Late afternoon I was in the back garden and came across an interesting bumblebee with a bright yellow head and red tail. Turns out it was a male Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius). Nothing unusual I know, except I don't recall ever seeing a male before.
Also seen was a male Common Darter, Common Carder Bee, Common Wasp, a Eupeodes sp. Hoverfly and a I believe a Southern Bronze Furrow Bee (Halictus tumulorum).
Common Wasp
A male Red-tailed Bumblebee
Another view
And one more
Common Carder Bumblebee
Southern Bronze Furrow Bee
As above
And again.
A Eupeodes sp. hoverfly
Mermaid Track, Rufus Castle, St Andrews Church and Pennsylvania Castle Wood.
What an interesting walk this afternoon. My main highlight should really have been the Wall Brown I found along the Mermaid Track. A butterfly I've not seen for a good month or more. However the prize has to go to a grasshopper, and not just any old grasshopper, but a pink Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelusax) and not a Common Field Grasshopper as I first thought.
Here is an extract from the National Geographic for a Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelusax), which states "It is called erythrism an unusual and little-understood genetic mutation caused by a recessive gene similar to that which affects albino animals. This mutation results in one of two things happening or even a combination of the two; a reduce or even absence of the normal pigment and/or the excessive production of other pigments, in this case red which results in pink morphs". More Here
Also seen were 4 Migrant Hawkers in the grounds of St Andrews Church where it must be said is turning into an amazing oasis for many insects. Also here (but not photographed ) were a Pellucid Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens), a male Common Darter and a Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Butterflies seen today were Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Wall Brown, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Comma, Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blue.
A few moths seen today where the Silver Y's outnumbered the Six-spot Burnet moths, 6 to 1. Can't believe I only found 1 Six-spot Burnet. Also seen on a Sycamore leaf a Tortrix sp.
Also recorded was a possible Zebra back spider (Salticus scenicus) was new for me, a Great Green Bush Cricket (Tettigonia viridissima), a black bee sp. and a mystery hoverfly to ID.
Here are few images from today in order that I took them:
Gatekeeper
Small Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum
A "blue" butterfly
Just the one Six-spot Burnet moth seen today. Where have all the others gone!
A "blue" butterfly
A real treat to find this pink Meadow Grasshopper (Chorthippus parallelusax).
And one its original colours.
A Great Green Bush Cricket
A very worn and pale Speckled Wood
Another Gatekeeper.
A "blue" butterfly.
The thistle it's on is a Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris)
On the plant in front of the Carline is I think a jumping spider possibly a Zebra back spider (Salticus scenicus).
Tortrex sp.
As above
A Wall Lizard and its prey, an unsuspecting fly on the right.
Close-up.
One of the 4 Migrant Hawkers in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.
A Meadow Brown.
As above.
A real good close-up of another Migrant Hawker.
And full view.
A "blue" butterfly
Do you know I have no idea what this bee is.
Another view of it!
A Tapered Drone Fly
Another mystery insect.......
.....I'm pretty sure its a hoverfly.
As to what, well a bit of research is needed.
Another Small Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum.