Like clockwork

On Monday I wondered when the parasites of the Nematus pavidus sawfly larvae would appear. The answer is: today.

This is the primary parasite: Campodorus sp. This specimen was examining the larvae very closely, but it's clear that they aren't large enough yet. I'd guess that Monday or Tuesday next week should see a flurry of egg-laying.

This exotic-looking Forest Shieldbug - Pentatoma rufipes - struck a striking pose, so I gratefully took the shot:

Another new moth for me: Small wainscot - Chortodes pygmina. The larvae feed on sedges and grasses, but the adults don't feed at all.

I wasn't at all surprised to see this migratory Silver Y moth after all the migrant hoverflies I've seen in the last few days.

Just for the record, the Frosted Orange - Gortyna flavago - emerges just as the leaves are turning brown:

Biter bit, part 2

I've previously explained how Tachinids are parasitic on larvae of moths and butterflies. This shot shows a Scathophaga Dungfly with a Tachinid as its prey. And so the food chain continues.


I found this dead Cicadella viridis on a grass stem. My eyes were drawn to the open-wing configuration and immediately my fungal radar kicked in. It turns out that several species of the Entomophthora family are parasitic on leafhoppers, so the research continues.


I'm pretty sure I can see signs of pink fungus appearing between the abdominal tergites.


I'm not quite sure what's going on with this Carder Bumblebee. Its baskets are empty, and it is moribund (and wet!). Maybe the hive has run its course for the year.


This is Neuroctena anilis, a snail-killing fly. In common with most other parasites, its flight pattern is quite distinctive, with lots of controlled hovering as they search for hosts for their eggs:


This specimen of Frosted Orange moth is a little early, which is pretty surprising, considering how cold and wet it has been for the past 40 or so days.

September Sun

At last, after 4 months of rain, we have had some sunshine.

That should bring the fungi out: this is Coprinus comatus, or Lawyers Wig. Edible and good (and they were).

And now one of the tiniest of fungi: Marasmius hudsonii. These grow only on dead Holly leaves:


The close-up shows the thick gills and hairs on the cap, which is about 2mm. across:


The Willow Leaf Beetle - Lochmaea caprea is about 7mm long:


Moths are still coming to light in small numbers. This appears to be November Moth - Epirrita dilutata, but I'd better put an agg. on that to be on the safe side.


This is also a new species to me: Frosted Orange - Gortyna flavago.