First Ivy tour of the year, hoverfly numbers are now falling rapidly as well as other insects. I visited Maesteg cemetery and Maesteg Welfare Park both with Ivy blossom at 50%. Only 14 species recorded. The highlight being Volucella zonaria at both sites. Other sightings included Chrysotoxum arcuatum, Eupeodes latifasciatus and Eumerus funeralis. Not much else about except the harvestman Opilio canestrinii.
Visited the same places as last weekend with the Devilsbit Scabious fading fast, probably only a week left, but the Michaelmas Daisy is still going strong as is Japanese Knotweed. The final flowering plant of the year "Ivy" is just starting to open in some well sunlit areas. The number of hoverflies are now dropping dramatically, with less than a month left of the season. Over the weekend I recorded 17 species at My Bach (south) and 21 species at Caerau with greatly reduced numbers. Highlights being Chrysotoxum arcuatum, Eupeodes latifasciatus and Volucella zonaria.
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*** confirmed on Irecord, it has been a good year for this migrant and is now thought to be breeding here, as the name suggests it is a parasite of European locusts but may be using native grasshoppers and crickets in the UK. New for the valley also. ***
Visited Mynydd Bach (south) [18 species of hoverfly] and Caerau [23 species of hoverfly] to view the Devilsbit Scabious patches as most flowers have now gone over except for Japanese Knotweed and Michaelmas Daisy. Highlights again included a record count of 36 Sericomyia silentis at Caerau plus Helophilus hybridus and Volucella pellucens. Melanostoma mellinum are becoming easier to pick out amongst the dwindling numbers of Melanostoma scalare.
Other Insects photographed
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A day off on Wednesday for MOT on car gave me the opportunity to visit the Devilsbit Scabious patch in Newtown. It is now in full bloom but it does look like Gorse and heather are starting to take root. Nevertheless 21 species were observed particularly the larger more colourful hoverflies. There were 28 Sericomyia silentis, which was a record count for the species as well as 105 Eristalis tenax. Other highlights included Eristalis intricaria, Helophilus trivittatus and Volucella pellucens.
