Dioctria rufipes

It took a little while to figure out the ID of this. Clinched in the end by looking through my collection of photos from last year.

Dioctria rufipes

Crepidodera aurea 30th May 2014

I found this beetle on the bark of White Poplar this morning at Sand Point, Somerset so decided to have a go at identifying it. The conclusion was Crepidodera aurea. The dark hind femur contrasting with the orange tarsus and tibia was the clue that led to it being Crepidodera species.

Crepidodera aurea

Spurge Hawk-moth

Just purchased some Spurge Hawk-moth pupae from the internet two of which emerged today. I'm never likely to see this species in the wild hence the reason for the purchase.

Spurge Hawk-moth

Spurge Hawk-moth

Eulophidae sp

Out in the garden this morning I came across this little insect on a bramble leaf. Intrigued by it's branched antennae I investigated further and concluded that it may be one of the Eulophidae.

Solieria sp. pacifica?

After some trouble this diptera eventually got narrowed down to a Solieria sp. The most likely is the Solieria pacifica.
Looking at "Tachinid Flies" by Robert Belshaw it would seem that these flies are indistinguishable as females and with difficulty in the males. S.pacifica is separated by facial bristles and tarsal claws. I think this is a female so ID perhaps not achievable.

Solieria pacifica?

Solieria pacifica?

Didea fasciata

A new hoverfly Didea fasciata found in the garden on 26th May. There was also a Baccha elongata but sadly I didn't have my camera with me.

Didea fasciata

Amblyteles armatorius?

Ichneumon wasps are notorious for being difficult to identify but this one does look a dead ringer for Amblyteles armatorius. Found patrolling the garden yesterday it was still present today so I netted it, cooled it down ready for a photo shoot.

Amblyteles armatorius?

Amblyteles armatorius?

Russian Comfrey

Birding quiet again today but I did bump into this Russian Comfrey today on the side of the road.

Russian Comfrey

May larvae

Here are some larvae found in mid May

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet larva

Smoky Wainscot larva

Garden Tiger larva

Nightjar

I heard and saw 2 Nightjars last night whilst out trapping which reminded me to dig out some pictures that I took back in 2010.

Nighjar

Nightjar

Mendip Hills 17th May 2014

I trapped on the Mendips last night which resulted in 46 species being found including my first Fox Moth.

Dwarf Pug

Epinotia tedella

Fox Moth

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet

Ochreous Pug

Great Crested Newt

I have recently been helping someone out with Newt surveying recently and happened to survey a pond that had all three british species in it. Here are some photos of a Great Crested Newt

Great Crested Newt

Great Crested Newt

Great Crested Newt egg

Cuckoo Flower

Taken on 23rd April 2014 on the Mendips, these were the first of many I've seen dotted about the countryside this year.

Cuckoo Flower

Green-winged Orchid

Found on Sand Point on 2nd May 2014. There were several of these around the top of Sand Point this morning, quite a surprise. Taken with the Samsung Galaxy S3. This phone seems ideally suited for plant photography.

Green-winged Orchid

Phyllonorycter tristrigella

Whilst out walking in Weston Woods on 3rd May 2014 I found this moth flying around Elm which looks good for Phyllonorycter tristrigella.

Phyllonorycter tristrigella

Anthomyiidae sp

Found in my garden on 3rd May 2014 this diptera looked like it was worth pursuing for an ID. I used the wing venation to get to family level which I concluded was Anthomyiidae. With around 240+ species in this family and no keys available it proved too tricky in the end but there was a close match with Pegomya testacea.

Possible Pegomya testacea