It’s perhaps the best time of year for the entomologist at the moment, with new species emerging nearly every day and always something to see. Here is a quick list of newly emerged species for this week –
Panorpa germanica/communis – scorpion flies. Related to lacewings, the males are instantly recognizable by their scorpion-like appendages at the tip of the abdomen. But don’t worry, they won’t sting you – it is their reproductive organs.
Malachius bipustulatus – one of the malachite beetles (Malachiidae). A stunning species with bright green elytra (wing cases) and red spots on the elytra tips.
Phyllopertha horticola – the garden chafer beetle. This is a large species with a green head and pronotum (thorax case) and rich brown coloured elytra.
Cantharis rufa and Rhagonycha limbata – both members of the soldier beetle family (Cantharidae). Cantharis rufa is bright orange and Rhagonycha limbata is smaller and caramel brown coloured with black markings on the pronotum.
Nemophora degeerella – one of the longhorn moths, they have huge antennae, lomger than the rest of the insect. This species is brown with yellow markings on the wings – a very pretty insect.
Pyrochroa serraticornis – the red-headed cardinal beetle. Large and bright red – unmistakable and one of my personal favourites!
Cercopis vulnerata – the red and black froghopper. As the name would suggest, they are black with large red markings on the wings. They are the UK’s largest froghopper at around 8mm in length.
Clytus arietis – the wasp beetle. Another stunning species and a member of the longhorn beetle family (Cerambycidae). They mimic wasps in both appearance and behavior.
Black-tailed skimmer, emperor and common darter dragonflies and red-eyed damselfly. The common darters were in the polytunnel – it is a little early for this species to by flying, I wonder if they have emerged from the reed propagation bays!?
And finally, the insect of the week has to be hairy dragonfly. This is the first reserve record of this scarce species and has got us all rather excited! More on this species on next week’s blog….