| Re: Insect of the Day
My insect of the day would've been the very impressive hoverfly, Volucella zonaria, which I saw feeding on the buddleia in the garden, a first for me. However in the afternoon I got out to one of the local heaths and there were loads of interesting insects around!
Highlights were two red data book species, the Heath Grasshopper and Large Marsh Grasshopper. There were a few Heath Grasshoppers around, this was a new species for me, I only found a couple of Large Marsh Grasshoppers and I didn't manage any particularly good shots of them, but they are such impressive insects! Now I know where to find them I will go back and try for some better shots.
Also a few Bog Bush-crickets around and one huge Hornet Robberfly, there were still some Silver-studded Blues about although most looked quite faded and quite a few fresh looking Graylings. Quite a lot of dragonflies and damselflies about as well, Small Red Damselflies were nice to see but it was perhaps more interesting to see a couple of Large Red Damselflies, I really thought that they would've been finished by now. Other odonates were Emerald, Common Blue and Azure Damselflies, Black and Common Darters, Black-tailed and Keeled Skimmers and a couple of Four-spotted Chasers. Although I know they're not insects but a few Raft Spiders in the ditches and pools, I only saw small ones today - no adults, but still great to see them.
All in all an excellent day with plenty of nice insects, I should be able to put up some photos tomorrow.
Guy  |