Spelter

 The weekend has been a bit of a washout, but I did manage a few hours between the rain showers at Spelter. New for the year was Scaeva selenitica and also new for the 1km square which is now on 73 species. I haven't recorded here in June and July so a couple of visits should prove fruitful. The area is the best place for Wild Parsnip in the valley so fingers crossed. Other highlights included Xanthogramma pedissequum, Merodon equestris (rosy tipped ssp.) and Myathropa florea -which is only my second record of the year for this otherwise common hoverfly. Xylota segnis (14) was the most common hoverfly.

Broad-bodied Chaser was the first Dragonfly of the year along with Azure Damselfly joining the Large Red Damselfly. Gorse Shieldbug was also noted as well as the Alder Gall mite - Aceria nalepai and the long-legged fly - Argya diaphana.

Merodon equestris

Volucella bombylans

Broad-bodied Chaser

Azure Damselfly

Argyra diaphana

Gorse Shieldbug

cars knackered

 Car spluttering on the weekend, 2 fuel injectors gone, supposedly a common fault on Insignias but it took 11 years to happen. Anyway fixed now for a pretty price of £300. So Monday was the last day of dry weather for a while, so had to get out, with Blaencaerau the obvious choice again. I recorded 37 species of hoverfly in a little over 3 hours. Ground Elder now in full bloom as well as most of the Bramble. New for the year were Eupeodes latifasciatus and Volucella pellucens. Other highlights included Chrysogaster virescens,  Pipiza austriaca and Volucells bombylans. Most common species was Syritta Pipiens (27).

Eristalis nemorum

Sericomyia silentis

Volucella bombylans

Volucella pellucens

Glyphipterix forsterella

Hairy Shieldbug

Large Skipper