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

Tipula oleracea

This is another crane fly that turned up around the moth trap this morning. Feeling confident I thought I'd have a go at ID'ing it. Again it turned out to be a tipula having 13 antennal segments, long palpi especially the last segment and vein Sc ending in R. Shown in one of the pictures below is a view of the underside of the head showing the narrowest distance between the eyes being equal to the distance of the antennae base showing it to be the species Tipula oleracea. On other tipula's this distance is much greater.

Tipula oleracea

Tipula oleracea

Large Black Slug Arion ater

An overlooked or omitted addition to my mollusc list this species was frequently encountered on the Mendips last night.

Arion ater

Tipula lateralis

Tipula lateralis is a common crane fly but how many of us have taken the time to identify one down to species level eliminating all other candidates? I was faced with one in the moth trap this morning and set about confirming it's identity. The first step is to confirm the tipulinae group: This can be confirmed by wing vein Sc ending in R, long palpi, spurs on tibiae and 13 segments on the antennae. Tipula's are then confirmed by wing venation and body markings.

Tipula lateralis

Tipula lateralis

Tipula lateralis

Tipula lateralis

Tachina grossa

Very impressed with this diptera. I thought it was a chafer at first but it turned out to be Tachina grossa

Tachina grossa

Volucella zonaria

My first was in the garden which managed to escape a photo call after being trapped in the garden shed but yesterday I found another in a nearby park.

Volucella zonaria

Ctenophora ornata

This impressive crane fly was found in several moth traps in the New Forest in July.

Ctenophora ornata