Blaencaerau (only)

 For once other insects outshone the hoverflies with new for the valley plant bug - Liocoris tripustulatus and the conopid fly - Conops flavipes. This means we have now recorded all five species of conops in the valley Lots of Shieldbugs out today headed by mating Tortoise shieldbugs, Meadow Browns and Small Heath butterflies are emerging in good numbers as are Common Blue and a host of the commoner micro moths.

On the hoverfly front I had 30 species headed by Leucozona lucorum, Helophilus trivittatus and Xylota sylvarum. Most numerous species was Syritta pipiens (40).

On the birding front 12 Swift were in the air together and a pair of House Martin have built a nest in Caerau Road. Lots of Whitethroat holding territories in the scrub around the old pit reclamation site. 

Liocoris tripustulatus

Conops flavipes

Tortoise Shieldbug mating

Rhagium bifasciatum

Helophilus trivittatus

Pipiza austriaca

Xylota sylvarum

House Martin active nest

Caerau, Blaencaerau (revisited)

 On Sunday after grandpa duties just had enough time for a 3hr local walk. The C.O.P. is particularly good at this time of year and I got 43 species ,with lots of good species. New for the year were Eupeodes latifasciatus, Scaeva pyrastri, Chrysogaster virescens, Anasimyia contracta and Parhelophilus frutetorum. Some of the other highlights included Rhingia rostrata (2), Helophilus hybridus (1), Parahelophilus versicolor (2), Pipiza noctiluca (1), Criorhina berberina (1) and Dasysyrphus tricinctus (2). Most numerous hoverflies were Eristalis pertinax (65), Syritta pipiens (60) and Melanogaster hirtella (44). Here's a few photos of the best I could capture.

Volucella pellucens

Anasimyia contracta

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

Merodon equestris

Parhelophilus versicolor (checked in hand )

Rhingia rostrata

Scaeva pyrastri

Caerau, Blaencaerau [Monday]

 Went for a walk after work for an hour or two. To check out the Ground Elder and Hemlock Water-droplet, they didn't let me down. 35 species seen, with all the bigger more colourful species present. Here's a few photos that I took.

Eristalis rupium

Eristalis tenax

Helophilus pendulus

Merodon equestris

Myathropa florea

Sericomyia silentis

Volucella bombylans

Volucella pellucens

Rhagium bifasciatum

mystery Tachinidae - was bigger than all the hoverflies, looks like Tachina ursina but there have not been any June records on any databases for this early spring species. I have put it on both Irecord and Ispot hoping for identification confirmation one way or another.

[***   confirmed as Tachina ursina - first ever June record in UK   ***]

Another mystery, this time a flower that was growing in a large bank of Meadow Buttercup, will have to do a bit of research on this one, as I don't think it is an escape, but is near the bird feeding station, so could be derived from a dropped seed.

[***   seems to be "Persian Buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus)", rarely used in wild bird feed but is used in ornamental gardening   ***]

some other insects from Gilfach (west)

 

Ha Ha ! - this very bad record shot is of the Western Bee-fly (new for valley) - also known as the bomber fly for its method of egg laying in the nests of Orange-legged Furrow Bee. This one was seen patrolling a sandy path looking for the nests of said Bee and was seen bombing on 2 occasions, once right by my foot, but it never landed or fed for a decent shot. They are much smaller than our regular Bee-fly species (B. major).

Pachytodes cerambyciformis - 19 seen today

Broad centurian - soldierfly

Azure Damselfly

Gilfach (west) - Top Llangynwyd

 The weather was cloudy to start, but turned out much sunnier in the afternoon, there was also a stiff south-westerly at times. Ground Elder, Cow Parsley and even a single Hogweed was in bloom as was some late Hawthorn and Elder. Most of the Bramble was yet to bloom, so Meadow Buttercup was the go to plant. That said I had to work quite hard to achieve a respectful 38 species of hoverfly. Highlights included Chrysotoxum bicinctum (3), Dasysyrphus albostriatus (2), Dasysyrphus pinastri (1), Dasysyrphus tricinctus (2), Leucozona lucorum (1), Parasyrphus nigritarsis (1), Xanthogramma pedissequum (1), Cheilosia fraterna (1), Riponnensia splendens (1), Pipiza austriaca (2), Pipiza noctiluca (1), Sericomyia silentis (3), Volucella bombylans (5), Volucella pellucens (2), Criorhina berberina (2), Criorhina floccosa (1), Xylota jakutorum (4) and Xylota sylvarum (1). Highest totals were Sphegina sibirica (50+) and Xylota segnis (15).My yearly total has shot up to 80 species so far.

Volucella pellucens and bombylans on the same Bramble flower

Cheilosia illustrata

Cheilosia variabilis

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

Criorhina berberina - oxycanthae form

Criorhina floccosa

Dasysyrphus albostriatus

Helophilus pendulus

Myathropa florea

Pipiza species - in hand it turned out to be noctiluca

Riponnensia splendens

Xylota sylvarum

Blaencaerau Sunday (other insects)

 

tachind fly - Zophomyia temula - new for the valley

Tortoise Shieldbug

Pachytodes cerambyciformis

Large Red Damselfly

Small Copper

Common Blue

Blaencaerau

 Warm and sunny (22c) with very little wind made for ideal hoverfly conditions. So today was the first 40+ species in a day this year, this only happens 2 or 3 times a year. The meadow field at Blaencaerau is now starting to bloom in its fullness with the added bonus of much of the Hawthorn still flowering as well as Guelder Rose which only attracts the bigger hoverflies. The Ground Elder at the back of Caerau Road near the river is also blooming and is always good for 10-15 species. A total of 43 species were seen with the better species being Baccha elongata (1), Paragus haemorrhous (1), Leucozona lucorum (2), Cheilosia vernalis (1), Cheilosia lasiopa (1), Neoascia meticulosa (1), Orthonevra nobilis (1), Riponnensia splendens,(1), Sphegina elegans (1), Helophilus pendulus (4), Helophilus trivittatus (1), Merodon equestris (5), Pipiza austriaca (1), Sericomyia lappona (1), Sericomyia silentis (11), Volucella bombylans (1), Volucella pellucens (6), Xylota jakutorum (3) and Microdon myrmicae agg (1). The most numerous species was Sphegina sibirica (50) and Eristalis horticola (28).  

Cheilosia illustrata

Cheilosia variabilis

Chrysogaster solstitialis

Eristalis horticola

Eristalis nemorum

Eristalis trivittatus

Merodon equestris

Microdon myrmicae agg.

Riponnensia splendens

Sericomyia lappona

Sericomyia silentis

Syritta pipiens

Volucella pellucens

Xylota jakutorum