I know that for most part the insect aspect of our lovely reserve descends into a winter torpor this time of year but it give the likes of the very talented Phil Collins the time to go through all the images he has taken during the course of the year and delve more into the intricacies if specific species identification...
Thankfully there are other experts on hand to help with this task and over the last couple of weeks Phil had diligently added several new species to the every growing invertebrate list for the marsh.
So here are a few examples to remind of those warmer summer days...
The first is a Shieldbug called Rhaphigaster nebulosa - the Mottled Shieldbug. It is a recent arrival in the UK and was first recorded in 2010. The only previous record on the Essex Field Club distribution map is from that year and, interestingly, from the Rainham Marshes area. The photo are of a late instar nymph so the adults will look rather different having dark mottling all over. One to look out for next year!
Rhaphigaster nebulosa
The second is a species of fly whose larvae predates small water snails (of which we have plenty!). The molluscs on the marsh, be they aquatic or terrestrial have many insect predators from various other flies to voracious ground beetles and this one, albeit common is also new to the list.
She goes by the name of Ilione albiseta
Now for a wee little Plant Bug from back in August that was having fun on the Fleabane in the Wildlife Garden.... turns out that we had not seen this one before either!
Phytocoris varipes
And last but not least - let's end on a tricky fly that was feeding on the Sea Aster on the foreshore in September. There are over 7000 species of fly in the UK alone so hats off to Phil for pinning this one down to Sarcophaga pumila. As you can see she is enjoying the pollen that attracts so many bees.
Sarcophaga pumila
13-11-15