The colourful hoverfly Xanthogramma pedissequum aka Superb Dayglow Hoverfly doing what hoverflies do at Trentham.
The strong wind made it a bit challenging for photography at times at Trentham but here are Red-eyed Damselfly and Small Red-eyed Damselfly.
48 species but nothing unusual in the moth trap but this picture-wing fly Tephritis vespertina was new to me. #TeamMoth
Crown Meadow, Stone is rather parched but the scrape is a riot of Purple Loosestrife. Today it attracted a Clouded Yellow butterfly, a new species for the site.
Volucella pellucens or Pied Plumehorn; one of our more recognisable hoverfly species.
I think this is the Green Leafhopper Cicadella viridis at Trentham old gravel workings today.
Only saw one Common Darter at Trentham old gravel workings today but plenty of Emerald Damselflies.
Still plenty of Ruddy Darters at the old gravel workings, Trentham.
Well camouflaged Field Grasshopper at Trentham Kingswood Banks today.
Two forms of Mottled Grasshopper at Trentham Kingswood Banks today.
You don't often see the saw of a sawfly. This is the Large Rose Sawfly Arge pagana having a wash and brush up having attacked our roses!
First recorded in Staffs VC39 in 2022, Dewick's Plusia. Now more frequent. This is the 3rd in my garden this year - non of them to pheromone lure. #TeamMoth
One of our smaller ladybirds (3mm) Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata aka 16-spot Ladybird, swept from long grass.
It's been a good year for Gatekeepers. Back in the 1970s when I started looking it was classed as "local but sometimes common where found".
This is a female Four-banded Bee-grabber Conops quadrifasciatus. She inserts an egg into a bee's abdomen. It hatches and the larva eats away the non-essential body tissues keeping the bee alive. It then pupates inside the by now dead bee, emerging in the spring! Amazing!
Azure and Blue-tailed Damselflies and a Ruddy Darter at Shugborough Hall today.
Thanks to David Coles for the heads up; several Hornets were feeding at sap runs on an oak tree at Shugborough Hall today along with many flies and a few Red Admirals.
What a year it has been for Humming-bird Hawk-moths. This, and another, were feeding on Phlox tonight at 7pm. #TeamMoth
A few migrants last night in SJ93 including this Dewick's Plusia plus Rusty-dot Pearl and Rush Veneer. As a by-catch this click beetle Stenagostus rhombeus; a new one for me #TeamMoth
A dull moth at a distance but close up the colours of the Iron Prominent are exquisite and do look like a piece iron ore or haematite. #TeamMoth
Yellow-shouldered Rose Sawfly Arge ochropus doing its stuff to our prize rose bush.
Nice trip to Womere on Cannock Chase. 10 species of dragonfly with numerous Emerald Damselflies.
I like Pond Skaters. I think this is possibly Aquarius paludum - a large species. At Trentham old gravel workings.
