Llangynwyd lanes

 The lanes around Llangynwyd and Lletty Brongu are full of Hogweed, Upright Hedge Parsley, Hemp Agrimony, Black Knapweed with some Angelica and Black Mustard at the moment. This allows hoverflies to feed at will and there were large numbers present today. 32 species were recorded, the best I've had for a while. New for the year were Megasyrphus erratica, Cheilosia scutellata and Riponnensia splendens. Some species were out in good numbers like Epistrophe glossuraliae (24) [best for a few years], Cheilosia illustrata (60), Chrysogaster solstitialis (90), Eristalis pertinax (100) and Syritta pipiens (120). Some of the better records also included Chrysotoxum bicinctum (2), Dasysyrphus venustus (1), Leucozona glaucia (6), Leucozona laternaria (5), Melangyna compositarum (1), Xanthogramma pedissequum (1), Cheilosia vernalis (1), Orthonevra nobilis (1) and Myathropa florea (1). 

Plenty of other interesting insects about too, make use of the abundant nectar available. A Holly Blue butterfly was a surprise amongst the more common species and the last of the Pammene aurana micro moths were feeding still. The beetles were headed by a male and female of the rare Longhorn Beetle Sticoleptura rubra, not a species I would expect here, they must have come down from the forestry to feed. Other fly species were also well represented in the monster Dark Giant Horsefly (Tabanus sudeticus -male), the tachinid fly Eurithia anthophilla, the soldierfly Broad Centurian and the Noon Fly was particullary common today.

Cheilosia scutellata

Epistrophe grossulariae

Leucozona glaucia

Myathropa florea

A very bright and large Syrphus species turned out to be Syrphus torvus in hand

Eurithia anthophila (tachinidae)

Stictoleptura rubra (female)

Sticoleptura rubra (male)

Dark Giant Horsefly (Tabanus sudeticus)