There were more new insect species for the year this afternoon around the silt lagoons - albeit in lower numbers than usual!
The first was this lovely marmalade fly, or Episyrphus balteatus to give it it's scientific name. Like many hoverflies they are mimics, with markings and colouration that resembles other insects that may be distasteful or have a sting. Hoverflies are indeed members of the Order Diptera, the true flies and the Family Syrphidae. Marmalade flies are a common and widespread species in the UK, whose population can be greatly supplemented in some years by migrant insects from the continent.
Another dragonfly species hiding in the grass (I don't blame it in this weather!)....a common darter, or Sympetrum striolatum. An abundant species throughout England and Wales, they appear in summer and are often still on the wing in November - being on of the latest flying dragonfly species in the UK. This individual is a female, but when the males are mature, their abdomens are bright red in colour.
And finally, the first burnet moths, Zygaena spp. are out and flying around silt lagoon 6. We have two species here at Langford, however today I couldn't tell which I was looking at, as they flew straight past me without landing! The narrow-bordered five spot burnet, or Zygaena lonicerae is a common and widespread species of rough grassland, it's larvae feeding on various herbaceous species including meadow vetchling and red clover. It's close relative, the six spot burnet, Zygaena filipendulae is also common and widespread throughout much of the UK, this time the larvae feeding on common bird's-foot trefoil.
No pictures of the burnets unfortunately, however here is one of the imago insect's favoured nectaring species, greater knapweeed, in flower around silt lagoon 6 now. Look out for the moth's feeding on knapweeds and thistles in the next few weeks.