11 Jun 23

Wakeham

With showers popping up all day and with the threat of thunderstorms, it was a day spent at home. There was a brief respite and when the sun came out briefly, I had a walk around the back garden to see what was about.

Main highlight today was the large numbers of Marmalade Hoverflies flying about the garden, with at least 20 or more noted. Other hoverflies included a Common Dronefly, my first for months!! and two Superb Ant-hill Hoverflies.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Great Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch


Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded:
3 Azure Damselfly

A female Azure Damselfly and.........

...........two.....

..............males

Moths Recorded:

#1 - Blastobasis sp.

#1 - Blastobasis sp.

#1 - Blastobasis sp. Thank you to Ed Wilson for the ID.

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)


Hoverflies Recorded:
20+ Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
1 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
2 Superb Ant-hill Hoverfly (Xanthogramma pedissequum)

1 Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris)

My attempts of capturing Marmalade Hoverflies in flight. Not bad.

A bit better..

That will do!!

A Superb Ant-hill Hoverfly (Xanthogramma pedissequum) and........

...........a side profile

I hope I've got this right, a Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
20+Semaphore Fly (Poecilobothrus nobilitatus)
1 Broad Centurian (Chloromyia formosa)

There were quite a few Semaphore flies about. This is a male with white wing tips.

And here it is again with the wings open. The schematic illustration below is the signal display.......

....................showing a. Lightening of the rapidly moved wing tip and (b) increase of signal contrast through white wing tips and through (c) white wing tips with black zones on the apex. (Courtesy of Behavioural Ecology, Oxford Journals)

And this a female Semaphore fly, to whom the males are trying to attract.

As I was photographing the Superb Ant-hill Hoverfly, a Broad Centurian landed to my left.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)

The Swollen-thighed Beetles are still about. This is a male in the flower-head of a Californian Poppy

Caterpillars Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly larvae

As I was photographing the Semaphore flies, I felt this "caterpillar" crawling over my hand.

After placing it on the lavender it..........

............proceeded to climb down the stem.

Here is a video of its descent. It turns out it is the larvae of a Marmalade Hoverfly . More on this larvae here.