Was out walking a couple of nights ago when I came across these glowing creatures (yes I know that they are just basking in the evening sunlight!) my husband said not to bother as they were just midges...............and maybe they are - but I thought they looked pretty. Are they just midges??????
Cheers Deb
http://www.flickr.com/photos/Debz_14/
Deb, I suspect they are but I was out doing a glow worm survey the other night and the organiser did mention that fireflys have been recorded in a couple of places up north. I wonder where they came from.
Visiting the Cotswold Water Park. Have a look at http://cotswoldwaterpark.wordpress.com/
hello,
Glad someone posted this. We had a Bat Walk last night logged Bats feeding on Moths. The Moths in abundance around the arc lights Bats taking them & what I thought was Glow Worms, I had such confirmed in great numbers as the night went on as Fire Flies. I've only saw these when the weather has been good like last night & this evening. The Midges are out too..ouch! Plenty of Moths in flight large dark coloured & a lot of very small white Moths. Plenty of small insects for the Bats to feast upon. Glow Worms last time I saw these was in Loch Lomond at night.
Regards
David
'Up North' West Central Scotland.
"Take only photographs..leave only footprints."
The insects in the photo in the original post look like some sort of 'midge', but not the tiny biting ones that can be so annoying!
As far as fireflies go, I believe that there are currently no fully confirmed reports of fireflies anywhere in the UK. There are two species of Glow worm, but only the females of the common Glow worm actually glow, and these are flightless. According to the website of the UK Glow worm survey ( http://www.glowworms.org.uk/index.html ):
"One very intriguing report came from Lancashire, of fireflies in a country park. We received a photo of an identifiable firefly, either Luciola lusitanica or Luciola italica. But despite searches made on subsequent nights, the sighting could not be confirmed, and remains so. This would be the first-ever sighting of a live firefly in the UK, and we hope that next year it can be confirmed"
...so there may be fireflies (which are beetles, like glow worms) in Lancashire, but this awaits confirmation.
Blog: http://www.buteowildlife.blogspot.com/
Two of my sons asked if they were fireflies. Was the country park identified? My midges were taken in Lancashire.
RoyW quote "As far as fireflies go, I believe that there are currently no fully confirmed reports of fireflies anywhere in the UK." I can confirm sighting such over two nights when the weather was good, due to the location from my window ledge I firstly never thought of taking a photo of confirmation, maybe something I should think about? the second night due to the location higher above my window ledge for health & safety I couldn't reach out to point the camera upwards as for the drop. When on the ground looking up they were in abundance as witnessed, no camera present, so you'll have to take our word on what was witnessed, spectacular to say the least as I've seen Glow Worms before at night but nothing near this in number. I've passed the details on through the relevant channels connected to our area out of interest.
I had not expected anyone to mention fireflies the other night as I knew they weren't recorded here. The only encounter I have had with fireflies is in Costa Rica when on an Earthwatch project and they appear as floating spots of light about 2 feet above the ground , a bit like fairies.
DebzTwo of my sons asked if they were fireflies. Was the country park identified? My midges were taken in Lancashire.
No, the country park hasn't been named on the Glow Worm website.
David_JAFORoyW quote "As far as fireflies go, I believe that there are currently no fully confirmed reports of fireflies anywhere in the UK." I can confirm sighting such over two nights when the weather was good, due to the location from my window ledge I firstly never thought of taking a photo of confirmation, maybe something I should think about? the second night due to the location higher above my window ledge for health & safety I couldn't reach out to point the camera upwards as for the drop. When on the ground looking up they were in abundance as witnessed, no camera present, so you'll have to take our word on what was witnessed, spectacular to say the least as I've seen Glow Worms before at night but nothing near this in number. I've passed the details on through the relevant channels connected to our area out of interest.
For an invertebrate species that has not previously been recorded in the UK a specimen may be required. A good quality photograph that puts the species identification beyond doubt would be the absolute minimum needed for the record to be considered confirmed.
I'm sure that the UK Glow worm survey would be interested in hearing about your record though: http://www.glowworms.org.uk/
Bob Philpott...and they appear as floating spots of light about 2 feet above the ground , a bit like fairies.
How often do you see fairies then Bob? ;o) :oD
RoyW How often do you see fairies then Bob? For an invertebrate species that has not previously been recorded in the UK a specimen may be required. A good quality photograph that puts the species identification beyond doubt would be the absolute minimum needed
How often do you see fairies then Bob?
For an invertebrate species that has not previously been recorded in the UK a specimen may be required. A good quality photograph that puts the species identification beyond doubt would be the absolute minimum needed
I had better keep my camera and butterfly net handy for the next time there's a blue moon
Well - according to one definition you won't have too long to wait Bob - August 21, 2013 is the next blue moon!!!!!!
Any firefly or fairy pics will be awaited with interest ;)
Ta Roy - couldn't access the web address you provided as I've been using my mob all day and it won't let me copy and paste - instead just increases the font size. It would be interesting to know where though - funny place for them to suddenly sprout though I would have thought - unless it's near the coast.
I've just logged on to the forum for a mo at my desk ready to get started for the day. There's got to be some explanation for these strange glowing insects. I've passed the details on to a contact for our area with full witness recording details including a map of the area etc.. Bob quote;"Appear as floating spots of light about 2 feet above the ground.." these are a lot higher than 2ft off the ground as recorded initially we thought it was either the arc lights or street lights that illuminated them but once in the pitch black woods etc.. they gave off a white light glow, being in great number was of greater interest. So just waiting on the relevant authorities (hopefully not with the straight jacket & sedative..lol) getting back to me.
Lovely shot! I suspect they're a type of gnat - Trichocera species. The males often fly up and down in clouds like it.
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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Well - I suppose 'gnats that' then (groan). They looked really pretty in the sunlight and bigger than midges, but never considered gnats. In our house insects are for catching in a jar and throwing outside LOL
Always up for a "punfest" Debz..Should the grandchildren be told that they`re fairies or a naturally illuminated species of gnat yet to be identified by me?
I`ve never actually seen a fairy but I know...
they`re there.
edgebander I`ve never actually seen a fairy but I know... they`re there.
Oh Edgebander - you're not hanging around in the right bars LOL (no offense meant)
They were in a shaft of light - but I've seen midges in the garden in the sunlight and never seen any that looked soooo glowy. It stopped me in my tracks and although I'm not a huge insect fan I found them quite mesmerising. I'm almost at the point where I might go back there and see if I can see them again and get a better picture. Unfortunately I only took the one as hubby was striding off muttering about photographing midges..............