Xylota sylvarum - A Woodland Hoverfly
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Cromwell Bottom
Monday, 30 June 2014
Saturday, 28 June 2014
1961 Light Emerald Campaea margaritata
1961 Light Emerald Moth - Campaea margaritata
Wingspan 30-40 mm.
Description
An attractive pale-green species, which has a blood-red tip to the forewing, sometimes extending as a line along the outer edge of both fore and hindwings.
It is quite commonly distributed throughout most of the British Isles, and flies from June to August, often with a partial second generation in the south, appearing in August and September.
The larvae live on the foliage of a number of deciduous trees, and have a distinctive fringe of 'hairs' all along the underside
It is quite commonly distributed throughout most of the British Isles, and flies from June to August, often with a partial second generation in the south, appearing in August and September.
The larvae live on the foliage of a number of deciduous trees, and have a distinctive fringe of 'hairs' all along the underside
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Friday, 27 June 2014
Deraeocoris flavilinea - A Mirid Bug
Deraeocoris flavilinea - A Mirid Bug
Deraeocoris flavilinea Family Miridae
Adult: June-July
Length 7-8 mm
Description
A new coloniser entering circa 1996, and is now widely established and common across south and central Britain at least.Host-plants are sycamore and field maple, although it may frequently be encountered on other trees and shrubs.
D. flavilinea is a large and fairly distinctive bug, but sexually dimorphic and thus rather variable. Males are much darker than the more orange females, and the front and rear margins of the pronotum are narrowly pale. The cuneus is variable and the sides of the scutellum paler in both sexes.
The tibial banding pattern is shared by D. olivaceus, which is brick red in colour, similar to female flavilinea. However, this uncommon species is larger, has long hairs on the sides of the pronotum and is associated with hawthorn.
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Thursday, 26 June 2014
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla Beautiful Plume
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla
Wingspan 17-23 mm.
Description Well distributed over much of Britain and Ireland, and, since the 1990s, has become much more frequent, including in gardens.
Like its relative, A. punctidactyla, the hindwing has two patches of black scales on its dorsum, which protrude when the rest of the hindwing is covered by the forewing. Amblyptilia acanthadactyla may be distinguished by its warm reddish brown colour from the greyish brown of A. punctidactyla.
Life Cycle There are two generations, with moths on the wing in July and again from September onwards, flying after hibernation until May. The adults are attracted to light.
The larvae feed in June and in August on the flowers and young leaves of a large range of plants, including restharrow (Ononisspp.), Hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica), cranesbills and cultivated geraniums (Geranium spp.), goosefoots (Chenopodiumspp.), heathers (Calluna and Erica spp.), and mints (Menthaspp.) On the continent, it has also been reported on Salvia, Teucrium scorodonia, Lavandula, Euphrasia, Carlina, Vaccinium, Calamintha and Nepeta. Several other plume species feed on some of these plants, so caution should be exercised when identifying the larvae.
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Wednesday, 25 June 2014
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Cantharis pellucida Soldier Beetle
Cantharis pellucida Soldier Beetle
This common 'soldier beetle' has a red thorax and legs with black or grey elytra The black 'mask' on its head gives it a rather goggle-eyed look.
Habitat
Hedgerows and meadows. They are frequently found on open flowers such as Hawthorn and umbellifers where they feed on both nectar and pollen as well as predating other small insects.
Life History
The larvae are like velvety caterpillars and they feed on the ground, hunting snails and other small creatures.
The larvae are like velvety caterpillars and they feed on the ground, hunting snails and other small creatures.
Phenology
Early May to July
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Click Beetle - Athous haemorrhoidalis
Click Beetle - Athous haemorrhoidalis
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Xylota segnis - A hoverfly
Xylota segnis - A hoverfly
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Monday, 23 June 2014
2462 Mother Shipton Callistege mi
2462 Mother Shipton Callistege mi
Wingspan 25-30 mm.
Description A day-flying moth, preferring sunshine and taking short, rapid flights. The English name refers to the forewing markings, which appear to show an old lady or witch's head.
Habitat Inhabiting waste ground, downland and other open habitats, it is reasonably common over much of the British Isles, becoming scarcer in Scotland and Ireland.
Flight Period It flies in May and June, and the larvae feed mainly on clover (Trifolium) and various grasses.
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Saturday, 21 June 2014
2069 The Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
2069 The Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
2069 The Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae
Wingspan 32-42 mm.
Distribution
Resembling no other British species, except perhaps the burnets (Zygaenidae), this is a fairly common moth in much of Britain.
It is generally nocturnal, but is quite often disturbed during the day from long grass, low herbage etc. At night, it comes to light.
The distinctive larvae, with their yellow and black hoops, generally feed gregariously on ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) and other related plants.
Flight Period is May through July
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Friday, 20 June 2014
0004 Micropterix aruncella White Barred Gold
0004 Micropterix aruncella White Barred Gold
Wingspan 6-8 mm.
Description
The members of the genus Micropterix are unusual in that the adults have fully functional mouthparts, unlike most other moths, and feed on the pollen of various plants.
This species occurs widely over most of the British Isles, and flies in the daytime between May and August. It is a tiny species with a wingspan of around 6 or 7 mm, and in common with other similar species, has metallic forewings.
The early stages are not well described, but the larvae are believed to feed at the bases of herbaceous plants.
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This species occurs widely over most of the British Isles, and flies in the daytime between May and August. It is a tiny species with a wingspan of around 6 or 7 mm, and in common with other similar species, has metallic forewings.
The early stages are not well described, but the larvae are believed to feed at the bases of herbaceous plants.
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2299 Mouse Moth Amphipyra tragopoginis
2299 Mouse Moth Amphipyra tragopoginis
Wingspan
33-38 mm.
Description
A very plain-looking moth, with three dark dots on the forewing, the ground colour is dark brown with a distinct glossy sheen.
The adults are on the wing from July to September and frequently visit sugar as well as light. If disturbed, they will scuttle away mouse-like rather than take flight.
The species is commonly distributed over most of the British Isles, occupying a range of habitats.
The caterpillars feed on a variety of herbaceous plants, including the flowers, as well as trees such as sallow(Salix).
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Thursday, 19 June 2014
1627 Small Heath Butterfly Coenonympha pamphilus
Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus
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1531 Large Skipper - Ochlodes sylvanus
Large Skipper - Ochlodes sylvanus
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Male
1629 Ringlet - Aphantopus hyperantus
Ringlet - Aphantopus hyperantus
Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus Family Nymphalidae
A common butterfly unmistakable when seen at rest - the rings on the hindwings giving this butterfly its common name. The uppersides are a uniform chocolate brown that distinguish this butterfly from the closely-related Meadow Brown. Despite this uniformity, a newly-emerged adult is a surprisingly beautiful insect, the velvety wings providing a striking contrast with the delicate white fringes found on the wing edges. The dark colouring also allows this butterfly to quickly warm up - this butterfly being one of the few that flies on overcast days.
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Wednesday, 18 June 2014
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2474 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis
2474 Straw Dot Rivula sericealis
Wingspan 18-22 mm.
Description
Relatively common in the southern half of Britain, and becoming gradually scarcer further north, this moth is also a suspected immigrant.
The two generations a year fly in June and July, and again in August and September.
Habitat
Damp meadows and woodland are its favourite haunts, and it flies from dusk into the night when it is attracted to light.
Various grasses form the larval foodplants.
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Saturday, 14 June 2014
Life in The Long Grass - Mirid Nymphs - Deraeocoris flavilinea - Grypocoris stysi
Two Grassland Mirid Nymphs
Grypocoris stysi
TBC
Deraeocoris flavilinea Nymph
Grypocoris stysi
TBC
Clay-coloured Weevil - Otiorhynchus singularis
Clay-coloured Weevil - Otiorhynchus singularis
Size
A clay brown weevil about 8 mm long.
Description
Adults emerge in early spring. They climb up the plant after dark and feed on developing buds and flower shoots. They shelter in the soil and debris at the base of the plant. Eggs are laid in the soil and soon hatch. The larvae feed on the roots, often at a depth of about 50 cm. When fully mature, they pupate in earthen cells and emerge as adults.
Habitat
These weevils feed on shrubs such as Rhododendrons and Raspberry and can be a pest of Raspberry fruit farmers.
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Friday, 13 June 2014
1728 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata
1728 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata
1728 Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata
Wingspan 18-25 mm.
Descrpition A common species throughout the British Isles, this moth shows a preference for suburban habitats, but can be found almost anywhere.
It is continuously-brooded during the summer months from April through to September, and adults and larvae could be found in any of these months.
The larvae feed on a range of cruciferous plants
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