Pleased to see a Garden Tiger caterpillar in the garden today feeding on the comfrey - there were certainly a lot of adults on the wing in the garden last year. Otherwise my first Bee Flies and several species of 'bees', one or two identifiable including Nomada parasitic species.

Flying Insects and Unusual 'Bug'

Continuing the quest for good flight images of insects, the hoverflies were at 1/5000th and 1/6400th and the Bee Flies at 1/6400th and 1/8000th. The wing movement relates more to position of wing in flap cycle than to shutterspeed.

 The Saucer Bug, Ilyocoris cimicoides, is a new species for me and is listed as incapable of flight in Paul Brock's 'Bible' but this one definitely flew away when asked to pose too often. Looking into it further I found the following statement 'Although I. cimicoides is fully winged most individuals have reduced flight muscles and are unable to fly, but flight has been observed in England and Denmark' 

 Otherwise lots of activity on a warm afternoon including the Ashy Mining bee with its parasitic wasp Nomada goodenia and also N. flava

Bee Flies, Bees and Birds in Toft

A miscellany from the last couple of days in Toft - bee flies taken at 1/800th and1/6400th second and still not quite stopping wing movement; three Andrena species of mining bees (A,nitida, A. heamorrhoa and A. cineraria); three migrant species (Chiffchaff, blackcap,Willow warbler) and a Dunnock.

 

Toft Invertebrates (3)

Latest batch of Toft invertebrates including a Caddis fly larva with a very smart case that it has built and glued together! Still not officially identified the transparent tube in the second image - snail eggs have been suggested but looks more like a shed skin. The Bee Fly was hovering - photo taken at 1/8000th has just about stopped wing motion. Finishing with a small mite from the pond.

'Signs of Spring' Survey at Paxton Pits

 Our first survey of the year at Paxton is always along the main Heron Trail recording any wildlife (plants in leaf/flower, birds, insects). This is a useful year-to-year comparison. Despite the cold and blustery conditions, the sunny intervals brought out quite a bit of insect life. My favourite was the Simulid midge - minute but amazingly sculptured - it is on a nettle leaf so the stinging hairs give scale!!. We were pleased to see our new bee terrace being used - Andrena bicolor was the commonest bee recorded there.