Birds, Chess, Coleoptera, Flora, Moths, R&I, Syrphidae, Stratiomyidae et al. Slowly rewilding the garden & trying to photograph its fauna & flora.
Bengeo, Herts
Joined August 2012
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Plagionotus detritus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, spectacular European longhorn beetle associated with Oak & Hornbeam with few UK records.
Previously recorded here in 2023 & appears now to have colonised local woodland. #saproxylic #attractedtolight
Peribalus strictus found today in Bengeo garden. Until recently rare species in UK but now experiencing dramatic expansion in its range.
19th species of shieldbug recorded here. #VernalShieldbug #climatechange
Banded Pine Carpet (Pungeleria capreolaria) last night in Bengeo, 1st record for Herts. #teammoth
Stomorhina lunata ♂ today on Ivy (Hedera helix) in Bengeo garden, highly migratory species that originates from N Africa with locusts as its host. It may now be using grasshoppers as its host in UK but there is no evidence of any permanent population. #LocustFly
Variable Cockroach (Planuncus tingitanus s.l.) ♂ found last Thursday in Bengeo garden, it has been spreading north in Europe reaching UK in 2011. Outdoor cockroaches such as this are harmless unlike indoor pest species. #attractedtolight #climatechange
Hot nights sometimes produce spectacular visitors: Stricticollis tobias last Friday in Bengeo garden, scarce synanthropic ant-like flower beetle.
3rd confirmed Herts record & all to light traps. #Anthicidae #attractedtolight
Tabanus autumnalis ♀ today in Bengeo garden, massive horsefly associated with marshland & Herts rarity. Easily largest fly I have seen in garden.
6th tabanid species recorded here. #Tabanidae
Oxycera nigricornis ♂ today in Bengeo garden, attractive tiny aquatic soldierfly. #Stratiomyidae #attractedtolight
White Bryony (Bryonia dioica) is special plant with its own bee, ladybird, moth & picture-wing fly. These support other unique species.
Utetes testaceus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, braconid wasp parasitoid of Goniglossum wiedemanni, picture-wing fly. #Opiinae
Xylotrechus antilope ♀ from Tuesday night in Bengeo garden, attractive European species of oak longhorn beetle. Recorded here now for last three years & strongly indicative of successful colonisation. #Cerambycidae #attractedtolight #saproxylic
Tabanus bromius ♀ today in Bengeo garden. Her eyes are fantastic but she is horsefly with vicious biting mouthparts able to pierce cow's hide.
Three species of Volucella enjoying Bramble (Rubus sp.) today in Bengeo garden: V.zonaria ♂, V.inflata ♀+♂ & V.pellucens ♀. Magnificent hoverflies.
Teneral Physocephala rufipes ♂ found today on flowerbed wall in Bengeo garden, fascinating then to watch it change to its full adult colour over next hour.
P.rufipes is most wasp-like of conopid parasitoid flies.
Goniglossum wiedemanni mating pair on its host plant White Bryony (Bryonia dioica) today in Bengeo garden. Scarce picture-winged fly that is forever being hunted by its braconid parasitoid Utetes testaceus.
Xanthogramma stackelbergi ♂ today in Bengeo garden, striking woodland hoverfly recorded far less frequently than common X.pedissequum.
Photos show major ID features: little darkening on wings below pterostigma, 4 yellow spots on side of thorax & yellow membrane below T3-5.
Antherophagus pallens found yesterday on Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) in Bengeo garden, scarce silken fungus beetle with interesting life cycle. #phoresis 1/2
Antherophagus female waits on white flowers for any visiting bumblebee which she then secures onto using her mandibles. She only releases bumblebee once it has returned to its nest where she lay her eggs. It is believed that larvae then act as scavengers. #phoresis 2/2
Epistrophe grossulariae ♂ today in Bengeo garden, beautiful species identifiable by its almost straight black abdominal bands & habit of feeding at flowers without landing.
Never recorded this species in May before. #climatechange
