Insect Life in Garden (August 3-6th)

Rather a backlog of insects from the garden, some of them new for the list like this Ophion Ichneumon, a genus that lays eggs in Noctuid moth caterpillars.

CCC Evening Visit to Cambridge

Our group of photographers kept the very crowded Mill Lane Bridge visitors entertained as we explored slow shutterspeed photography. I was given a very accurate lesson from a young boy from India who knew all about shutterspeeds and how to get the best result on his iphone - the new generation of photographers. There is more experimentation to do on applying the techniques to punting but enjoyed the session. We then transferred to the completely deserted Sidgwick site for some architectural work. 

New Wasp Species for the Garden

Although  there are a lot of black and yellow wasp species, I am pretty sure this is Ancistrocerus gazella, commonest species in our part of England but new to the garden list. Lots of nymphal Shieldbugs - here the Woundwort Shieldbug and dozens of Flower spiders around the garden - they seem to like the pink flowers or, perhaps, they are more visible there. The Yellow Rod takes over from Knapweed as the most visited flowers in the garden.

Insect Photography at Stanwick Lakes

Although there was less insect activity than we were expecting at Stanwick Lakes, our group found enough to keep our cameras busy and some very interesting new species for me including the Ichneumon and the red beetle (ID sheet at end). 

 

Garden Species 28th July

Great to see a second Silver-washed Fritillary in the garden this year though near the end of its flying time (their breeding area is over a mile away. Other favourites are the one-legged Dark Bush Cricket, the two Speckled Bush Crickets and the Spiders with their prey (ID sheet at end)