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.
Monday 20 May 2019
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
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.
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