Insect Of The Day

Jason Claxton · #**781** (**permalink**) 03-11-2009, 08:10 PM

It would be a better record than mine then.As the majority are found near Southern Wood ants near me.I'm guessing that you know the area around you very well and that you haven't overlooked any Wood ants.The Ladybirds of Surrey by Roger D.Hawkins has just one record of C.magnifica away from Formica rufa ,here it was seen with the aphids tended by Formica sanguinea,I must admit that I do not know much about which species of ants are present near you.I do agree that from the pattern of the spots underneath that it is a Scarce 7-spot though,interesting indeed Janet

JRsbugs · #**782** (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Claxton

It would be a better record than mine then.As the majority are found near Southern Wood ants near me.I'm guessing that you know the area around you very well and that you haven't overlooked any Wood ants.The Ladybirds of Surrey by Roger D.Hawkins has just one record of C.magnifica away from Formica rufa ,here it was seen with the aphids tended by Formica sanguinea,I must admit that I do not know much about which species of ants are present near you.I do agree that from the pattern of the spots underneath that it is a Scarce 7-spot though,interesting indeed Janet

I think I would recognise wood ants if I saw them Jason, I don't go rummaging in the woods around me but I have just about everything come to my garden anyway. I think I have 5 different species of ants, not easy to give a name to them but Lasius niger I know I have, a yellow ant I found in the grass when digging the pond which could be Lasius flavus, and a small reddish one which looked different to L. niger. There's a big one I think is Formica fusca. Then I have an unusual orange one which runs around the pond and likes to eat other ants (I have pics of one carrying a damaged one!), another similar I got pics of which has a paler pattern on the abdomen.

Maybe I should put them on a thread sometime, no-one seems to be able to confirm the ID but I could put them on BWARS group which is where I had confirmation of L. niger, they have an ant expert.

Jason Claxton · #**783** (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 09:41 AM

That is where my bravery ends with ants,Janet.I've only just started looking at them myself .BWARS may be your best bet then with these for a reliable I.d.So you definitely havent seen any 1/2m high writhing mounds of angry Southern wood ants then.There is a record on the NBN map ,which I think is near to you of Formica rufa though.Cheers Jason

JRsbugs · #**784** (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 12:52 PM

Definitely not seen anything that big, lol! I checked the record, it isn't a millioin miles away and Lincolnshire is generally devoid of insects so well done whoever got the record!

I'm south of Lincoln and it's quite possible there's some in the woods around but I would probably be done for trespassing.

Actually, I know the location, the old malt kilns near Blyton, I used to live very close to there! Don't want the reminder though...

NBN Gateway - interactive species mapper

I think I have tracked down the orange ant to Myrmica scabrinodis, did some searching last night.

charlieb · #**785** (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Nice find Jason, I had one on Ivy for a long time on the same flower head. It lifted it's elytra quite often, maybe trying to soak up some warmth. I got a pic of the underneath on one side too as it was quite high and visible.

Where were the photos taken?

JRsbugs · #**786** (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlieb

Where were the photos taken?

Taken on the Ivy on my drive which is overhanging a roadside drain and is on the side of a private bridge going over the drain.

Looking at that location again, it's further along the railway line and even closer to where I lived than I thought!

charlieb · #**787** (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 01:05 PM

As in Lincolnshire?

There aren't any records of Coccinella magnifica in Lincs - and I'm not entirely convinced that yours is C. magnifica?

posie · #**788** (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 01:05 PM

Hi, I found out yesterday by posting a seperate thread that our ACORNS are being attacked by acorn weevils , clever little darlins, they get through such a tiny hole.I didn't think , but I suppose I could have come on this thread to find out what they were, I'll know what to do in future.....

JRsbugs · #**789** (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlieb

As in Lincolnshire?

There aren't any records of Coccinella magnifica in Lincs - and I'm not entirely convinced that yours is C. magnifica?

Having no records in Lincolshire means nothing as you already know.

Why are you not conviced? There is white behind the rear legs. It does have the rounded shape, I have visually compared it to others and they are much more slanted on the elytra.

Yes, a few miles south of Lincoln.

JRsbugs · #**790** (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 01:13 PM

Actually there is a record of Coccinella magnifica only a good hop, step and a jump from me on the A57 to Retford as the crow flies north it's not a huge distance. I'm not far from the Nottinghamshire border if Lincolnshire is not allowed to have any.

NBN Gateway - interactive species mapper

Were you going by the nbn Charlie, or are there no official records?