A slightly better day today for hoverflies, with 20 species seen in the 22c heat. First of the year (in fact 2 years) in Scaeva selenitica. With The S. selenitica and Episyrphus balteatus (28) making their way north-west there seemed to be a bit of hoverfly migration happening. There was also a large emergence of Meliscaeva auricollis (74).
First Bee Beetle of the year was seen and also the soldier beetle Cantharis flavilabris was new for the valley since it's recent split from Cantharis nigra. They have different pronotum colours black in flavibris and red in nigra, will have to check back photos to see which ones I've seen. Plenty of Common Lizard were basking on the boulders that stop motorbikes entering the forestry paths.
Bee Beetle on Bramble next to a Speckled Longhorn for size comparison
Cantharis flavilabris
Common Lizard
Meliscaeva auricollis - big emergence today
Scaeva selenitica - a migrant hoverfly from mainland Europe
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