Dyspetes luteomarginatus

 On the 28th August I had a photo of this species up Gilfach (west) near the car park. In fact there were four or five dotted around. It is a parasitic wasp (Ichneumon) that lays its eggs on sawfly larva particularly those on the flower Golden-rod. Looking at the NBN Atlas and the I record maps there doesn't seem to be any records for Wales let alone Glamorgan and very few records for the UK (20 records) so of course its new for the valley . I'm not very good at identifying Ichneumons, so I had it confirmed on I record before posting. 

Blaencaerau

 Hot fine weather meant i recorded 29 species of hoverfly. New for the year was Platycheirus angustatus (1). Most numerous as expected was Eristalis tenax (115). Good records included Epistrophe grossulariae (1), Eristalis intricaria (2) and Cheilosia fraterna (2). Numbers and species should start winding down soon whatever the weather. Ivy season is about 3 weeks away.

All the usual other insect species were out but good sightings were the micro moth Dichrorampha montanana and big numbers of the butterfly Small Copper (13). No birds of note were seen.

Cheilosia impressa

Eristalis intricaria

Helophilus pendulus

Small Copper