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.