Various sites saturday

I visited a few sites, mainly because of the improving weather. Lletty Brongu (11-1300hrs) - weather was overcast windy and cold. Cwmfelin Park (13-1400hrs) - weather improving but still a little cloudy. Gilfach (west), top Llan (1430-1630) - weather much better, fine and sunny for the most part.
I recorded 36 species between the 3 sites with Gilfach (west) coming out on top with 28 species. Most numerous species being Xylota segnis (110) and Meliscaeva auricollis (99). I also found a male Eupeodes lapponicus at Gilfach (west) a second site now in the valley for this national rarity. Also new for the year was Eristalis nemorum (1) and Helophilus trivittatus (1) both at Gilfach (west). Other notable records included Chrysotoxum bicinctum (1)Dasysyrphus pinastri (3), Dasysyrphus venustus agg. (1), Parhelophilus versicolor (1) and Criorhina berberina (2).

Other insects of note were the first Large Skipper (3) butterfly of the year at Cwmfelin Park and first Red Admiral of the year at Gilfach (west). Longhorns Pachytodes cerambyciformis (1) at Lletty Brongu woods and Rhagium bifasciatum (1) at Gilfach (west). I also photographed the "nail" gall of the gall mite Eriophyes tiliae on Large-leaved Lime at Cwmfelin Park.

 This small patch of Ground Elder and Hawthorn next to a spruce plantation is proving to be a mecca for rare hoverflies.

 "nail" gall of the gall mite Eriophyes tiliae on Large-leaved Lime.

 Large Skipper

 Volucella pellucens - now out in good numbers around Bramble

 and likewise for Volucella bombylans form plumata

Criorhina - an example of how not to take the right angle photograph. An above shot is needed to separate Criorhina floccosa and berberina "oxyacanthae" form, this one looks like floccosa but doesn't have the long hairs on tergite 2 and the frons projection is also more akin to berberina.