New Pigmy for the garden

Another visit to the Cathedral Meadows on Monday 14th added a few more species to the list.  A Large White was the only new butterfly but I managed to get some better photos of other species including Holly Blue and Orange-tip (just too slow for Brimstone).

Holly Blue, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

Orange-tip, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

Green-veined White, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

As well as 5 Large Red Damselflies there was this Common Blue Damselfly, my first this year.

Common Blue Damselfly, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

A Dark-edge Bee-fly provided an opportunity for some flight shots...

Dark-edged Bee-fly, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

I only found 3 moths: Oak Satin Lift Heliozela sericiella, Cocksfoot Moth Glyphipterix simpliciella and Vetch Piercer Grapholita jungiella.

Cocksfoot Moth Glyphipterix simpliciella, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

Hoverflies included another Melanostoma mellinum and my first Epistrophe eligans.

Epistrophe eligans, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

I eventually identified this bee as a Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica.

Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th May

When I got home I found a Varied Carpet Beetle in the house.  Ironically I always seem to find them in the uncarpeted rooms - maybe the ones in the carpeted rooms are hiding in the carpets?

The star of that night's moth trap was a Coarse Hazel Pigmy Stigmella floslactella, a new species for the garden.

Coarse Hazel Pigmy Stigmella floslactella (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th May

Also new for the year were Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, Pale Tussock, Heart and Dart (again, worn almost to the point of being unrecognisable) and a Cockchafer.

Black-headed Conch Cochylis atricapitana, North Elmham, 14th May

Pale Tussock, North Elmham, 14th May

Cockchafer, North Elmham, 14th May

Other moths were 3 Red Twin-spot Carpets, Garden Carpet, Green Carpet, Common Pug, Brimstone Moth, Chocolate-tip, Flame Shoulder and Nut-tree Tussock, while Mottled Sedge Glyphotaelius pellucidus and 3 Limnephilus auricula represented the caddisflies.

Brimstone Moth, North Elmham, 14th May

The end of a good day's insecting

After a good day insecting at Burnham Overy, New Costessey and Queen's Hill I decided to have a quick look on the patch for birds and moths.  Not many of either seen, indeed the only moth was a probable Skin Moth Monopis laevigella that got away before I could confirm the ID.  But there were some interesting insects inlcuding a new Hoverfly for me, Xylota segnis, and a new Bee for me, Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica.

Xylota segnis, near Bittering, 28th May

Chocolate Mining Bee Andrena scotica, near Bittering, 28th May

Beetles included a pair of Common Leaf Weevils Phyllobius pyri and at least 2 Cantharis nigricans.

Common Leaf Weevils Phyllobius pyri, near Bittering, 28th May

Cantharis nigricans, near Bittering, 28th May

A Scorpion Fly turned out to be my first confirmed Panorpa communis, so that's both common Scorpion Fly species seen at the same site recently.

Panorpa communis, near Bittering, 28th May

This young Shieldbug appears to be a mid instar (I think, or possibly early instar?) Forest Bug (aka Red-legged Shieldbug).

Forest Bug (aka Red-legged Shieldbug), near Bittering, 28th May

I thought this fly might be distinctive enough to allow me to identify it, but I'm not sure.  Possibly Anopheles maculipennis...?

unidentified fly, possibly Anopheles maculipennis, near Bittering, 28th May

Harlequin Ladybird, near Bittering, 28th May

With only 17 species of moth in the trap that night I did well to notch up 8 new for the year: Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Hook-streaked Grass-veneer Crambus lathoniellus, Oak Hook-tip, Blood-vein, Common Marbled Carpet and Brown Rustic.

Blood-vein, North Elmham, 28th May

Oak Hook-tip, North Elmham, 28th May

Common Marbled Carpet, North Elmham, 28th May

Brown Rustic, North Elmham, 28th May

Yellow-spot Tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, North Elmham, 28th May

Garden Cosmet Mompha subbistrigella, North Elmham, 28th May

Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, North Elmham, 28th May

The other 9 species were Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Common Swift, Silver-ground Carpet, Yellow-barred Brindle, Pale Tussock, 3 White Ermines, 2 Cinnabars, 2 Rustic Shoulder-knots and 6 Treble Lines. Caddisflies were represented by Glyphotaelius pellucidus and Limnephilus sparsus.