Caerau/Blaencaerau (Saturday)

 Weather was not as good as predicted, being mostly cloudy with the odd brief shower. Nevertheless the mass emergence of hoverflies continues, with flies on virtually every blossom especially Hogweed and Angelica. The end total was 2524 hoverflies of 50 species (only my second time to achieve 50 species in a day). Highlight was my third ever Sericomyia superbiens, a full list with photos below.

Melanostoma mellinum (1)
Melanostoma scalare (100)
Platycheirus albimanus (140)

Platycheirus granditarsus (3)

Platycheirus scutatus (1)

Chrysotoxum bicinctum (6)

Chrysotoxum arcuatum (1)

Dasysyrphus albostriatus (3)

Epistrophe grossulariae (4) - new for the year

Episyrphus balteatus (120)

Eupeodes corollae (2)

Eupeodes latifasciatus (1) - new for the year

Eupeodes luniger (8)

Leucozona laternaria (3) - new for the year

Melangyna compositarum (1) - new for the year

Melangyna umbellatarum (2)

Meliscaeva auricollis (240)

Meliscaeva cinctella (80)

Parasyrphus lineola (1)

Scaeva pyrastri (8)

Spaerophoria scripta (12)

Sphaerophoria sp. (8)

Syrphus ribesii (9)

Syrphus torvus (11)

Syrphus vitripennis (2)

Syrphus sp. (1280)

Cheilosia bergenstammi (7)

Cheilosia fraterna (1)

Cheilosia illustrata (22)

Cheilosia impressa (130)

Cheilosia pagana (4)

Cheilosia proxima (4)

Cheilosia scutellata (15)

Cheilosia vernalis (3)

Cheilosia sp. (35)

Chrysogaster solstitialis (35)

Melanogaster hirtella (1)

Orthonevra nobilis (1)

Eristalis arbustorum (3)

Eristalis horticola (1)

Eristalis nemorum (3) 

Eristalis pertinax (240)

Eristalis tenax (5)

Helophilus pendulus (5)

Myathropa florea (6)

Pipizella viduata (6)

Pipizella sp. (5)

Sericomyia silentis (3)

Sericomyia superbiens (1) - new for the year

Volucella bombylans (2) - plumata form

Volucella pellucens (1)

Syritta pipiens (30)

Xylota jakutorum (4)

Xylota segnis (3)

Garnwen lower moors

 Although somewhat cloudy the first big emergence of hoverflies of the summer occurred today with over a thousand individuals seen of 30 species. Largest numbers seen were various Syrphus species (400+), Episyrphus balteatus (300+) and Platycheirus albimanus (250+). New for the year was a male Eupeodes lapponicus and other highlights included Melangyna umbellatarum and a late Sericomyia Lappona.

All the usual butterflies, bumblebees and day flying moths were seen. Beetles were well represented in the longhorn beetles Leptura quadrifasciatus and Pachytodes cerambyciformis as well as 1000's of the Soldier beetle Rhagonycha fulva. Lots of various tachinid flies about as well as the conopid flies Conops ceriaeformis and Sicus ferrugineous. Only birds of note were juvenile Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Jay.

Sericomyia lappona

Syrphus irruption

Conops ceriaeformis

Leptura quadrifasciata

Caerau tunnel scrub

 This is a small area seldom visited by the public since the tunnel was closed years ago. It is quite rich in flora & fauna with plenty of flowers in bloom and is maybe 50 yds long. I was quite surprised to get 26 species of hoverfly in such a small area. The summer hoverflies are starting to emerge and in quite good numbers. New for the year was Scaeva pyrastri (migrant), Melangyna umbellatarum, Cheilosia proxima (finally) and Cheilosia vernalis.  Highest count was Episyrphus balteatus (27) also a migrant.

Scaeva pyrastri

Gilfach (west) [SS8487]

 More rain some prolonged but still no summer emergence of hoverflies yet, so here's some pictures from Gilfach on the weekend.

Didea fasciata

Cheilosia variabillis

Cheilosia impressa

Helophilus pendulus

Ringlet

Red Admiral

unknown micro moth possibly a Tortrix  - will ID when I have time.