Stictoleptura rubra at Garnwen

Although not a common species the Llynfi Valley seems to be one of its stronghold in South Wales. I came across an abandoned rotting log-pile, where I found a female egg laying. This is the first time I've witnessed this, there was also a male feeding on a nearby angelica flower head, gaining energy after a bout of passion I suspect :).

Stictoleptura rubra distribution map - NBN Gateway

 female on log pile

 female egg laying in cracks of the timber

 multiple exit holes in the timber, sometimes lightly scratching around these can bring out a newly emerged adult, I have a one in five success rate with this technique.

 male feeding up after some rumpy pumpy.

 Red Admiral numbers are starting to pick up now the Hemp agrimony is in bloom.

Sericomyia silentis - the best of 19 species of hoverfly seen today. It loves all heather types and 9 were seen today along with another 4 Helophilus trivittatus.

Blaencaerau

Warm and sunny, 25 species of Hoverfly recorded including all 3 Leucozona [which doesn't happen very often] plus a good variety of other insects including new for the valley insects in Willughby's Leaf-cutter Bee and Broken-banded Bumblebee.

 Eristalis arbustorum

 Eristalis nemorum

 Red Admiral

 Tachina fera

Willughby's Leaf-cutter Bee - new for valley

Garnwen

Not as sunny as was expected, much cloud but still 22c, virtually no wind. So was disappointed to only get 22 species of Hoverfly, with nothing rare in the total. Plenty of other insects about but again in small numbers.

 Syrphus torvus

 Rhingia campestris

 Helophilus pendulus

 possible Forest Cuckoo Bee [confirmed Irecord] - new for valley.

 Larch Ladybird

 Peacock

 Stictoleptura rubra - male

White Water Lily

I haven't done any plant recording in the valley for 10+ years, so I've lost touch a bit. So this year I decided to make a note of 1st blooms. So White Water Lily was my 200th flower for the year, followed very quickly by 201 Red Bartsia. I've also recorded 43 species of tree, giving a total of 244 so far. While working in the Paper Mills I think I managed 300+ in 10 years. So this years total so far is quite pleasing as I'm starting to remember what I've forgotten :) - if we had an expert in the valley I'm sure we could hit 500.

Caerau

After watching Maesteg vs Neath in the Rugby, just had enough time for a quick stroll around Caerau Park moorland, you can feel the weather starting to warm up (20c) and that cold wind we have been subjected to over the last week has dissipated.

 Chrysotoxum festivum

 Sericomyia silentis

 Gatekeeper

 Schrekenstienia festaliella

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Blaencaerau

Weather was fine at times but mainly cloudy, there was also a stiff cold breeze, this kept numbers down but I still finished with 21 species of Hoverflies and quite a good selection of other insects and animals.

 Chrysotoxum festivum - one of my favourite hoverflies

 Volucella pellucens

 Agriotes accuminatus - click beetle - new for me.

 Black Darter - face on

 basking Common Lizard

 Stictoleptura rubra - longhorn beetle

 Tachina grossa - one of our biggest flies

possible - Orange-legged Furrow Bee [Halictus rubicundus] [confirmed Irecord]

Lletty & Drysiog today

25 species of Hoverfly at both sites combined. Other insects included my first Grayling butterfly of the year.

 Leucozona glaucia

 Speckled Wood

 Grayling - probably just emerged

Myathropa florea

Conopid fly - Physocephala rufipes

Chocolate Bumbleebee

Brown coloured Bumblebee must be a colour variation of one of the commoner species. I'm guessing White-tailed Bumblebee. Haven't found any variation like this yet on the web. [Confirmed colour variation of White-tailed Bumblebee - Irecord]

Micro from Yesterday

Ypsolopha parenthesella - easier to identify than spell.

Caerau forestry area

Weather started off fine and looked promising until I got to the top of the mountain, when it turned decidedly breezy and cloudy and everything went quiet. Thus only 17 species of hoverflies seen and very little in the way of other insects.

 Blaencaerau COP now in full bloom - with Hogweed, Angelica and Ragwort prominent - all we need now is some sunny weather.

 Helophilus trivittatus - very common this year - I have seen 18 in the last week, of which 7 today. Only saw 1 in 2015

 Sawfly species -large

 Sawfly species - large

Small Copper - wouldn't let me any closer.

Point to Point, Gilfach, Llangynwyd

Three insects posted to Irecord from yesterday, so I, Awaiting confirmation. Will fill in when confirmed. All would be new for valley if so.

 possible  Patchwork Leaf-cutter Bee [Megachile centuncularis] [confirmed Irecord]

 possible Red Wasp [vespula rufa] - other angle shots also taken and submitted. [Confirmed Irecord]

possible Essex Skipper. [confirmed UKBS]

Cwmfelin Park

Cwmfelin Park - 21 Species of Hoverfly present today, best of below.

 Cheilosia bergenstammi

 Cheilosia species - possibly "latifrons" - specimen taken as there were a few about for analysis at the end of year.

 Eristalis nemorum - male hovering over female is diagnostic behaviour [pertinax behind].

 Helophilus pendulus

 Helophilus trivittatus - face shot

 Helophilus trivittatus

 Melanostoma mellinum - black scutellum and thorax plus unmodified tarsi in male means Melanostoma. Shape of tergites on abdomen are square ruling out scalare.

 Myathropa florea

 Platycheirus albimanus - garrotted while potting. 
Xylota segnis