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| Green Shield Bug final instar |
22 August, 2011
Green Shield Bug
A 5th (final instar) Green Shield Bug on the garden Buddleia.
15 August, 2011
Oblique Carpet
I returned home from work at 02:30 to discover a small Geometrid in the Skinner trap that I didn't recognize. It was potted for further study the following morning, and it turned out to be a complete surprise - Oblique Carpet !
It frequents bogs, fens and marshes, the larvae feeding on bedstraws. There are two generations: months 5/6 and 7/8.
There are only a handful of records in Bedfordshire, the last was in 1973 !
There are only a handful of records in Bedfordshire, the last was in 1973 !
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| Oblique Carpet Orthonama vittata |
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| Oblique Carpet Orthonama vittata |
01 August, 2011
Ledra aurita
This distinctive leafhopper Ledra aurita was in the Skinner moth trap this morning. At 13-18mm it is the largest UK leafhopper, and shows a preference for lichen-covered oaks.
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| Ledra aurita |
13 June, 2011
The Gem
Quite a few moths around, the action tailing off around 01:00. Then, with a collection of moths potted up for identification in the morning, it was up the stairs to Bedfordshire.
One of the 'unknowns' proved to be The Gem (Orthonama obstipata). Not wishing to make any schoolboy errors, confirmation was sought from the macro recorders.
It is a sexually dimorphic immigrant, distributed over much of Europe, and an annual migrant to the UK. The last 'Gem' year was in 2006, apparently, when it was generally good for migrants as a whole. The recorders state that there are nine previous records in the database in Bedfordshire.
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| The Gem Orthonama obstipata |
14 May, 2011
Kos: 05/05/2011
Some of the wildlife of the Greek island of Kos.
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| Large Wall Brown Lasiommata maera |
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| Unknown predator feeding |
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| Starred Agama Laudakia stellio |
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| Synaphe moldavica |
01 May, 2011
Sandhouse Lane NR
Another fine April day with plenty of wildlife to enjoy. A small micro moth turned out to be Grapholita jungiella which was new for me - other day-fliers included Common Heath and Pyrausta purpuralis. There were plenty of butterflies too:
Dragons were in evidence with four Downy Emerald, Large Red and Common Blue Damselfly.
- Dingy Skipper - 1
- Small White - 1
- Green Hairstreak - 9
- Small Copper - 2
- Holly Blue - 1
- Red Admiral - 1
- Speckled Wood - 4
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| Speckled Wood |
Dragons were in evidence with four Downy Emerald, Large Red and Common Blue Damselfly.
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| Downy Emerald |
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| Grapholita jungiella |
27 April, 2011
Garden Moths 26/04/11
Last nights 'highlights' were Heart and Dart, and another Nut-tree Tussock. A distant Tawny Owl could be heard calling.
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| 2425 Nut-tree Tussock |
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| 2089 Heart and Dart |
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