With temperatures dropping to 20c and a fair amount of cloud cover, the direct heat of our two week sunny spell has dissipated. This meant that hoverflies are starting to show themselves again. I recorded 18 species today, the highlights being the first of the year of Leucozona laternaria and Cheilosia vernalis as well as good numbers of Cheilosia illustrata, Chrysogaster solstitialis and Syritta pipiens. The Hogweed is now in full bloom, so if temperatures stay the same hoverfly numbers should increase greatly.
Red Admiral and 2 Small tortoiseshell were the pick of the 6 species of butterfly seen, the first of these for quite some time. Pammene aurana, Carcina quercana micro moths were the first for the year as was the Green Froghopper, both on Hogweed. The micro moth "Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner" was also present and now seems to be affecting every tree in the valley.
Cheilosia illustrata
Cheilosia vernalis - once you realise that this small Cheilosia is not a Chrysogaster, it is easy to pick out amongst other species.
Leucozona laternaria
Myathropa florea
Syrphus ribesii - the female ribesii is the only Syrphus that can be safely identified with confidence from a photograph, due to its all yellow/orange hind femur. All others have to be checked in hand under 20x magnification.
Carcina quercana
mine of the
Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner. Now infesting all the trees in the valley.
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