Scarce Tissue in Eaton Ford

A Scarce Tissue was caught in his garden MV light trap in Eaton Ford on 27th April by Tony Lawrence. Two photos of it are below, the one showing the upperwings was taken by Melissa Banthorpe and the annotated photo of the underside was taken by Andy Banthorpe.

The photo below is of the underside and is annotated to show the id features that separate this species from The Tissue.

Spider hunting wasp

I waited for about an hour watching a number of these chaps at The Lodge. They were very accommodating, but spent most of their time digging underground. This is the most interesting clip I got. I guess/presume it's Anoplius viaticus, but I could be very, very wrong!

One of the first flowering Early Purple Orchids in Potton Wood today (28th April).

Syromastus rhombeus

Another new squash bug at the lodge (try to stay calm!) Usually associated with coastal habitats but increasingly found inland in scrubby habitats.

Toothwort at Chicksands Wood

A number of spikes of this parasitic plant found at Chicksands Wood last Saturday (17th April) - a total surprise for Andy and myself and the best find of the day.

Photo: Melissa Banthorpe

Least Black Arches on the wall of Snipe building at the Lodge all week.

Stewartby Lake

I'm really enjoying the new macro lens. This Green Hairstreak was showing well in the warm sun at Stewartby Lake.
1/160th sec at f /9.0; ISO 100; tripod; no flash

I can't find a name for this small spider which was lurking on a dead flower head - amazing camouflage !

Powdered Quaker

A light form Powdered Quaker trapped in Upper Caldecote on 17th April. One of 11 recorded so far this year...............

Eupeodes luniger

2 Tawny Pinions......

1 of the 2 Tawny Pinions caught on 13th and 16th April 2010 in my Upper Caldecote garden trap.

Green Hairstreak

My first Green Hairstreak of the year at Knocking Hoe today:



Also a hoverfly that tried hard to avoid being snapped, but eventually succumbed:

Photos by Keith Balmer

Minotaur Beetle and Peacock

A peacock taken today at Maulden woods (a fantastic place for a walk on a spring day) and a female minotaur beetle at the Lodge on Friday. Unlike the male of Will's previous post, the female is clearly without the 3 horns.

The Moon and Venus

The Moon and Venus photographed from my parents garden near Stewrtby Lake. Photograph by Martin Green

A rather worn Orange Underwing at the Lodge today, but showing its underwings well.

Platyrhinus resinosus

This nationally notable B weevil was sitting on the office window today at The Lodge.
Also a rather fine minotaur beetle on the path up by the hill fort

Hovering Bee-Flies

I'm used to seeing bee-flies taking nectar or settling on grasses, but I hadn't noticed before that they (presumably males) also hold station above woodland rides like true hoverflies, chasing anything that comes near. They are really quite agile. Here's a poor picture of one doing this in Chicksands Wood today.


Photo by Keith Balmer

Emperor Moth at Marston Moretaine

This female Emperor Moth was photographed this morning in Marston Moretaine by Phil Candlish. (Grid Ref SP 998 412)

A sunny day on Cooper's Hill

Welcome signs of spring...

Heather beetles were checking out each other - all males I suspect from the behaviour:

A couple of Heather Shieldbugs were sunning themselves:

A patch of bright-red Cladonia lichens caught the eye:

Nice to see the Green Tiger Beetles out again - always a challenge to photograph:

Photos by Keith Balmer

Chilly bees

They're no two-barred crossbill, but the Andrena clarkella nesting aggregation finally came to life last week. The females were pretty active but the cold air and lack of sunshine left the males thermically stranded and probably wondering why they'd bothered coming out of their burrows.

Lead-coloured Drab vs Clouded Drab

These two photos show males of both Lead-coloured Drab and Clouded Drab trapped in Chicksands Wood overnight 21/22 March 2010. On these you can clearly see the partially feathered (bipectinated) antennae of the male Lead-coloured Drab. The females of both species have toothed (bidentate) antennae like the male Clouded Drab. Photos by Melissa Banthorpe.

Lead-coloured Drab

Clouded Drab

Mini mushers

I thought these two were quite sweet.

Spring at last

A fantastic afternoon this Sunday at The Lodge - bees everywhere and a smattering of butterflies. At least 6 species of bumblebees out and about (lucorum, terrestris, lapidarius, pratorum, hypnorum and one type of cuckoo). A small tortoiseshell and red admiral were a welcome sight too.

Flying Spiders

The great thing about wildlife is not knowing what is going to catch the eye each time I go out. Today it was these little spiders on fencing at Strawberry Hill.


It was only when one "flew away" that I realised what many of them were up to. They climbed to the top of the fence posts, stood on tip-toe, raised their abdomen into the air:


and sprayed a loose bundle of silk (gossamer) into the light breeze:


then, when the tension was sufficient, launched backwards into the air. With limited depth of field and the rapid departure, unfortunately the only launch I managed to capture was out-of-focus. (Maybe next time?)


These two weren't interested in flying though:


Once finished, they tapped each other on the back with their forelegs and rapidly backed apart.

Photos by Keith Balmer

The Kiss

A tender moment during the orgy at Tom's Pond on Thursday 18th March. Neither turned into a prince...

Photo by Keith Balmer.

Common Wasp Queen

A splendid Vespula vulgaris queen was skulking around in leaf litter on Maulden Heath on Thursday 18th March, preening and chewing a leg...



Photos by Keith Balmer

Orange Underwing

Several Orange Underwings were seen on the wing along the ridge trail at the Lodge today.

Unidentified moth 17th March 2010

This small (c. 12mm , 1/2 inch) long moth was in my parent's kitchen this evening near Stewartby Lake this afternoon. If anyone knows what it is please let me know... I've altered the colour balance as I used the camera's flash to take this photo, the colours look about right to me now. If anything the moth appeared a little lighter than it does in this photo. Thanks Martin G.

Green spider

Seems appropriate for St Paddy's day, Diaea dorsata male hanging out on some logs at The Lodge yesterday

Oak Beauty

Oak Beauty at The Lodge 10/3/10