Extraordinary Garden Flies

Physiphora is a small metallic fly with very impressive eyes. The larvae develop in decaying plant material. This is followed by Urophora which produces Thistle Galls, Volucella zonaria a type of Hornet Hoverfly, two Tachnid fly species etc etc.

Bumper Day for Insects

The conditions were obviously ideal for insects today. Here a batch before the rain came. The Chalcid wasp was ovipositing into a knapweed head presumably finding a larva to inject its egg into. There are 1,717 at the last count of this family of minute wasps so chances of ID probably small!! Similarly not much luck with the tiny spider and its fly prey.

Sand Wasp Versus Caterpillar

 The Sand Wasp, Ammophila sabulosa, preys on caterpillars (here Silver Y caterpillar) which it paralyses, takes to a pre-dug hole and places in the burrow laying an egg on it. The egg hatches and the larva feeds on the caterpillar. Carrying such a large prey is no mean feat especially over rough vegetation. When it reached the hole an amusing sequence occurred as it attempted to push the larva into the hole (like threading a needle with a floppy piece of cotton) but eventually worked out it is better to go down the hole and drag it in.

West Cambridge Site

Development at West Cambridge has been on-going since the 1960s and planning permission was granted in 1999. This is one of regular visits to the site as it changes over the years. Their vision was and is to build a world-class, well-connected research and development environment that benefits Cambridge, the region and the UK and to maintain high standards in environmental sustainability across the site and sustainable travel methods to and from the site. Certainly it is a vibrant development with plenty of wild-life areas.

 

Latest Batch of Garden Insects

I am still on a quest to record all the insects in my garden - sometimes interesting (!) photos of familiar species like these mating Sphaerophoria scripta and some new species like the bug Dicyphus epilobii.