The temperatures topped 30c for a short while this afternoon, so I thought I would have to work hard for any insects today. But the first Hogweed flowers next to the car that I checked held an Eriozona Syrphiodes which is both rare and new for the year. The Hogweed was in full bloom and made life much easier, I recorded 24 species of hoverfly. Epistrophe Grossulariae was also new for the year (number 91).Other delights included Leucozona glaucia (2), Leucozona laternaria (9), Scaeva pyrastri (1) and Xanthogramma pedissequum (1). Most numerous hoverfly was Cheilosia illustrata (42).
Plenty of other insects were about including the Tachinid flies Phasia hemiptera and Lophosia fasciata. The micro moth Pammene aurana count today was 25 on Hogweed, the most I've seen at a single site. The Broad Centurian soldierfly is becoming more numerous after a lean year and a Red Admiral led the butterflies.
No comments:
Post a Comment