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