Sunday 24 April 2022

Mynydd Bach (south) cemetery area

 A warm day at 18c but the wind was strong and cold. So I tried to find a sheltered sun-trap, the path that leads from the cemetery car park through a small gate round the front of the cemetery was ideal. Only 100yds long but buzzing with hoverflies. I recorded 7 new for the year in Melanostoma mellinum (1), Chrysotoxum arcuatum (2), Dasysyrphus venustus (2), Didea fasciata (1), Rhingia rostrata (1), Chalcosyrphus nemorum (1) and Xylota segnis (2). A total of 20 species were recorded, my second best total for April. The most numerous species was Melanostoma scalare (45).

Chalcosyrphuss nemorum
Chrysotoxum arcuatum*
Dasysyrphus venustus*
Epistrophe eligans
Xylota segnis

* - confirmed in hand under lens magnification.

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