Garden insects

The garden is heaving with aphid at the moment and as a consequence masses of insects feeding on the honeydew. The bulk of these are the hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, which are super abundant, with Common Wasp a poor second but still quite numerous and several Harlequin Ladybirds. There are now increasing numbers of Syrphus and other hoverflies joining in with the odd Scaevia pyrastri mainly on flowers.

Also on flowers are Pyrausta aurata (appropriately known sometimes as Mint Moth) and various bees and wasps.

Episyrphus balteatus


Scaevia pyrastri


Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
f. spectabilis


f. succinea


Pyrausta aurata



Pollen-laden bee

Buff female Poplar Hawk-moth

Haven't posted many moth pics of late but this rather fetching female Poplar Hawk-moth of the rare buff form had me reaching for the camera and I rattled off a few others while I was at it.

Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi, buff female with male




White Satin Moth Leucoma salicis


Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa

Celypha rosaceana (2nd for garden)


Aspilapteryx tringipennella


Canon Powershot SX10

Full list from last night (36 species):
0294 Aspilapteryx tringipennella 2
0411 Argyresthia goedartella 1
0873 Blastobasis adustella 8
1016x Cnephasia sp. 3
1064 Celypha rosaceana 1
1261 Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 3
1304 Agriphila straminella 19
1305 Agriphila tristella 11
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 1
1344 Eudonia mercurella 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 1
1424 Endotricha flammealis 2
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) 5
1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia) 1
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
1913 Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria) 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 2
2000 Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) 1
2003 Pebble Prominent (Eligmodonta ziczac) 1
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1
2026 The Vapourer (Orgyia antiqua) 1
2031 White Satin Moth (Leucoma salicis) 1
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 3
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 1
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
2087 Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 2
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 3
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 4
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 5
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 6
2341 Cloaked Minor (Mesoligia furuncula) 1
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 17

Southern Hawker Ovipositing

Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea, female ovipositing


Canon Powershot SX10

Southern Hawker eating Ladybird

Brown and Southern Hawker feeding in the garden today.

Southern Hawker eating Ladybird


Canon Powershot SX10

Bedford Purlieus Insects

Finally found time to get to Bedford Purlieus for the feast of butterflies on show there. The number of White-letter Hairstreaks was very impressive. Several small Marjoram plants had 8 individuals feeding and there must have been 100 or more along the ride. With at least 6 Silver-washed Fritillaries and a total of 11 species plus other insects like Brown Hawker, Emperor and Common Darter this was a fabulous afternoon.

Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia, female


White-letter Hairstreak Satyrium w-album


Large Skipper Ochlodes faunus


Common Blue Polyommatus icarus
Male


Female


Endotricha flammealis, a pyralid moth


Volucella inanis



Canon Powershot SX10

Peak District Animals

A family weekend in the Peak District with these posing at Monsal Head. The Bank Vole was particularly obliging allowing close approach and feeding while we watched. The mirid bug was abundant on umbelifers.

Grypocoris stysi, a mirid bug


Bank Vole Myodes glareolus



Canon Powershot SX10

The Blackneck

Another fabulous first for the garden. This is a local species only known from about 10% of the 2km squares in Hunts. It is a first for this square.

Other significant records were the second Heart & Club for the garden and only the third Dingy Shears.

The Blackneck Lygephila pastinum


Canon Powershot SX10

300 moths of 60 species
0672 Parsnip Moth (Depressaria pastinacella) 1 (TBC)
0874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1
0937 Agapeta hamana 1
0970 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis cerasana) 1
0994 Clepsis consimilana 1
1016x Cnephasia sp. 1
1033 Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana) 1
1063 Celypha striana 1
1076 Celypha lacunana 1
1083 Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana) 3
1169 Gypsonoma dealbana 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 58
1316 Catoptria falsella 1
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 1
1334 Scoparia ambigualis 1 (TBC)
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 5
1344 Eudonia mercurella 1
1392 Udea olivalis 1
1413 Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis) 1
1424 Endotricha flammealis 1
1438 Trachycera suavella 1
1653 Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides) 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) 1
1711 Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata) 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. remutata 5
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata) 1
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata) 1
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 2
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria) 1
1941 Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 1
1976 Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 1
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) 1
2029 Brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) 2
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 30
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 3
2088 Heart & Club (Agrotis clavis) 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 16
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 7
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 1
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum) 2
2155 Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 3
2193 The Clay (Mythimna ferrago) 2
2198 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura) 5
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 1
2278 Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala) 1
2314 Dingy Shears (Parastichtis ypsillon) 1
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 50
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) 2
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 1
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 2
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 59
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) f. juncta 1
2466 The Blackneck (Lygephila pastinum) 1
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis) 2

Red-belted Clearwing

Tried some old phereomone lures in the garden today. Very windy and cloudy at times so less than ideal conditions. The only moth was this Red-belted Clearwing that came to the 'cul' lure, which is supposed to attract Large Red-belted. Perhaps the lures had become contaminated but in any case this is a welcome third record for the garden.

Red-belted Clearwing


Canon Powershot SX10

Some cracking moths

Last night produced some of the best mothing for a long time. Best was a new macro for me: Lilac Beauty has not been recorded in this square before. It's good to add a dot to the map.

Ethmia dodecea was another good record. Rare locally and only appeared in the garden for the first time last year.

There were two Privet, two Elephant, one Lime and one Poplar Hawk-moths in the trap, Scarce Silver-lines (second for garden and first since 2006),

Lilac Beauty Apeira syringaria


Beautiful China-mark Nymphula stagnata


Privet Hawk-moth Sphinx ligustri


Scarce Silver-lines Bena bicolorana



Carcina quercana


Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria


Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria


Short-cloaked Moth Nola cucullatella


Common Wave Cabera exanthemata


Canon Powershot SX10

Nearly 500 moths of 80 species here with a few still to determine:
0014 Ghost Moth (Hepialus humuli) 1
0161 Leopard Moth (Zeuzera pyrina) 2
0441 Paraswammerdamia lutarea 1
0658 Carcina quercana 1
0718 Ethmia dodecea 1
0765 Teleiodes vulgella 3
0905 Blastodacna hellerella 3
0937 Agapeta hamana 1
0977 Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana) 1
0989 Timothy Tortrix (Aphelia paleana) 1
0994 Clepsis consimilana 1
1010 Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana) 2
1016x Cnephasia sp. 10
1032 Aleimma loeflingiana 3
1033 Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana) 1
1076 Celypha lacunana 2
1083 Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana) 4
1115 Ancylis achatana 5
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 126
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 1
1334 Scoparia ambigualis 2
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 4
1344 Eudonia mercurella 4
1350 Beautiful China-mark (Parapoynx stagnata) 1
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 3
1392 Udea olivalis 2
1413 Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis) 1
1424 Endotricha flammealis 2
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 1
1438 Trachycera suavella 1
1458 Thistle Ermine (Myelois circumvoluta) 1
1483 Phycitodes binaevella 3
1669 Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria) 2
1690 Small Blood-vein (Scopula imitaria) 1
1705 Dwarf Cream Wave (Idaea fuscovenosa) 2
1707 Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata) 1
1711 Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata) 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. remutata 30
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) typical 2
1860 Green Pug (Chloroclystis rectangulata) 2
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1910 Lilac Beauty (Apeira syringaria) 1
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria) 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 5
1941 Mottled Beauty (Alcis repandata) 1
1947 The Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 3
1976 Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri) 2
1979 Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) 3
2031 White Satin Moth (Leucoma salicis) 1
2040 Four-dotted Footman (Cybosia mesomella) 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 70
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 3
2077 Short-cloaked Moth (Nola cucullatella) 1
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 10
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 9
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 3
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum) 2
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 4
2198 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura) 2
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 1
2279 The Sycamore (Acronicta aceris) 1
2291 The Coronet (Craniophora ligustri) 1
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 3
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 16
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) 4
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 2
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 4
2345 Small Dotted Buff (Photedes minima) 1
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines) 54
2382 The Rustic (Hoplodrina blanda) 1
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) 1
2421 Scarce Silver-lines (Bena bicolorana) 1
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis) 13
10-spot Ladybird (Adalia 10-punctata) 1
Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 1
Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) 1

Dragons in the Forest

A very hot weekend camping in the New Forest. Insects weren't quite as numerous or varied as the same time last year (also very hot) but some interesting sightings. I also had my first Bird's Wing moth and singles of Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral and Firecrest.

Keeled Skimmer Orthetrum coerulescens


Beuatiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo


Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara


Oblong-leaved Sundew Drosera intermedia


Canon Powershot SX10

King's Dyke West

A fairly standard bunch of insects this lunchtime in cooler, cloudier weatehr than expected. In addition to those shown here there were Black-tailed Skimmers, Four-spotted Chasers, egg-laying Emperor Dragonfly and Blue-tailed Damselflies.

Most of these shots are from the zoom and crop school of insect photography, hence the rather variable quality.

Large Skipper Ochlodes faunus


Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa



Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum


Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum


Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum


Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis f. succinea


Canon Powershot SX10