Welcome

" Welcome to the florafaunauk site , hope you enjoy the pictures and posts giving a detailed insight into the Natural History of our Country throughout the seasons and year "All that the Sun Shines on is beautiful, so long as it is Wild" John Muir "



Friday, 30 May 2014

Hydrothassa marginella - A Chrysomelid Leaf Beetle

 Hydrothassa marginella A Chrysomelid - Leaf beetle 


A Distinctive  leaf Beetle found on the margins of the R Calder

Hydrothassa marginella 28534


Hydrothassa marginella - A Chrysomelid  Leaf Beetle 

Description 

A very distinctive beetle, mainly black but with orange margins on the elytra and pronotum.

Life cycle 

Larva feed on various members of the Buttercup family.

Habitat

Meadows and verges where flowers of the Buttercup family are found

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Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Knapweed Bell - 1184a Epiblema cirsiana

Likely 1184a Epiblema cirsiana


Epiblema cirsiana 28759

A mating Pair

Wingspan 12-23mm

Description Similar to E. scutulana and E. sticticana. Examination of the genitalia is often needed to confirm identification.

Larvae feed mostly on marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre) and common knapweed (Centaurea nigra) feeding in the stems and roots. They inhabit such places as damp sheltered meadows and woodland rides and clearings.

Adults fly in May and June.


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Friday, 23 May 2014

Galls - Currant Gall - Neuroterus quercusbaccarum

This time of year on the reserve you may notice various swellings , growths and such like on leaves of trees. These are Galls or irritatios produced by mainly Wasps, Insects or Mites The one below is the Currant Gall one of two stages the other being the Spangle Gall seen later in the year

A good spot to see Galls is just above the weir at the junction heading toward the rail crossing or abundant throughout the reserve on various Trees from Alder to Oak , Sycamore , Rose Hip and many others . There are currently over 30 listed in the reserve report and they are often more easily found and identified by the effect they have on the host tree or plant

Neuroterus quercusbaccarum - Currant Gall - Neuroterus quercusbaccarum

Oak Currant Gall 28559

Oak Currant Gall 28551


Oak Currant Gall 28553

Description

The male and female of the bisexual generation emerge in June from Currant Galls which are spherical, smooth, succulent, berry-like galls up to 7 mm in diameter which vary in colour from pale yellow through green to red or purple. These galls may occur on Oak leaves or catkins. After mating the fertilised eggs are laid by the sexual generation in the lower epidermis of the Oak leaves. The Spangle Galls develop over the winter and the insects emerge in April, laying their eggs in the catkins or lower epidermis of leaves. The cycle, an alternation of generation, then begins again.

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Wednesday, 21 May 2014

The Dogs Tale !!!

The Page where the Dogs The Star


Hey !!! look Its a Bloke Photographing Bugs. Lets do some posing !!!!

Aron 28636


Over here . lets have a nosey !!!

Aron 28633

Whats he Found

Aron 28647

                     Oh No - Its a Wiggly Jiggly - Yuk !!!



Well What Do You Know its a Timothy Tortrix Caterpillar

Timothy Tortrix 28612

  Hes aving a Laugh !!!! It Aint related to me !!!!

Aron 28655

Me Either !!!!

Dalmation 21594

He's having Ago


Polo 29598

Yeah I agree  Hes Not Funny

Dog 29083

Watch Out Fellas - Wasp - Don't Worry - I have It

Boxer 19958xx

For Goodness Sake Be careful !!

Spaniel 26946

Quick Fellas - Leg It  - The Boxer is loosing control

Lurcher 4050


Hey !!! He is Photographing Flowers That's a Safe Bet  !!  A Dog Daisy ???

Aron 28633

Oh No it is'nt . Let Me Out !!!

Dog 30465

Ha Ha Ha !!! Unlucky

Dog 30483

You think So Gremlin ????

Aron 28636



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Tuesday, 20 May 2014

Trichoptera - Caddisfly - Glyphotaelius pellucidus

Trichoptera - Caddisfly - Glyphotaelius pellucidus


Glyphotaelius pellucidus 28562

Length 12 to 17 mm. A medium to large sized caddis fly with marbled brown and cream wings, although the patterning varies between male/ female in this species. The forewings have a notched outer margin.

Habitat  Still water habitats, ponds and lakes, often in woodland or well wooded areas.

Life History  It breeds around still water such as ponds and lakes. The jelly coated egg sac is stuck to a leaf above the surface of the water, and when the eggs are ready to hatch they fall into the water beneath. The larvae build a case with pieces of dead leaves.

Phenology Late April to June and August to October with a summer diapause.



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Well Spotted !!!! 0989 Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana

989 Timothy Tortrix Aphelia paleana


Timothy Tortrix 28613


Timothy Tortrix 28629

Developmental Link  Click Image to Magnify


Wingspan 18-22 mm.

Plain moth, usually with a distinct yellowish suffusion around the head and the base of the forewings.

Habitat

Waste ground and dampish areas, and feeds on a range of herbaceous plants.

The adults, which are on the wing from June to August, can be flushed from low vegetation during the day but are more active at night.

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Sunday, 18 May 2014

2256 The Satellite Eupsilia transversa Caterpillar

2256 The Satellite Eupsilia transversa   Source of Spring Food
  Brown Caterpillar 27903


Wingspan 32-42 mm.

ACommon  British  moth h more scattered in Scotland, there are a number of variations, but usually with reddish-brown ground colour, and white or orange reniform stigmata. The small 'satellites' either side of the stigma can be obscure, especially in worn individuals.

The adults emerge in September, and can be encountered any time throughout the winter until April, in suitably mild conditions, when they can be attracted especially to sugar, but also to light.

Larvae

Feed on deciduous trees, and have a carnivorous tendency towards larvae of other species.


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Tuesday, 13 May 2014

Spring Flies - Syrphus ribessi - Sarcophagia

Two Flies the First a Hoverfly Syrphus sp , about 12 or so in this genus which are hard to get to species without detailed exam ( not S. torvus -eyes non hairy ) but in this shot the Female with orange hind femora assists the ID and is likely Syrphus ribessi

The second a little less favourable Sarcophaga sp or Flesh Fly. These where all seen mating in the Spring sunshine

Both species Share one thing in common all having a Good Time in The Spring Sunshine


Syrphus 27207


Sarcophagidae 27449
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Monday, 12 May 2014

Meadow grasses - The Foxtail - Alopecurus pratensis

One of the earlier flowering Grasses , which helps it stand out when things get a bit crowded in the Field and  Ground layers , already showing signs of  Hedge Bedstraw  shooting up at the reserve entrance . The Spectrum of Grasses on and throughout the reserve provide vital and specific food plants for particular Moths & Butterflies such as 1526 Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris  A grassland Mirid is seen lurling on the Seed Head


Meadow Foxtail 27197


Meadow foxtail 27189

Meadow Foxtail 27203


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Sunday, 11 May 2014

Hoverfly- Criorhina berberina A Bumblebee Mimic

Criorhina berberina


Criorhina berberina 27460

Larvae of C. berberina associated with rotting deciduous wood. Adults are usually found in woodland with overmature trees and are seen visiting flowers to feed

 Larvae have been found in rotten wood in cavities in the trunk of Betula and rotten roots of *, but are probably associated with rotting wood in a range of deciduous species. Adults are usually found in woodland with overmature trees and are often seen visiting flowers or settled on sunlit foliage. Males patrol flowers and flowering shrubs. Females can be found around flying around the base of stumps and dead or dying trees 



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Wednesday, 7 May 2014

293 Common Slender Gracillaria syringella

 293 Common Slender Gracillaria syringella


Common Slender 27485


Wingspan 10-13 mm.

Description

A common species throughout Britain, this is another distinctive Caloptilia. Although quite variable, this is the most well-marked of the group.

Larvae

The larvae feed on privet (Ligustrum) and lilac (Syringa), and can be a pest in gardens. Often, many leaves on a single bush turn brown and curl up with the mines.

The adults fly in May and again in July, and can be very common indeed where the mines are to be found.

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Muscid Fly - Hebecnema vespertina


Muscid  Fly - Hebecnema vespertina 

Melanophora roralis 27426

Muscid  Fly - Hebecnema vespertina -


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Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Limonia phragmitidis A shaded Grassland Cranefly

Limonia phragmitidis 27410

Limonia phragmitidis Cranefly

Description

A striking cranefly with pale orange thorax and abdomen and a grey head. The wings have strong but small black marks. The black rings on the legs go nearly to the top of the femur, leaving pale knees.

Habitat

Commonly found on shady grassland.

When to see it

May and June
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Friday, 2 May 2014

Slender Ground Hopper - Tetrix subulata

Another interesting Find on the Reserve for the Growing List of Biodiversity

Slender Ground Hopper Tetrix subulata 


Slender Ground Hopper 27253

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Baccha Again - Baccha elongata - A Hoverfly

The Hovers are back - Baccha elongata

Baccha elongata 27268


Baccha elongata is a species of hoverfly (or flower fly) in the genus Baccha. The long, very slender body of this hoverfly is unmistakabe one of the smaller hoverflies the wing length is around 4.5 to 8 mm.easily overlooked due to its unobtrusive nature

Larvae are predatory though there seems to be a preference for a variety of different ground-layer aphids.

This species overwinters as a larva and can be seen on the wing from spring until autumn. Generally it can be found in shady places low to the ground in woodlands and along hedgerows.


ALSO present

Syrphus
Syritta pipiens
Melanostome mellinum
Eristalis pertinax
Eristalis tenax
Leuconazona lucorum

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