I have a week off work starting tomorrow, so I'm hoping for some fine weather after the rain, which should see an explosion in aphid numbers and therefore a large increase in hoverfly numbers for the species whose larva feed on them.
Didn't get out much last week for one reason or another but here's a round-up.
23 species of hoverfly were seen, highlights included Dasysyrphus venustus (2f), Melangyna lasiophthalma (1f), Parasyrphus punctulatus (1m) and Sericomyia silentis (2). There has been a large emergence of Eristalis nemorum (32). Highlights of other insects included my first Wasp Beetle (Longhorn beetle) for a few years.
Wasp Beetle (Longhorn beetle - Clytus arietis)
Chrysogaster Solstitialis
Dasysyrphus venustus - above and below, showing the diagnostic pattern of the sternites (underneath of abdomen), which separates it from the very similar Dasysyrphus neovenustus.
Melangyna lasiophthalma - quite a late record
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