Y bwlwarcau - Top Llangynwyd

 With the weather slightly overcast and a stiff breeze it was not ideal for hovers, so I decided to visit a "0" records hoverfly 1km square for the valley. Y bwlwarcau is essentially upland farm land with the added bonus of the Bodvoc Pond in the top edge of the square. I recorded 25 species (16 in Y Bwlwarcau) here and a neighbouring square. New for the year was Sericomyia lappona (1), most numerous species was another record count of Meliscaeva auricollis (277). Other Interesting records included Baccha elongata (1), Dasysyrphus albostriatus (1), Megasyrphus erratica (1), Eupeodes lapponicus (5) and Sericomyia silentis (3). This June has been the best since I started recording hoverflies, I hope July follows suit

Bodvoc pond

Dasysyrphus albostriatus

another Eupeodes lapponicus

Sericomyia lappona

 

Other records last few days

 Bee Orchid - my first at Blaencaerau C.0.P.

Blaencaerau- hoverfly central

Blaencaerau - Hoverfly/Ox-eye Daisy highway

Eriocampa ovata - new for valley at Blaencaerau (sawfly)

Stripe-legged Robberfly - new for valley at Shwt lanes

Blaencaerau - record breaking day

 A record 54 species of hoverfly were seen today at Blaencaerau C.O.P. in 6 hours. In a change from my usual round up, I've decide to table them all. Other insects and plants will have to wait for the next post.

1.   Melanostoma mellinum          1m
2.   Melanostoma scalare               4f
3.   Platycheirus albimanus            9
4.   Platycheirus scutatus s.s.         5
5.   Chrysotoxum bicinctum          7

6.   Dasysyrphus tricinctus            1f  -   1st for two years

7.   Dasysyrphus venustus s.s.       2

8.   Episyrphus balteatus                9

9.   Eupeodes corollae                   1f

10. Eupeodes lapponicus              6   -   very rare, Llynfi valley only place in Wales to see this species.

11. Eupeodes luniger                 1f

12. Leucozona lucorum             4

13. Meliscaeva auricollis           3

14. Meliscaeva cinctella            5

15. Scaeva pyrastri                    1m   -   migrant

16. Syrphus ribesii                1f

17. Syrphus torvus                2f

18. Syrphus vitripennis         2f

19. Xanthagramma pedissequum    1m   -   new for the year

20. Cheilosia albitarsis agg.  2

21. Cheilosia antiqua           1m   -   new for the year, 2nd valley record

22. Cheilosia impressa         1m   -   new for the year

23. Cheilosia pagana             3

24. Cheilosia variabilis          5

25. Cheilosia vernalis            1m

26. Chrysogaster solstitialis  8

27. Melanogaster hirtella      15

28. Neoascia meticulosa       1m      

29. Sphegina clunipes           1f

30. Sphegina sibirica             16

31. Anasimyia contracta       1m   -   new for year

32. Eristalinus sepulchralis  1   -   new for year, 2nd valley record, new for me in valley   

33. Eristalis arbustorum         55 

34. Eristalis horticola             55

35. Eristalis intricaria           6   -   new for the year  

36. Eristalis nemorum            20

37. Eristalis pertinax              60

38. Eristalis rupium              1m   -   new for the year

39. Eristalis tenax                   80

40. Helophilus pendulus         5

41. Helophilus trivittatus       2   -   new for the year

42. Parhelophilus versicolor   1m  -   new for the year  

43. Myathropa florea                3

44. Psilota anthracina           1m   -   very rare, Llynfi valley only place in Wales to see this species.

45. Merodon equestris           2   -   new for the year 

46. Sericomyia silentis         11

  47. Volucella bombylans     13 - new for the year, 12 "plumata" form, 1 "typical" form.

48. Volucella pellucens         1m

49. Criorhina berberina         1m

50. Syritta pipiens                 80

51. Xylota jakutorum            14

52. Xylota segnis                    63

53. Xylota sylvarum               1m   -   new for the year

54. Microdon myrmicae agg.  2m

😱 What a day 💪

Gilfach (west), Llangynwyd

 A good break in the cloud between 1300 - 1600 hrs meant the sunshine brought out hoverflies in good numbers amongst the 34 species seen. New for the year was Chrysotoxum bicinctum (3). Most numerous species was a record count of Meliscaeva auricollis (250). Interesting records were Chrysotoxum cautum (1), Dasysyrphus pinastri (1), Dasysyrphus venustus (10), Didea fasciata (3), Eriozona syrphoides (1), Eupeodes lapponicus (7), Leucozona lucorum (1), Scaeva pyrastri (2), Orthonevra nobilis (2), Sericomyia silentis (1) and Criorhina berberina (1).

Other insects were headed by Red Admiral and Common Blue butterflies, all the common bees and a few Azures Damselflies. Both common longhorns were seen as well as the first of the year Garden and Bee Chafers. Finally Broad Centurian soldierflies were quite numerous. A distant cuckoo calling was the only bird of note due to the fact I spent most of the afternoon looking down to the ground.

Chrysotoxum cautum

Didea fasciata

Eriozona syrphoides

Eupeodes lapponicus

Meliscaeva auricollis

Lletty Brongu woods

 The mist started to burn off around 1000hrs and insect activity increased rapidly. The Ground Elder was in bloom in the lanes in patches and the Hemlock Water Droplet has just started to open (20%), looks like a good crop this year.  I recorded 30 species in 3 hours, new for the year were Platycheirus ambiguus (1), Platycheirus granditarsus (9), Cheilosia variabilis (8), Cheilosia lasiopa (1), Chrysogaster solstitialis (40), Orthonevra nobilis (10), Eristalis tenax (6) and Volucella pellucens (1). Most numerous hoverfly was Syritta pipiens (50). Other good records included Eumerus funeralis (1), Pipiza austriaca (1) and Criorhina berberina (3).

Red Admiral butterfly was seen as well as Speckled wood. The usual bees were recorded and the first Broad centurian soldier fly of the the year. Speckled Longhorn was abundant as was the tortrix Cocksfoot Moth, with Anthophila fabriciana in their hundreds. There were no birds of note today.

Criorhina berberina - buff form "oxyacanthae"

Eristalis tenax - surprisingly my first of the year

Myathropa florea

Platycheirus granditarsus

Garnwen

 Only one car here today, which just goes to show people would rather drink or shop than walk the hills. I remember the first day of lockdown, I couldn't find a parking space, even across the road (30 cars). Anyway my favourite Hawthorn tree was in full blossom and I recorded 32 species of hoverfly here in about an hour. New for the year were Chrysotoxum cautum (1), Didea fasciata (1), Megasyrphus erratica (1), Dasysyrphus pinastri (1), Eriozona syrphoides (1), Eupeodes corollae (3), Scaeva pyrastri (1), Chrysogaster virescens (2), Melanogaster hirtella (5), Eristalis horticola (2), Pipizella viduata (1) and Criorhina berberina (1). Most numerous was Platycheirus albimanus (25). Good records included Platycheirus tarsalis (2), Dasysyrphus venustus (10), Eupeodes lapponicus (1), Parasyrphus punctulatus (1), Sericomyia silentis (6), and Xylota jakutorum (1). So overall a good day.

The longhorn beetle Rhagium bifasciatum is now out in good numbers and was joined by Pachytodes cerambyciformis (Speckled Longhorn). The micro moth Micropterix aureatella was feeding on Hawthorn (3) and had the first Burnet Companion of the year. Also had Large Red Damselfly and a cotoneaster bush had virtually every Bee species I can identify. Only birds of note were Cuckoo and Whitethroat.

Hawthorn bush in glade

Eriozona syrphoides - female

Chrysotoxum cautum

Micropterix aureatella

Pachytodes cerambyciformis