It may be the early days of January but if you look around there are still insects to see. Two moth species have already been found in the Visitor Centre with the subtle little Agonopterix alstromeriana on the 1st and then on the 10th a delightful, tiny bejewelled Esperia sulphurella was fluttering against the window. This cute little day flying moth is not normally on the wing until March at the earliest, so it was quite a find!
Agonopterix alstromeriana
Esperia sulphurella
A routine check on one of the old MoD bunkers on the reserve added the richly coloured Herald – a larger, oddly shaped moth. This species habitually hibernates and I counted 14 lined up along the ceiling along with five Peacock butterflies and countless Mosquitos that all woke up as soon as I exhaled!
Herald
Peacock
Mossies hanging around
There are one or two larger flies around but one on the outside window caught my eye the other day and even through the window I could see that it had been killed by a very specific fungus!
The parasitic fungus is called Entomophthora muscae (I think) goes to great lengths to exploit the mating urges of house flies. After taking control of a fly's brain it sends its host to die on the highest point it can reach (our main Centre window), the zombifying mould concocts a powerful aphrodisiac to complete its ruse which then attracts more flies to mate with it which are then also infected while the original fly releases the fungal spores into the wind (the white bands between the segments of the body)… gruesome but amazing!
Zombie Fly