Toft 30th March Flies

 The Bee Fly is a parasite of mining bees dropping its eggs into the open burrows where the grubs feed on the bee's young. A sunny afternoon brought out a large number of bees and flies onto the daisies and dandelions in the village. Here are a few of the Diptera species - not the most attractive collection unless you like hairs and bristles but certainly demonstrates the large variety even semirural (gardens, verges, churchyards) environments support. Bees etc to follow!!

Toft Spiders and Insects etc

Cold wind but plenty of sunshine to warm the Toft daffodil petals and encourage the insects and spiders to show themselves. ID sheet at end - Andrena trimmerai not confirmed but seems nearest. The birch catkin bug and the very small green gall wasp were respite from the very large number of Anthomyiidae flies while the meadow is full of these very vibrant fungi on the sheep droppings.

Trumpington Meadows Monday 9th March

I visited Trumpington Meadows on Monday on a cool cloudy day so no high expectations of insect activity but some interesting finds in the woodland areas and great to see cowslips already in full bloom in places. Usual ID sheet at end - the beetle larva keyed out as a Rose Chafer but will need to check this one - found in nearby site so possible.

Unusually Warm Day Encourages Garden Minilife

Unusually warm today - 18degrees at midday with very little wind brought out  a lot of insects, spiders etc including this Beetle Larva, Harlequin ladybird and various other insects. Spiders were also on the move and I think the white 'mushrooms' are spiders egg sacs. Even a small Geometrid caterpillar feeding on the Knapweed.

 

Garden Species 17th September

Raining for most of the day on and off but also a bright interval or two when I ventured out with my camera to see what insects were active. As usual, lots of plant bugs but also a Pine Ladybird and several other species (ID sheet at end)