A visit here in pretty decent conditions, but perhaps a little windy after finishing work, saw some superb insects being found, with another 2 'New' personal species of Hoverfly seen and photographed.
The new Hovers were Helophilus hybridus and Chrysogaster solstitialis, with me thankfully managing to get some nice photos of both species. Other nice species observed during the visit included Chrysotoxum festivum, both colour forms of Volucella bombylans, Platycheirus rosarum, Scaeva selenetica, Cheilosia illustrata, Myathropa florea, Volucella pelluscens, Tropidia scita and Parhelophilus fruitetorum/versicolor.
Flies seemed to be the continuing theme, with some lovely Robberflies being recorded, which included Common-awl and Fan-bristled, with Stiletto Fly Thereva nobilitata, a female Sicus ferrugineus and my first Black Snipeflies of the year.
Another family of insects i take great interest in, as my regular readers will be aware of, are Orthoptera and today, my first 2 species of Grasshopper were seen. Both were final instar nymphs of Common-green Grasshopper and a personal favourite, Lesser-marsh Grasshopper, with both insects being males.
A few interesting beetles were encountered and included several Garden Chafers, with their metallic green head and thorax and Harlequin Ladybirds seem to be everywhere no doubt after the bumper spring of Greenflies.
Lepidoptera were mainly represented by Moths and Caterpillars, with the nicest sightings including 2 Elephant Hawkmoths, the colourful, but diminutive Micro Moth, Pammene aurana, my first Meadow Browns of the year and a cluster of Small Tortoiseshell larvae.
Finally a species i hadn't seen for quite sometime, was observed today, Bronze Shieldbug, this lovely insect gave some great views and i also managed to find a couple of Red-legged Shieldbugs for good measure.
The following are my favourite photos from the day.
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| Micro Moth Species Pammene aurana |
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| Bronze Shieldbug |
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| Common-awl Robberfly |
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| Garden Chafer |
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| Final Instar Red-legged Shieldbug |
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| Hoverfly - Chrysogaster solstitialis |
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| Hoverfly - Cheilosia illustrata |
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| Common-awl Robberfly |
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| Brimstone Butterfly Caterpillar |
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| Male Lesser-marsh Grasshopper Nymph |
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| Male Common-green Grasshopper Nymph |
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| Stilletto Fly - Thereva nobilitata |
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| Comma |
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| Meadow Brown |
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| Parhelophilus fruitetorum/versicolor |
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| Small Tortoiseshell Caterpillars |
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| Hoverfly - Chrysotoxum festivum |
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| Scaeva selenetica |
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| Hoverfly - Helophilus pendulus |
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| Sicus ferrugineus, Waiting For An Unsuspecting Victim |
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| Black Snipefly |
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| Hoverfly - Volucella Bombylans |
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| Fan-bristled Robberfly |
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| Hoverfly - Volucella pelluscens |
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| Hoverfly - Parhelophilus fruitetorom/versicolor |
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| Hoverfly - Helophilus hybridus |
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| Hoverfly - Tropidia scita |
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| Elephant Hawkmoth |
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Spider Species - Pisaura mirablis
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