Brean Down 29th July

I've hardly been to Brean Down this year so thought it would be a nice change to have a look round and see what I could find. As it turned out there were a few discoveries of things new to me including: Weissia brachycarpa, Dermatocarpon miniatum, Ochesella villosa, Cryptocephalus fulvus and Squamapion atomarium.
I started off by examining the wall next to where I parked and found Bilimbia sabuletorum plus two bryophytes that looked like Ulota crispa and a Tortula sp. At the bottom of the steps I ran into Bugloss for the first time this year. This plant stood out with it's large prickly leaves and small blue solitary flowers. Half way up the steps I strayed on to the grass and instantly started to find some interesting things. Here I found the Weissia brachycarpa growing on soil on an overhang. The leaves were 1mm long and the old capsules still present which helped with the identification. I also found three Cryptocephalus fulvus in this area, a very striking beetle but very small so crawling round on hands and knees recommended. The crescent shaped gemmae cups weren't visible so perhaps not a feature to be looked for all year round.
Eventually I reached the top and made my way westwards but only managed a short distance before finding a new lichen, Dermatocarpon miniatum. This is a distinctive brown foliose lichen with lots of brown dots which I presume are the 0.3mm perithecia.
I also found here Black Meddick which intially gave me trouble identifying as I thought it was Clover to start with but the leaves end in a small point.

Black Meddick

Cryptocephalus fulvus

Weissia brachycarpa

Dermatocarpon miniatum

Eulophidae

Found this tiny 1-2mm long hymentoptera on 20/5/15 in Sand Bay, North Somerset which has been identified as a Eulophidae sp. I tried to narrow it down further and think it may be a Entedon sp.

Eulophidae pos Entedon sp

Presumed Chrysocharis pentheus

On 30th August 2014 I found leaf mines on Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) that had several diptera mines resembling those caused by Liriomyza eupatorii. I took one home that was still vacated in an attempt to rear and photograph but instead found that the larva was parasitised by what appears to be Chrysocharis pentheus. Little is known about these insects and the distribution is also unclear although they are said to be found in the UK.

Presumed Chrysocharis pentheus

Diptera mine on Hemp Agrimony

Denticulate Leatherbug

Found this little fella on the patch today. One of the squash bugs that feed on Black Meddick a Denticulate leatherbug Coriomeris denticulatus

Denticulate leatherbug Coriomeris denticulatus

Deraeocoris ruber

Yesterday I arrived on the patch and immediately found a mirid bug. Being quite a variable species it took a while to sort it out but came up with the ID of Deraeocoris ruber. I found and immature recently and not seen the adult so was pleased to have the set.

Deraeocoris ruber nymph

Deraeocoris ruber adult

Hedge Woundwort and Shieldbug

Good fortune today when I found some Hedge Woundwort. This is a new plant for me and as luck would have it Woundwort Shieldbug's were found mating amongst the flower heads.

Woundwort Shieldbug

Hedge Woundwort

A new hoverfly Crysotoxum festivum 9th June

A cold north-easterly wind early morning made it feel less like summer although officially it's still meant to be a couple of weeks away yet. In Sand Bay 20 Black-headed Gulls, 12 Dunlin, 14 Ringed Plover, 1 Whimbrel and 6 Curlew. At Sand Point Glanville Fritillary and Brown Argus on the wing. I found a new hoverfly today Chrysotoxum festivum which was very smart indeed. Also the first Bee Orchids out and the Foxgloves are coming into full flower in the bay.

Brown Argus

Glanville Fritillary

Issus coleoptratus

Chrysotoxum festivum

Looking for more bugs 31st May

A great morning out with plenty of new species seen today and perhaps my personal favourite is Pammene rhediella found flitting about on Malus. A warm sunny day and even the on shore wind couldn't do much to change the summery feel to the day. On the bird front 2 Grey Plover were in the bay picked up on call as the tide rolled in but overhead there was no visible migration.

Seioptera vibrans

Centrotus cornutus Treehopper

Gooden's Nomad Bee

Tenthredo sp

Red-headed Cardinal Beetle

Moth trapping on night of 29th May

It was slightly overcast and temperatures were up to 13 degrees by nightfall so I set out for a couple of hours moth trapping. Quite a few interesting insects came to the trap but the Noctuid numbers were still very low for the time of year. Highlights were the migrant Diamond-backed Moth, Purple Bar, Small-waved Umber, Light Brocade, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Sandy Carpet, Yellow-barred Brindle, Orange Footman. Insects included Potato Leafhopper, Liophloeus tessulatus Weevil and Short-tailed Ichneumon Wasp.

Potato Leafhopper

Yellow Ophion Ichneumon Wasp

Liophloeus tessulatus

Another sunny day with a brisk breeze but still quite warm in sheltered areas. Nothing too impressive found today but still some good additions to the year list. Here's a selection of some of the highlights of the day.

22-spot Ladybird

Nigma puella

Lecidella elaeochroma