The 'Active winter invertebrates' thread!

CapAndBracket · #21 (**permalink**) 18-11-2009, 06:48 PM

Seen today a plume moth.

Cheers J.P.

Jason Green · #22 (**permalink**) 18-11-2009, 07:01 PM

Thanks J, that's Emmelina monodactyla.

jeremiah · #23 (**permalink**) 18-11-2009, 08:33 PM

Small White caterpillar that came with the organic sprout tops I got earlier this week. He's settled down nicely in a plastic box with a fresh leaf every day, and he's called George.

I'll have to make sure he pupates safely outside though, I can't have him hatching too soon in the warmth of the kitchen.

Jason Claxton · #24 (**permalink**) 20-11-2009, 04:13 PM

Red Admiral still on my Buddleia

JRsbugs · #25 (**permalink**) 20-11-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Claxton

Red Admiral still on my Buddleia

What is your Buddleia called Jason, mine finished many weeks ago! Must be a species?

Yesterday I still had a male wasp around, likely Vespula vulgaris. It has a hole near the tail end where a stylops has left, a male stylops of course, I actually took a pic of it leaving a few days ago but hadn't noticed until I edited the pic! I had another male with a resident stylops not long before but it was in the next segment up.

Jason Green · #26 (**permalink**) 20-11-2009, 05:37 PM

Well, a quick update from me on the 17th/11/2009... Kidney-spot Ladybird, as well as barkflies Graphopsocus cruciatus, a brachypterous Ectopsocus sp. and a large, in fact my largest barkie so far, Stenopsocus sp. Elsewhere, I had a small black Chironomid fly, leafhoppers Eupteryx filicum(?) and Idiocerus sp. Then plant bugs present included both adult and nymph Lygus spp. Two springtails present included an Elongate and Globular.

Finally, an as-yet unnamed Crab spider that had a black body and a white perimeter to the abdomen with tiny punctate marks.

loripo · #27 (**permalink**) 21-11-2009, 06:07 PM

I came eye to eye with this Hawthorn Shield bug on a wall this morning, very active...

POssible pine ladybird nearby but am checking on that.

Jason Claxton · #28 (**permalink**) 21-11-2009, 10:53 PM

Throughout the winter, insects can be found by searching patiently on the sunniest sides of trees on mild winter days,it may take a while but it does pay off.

ChrisR · #29 (**permalink**) 22-11-2009, 08:53 AM

It's still fairly mild so there are plenty of insects about. Yesterday I saw a bumblebee in my front garden (it buzzed off before I could get an ID) and out on my constitutional around the local nature reserve I saw plenty of dung-flies, muscid and anthomyids.

This time of year is also very good for collecting plant galls. If you have an Oak locally have a look on the ground and on the twigs for galls - you can often take them home and rear them out to see the wasps inside ... but don't expect to always see the gall-former because the parasitoids are often far commoner

Jason Green · #30 (**permalink**) 22-11-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Well, a quick update from me on the 17th/11/2009... Kidney-spot Ladybird, as well as barkflies Graphopsocus cruciatus, a brachypterous Ectopsocus sp. and a large, in fact my largest barkie so far, Stenopsocus sp. Elsewhere, I had a small black Chironomid fly, leafhoppers Eupteryx filicum(?) and Idiocerus sp. Then plant bugs present included both adult and nymph Lygus spp. Two springtails present included an Elongate and Globular.

Finally, an as-yet unnamed Crab spider that had a black body and a white perimeter to the abdomen with tiny punctate marks.

Forgot to mention, also a Eupeodes sp. Hoverfly - luniger or corollae.