Saturday 7 November 2015

Olive-tree Pearl - Palpita vitrealis

One trapped in Luton on 5th November = 2nd or 3rd county record ?

Tuesday 11 August 2015

Leafhopper - Ledra aurita

The very distinctive and large leafhopper Ledra aurita from my Luton garden this week. A new one for me... long jump estimated at just short of one metre on a level table !



Friday 7 August 2015

Nothochrysa capitata - out of the pot

Nothochrysa capitata                        photo: Melissa Banthorpe


To add to Andy Grimsey's earlier post, a pic of N.capitata out of the pot. I can confirm it is new for the county.Well done to Andy for finding it.

Thursday 6 August 2015

Black Lacewing - Nothochrysa capitata

This large black lacewing was on top of my moth trap early morning on Tuesday 4th August and identified from web resource. It is now with our county recorder, Melissa, and I am advised it is a first for county. Apologies for the in-the-pot photo as I did not dare let it out, presume Melissa can capture something better. It seems to be a distinctive beastie so not easy to overlook by the curious garden naturalist...

Thursday 9 July 2015

Hummingbird Hawk-moth

Hummingbird Hawk-moth, The Lodge, 9th July 2015

Wednesday 8 July 2015

Waved Black larva breeding success

On 22nd May this year Woburn Safari Park staff found an unknown larva during their bioblitz, which the Beds Invertebrate Group was also taking part in. I was handed it on the 23rd to identify and found it was a Waved Black larva. I didn't hold up much hope of managing to breed it through but it took bracket fungus from a birch tree and happily munched on this for a few weeks. However, in mid-June before we were due on holiday it was looking a bit lifeless and nearly got thrown out. We kept it and within a couple of days it pupated successfully. Andy checked it on his arrival home from work this evening and found an adult had emerged.

Waved Black larva                             photo Melissa Banthorpe

Waved Black adult                            photo Melissa Banthorpe

Sunday 5 July 2015

A Study in Scarlet......

As part of the annual Invertebrates Day at Flitwick Moor on 3rd July Melissa and I went wandering along the River Flit in the afternoon and found a total of 33 Scarlet Tiger moths. At one point we had 20 flying around along the path and I took some video on my phone that though not close to the action shows the moths in flight. Two photos below and I am working on how to get the video on line at a decent resolution.



Tuesday 12 May 2015

Psyche casta




This Psyche casta micromoth larva was crawling around on a fence post today at The Lodge RSPB. Its head can be seen poking out the left end of its case.

Snake fly - Lodge

This fabulous beast was in my car as I left work tonight.  


Monday 4 May 2015

Looking for Eana incanana larvae in Bluebells

Following a tip posted on Twitter, Melissa and I looked for the larvae of Eana incanana in Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scipta) flowers in Maulden Wood on Saturday afternoon (02/05/15). We found four larvae quite easily. The larvae feed in the flower on the stamens and developing ovaries and can be detected by looking for flowers spun together with silk with frass present. The occupied flower then needs to be opened to check for and identify the larva. Photos below of the flowers with silk and frass and the larva inside by Melissa Banthorpe.




Friday 27 March 2015

Coleophora laricella

A rather interesting find at RSPB Sandy this afternoon - cases of C. laricella. The upper one has started feeding on a fresh needle. The lower one is still fixed in its winter resting position. (Photos: Melissa Banthorpe)



Sunday 1 March 2015

Dotted Border

Found this little lady had emerged from pupation today. She was collected from oak as a larva at Flitwick Moor on 21st May last year.

Dotted Border female                      Photo: Melissa Banthorpe