The 'Active winter invertebrates' thread!

[Jason Green]

Hi all,

As those of us who actively search out invertebrates know, all those insects we've been seeing all summer have mostly died off or gone into hibernation - I'm certainly seeing far fewer. However, I'm still seeing some, so thought this might make an interesting thread - if you've been out and seen any insects in this cold part of the year, post the name or photo here.

I'll be recording those I see and adding them to my website as a November - February list, and here of course!

It doesn't have to be every insect you see (...as that may be quite a list, but still), maybe just those that may seem more surprising... there may be some good finds.

Anyone interested?

Take care,

Jason

[Bruce Williams]

Good idea Jason!

Bruce

[Jason Claxton]

A Red Admiral on the Buddleia in my garden today

[Acutipuerilis]

Consider this a plug for psyllids!

They have a wide range of summer host plants, but come the winter many of them migrate to dense conifer foliage that will tide them over. Most of what I see is either Cacopsylla melanoneura or Trioza urticae, but there can be many others to be found in lower numbers. Yesterday I also had Trioza remota, and two Cacopsylla species that I'm struggling to ID... and that was in the rain!

Please do post psyllid pics generally, and I'll see where I can get with IDing for whoever wants. If you spot an interesting-looking one, please collect it - it will often need a closer examination than just a photo or two.
Thanks!
Joe

[Acutipuerilis]

Should also say that winter's the best time of year for many springtails... I know they're not insects, but they're close enough!

[JRsbugs]

I've seen a Pine Ladybird today, first this year! Took pics of course.

I've got pics of two Psyllids in the last few days Joe, as well as a few springtails some of which are new to me. I'm searching under leaves for leaf mines too, found some pupating Ectoedemia I think.

[Acutipuerilis]

That's great, Janet - will look forward to them!

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Acutipuerilis

Should also say that winter's the best time of year for many springtails... I know they're not insects, but they're close enough!

Certainly - I've been coming across young and adult Dicyrtomina saundersii, and possibly Allacma fusca and Ceratophysella bengtssoni (...or is it Pondura aquatica? It's around a small temporary body of water) of late - none all summer. It seems that tiny insects aren't affected by low/cold temperatures. Maybe because their small bodies don't require as much heat as say a butterfly, or is that obvious?

My observations today... a small crab spider about 2mm in body - been over a month, maybe two, since I last saw one. Also, a Microterys nietneri... again! They're very common in my garden

[tristanba]

Loads of Arocatus longiceps this weekend under London Plane bark in central London, plus a few more hets and hoppers in south London including Orthops campestris, Phytocoris tiliae and Grypotes puncticollis. Harlequin ladybirds everywhere!

[Jason Green]

Thanks for the updates, all! Tristan - P. tiliae looks stunning! Any tips on tracking one down?

[tristanba]

It is very late for Phytocoris now Jason but P. tiliae is a common species in late summer/early autumn - you can find it on many deciduous trees

[JRsbugs]

Here's the Springtails, plenty of Dicyrtomina saundersi under leaves when it's wet. I got one reasonable pic of what looks like Orchesella alticola, the tail pattern looks to match. Also one pic of Entomobrya nicoleti (I think) under fallen leaves.

I have other different springtails including Entomobrya multifasciata, Lepidocyrtus cyaneus, Orchesella cincta, Isotoma viridis along with Entomobrya nivalis which I already knew I had. Found in the last month or so at the bottom of my 'magic' wall and some on the brick at the pond edge which I think I had a name for but I can't have put that on a pic as I can't find a name. Aha, I went back to 28th October and found one I named Isotomurus palustris. Another I have had recently I think is Neanura muscorum but can't be sure. It might be better if I start a thread for all those once I have got them all together.

The Psyllid I have dug up from my folders, one on 8th November, a 1.5mm orange dead one from 27th October which I was going to keep but it was inside and I decided to take it out for better pics, had my hand cupped around it and the gentlest of a breeze wafted it to the neverlands, sorry Joe! The other I took yesterday in high winds when it landed on me and have yet to download so will post those together later.

[tigger]

Spotted a red admiral and a few bumbles today (15/11/09). Pictured below. Bombus terrestris - Buff tailed bumblebees?

[Ukwildlifeo]

I was going to start a 'latest dragonfly thread' but might as well us this thread

I had 3 common darters at Oare in Kent today

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by tigger

Spotted a red admiral and a few bumbles today (15/11/09). Pictured below. Bombus terrestris - Buff tailed bumblebees?

Hmmm... something looks a little odd about it for B. terrestris; Too much orange before the buff tail IMO. However, it's too late for my other suspects. I suppose it is the BT though...

Maybe post it up as another thread, in case you get bee specialists not looking for ID/confirmation requests here?

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Hmmm... something looks a little odd about it for B. terrestris; Too much orange before the buff tail IMO. However, it's too late for my other suspects. I suppose it is the BT though...

Maybe post it up as another thread, in case you get bee specialists not looking for ID/confirmation requests here?

I think the first pic is showing it a little more brightly for some reason, on the second pic you can see it's not as deep. The native form of B. terrestris does have a much more orange tail anyway.

[tigger]

I had to take these with flash... hence the "blasted" colours. So I'm sure you are right with your B. terrestris ID.

Many thanks. Jane

[JRsbugs]

As promised, at this early hour. Pine Ladybird.

[Paul mabbott]

I suppose one query is, 'What is Winter? Dec/Jan/Feb ... else?'. The other is 'What is 'active'?'.
Look under bark, stones, logs and you will find many insects and other invertebrates active throughout the coldest spells. Flying beasts less often (unless there is an unusual bright spell and they are disturbed) because the environmental heat gain is much less than the metabolic heat expenditure plus heat lost to the environment. Epigeal fauna on the other hand are well protected from the wider atmosphere and don't need high body temperatures to get around.
As I've said many times (), I found active ground beetles on snow-covered moors on 1/1/1! You just have to look .....

[tigger]

Here's a Amblyteles armatorius - Ichneumon wasp. Found in the house the other day - climbing up the stairs and onto the warm radiator. Surprised to see it at 10pm at night!

[CapAndBracket]

Seen today a plume moth.



Cheers J.P.

[Jason Green]

Thanks J, that's Emmelina monodactyla.

[jeremiah]

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]

Red Admiral still on my Buddleia

[JRsbugs]

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.