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.