (Eupithecia icterata)


Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria)



Pebble Prominent (Eligmodonta ziczac)


Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula)


Svensson's Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera)


Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria)


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Southern Hawker

This species has visited the garden more frequently this year and this individual was particularly entertaining as it cruised slowly up and down just outside the kitchen.

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea)


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July ends with a wimper

A rather ordinary collection of moths this morning and no good photos I'm afraid.

94 moths of 37 species
* = year first
0455 Ypsolopha scabrella 1
0695 Agonopterix alstromeriana 1
0972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) 1
1020 Grey Tortrix (Cnephasia stephensiana) 1
1260 Chestnut Tortrix (Cydia splendana) 3
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 4
1304 Agriphila straminella 3
1305 Agriphila tristella 2
1344 Eudonia mercurella 1
1356 Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis) 2
1388 Udea lutealis 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 8
1424 Endotricha flammealis 1
1470 Euzophera pinguis 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. remutata 1
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 7
*1825 Lime-speck Pug (Eupithecia centaureata) 1
1921 Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria) 2
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) typical 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) f. perfumaria 2
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 1
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 4
2145 The Nutmeg (Discestra trifolii) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 1
2193 The Clay (Mythimna ferrago) 1
2289 Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis) 2
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 5
2303 Straw Underwing (Thalpophila matura) 1
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 4
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 22
2352 Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca) 1
2353 Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea) 1
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 3
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 2
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1
Episyrphus balteatus 1
Black Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus humator) 1

Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa)


Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis)


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Over here

Apparently its been "over here" for some time (30 years?) but this is the first time I've knowingly seen one anyway. This is the so-called "Euro Wasp", a recent colonist and presumably continuing to spread. It is slightly larger than the Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) but otherwise is a similar social wasp.

Dolichovespula media




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Treehopper

Is this the wackiest beast we have yet discovered in the garden? Well it reminds me of something out of Robot Wars. It is larger than other leafhoppers or froghoopers. It has quite a jump too. The camouflage is unbeatable but what are those 'ears' for?

I found it on a Hawthorn in the garden. It is species of oak woods so I expect it was attracted to moth lights.

Treehopper (Ledra aurita)





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Migrant Hawker

Its that time of year again. My first Migrant Hawker of the year was in the garden today.

Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta)


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Eupodes luniger

Another good insect in the garden today.

Eupodes luniger




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Jones' Covert

An hour and a half in Jones' Covert near Hampton for a local wildlife group. The youngsters were suitably impressed with the beasts on show, with one heard to say "moths are cool".

Interesting to trap in different habitat. I don't often get a chance to get into woodland so five new species is only to be expected. The Drinker was the first I'd seen as an adult but we've come across many larvae in the past (see blogs passim). Black Arches is a beauty and one I hope we manage to attract to the garden one day.

The list is for my light only, which was a little deeper into the wood than Barry's, and not all species were counted. There were a few species in each trap not seen in the other. True to form The Herald came to a wine rag early on.

28 species
** = new to me
0658 Carcina quercana 3
0937 Agapeta hamana 1
0969 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis corylana) 2
0977 Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana) 1
1016x Cnephasia sp.
1260 Chestnut Tortrix (Cydia splendana)
1304 Agriphila straminella
1332 Scoparia subfusca 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis)
1424 Endotricha flammealis 1
1436 Conobathra repandana
1501 Platyptilia gonodactyla 1
**1640 The Drinker (Euthrix potatoria) 1
1724x Red/Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia/ferrugata) 2
**1726 Large Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe quadrifasciata) 5
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 2
**1777 July Highflyer (Hydriomena furcata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
2000 Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) 1
2030 Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis) 2
**2033 Black Arches (Lymantria monacha) 3
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 2
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
2299 Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis) 2
2318 The Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina) 2
**2319 Lunar-spotted Pinion (Cosmia pyralina) 2
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1
2469 The Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix) 1

Black Arches (Lymantria monacha)


The Drinker (Euthrix potatoria)


Platyptilia gonodactyla


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