Rare Wasp?

I'm still waiting for confirmation but I believe this to be a female Odynerus melanocephalus a nationally "Notable A" species, seen today at Sandy Smith NR.

If anyone sees a wasp like this, with wings folded lengthways and white (rather than yellow) bands on the abdomen, please let me know, as it may be this species. It would be good to know where else it may be...

Keith Balmer

Denisia albimaculea new to Bedfordshire

The photo below is of a micro-moth that landed on the sheet at a mothing event at Ampthill Park on Saturday night 27th May 2011. It is Denisia albimaculea and is a new addition to the county list. Photo by Melissa Banthorpe.

Common Heath moth

One of the day-flying moths which does not appear from the records to be particularly numerous or widespread in Bedfordshire. This individual was photographed at Heath and Reach 19th May.

A scarce longhorn & a beautiful bug

The longhorn beetle Anaglyptus mysticus is nationally scarce apparently - not sure of it's status in Bedfordshire. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think the iridescent colours of the Forest Bug final instar nymph make it rather pretty. Both were at The Lodge, Sandy on 16/5/11.

First Post

Although I've been running my own blogs for a few years now, I'm a new name on the Beds Flora & Fauna blog, so a big Hello to all!

For my first post here, I've chosen a few images taken a few weeks back amongst the gorgeous bluebells of Kingswood, near Houghton Conquest, and a local dragon' from a few days ago in Cople.

Backlight

Orange Tip



Backlight 2

 

Orange Tip

Broad-bodied Chaser

Scarce Chaser & Cockchafer

Cockchafer and Scarce Chaser female at The Lodge 10/5/11

Green Hairstreaks & Hairy Dragonfly

Green Hairstreaks and a Hairy Dragonfly at the Marston Vale Country Park. Photos by Dave Ball.

Many-lined new for county

A complete surprise for Tony Lawrence when he cheked his moth trap this morning in Eaton Ford, and a great addtion to the VC30 list. Photo Melissa Banthorpe

Dingy Skipper & Light Brocade

Dingy Skipper on Birdsfoot Trefoil at Stewartby Lake

Light Brocade, caught by Martin Palmer in his moth trap at Kempston.

Photographs by Martin Green.

Hairy Dragonfly - MVCP

A Hairy Dragonfly that alighted briefly in the MVCP Sensory Garden. Photograph by Martin Green.

Dragonflies and a Red-and-Black Froghopper (?)

Four-spotted Chaser - MVCP Boardwalk

Hairy Dragonfly - MVCP Sensory Garden

Two photos of what appears from a brief Internet search to be a Red-and-Black Froghopper (?) which was near the railway line between the MVCP and Rookery. (On the MVCP side...) Anyone know if this is a common bug in the county...? Photographs by Martin Green.