Adelphocornis quadripunctatus

 

I've been waiting for confirmation of this species since the 26th August (at the C.O.P.) on Irecord and it was finally confirmed recently. Adelphocornis quadripunctatus is a common species in Europe particularly the Scandinavian region, but was only discovered in Great Britain in 2015 in Glamorgan and since then there have been about 20 records all in Glamorgan well spread out. Why it has been recorded in only Glamorgan by multiple observers and nowhere else in Great Britain remains a mystery. It is said to be associated with nettle (background of photo) and feeds on flowers nearby (foreground of photo). Sid has also recorded this species at the lower end of the valley, so is a welcome addition to the valleys species list.

Hoverfly season is now over until mid March and the nights are getting longer, so for the next 4 months it's "data analysis" season.

Ivy watch

 With all the flowers now gone over, it just leaves the Ivy to visit for the dwindling number of hoverflies with the season coming to an end rapidly over the next two weeks until March 2021. The three sites I have been visiting have been Maesteg Welfare Park, Maesteg Cemetery and the Ivy laden trees of Llangynwyd viaduct. Highlights include Sericomyia silentis (4), Melanostoma mellinum (2) and Eupeodes corollae (1). Out of the 15 species seen Episyrphus balteatus (71) was the most numerous. From here on only warm days (15c+) will produce any insects and the Ivy will be gone by the end of the month.

Specimens have been restricted this year to one box (75) and I'll be lucky if I get any new ones to add to the total, fingers crossed.

Sericomyia silentis

Hawthorn shieldbug

Melanostoma scalare

Maesteg Welfare Park

 The Ivy is just starting to bloom, so there were very few species feeding the best being Volucella pellucens. So I turned my attention back to last weeks flowerbed of White Laceflower, Japanese Anemone and Cornflower. There were a further 14 species feeding there, species new from last week included Melanostoma mellinum (m), Sphaerophoria scripta (m), Cheilosia impressa (m), Rhingia campestris (m) and Syritta pipiens (15). The commonest species was Eristalis tenax (25). Not much else about besides Red Admiral and Speckled Wood butterflies. Although a female Common Darter resting on a Rose flower was unusual.

Volucella pellucens

Syritta pipiens

Common Darter

Red-tailed Bumblebee 

Sunday

 With only a short window, I visited the scabious patch again, it was still going strong with 20 species seen, highlights included Eupeodes latifasciatus (f), Xanthogramma pedissequum (f) and Sericomyia silentis (12). Most numerous species was again Eristalis tenax (55).

Sericomyia silentis

Rhingia campestris

Eristalis tenax

A Dock Bug was new for the C.O.P. and 10 Silver Y were feeding on Devilsbit Scabious. 4 species of common butterfly were also present. A singing Garden Warbler in the bungalow trees was a bit of a surprise though.

Saturday

 Fine weather but a strong north easterly wind, meant the 20c temperature felt more like 15c. With most of the flower areas now out of bloom , I payed a short visit to three places to check out whether the Ivy was in bloom.

Maesteg Welfare park

The Ivy here [background of 2nd photo) was yet to open, but the flower bed in front of it had a few ornamental flowers which were attracting hoverflies particularly the ornamental umbellifer Orlaya grandiflora (White Laceflower) and Anemone hupehensis var. jappnicax hybryda (Japanese Anemone). 13 species of hoverfly were recorded in this small one bed, with the commonest being Eristalis arbustorum (6) and Cheilosia scutellata (6).

Cheilosia scutellata

Eristalis arbustorum

Maesteg Cemetery

I visited at the wrong time of the day and the Ivy although starting to open was in the shade and I only recorded 8 species with the best being Sericomyia silentis (f).

Lletty Brongu woods

This small Ivy patch over the stream by the farm was very productive, holding 15 species of hoverfly, with Eristalis arbustorum again the commonest (8) species. The best from the woods included Eupeodes luniger (f), Riponnensia splendens (m) and Helophilus pendulus (3).

Eristalis horticola - rather scarce this year

Between the three sites I also saw the butterflies Comma (1), Red Admiral (4), Small White (2) and Speckled Wood (4). Also 3 Green Shieldbug were seen.

Comma

Green Shieldbug (3rd instar)

Devilsbit Scabious patch revisited

 Revisited the scabious patch by Newtown Bungalows, Caerau to see what was about. Still in full bloom and lots of insects feeding in the afternoon sunshine.

18 species of hoverfly seen, which is good for the time of year. My first Eupeodes latifasciatus (f) of the year was seen [species number 105 for the year]. Other highlights included a Rhingia rostrata (m) among the campestris present, Helophilus trivittatus (3), Helophilus pendulus (12) and Sericomyia silentis (6). Eristalis tenax (100) was the most numerous again. Also took a Platycheirus as a specimen which keys out to one of the rare ones, but will have to wait until the end of the year when I send my specimens off to Roger Morris of the Hoverfly Recording Scheme. Only downer was my camera battery run out after 12 shots.

Other insects present included good numbers of the migrant moth Silver Y (20) and 5 species of butterfly including Red Admiral. Also seen was the locally scarce Tachinid Fly Nowickia ferox and the Tortoise Shieldbug. 

Rhingia rostrata male - before my camera battery died

Blaencaerau C.O.P

 Last day of the long weekend was spent walking round my local patch. Weather was cloudy most of the time with brief intervals of sunshine. I recorded 22 species of hoverfly in noticeably smaller numbers. Highlights being Eristalis intricaria (m&f), Helophilus trivittatus (2) and Sericomyia silentis (11). Eristalis tenax (48) was the commonest species. Nothing else unusual in the insect world.

Cheilosia impressa

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

Eristalis intricaria

Mynydd Bach (south) SS8691

 Although it hit 20c and was largely fine, the day had an autumn feel about it. Lots of the late summer flowers are now going over like Angelica, Hemp Agrimony and Common Fleabane. Wild Carrot is hanging on as is Water Mint and Japanese Knotweed is now blooming, but Ivy is a few weeks away yet. Numbers of hoverflies will start to drop dramatically over the next few weeks and be almost gone by October.

Today I recorded 23 species of hoverfly with highlights being another Rhingia rostrata (f), Volucella pellucens (m & f) and some late Chrysogaster solstitialis (7) on Wild Carrot. Eristalis pertinax (30) was again the commonest species.

6 species of butterfly were seen headed by Red Admiral (4), the only other insect of note was the Tortoise Shieldbug (2).

Rhingia rostrata

Eristalis horticola

Myathropa florea

Volucella pellucens

Tortoise Shieldbug

Gilfach, Top Llangynwyd

 Weather was a bit hit and miss today, with sunny periods interspersed with dark cloud at times but thankfully no rain. The temperature was noticeably cooler (15c) in the stiff south westerly breeze. It was hard going at times but I did manage to record a healthy 26 species of hoverfly. Highlights being a too brief to photograph Eriozona syrphoides (f), Rhingia rostrata (f) and Helophilus trivittatus (2f) that seems to be having a good second brood. Eristalis pertinax (60) was the most numerous.

Other notable insects included another 3 of the micro moth Phaulernis fulviguttella and the butterfly Small Copper. Also new for the valley was the Sycamore white-spot fungus (Cristulariella depraedans). 

Rhingia rostrata

Small Copper

fungus - Cristulariella depraedans [Sycamore White-spot]

Devilsbit Scabious patch now in full bloom

 At the end of August the Devilsbit Scabious comes into bloom at the river bank opposite Newtown bungalows and is usually good for hoverflies for a couple of weeks. But on Wednesday it was in fine form with it being sunny and warm in the afternoon after morning rain. 16 species of hoverfly were recorded just on this plant a full list below.

Melanostoma scalare (2f)
Platycheirus albimanus (5)

Episyrphus balteatus (30)

Eupeodes luniger (3f)

Rhingia campestris (4)

Eristalis arbustorum (f)

Eristalis horticola (2m)

Eristalis intricaria (f)

Eristalis nemorum (3f)

Eristalis pertinax (35)

Eristalis tenax (120)

Helophilus hybridus (f)

Helophilus pendulus (23)

Helophilus trivittatus (15)

Sericomyia silentis (18)

Syritta pipiens (4)

A further 3 species were seen on surrounding flowers and they were Cheilosia illustrata (Angelica), Cheilosia impressa (Angelica) and Sphaerophoria scripta (Common Fleabane). Quite a few butterflies were also present like Gatekeeper, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Common Blue and Large White. A Common Lizard was basking on a corrugated iron sheet in the sunshine and I photographed a spider that looks like Larinioides cornutus (Furrow Orb Spider) but I will have to wait for confirmation (or not) from Irecord before it can be claimed new for the valley. Moths were represented by Silvery Y, Dingy Footman and the Angelica specialist micro Phaulernis fulgivitella.

Eristalis intricaria

Eristalis nemorum

Eristalis tenax

Eupeodes luniger

Helophilus trivittaus

Rhingia campestris

Sericomyia silentis

Phaulernis fulgivitella

Dingy Footman

Common Lizard

possibly Lariniodes cornutus (Furrow Orb Spider)

Blaencaerau - Sunday

 Another warm day of dipping hat in river to cool me down. 28 species of hoverfly recorded, best were Platycheirus rosarum (f), Scaeva pyrastri (4), Cheilosia bergenstammi (first of summer brood), Xanthogramma pedissequum (3m) and Sericomyia silentis (m). Eristalis numbers building nicely with pertinax (60) the most numerous.

Other stuff seen included a very late Dark Green Fritillary and the gall mite Acalitus brevitarsus on Alder which was new for the valley and the Dark Giant Horsefly, which was a beast.

Scaeva pyrastri

Acalitus brevitarsus - gall mite on Alder

Agromyza alnivora  - leaf-mining Fly

Dark Green Fritillary

Dark Giant Horsefly

Back to Top Llangynwyd after covid scare

 Last Thursday (30th July) I woke up in the middle of the night with a high fever a burning hacking cough and I lost my voice briefly. I managed to phone work who told me not to come in until I had a covid-19 test. Luckily on Tuesday I had a negative test result after self-isolating and returned to work this Thursday (5th August). I spoke to the company boss and the scenario of what would have happened if I had tested positive. He said the company would immediately close and everyone in the factory would have to have a test before returning to work, a specialist company would have to come in to deep clean the workplace and the company would lose £100,000 pound a day - so no pressure there then. My brief illness was diagnosed as a sinus infection and was gone in 48 hours.

So back in the free world today I visited Gilfach, Top Llangynwyd which is particularly good at this time of year for hoverflies, with lots of flowers in bloom including large beds of Hogweed, Angelica, Creeping Thistle, Hedge Woundwort, Common Fleabane, Herb Robert, Oxford Ragwort and a few Buddleah bushes. Even though it was 30c I recorded 28 species of hoverfly. Pipizella viduata,  Platycheirus manicatus and Helophilus hybridus were new for the year taking me to 102 for the year. Lots of good hoverflies included Dasysyrphus albostriatus, Parasyrphus lineola, Xanthogramma pedissequum, Riponnensia splendens and Helophilus pendulus. Lots of Eristalis about today with pertinax (80) the most numerous. 

Lots of butterflies about with Small Tortoiseshell (20) the highest numbered species. A few 6-spot Burnets were still on the wing and more interesting flies included Nowicka ferox (Tachinid), 19 Phasia hemiptera (Tachinid) and Physocephala rufipes (Conopid).

Eristalis arbustorum

Helophilus hybridus - notice the extent of black on the hind tibia

Physocephala rufipes (Conopidae)

6-spot Burnet (moth)