The nice weather this morning seems to have brought out some new insects for the year and increased the numbers of some elusive species, which have proved difficult to spot so far this season….
Ringlet, or Aphantopus hyperantus and meadow brown, Maniola jurtina, butterflies haven’t put in an appearance at all in 2012 until this morning. As I made my way around the silt lagoons completing the monthly WeBS count (see previous blog for this morning’s results), I was relieved to finally catch a glimpse of these two normally very numerous species.
Common blue, or Polyommatus icarus, butterflies have made a poor show so far this year, with only three individuals recorded in the last few weeks. However this morning I counted up to 5 around the site in the vicinity of their foodplant, birds-foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus.
A red admiral, Vanessa atalanta, was also a welcome record around silt lagoon 2, only the third I have seen all year.
Plentiful damselflies were around Phase 2 this morning with a species composition of common blue, Enallagma cyathigerum, azure, Coenagrion puella and blue-tailed, Ischnura elegans. However, I also managed to record a new species for the year, also on Phase 2, a stunning yellow and black female black-tailed skimmer, or Orthetrum cancellatum.
And finally, a new beetle for 2012, Cassida viridis or the green tortoise beetle. A distinctive species characterized by it’s broad, domed green elytra (wing cases), resembling the shape of a tortoise shell. They are a fairly common and widespread species throughout the UK and the larvae hold a ‘case’ of old moulted skins and droppings over their backs as a defence against predators.