Spelter

 Two visits to the Spelter gave me a total of 34 species. New for the year was Parasyrphus lineola taking me to 99 species for the year and 78 species for the site. Other highlights included Eupeodes latifasciatus, Leucozona glaucia, Melangyna compositarum, Scaeva selenitica, Scarva pyrastri, Xanthogramma pedissequum and Riponnensia splendens. Eristalis pertinax (110) has finally taken over Meliscaeva cinctella (70) as the most numerous species.

Other notable insects were the tachinid fly Nowickia ferox (3) and the longhorn beetle Stictoleptura rubra (male).

Riponnensia splendens

Myathropa florea

Dasysyrphus albostriatus

Nowickia ferox

Stictoleptura rubra

Top Llangynwyd

 Weather was mostly cloudy, and for the first time in weeks hoverfly numbers have noticeably dipped. But I still managed 25 species. Highlights included yet more Eupeodes lapponicus, Helophilus hybridus and Xylota sylvarum. Nothing was new for the year, while the most numerous species was Eristalis pertinax (70). If the quiet period (2 weeks) between broods is about to start then my next visit tomorrow should be quiet also.

Concerning other insects I had my first Stictoleptura rubra longhorn beetle of the year but I failed to find Essex Skipper butterfly amongst the emerging Small Skipper.

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

Leucozona glaucia

photos of various insects from the weekend

 

Cinnamon Bug

Conops (flavipes I think)

Dingy Footman

Harlequin Ladybird (with parasitic wasp sp.)  [looking at it again it might be a sawfly species]

Locust Blowfly

Pammene aurana

Phasia hemiptera (female)

Phasia hemiptera (male)

Physocephala sp. (probably rufipes)

Local patch weekend

 Did a full sweep of my local area over the weekend. The numbers of hoverflies (1000+) and species (43) was astounding attracted to plants like Hogweed and Creeping Thistle. With Angelica, Wild Parsnip and Common Ragwort not yet fully in bloom. Totals included Spelter (22 species), Caerau (27) species and Blaencaerau (39 species). New for the year were Helophilus trivittatus and Riponnensia splendens taking me to 97 species for the year.. There were many highlights such as Chrysotoxum arcuatum, Chrysotoxum bicinctum, Eupeodes lapponicus, Leucozona glaucia, Leucozona laternarium, Melangyna compositarum, Melangyna umbellatarum, Scaeva pyrastri, Cheilosia fraterna and Cheilosia vernalis. There were good emergences of  Syrphus (300+) and Eupeodes (100+) species as well as  Platycheirus albimanus (100+) and Eristalis pertinax (100+), While Meliscaeva cinctella (90) numbers remain high

Many other families of insects were also on show but I'll have to keep that for another post whilst I go through the backlog of photos.

Cheilosia fraterna

Cheilosia illustrata

Chrysotoxum arcuatum

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

Dasysyrphus albostriatus

Eupeodes luniger

Leucozona glaucia

Leucozona laternaria

Scaeva pyrastri

Serocomyia silentis

Mynydd Caerau (west) [SS8794]

 A little cooler today at 28c, so continued my " cooler up the mountains" theme and recorded another 32 species today. New for the year taking me to 95 species for the year were Epistrophe grossulariae, Leucozona glaucia, Leucozona laternaria, Melangyna compositarum and Helophilus hybridus. Other highlights included Eupeodes lapponicus, Cheilosia vernalis and Eumerus funeralis. Most numerous species was again Meliscaeva cinctella (40),

Not many other insects to report except for 10 Large Skipper.

Leucozona glaucia

Leucozonia laternaria

Melangyna compositarum

Sphaerophoria scripta

Syrphus ribesii

Gilfach (west) [SS8487]

 Very hot today [30c] so wasn't expecting much hoverfly activity, but some of the shaded areas containing Hogweed and Bramble were quite busy with feeding insects. So surprisingly I recorded 34 species. New for the year were Platycheirus angustatus, Scaeva pyrastri and Eupeodes lapponicus, taking me to 90 species for the year. Other highlights included Dasysyrphus albostriatus (5), Cheilosia vernalis (2) and Eupeodes corollae (8) which I believe were possibly migrants as this area rarely sees them recorded. Most numerous species was again Meliscaeva cinctella (45) and Cheilosia impressa (40).

Other insects included two Red Admiral butterflies, an emergence of Harlequin ladybirds, Violet Ground Beetle and an Angle Shades caterpillar.

Dasysyrphus albostriatus

Eupeodes corollae

Scaeva pyrastri

Xylota segnis - unusual to see this pollen syphoning species feeding on any flower species let alone Hogweed.

Computer Knackered

 Been off the net for a while, but now all sorted. June was a poor month for hoverflies after a bright May. July started well with big numbers of certain species emerging like Meliscaeva cinctella (230) at Garnwen, So hears a few photos until I start reporting regular again,

Chrysogaster solstitialis

Meliscaeva cinctella

Merodon equestris