Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Lycaenidae

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Lycaenidae

A grassland Butterfly

Grass Mirid Megaloceroea recticornis

Grass Mirid Megaloceroea recticornis

Megaloceroea recticornis   Family: Miridae

Adult: mainly June-September

Length 8-10 mm

An elongate grass bug with a longitudinal furrow between the eyes, this species is distinguished by the extremely long antennae (the 1st segment alone is almost as long as the head and pronotum combined) and very long, slender hind legs. The tarsi are all dark. Unlike Notostira elongata, the tibiae and 1st antennal segments are covered with short spinose hairs.

While the body colour of adults varies from straw-yellow to green, the nymphs are green with two brown bands on the thorax.

A widespread and common species of grasslands, uncut meadows and woodland borders.

Cf Notostira elongata

National Distribution Please Allow Time to Load .

VC 63 Distribution  Please Allow Time to Load

.

Life in The Long Grass Reed Canary-Grass Phalaris arundinacea

Reed Canary-Grass Phalaris arundinacea 

Along the River plain of the Calder Below the weir on benath both entrances to the reserve after crossing the Bridge 

Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus

Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus

Description

This is a snipe fly with a dark 'shade' on the outside of each wing. The female is plumper than the male and has a creamy hairy abdomen. The slimmer males have a hairy brown abdomen, but in both sexes the abdomen hairs can be worn off with age. The tail end of the abdomen is quite pointed and tends to curve underneath the body.

Habitat

Found in damp shady places, often near woodland or pondsp- Tag Canal Wooded area

When to see it

Peak from May to July.

LifeCycle

It is carnivorous, catching other small creatures that pass its perching spot. The larvae live in leaf mould and are also carnivorous.

National Distribution Please Allow Time to Load .

VC 63 Distribution  Please Allow Time to Load

.