2025 here we go

 First time looking for hoverflies this year. The Sallow has yet to bloom in most places I visit. So I had to go round the Hazel catkins in search of hoverflies. I haven't had much luck with this in the past, but today I caught it just right in the 15c sunshine after a colder than average winter. I recorded nine species (March record) up Gilfach (west) [SS8487] with singles of Melangyna lasiophthalma and Parasyrphus punctulatus joined by Platycheirus albimanus (22), Platycheirus scutatus agg (1), Episyrphus balteatus (3), Meliscaeva auricollis (6), Syrphus torvus (9), Eristalis pertinax (15) and Eristalis tenax (1). 

Other insects seen were singles of Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Early Mining-bee and Orange Dung Fly.

Bird news include a pair of Willow Tits coming to feeders at Blaencaerau farm, A Barn Owl at Caerau Church and on the Rook front 5 nests built at Llangynwyd and one maybe two at Caerau.

 Meliscaeva auricollis

Episyrphus balteatus

My street Ivy, Caerau

 

After the first frost on Monday, I thought that would be the end of the hoverfly season. But the Ivy at the top of my street is only now starting to bloom (quite late), all the other Ivy in Caerau has gone over. I will be able to keep an eye on this whenever there is a bright spell until the end of November.

Today there were seven species present over 20 minutes at mid-day. With latest dates for Melanostoma scalare (4), Platycheirus albimanus, Meliscaeva auricollis, Eristalis tenax (5) and Sericomyia silentis. The other two species were Episyrphus balteatus (3) and Eristalis pertinax and the most numerous was Eristalis tenax (5).

A few other insects were also present in Honey Bee (60), Green Shieldbug (1) and a late Red Admiral (1).

Eristalis tenax

Sericomyia silentis

Red Admiral

Ivy hanging on

 About 30% of the Ivy in Caerau is about to or yet to open, so hoverfly recording could go on until mid November providing we don't have any frosts. I am still getting double figures in species while previous records for November is a meagre 4 species. A late Xanthandrus comtus was probably my last year tick this year (103). There are still some nice hoverflies about including migrants like Scaeva pyrastri.

Scaeva pyrastri

Sericomyia silentis 

There are still plenty of Common Wasp and Honey Bee about as well as the odd Green Shieldbug.

Ivy at Caerau and Welfare Park

 Ivy watch season saw me visit Caerau (13 species) and Maesteg Welfare Park (12 species) this week. Highlights were surprisingly late Chrysotoxum arcuatum and Sphegina clunipes. Otherwise the commonest hoverfly was Episyrphus balteatus (32). Nothing much else to report except Ivy Bees are hanging on at Caerau.

Chrysotoxum arcuatum

Episyrphus balteatus

Ivy watch

 Hoverfly numbers are now dropping dramatically with most of the flowers dying off. So this time of the year means its time to tour the Ivy patches for the next few weeks. Saturday was fine so visited Maesteg cemetery and also a quick look around the patches of  Caerau. I recorded 13 species (the record is 17 species for October). Highlights included Eupeodes latifasciatus, Scaeva pyrastri and Sericomyia silentis. Most numerous was Eristalis tenax (14).

Of the other insects, a few butterflies were still on the wing in Comma and Red Admiral, I also had a Parent Bug (Shieldbug) which I haven't seen for a while

    Eupeodes latifasciatus

Eupeodes luniger

Scaeva pyrastri

Sericomyia silentis

Parent Bug

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Caerau revisited

 A quick walk around the Caerau circuit on Wednesday brought in much the same 31 species of hoverfly but with high numbers of Helophilus pendulus (33) and Sericomyia silentis (24). It is still the one Ivy blossom in bloom so looks like the other bushes will keep the season going well into October. Finally had Eupeodes lapponicus and Eupeodes luniger for the year taking me to 102 species for 2024 so far. Highlights were more sightings of Volucella zonaria and Rhingia rostrata both having exceptional years. Eristalis tenax (50) still the commonest hoverfly.

Volucella zonaria

Eupeodes latifasciatus - male & female

Eristalis nemorum - diagnostic flight behaviour

Cheilosia impressa - late record

 

Maesteg cemetery

 Much of the Ivy has yet to open (60%), the parts that did held 22 species. Highlights being Eupeodes latifasciatus, Scaeva pyrastri, Rhingia rostrata, Helophilus hybridus, Sericomyia silentis and Volucella pellucens. Most numerous species was Eristalis tenax (60).Also on the Ivy were a few Red Admiral and a Brimstone (not seen many this year). Ivy Bees (5) were also present as was a single Tachina fera.

Sericomyia silentis

Volucella pellucens

Syrphus torvus - you can just make out the diagnostic hairy eyes for this species within the family

Ivy Bee

Tachina fera

Caerau - street lanes and old railway path

 The first of the Ivy has opened in the back lanes of Treharne Road and one particular bush was dripping with hoverflies. Of the 30 species recorded today 24 of them were at this single spot. The rest of the species were recorded along the old railway path behind Railway Terrace, where there is a small patch of Michaelmas Daisy. Highlights for this time of year included - Dasysyrphus tricinctus, Eupeodes latifasciatus, Scaeva pyrastri, Helophilus hybridus, Helophilus trivittatus and Volucella zonaria. Most numerous hoverflies where Eristalis tenax (65) and surprisingly Melanostoma mellinum (45). Plenty of other insects were about too, some of which I photographed.

Small Ivy in bloom with many species of hoverfly

Scaeva pyrastri

Volucella zonaria

Dasysyrphus tricinctus

Helophilus trivittatus

Eristalis horticola

Myathropa florea

Rhingia rostrata

Sericomyia silentis

Dark Giant Horsefly

Green Shieldbug - late instar

Harlequin ladybird

Short-winged Conehead

Ivy Bee - first I've seen in a couple of years.

Caerau - Devilsbit Scabious patch

 It's that time of year when the scabious is in full bloom supported by Goldenrod and Common Ragwort. The Angelica, Hogweed and Hemp Agrimony has finished early here this year. But I still managed 30 species of hoverfly with good records being Epistrophe grossulariae (f), Eupeodes latifasciatus (m), Rhingia rostrata (3m), Eristalis intricarius (2f), Helophilus hybridus (m,f) and Helophilus trivittatus (f). The most numerous species was Eristalis tenax (80). 

Eristalis intricarius

Helophilus hybridus

Rhingia rostrata

Volucella pellucens

On the Goldenrod 2 Star-wort caterpillars were happily munching on the leaves and a Essex Skipper was feeding on the Devilsbit Scabious. Two Sparrowhawk, probably and adult female and an immature together flying overhead were the only birds of note. 

Star-wort catepillars

Essex Skipper

Spelter

 The Spelter is essentially just a football field size colliery spoil meadow, with the rest of the square being urban areas. Nevertheless at this time of year a new selection of blooming flowers always attracts a lot of hoverflies. The dominant blossoms in order were Water Mint, Wild Parsnip, Upright Hedge Parsley, Common Ragwort and now even a small patch of Devilsbit Scabious. So here I had 28 species some in good numbers over 2 hours on Sunday. Again I recorded another female Volucella zonaria. Other highlights included Chrysotoxum bicinctum, Eupeodes latifasciatus, Scaeva pyrastri, Helophilus trivittatus and Volucella pellucens. Eristalis tenax (65) was the most numerous.

Volucella zonaria

Cheilosia illustrata

Scaeva pyrastri

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

Syritta pipiens

Volucella pellucens

Lots of Butterflies were about and I managed a photo of the scarce Essex Skipper.