Insect Of The Day

[Robert Hooke]

I saw a Saint Mark's Fly on Friday, and it seemed a bit early in the year, but I've just checked and Friday was indeed Saint Mark's Day

[GuyF]

Yesterday I was very surprised to see my first dragonfly of the year, a Four-spotted Chaser, this seems very early?


Insect of the day though would have to have been Emperor Moth, I saw a few of the beautiful males fluttering over the heathland yesterday, the first time I've seen them. Unfortunately none of them landed so I couldn't get a photo.
Also seemed to have been a big emergence of Large Red Damselflies, there were loads around, as well as Green Tiger-Beetles, Orange-tips, Brimstones and my first Speckled Wood of the year.
Guy

[nutmeg]

What a great selection of insects, Guy!

Mine of the day is the first 14-spot ladybird I've seen this year - quite a bit later than I was seeing them last year.

[mrs fish]

I will be pleased when the warm sunshine comes back , only a house fly to report

[Malcolm Banks]

Hello, I would be grateful for some help with my insect of the day. I have just built a wildlife pond in my garden and am enjoying watching the (mostly invertebrate) colonists arriving. I have observed a small fly with a thin black body (ca 2.5-3mm long) flat skimming rapidly very close over the surface, often appearing to “ski” on the surface, creating a small wake. They can be seen to pick up small fragments (could be v small insects) from the surface and then fly off for a while, so may be scavengers/predators. I should like to identify the fly but cannot find anything that matches the description in my few insect books or on the web. Would anyone be able to help with this please, either directly or via a link to an expert?
Thanks in advance, Malcolm, Surrey






Malcolm Banks

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

While watering some lupins in the greenhouse I saw lots of aphids Then on closer inspection of the pots I saw sucked dry aphids on the bottom of the pot. Then looking even closer found a very tiny spider you cant beat natural control..So mine is my tiny spider. Haven't a clue what it is and too small for my camera to get an id.

Without the aphids you wouldn't get the spiders, bugs, ladybirds, lacewings &c so stick with it! Dried aphids ('mummies') can be sucked dry, ones dead of old age or ones from which parasitoids have emerged - it's a hard life being an aphid!

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Malcolm Banks

Hello, I would be grateful for some help with my insect of the day. I have just built a wildlife pond in my garden and am enjoying watching the (mostly invertebrate) colonists arriving. I have observed a small fly with a thin black body (ca 2.5-3mm long) flat skimming rapidly very close over the surface, often appearing to “ski” on the surface, creating a small wake. They can be seen to pick up small fragments (could be v small insects) from the surface and then fly off for a while, so may be scavengers/predators. I should like to identify the fly but cannot find anything that matches the description in my few insect books or on the web. Would anyone be able to help with this please, either directly or via a link to an expert?
Thanks in advance, Malcolm, Surrey








Malcolm Banks

Pond Skaters I think!

[aeshna5]

It's been an incredibly soggy day in London today so no bugs noted but yesterday after the downpours we had some afternoon sun + on a Buddleja there were 3 pairs of copulating Common Green Shieldbugs + a couple of single ones. On adjacent foliage were several basking Harlequins.

[Kayleigh]

Mine was another damn lily beetle..On my beautiful lily's..I seem to be picking one off a day.

[derekmc]

Have just seen my first Orange-Tip of the spring - always a sight that cheers me up.

Derek