What insects have you seen this week so far? It's been hard work finding them so far this summer!!
My insect highlight of the week is a freshly emerged comma butterfly that was nectaring on bramble flowers here at the Lodge during a brief sunny spell...and typically when I didn't have my camera with me!
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I came across a burnet moth (for the first time) 'drinking' from a dandelion in my garden in Cheshire. I posted on here to check what it was.
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I saw my first Burnet moths today as well. Also saw what I believe to be a Longhorn Beetle Strangalia maculata:
But you're right, I've not seen much insect evidence so far. I've been searching on my last 2 or 3 trips out. Most disturbingly there do not seem to be very many Butterflies about!
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I saw a Cinnabar Moth when it was warm yesterday, they are wonderful to see, bright, bright red, beautiful.
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They have been rather few and far between although I have seen 10 species of longhorn beetle and 13 shield bug species (including a few new ones for me) so quite pleased!
The butterflies are certainly lacking, and so are the social wasps! Seen very few so far......
Edit - meant to say Graham, yes, that is Rutpela (Strangalia) maculata! :-)
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I managed to hobble around my 3 monitoring sites yesterday and have just compared results to last year. Broke the 100 mark for the first time this year and up a few on last year, same 8 species on the big site, less Green Hairstreak but more Small Heath, lots and I mean lots of Silver Y moths. On one sector I was putting up moths at every step. Quite a few bees and a lot of biting flies, and only a handful of beetles.
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I saw a gorgeous Green tiger beetle scuttling about on the hillfort here at the Lodge earlier in the week. The bright green really caught my eye! That same day Sophie (the dog) and I were also fascinated by an Oil beetle that crossed our path mid-walkies.
MrsTThat same day Sophie (the dog) and I were also fascinated by an Oil beetle that crossed our path mid-walkies.
Superb!! Would love to find one! Hope you reported it to Buglife!! ;-)
Ooh yes MarJus, thanks for reminding me... i'll have to do it as Soph can't type for toffee. Lots of Red admirals around today at the Lodge.
A wasp beetle landed on my leg yesterday which was pretty cool, first one of the year for me. First emperor dragonflies out on the pond at the Lodge this week as well now it's warmed up a little!
I came across a mint beetle today. Very pretty little thing.