Blaencaerau

We had a rather overcast and cooler day, but we did have sunnier intervals between 1000-1200hrs, so I made the most of it. After a bit of back records checking I find that I'm on 99 species of hoverfly for the site and my objective for the day was to try and break the 100 barrier - I failed, but I did get 22 species of hoverfly and new for the year in Merodon equestris and Xanthogramma citrofasciatum. The most numerous species was again Cheilosia albitarsis (47). There were some nice records in Chrysotoxum arcuatum (1), Xanthogramma pedissequum (1), Rhingia rostrata (1) and Eumerus strigatus (2).

Not much else about in the gloom but Common Blue (5) butterfly were noticeable and Bee numbers dropped dramatically. The only other species worth mentioning was a Bronze Shieldbug on Hawthorn. Birds were nothing special.

 Merodon equestris

 Riponnensia splendens

 Xanthogramma citrofasciatum

 Bronze Shieldbug

Last fine day for a while (25th May - Garnwen)

With the fine weather about to break on Sunday, today was my last chance to record some hoverflies for a while. So a trip to Garnwen plantation was on the cards, Hawthorn is now in full bloom and sites like the one above, where Hawthorn grows in the glades of the conifer plantation are a magnet for this insect rich area. I smashed my May species record, recording 34 species of Hoverfly, new for the year were Didea fasciata (1), Scaeva pyrastri (1) and Xylota jakutorum (1) taking my total to 65 for the year. But the prize of the day was new for the valley Parasyrphus nigritarsis (2nd Glamorgan record) a species that lay its eggs in the egg clusters of the Green Dock Beetle and then the larva eat the beetle larva/eggs before pupating. I followed a female for 10 minutes as it flew from Dock plant to plant, landing on the edge of the leaves before going underneath the leaf for 2 or 3 seconds to find the beetle egg clusters and then moving to another leaf on the same plant and repeating this diagnostic pattern. Its worth turning over a few dock leaves to see the larva in action. The beetle lays orange eggs and the hoverfly white eggs that hatch in a few days and begin to devour the beetle eggs usually before they hatch. The most numerous hoverfly of the day was Sphegina sibirica (100+) and other good sightings included Leucozona lucorum (1), Parasyrphus punctulatus (5), Sericomyia silentis (15) and Criorhina berberina (1).

 Helophilus pendulus

Early Bumblebee

Another feature of the past week has been the huge number of bees at tree blossoms. Species recorded today were Early Bumblebee (150), Tree Bumblebee (50), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (100), Common Carder Bee (20), Honey Bee (25), Ashy-mining Bee (2), Forest Cuckoo Bee (5), Field Cuckoo Bee (20), Orange-tailed Mining Bee (1) and Orange-footed Furrow Bee (30). Those are just the ones I can identify and probably saw 20 or 30 other species of various types of bees that can't be identified from photos.

 Micropterix aureatella

4-spotted Chaser - with missing or deformed wing.

Other insects about today included 6 species of butterfly headed by Dingy Skipper (10). Dragonflies are starting to emerge with Four-spotted Chaser (2) and Broad-bodied Chaser (1) patrolling the various ponds. Record numbers of the longhorn beetle Rhagium bifasciatum (30) were present on the hawthorn bloom along with sightings of Green Tiger Beetle, 14-spotted Ladybird and Oedemera nobilis. Day moths are also becoming more noticeable with a record count of Micropterix aureatella (15) supported by Common Heath (10), Burnet companion (20), Micropterix calthella (500), Stigmella aurella (1 adult), Nematopogon schwarziellus (1), Cocksfoot Moth (10) and Syndemis musculana (1). Plenty of the Red and Black planthopper (10) about as was the odd Nursery Web Spider, The Minnows in the top pool looking to be fairing well.

Finally good numbers of Sedge Warbler (4), Whitethroat (8), Siskin (5 pairs) and a singing male Redstart were seen.

weekday roundup

Weather has been fine all week, so stopped off at a few places for an hour on the way home from work including Blaencaerau, Foel Fawr, Drysiog, Garnwen and Pont Rhydd-y-Cyff. New hoverflies for the year included Xanthogramma pedissequum and Criorhina flocossa. Still huge numbers of bees about, more than anytime I've seen over the last twenty years particularly Early and Tree Bumblebees. The first Pachytodes cerambyciformis longhorn beetle of the year was at Foel Fawr and Small Heath, Common Blue and Dingy Skipper butterflies are now on the wing. A Garden Warbler behind Railway Terrace was a nice surprise, House Martins were numerous at traditional sites like Nanty and Llangynwyd but none yet at Caerau. Swifts are starting to come in at Caerau, Nanty, Maesteg and Garth, hopefully they will have a good year/

 Dingy Skipper

 Myathropa florea

 Nematopogon Schwarziellus (I'm guessing by the antennae length and small size - Sid ??)

 Pachytodes cerambyciformis

 Small Heath

Xanthogramma pedissequum s.s.

Blaencaerau (Sunday)

From 1100-1300 hrs we had sunshine and warm temps (20c) and insects particularly hoverflies and bees were everywhere. Then it clouded over and they all disappeared for the next 3hrs. I recorded 31 species of hoverfly, 1 short of my best May tally, but that will increase as I took 12 specimens and at least half a dozen species there. New for the year were Platycheirus angustatus, Chrysogaster virescens, Chrysogaster solstitialis, Neoascia tenur, Orthonevra nobilis, Riponnensia splendens, Eristalis horticola, Parasyrphus versicolor, Myathropa florea, Pipizella viduata and Syritta pipiens, The most numerous species was Cheilosia albitarsis agg. and other good records include Cheilosia fraterna (1) and Rhingia rostrata (1). Two of the specimens are new for the valley but I will await confirmation before adding - Eumerus strigatus (10), finally nailed this family down as 10 were feeding on Dogwood next to Yellow Flag Iris, I collected 1 and it is 100% strigatus. Also I collected a Parhelophilus from a new site and it is a male with a ventral hair projection on the hind femur making it frutetorum.

Another feature of today were the large numbers of bees about headed by Tree Bumblebee (300). I also stumbled on a Southern Pill Woodlouse on a breeze block wall at the back of Caerau Road.

 Rhingia rostrata

 Eumerus sp. - specimen says strigatus

 Pipzella sp. - specimen says viduata

 Hawthorn Shieldbug

Southern Pill Woodlouse

quick note

Visited Blaencaerau today and had 31 species of hoverfly + 2 specimens that look good for new for the valley, no time today so will update tomorrow

Cwm Sychbant

A warm fine day (18c) with very little wind was rewarded with 22 species of hoverfly. New for the year were Platycheirus peltatus, Cheilosia illustrata, Sphegina sibirica and Sericomyia silentis. Again the most common was Melanostoma scalare (15), with other good species being Platycheirus tarsalis (6) all on Bluebell, Parasyrphus punctulatus (2) including a melanic female, Baccha elongata (1).

Butterflies were back out in numbers with seven species being seen today including Brimstone (3). A very large Nursery Web Spider basking on sun lit leaves was a first for me and the first Brown Silver-lines of the year was noted. Usual bee and beetle species about that I can identify and many that I cannot particularly bees. A few Large Red Damselfly around the water courses. This area is best between 1300-1500hrs to get direct sunlight.

A Cuckoo was constantly calling and other summer migrants included Whitethroat (1), Blackcap (8), Willow Warbler (10), Chiffchaff (5) and a pair of Swallow inspecting a local barn. Resident breeders were 1 pair each of Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Raven and Green Woodpecker.

 Nursery Web Spider

 Cheilosia illustrata

Xylota segnis

Garnwen revisited.

Back up Garnwen, although sunny a cool NW wind kept temperatures down to 13c, so insect numbers and species was down on last time. 15 species of hoverfly headed by the first of the year for Cheilosia fraterna and Dasysyrphus albostriatus as well as Criorhina berberina and Epistrophe eligans, all on Sycamore.

Other insects  included 100+ Tree Bumblebee and an Early Bumblebee. Beetles were represented by Green Tiger Beetle and the rather odd looking Bloody-nosed Beetle Larva, Still good numbers of Orange Tip (15) and now Green-veined White (30) was joined by a single Holly Blue feeding high up in a Sycamore.  The longhorn beetle Rhagium bifasciatum also made its first appearance of the year. Otherwise same species that had previously been reported.

Summer breeders were in good voice with Sedge Warbler (2), Whitethroat (6), Willow Warbler (8), Blackcap (6) and Chiffchaff (4) all singing. A couple of Swallow have returned to the barn near the golf course and were feeding over the moor. Residents included Stonechat (1 pair), Reed Bunting (2 pair), Goldfinch (2 pair), Siskin (2 pair) and Lesser Redpoll (1 pair).

 Rhagium bifasciatum

 Bloody-nosed Beetle larva

Cheilosia albitarsis agg.

Cheilosia fraterna - looks similar to albitarsis at first glance, but notice the orange hind tibia.

Garnwen comes alive !

Weather has been pretty overcast lately, but today for a few hours at least it was sunny and warm out of the wind. There are 2 Sycamores along the track that are now in full bloom and today in the sunshine they provided 93 hoverflies of 25 species coming and going to feed and in the surrounding area. This is the time of year when things really start to liven up on the hoverfly front and marks the start of the true hoverfly season, when anything can turn up. So I'll give a full list for once of what I recorded.

Melanostoma mellinum (2), Melanostoma scalare (15), Platycheirus albimanus (8), Platycheirus clypeatus (1), Platycheirus scutatus (2), Dasysyrphus venustus (3), Epistrophe eligans (1), Episyrphus balteatus (1), Eupeodes luniger (1), Leucozona lucorum (1), Melangyna lasiophthalma (2), Meliscaeva auricollis (2), Meliscaeva cinctella (2), Syrphus ribesii (12), Syrphus torvus (1), Cheilosia albitarsis (6), Cheilosia bergenstammi (1), Cheilosia pagana (3), Cheilosia proxima (2), Cheilosia variabilis (1), Rhingia campestris (5), Neoascia meticulosa (1), Neoascia podagrica (1), Eristalis pertinax (4), Helophilus pendulus (1).

For anytime of the year that would be a great haul, but for early May it is quite exceptional for the valley, but the story doesn't end there. I also took a few specimens of things I couldn't identify in the field, amongst them were three interesting specimens. I believe that I have Dasysyrphus neovenustus (new for Wales), Brachyopa pilosa (new for Glamorgan) and Cheilosia vicina, . I will just have to wait till the end of the year for confirmation from Roger Morris of the hoverfly recording scheme.

Many things get away while attempting to take specimens. My first instinct is to try and capture something new rather than photograph it, so today I probably missed a Cheilosia nebulosa (would have been new for the valley). I also came across an odd Cheilosia which I photographed (just), a pair were vigorously defending a patch of Mouse-ear Hawkweed and would chase off any encroaching flies. All my attempts to catch one failed so I just have a photo to mull over what could have been.

This is the mystery Cheilosia defending Mouse-ear Hawkweed and was medium to large for a Cheilosia. There are two species that lay eggs on M-EH but both "psilophthalma" and "urbana"  are small for Cheilosia.

Lletty Brongu woods

The only time you can now properly visit the woods and sewage works is at the weekend, when there is a halt to the building work and you can walk downstream from the bridge by slipping through the temporary barriers. Todays venture produced another 20 species haul for hoverflies, with new for the year in Platycheirus granditarsus (female), Platycheirus tarsalis (male - earliest date), Dasysyrphus venustus (male-sternites checked to eliminate "neovenustus", a new species recently split from venustus, also earliest date), Eupeodes luniger (female), Leucozona lucorum (female), Rhingia rostrata (male) and Criorhina berberina (male variation "oxyacanthae"). Most numerous species was Melanostoma scalare (35), and other highlights were Epistrophe eligans (2) and Neoascia meticulosa (male).

No other special birds or insects, but did have my first Early Bumblebee of the year feeding on Ramsons and 2 variations of Harlequin Ladybird. Amongst the throngs of Micropterix calthella was a single Cauchas rufimitrella (I think ?).

 Cauchas rufimitrella

   Criorhina berberina - variation "oxyacanthae"

Hoverfly data

2018 was a fairly good year for the valley with 107 species recorded for the valley, with 99 species in SS89 (upper valley) and 90 species in SS88 (lower valley), helped no doubt by a number of species taken as specimens in both 10km squares. Now that all data for 2018 has been up loaded to the hoverfly recording scheme website, we see that our two squares were the best recorded in number of species for 2018. So far in 2019 I have recorded 31 species and that will increase dramatically during May. Top 3 sites are listed below.

1st

 2nd

 3rd

New insects for valley

As new records from the other recorders trickle in, our valley list for fauna now stands at 1570 species. The following three species have been added to the list and are new for me if not the valley.

 Bibio Marci - Bibionidae are known as St. Mark's Fly, because they regularly first appear on St. Mark's Day (25th April). There are 18 species in this genus and this one is the largest (12-16mm).

 Lochmaea caprea - is a leaf beetle that feeds on willow and birch, there are 2 similar species but one feeds on heather and the other Hawthorn and are unlikely to be seen together or far away from their food plant.

 Nephrotoma appendiculata - a member of the crane-fly sub-family Nephrotoma of which there are 15 species and are known as Tiger Crane-flies for their unique striped pattern. This species is the commonest of all.


Baccha elongata (hoverfly) - one I forgot from yesterday, as I had it in a pot and was my earliest record for the year of this species.