Phoretic Mites

I took this shot of the Sexton beetle Nicorophorus vespilloides when it flew into me as I was photographing moths at light:


Eagle-eyed readers will have already spotted the Phoretic mites on the elytra (and one at the back of the head):
The mites are not parasitic on the beetle, but are carnivorous, eating fly larvae that could be a threat to the beetle larvae. They use the beetle as transport, so we have a good symbiotic relationship, here.

I also coincidentally photographed this Harvestman with phoretic mites on the same day:

Moths continue

I've had this micro before: Dipleurina lacustrata. I've only ever seen it attracted to light (and in fact had one fluttering over the surface of my monitor last night).


The micromoth Apotomis semifasciana is a Willow feeder:

Golden-rod Pug - Eupithecia virgaureata, which is known to feed on Ragwort and Goldenrod. In my location it has to be Ragwort:

I have to say I find Pugs very difficult. The best advice I can give is to read the text descriptions of the key differentiators: examination of markings and comparing then with pictures alone isn't going to get you very far. One of the key identifiers on this specimen was the tiny tuft of pale scales at the rear of the thorax!

The Spectacle - Abrostola tripartita - was very active, flying around the light (and frequently bashing into the glass with a loud thump).

The last three are all new to me.

Peter, if you're reading this, please contact me on cipeen at hotmail dot com. I'm keen to try that trap. (Famous last words!)

More from the filming

I recently showed the nymph of Cicadella viridis. Here's the glorious adult:

This is the much more frequently-seen Frog-hopper, Philaneus spumarius:


And I've yet to get a completely satisfying shot of the Leafhopper Evacanthus interruptus:


The leaf-mining micromoth Mompha raschkiella appears to have been to school and learned how to keep the writing on the line:

These mines can overlap and are difficult to decipher, but I think we have 3 mines here, one of which is still occupied (you can see the 3mm yellow larva in the centre of the shot). These only mine Rosebay Willowherb.

TV filming

I just spent the last two days filming for a new TV program. Filming involves a lot of walking, talking, real photography and pretend photography. I took 650 shots, and have about 45 keepers, with around 15 to show. I'll break them down over the next couple of days, hoverflies first.

In no particular order we have:

Epistrophe grossulariae:

Leucozona glaucia:

Syrphus sp. (female)

Single moths continue

My new front-door lights still appear to be working their magic. This was taken well after dark and when I took the shots I thought it was the migrant Silver Y. But when I looked at the flash shots, I saw that it was the resident Plain Golden Y - Autographa jota. New one for me.

Another new one is this Grass Emerald - Pseudoterpna pruinata. Emeralds tend to lose their green colour very quickly, so this must be a fairly new specimen.


I must check my moth count....it will be close to 150.

Migrant hoverfly?

The hoverfly Scaeva pyrastri is thought to be migrant in Ireland, so this female has come a long way. (The justification for it being a migrant is based on the late appearance of this species in Ireland.)


She was exploring the various flowers in my garden and I noticed her taking special interest in (and subsequently ovipositing on) those with aphids:



A quick check of the references revealed that Scaeva pyrastri is, indeed, predatory on aphids, so I'll try to get some shots of the larva in the next week or so.

Waiting for Angelica

Wild Angelica is my summer hunting ground for insects, but it's about 2 weeks late this year. So we'll have to make do...

Yellow Rattle is present in a few of the higher areas Take a close look at the complex leaves:

Fairy Flax has the alternative name of Purging Flax. Don't be tempted to eat any part of this plant:

There are many 'subspecies' of Eyebright; some with white flowers, others with lilac. I was under the impression that I have two cohabiting varieties, but I now believe that my local ones start off with white flowers and then convert to lilac later in the year. I have marked a few white specimens and plan to monitor them over the next couple of months.

Hogweed is standing in as my nectaring umbellifer of choice at the moment. I got this shot of the hoverfly Leucozona laternaria, which looks like a strangely monochrome version of its close relative Leucozona glaucia, which I will show soon.