Norfolk: other insects (1 Viewer)

firstreesjohn · Jul 22, 2012

I thought it might be a good idea to extend the ‘Norfolk Patches’ folder to include insects other than Lepidoptera and Odonata.

Accordingly, I start the thread “Norfolk: other insects”, with this post.

Stonepit Heath provided an attractive orange and black burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides. This was a ‘tick’. A search of my external epidermis revealed, fortunately, no others- despite the extensive bracken in this area !

A Forest Bug (shield bug) complemented the action.

postcardcv · Jul 22, 2012

Nice one John... I'm starting to develop a slight obsession with the bees in my garden, it is amazing how many different species there are. I'm wasting more and more time watching and photographing them, just need to work out what they are!

firstreesjohn · Jul 23, 2012

Obsessive bee-haviour ?

“If you’re starting to get an obsession,
It could be developing regression !
Whether it’s bees,
Snapped down on your knees,
Or birds. Let’s have your confession !”

And congratulations, Peter, on the first post by non-me.

I started on bees last year, but quickly found them too confusing for my "Very Little Brain" to Bear. Also, for some reason, they often seem difficult to photograph, with much fast movement and/or quivering.

HarassedDad · Jul 23, 2012

The Norfolk naturalists society have just published "The Bumblebees of Norfolk" - details here. Of course that leaves nearly a 100 odd species of bee that aren't bumbles to sort out!

I'm trying to get my head around hoverflies at the moment, with limited success.

Robert S J Smith · Jul 23, 2012

Nice one John! Think I'll have to make a Norfolk Flora thread to complete the set!

postcardcv · Jul 28, 2012

here are a few bees from my front garden, lots of other species out there just a pain to try and get photos of...

postcardcv · Jul 28, 2012

and a few other inverts (there will be some more later once I have sorted some more photos), it's interesting how many different things there are out there, no idea what they are though!

HarassedDad · Jul 28, 2012

1 might be a Sarcaphagia spp
2 is a greenbottle (Lucidia virens)
3 is probably Lassus niger
4 is a robber fly of some sort

(and the first of your bees is actually a hoverfly pretending to be a bee)

NoSpringChicken · Aug 14, 2012

On my last few visits to Strumpshaw Fen I have noticed some very striking insects in the woods where the water is. They are about the size of a small bumble bee and look very colourful as they hover in the sunshine. The most striking feature is a broad white band around the body and the rest of the colouring is black, brown and orange. After some research I think I have identified them as Volucella pellucens Hoverflies. Does this sound correct?

I have tried to photograph them when they are hovering but have failed to find them in the viewfnder and get them in focus before they zoom off. They are fascinating little creatures to watch, though.

Ron

Lightthiscandle · Aug 14, 2012

Hornet Hoverfly

Cool! What an amazing insect! It was at Strumpshaw today, near the Tower Hide

ben_lewis · Aug 15, 2012

NoSpringChicken said:
The most striking feature is a broad white band around the body and the rest of the colouring is black, brown and orange. After some research I think I have identified them as Volucella pellucens Hoverflies. Does this sound correct?
Ron

Hi Ron, I believe you are correct with your identification, they seemed quite numerous for a short while, as you say great little hoverflies.

David, I too saw the Hornet Hoverfly on the buddlia just before Tower Hide. Not seen one before so I checked it out on the net and they are moving North with climate change. Buglife are asking for records to map their journey North. I have reported yesterdays individual already but keep your eye out for more elsewhere.

Lightthiscandle · Aug 15, 2012

ben_lewis said:
David, I too saw the Hornet Hoverfly on the buddlia just before Tower Hide. Not seen one before so I checked it out on the net and they are moving North with climate change. Buglife are asking for records to map their journey North. I have reported yesterdays individual already but keep your eye out for more elsewhere.

I sent Buglife the pix and data as soon as I got home from my walk, Ben! All this and Harlequin Ladybirds at Strump! Whatever next? LOL!

ChrisBish · Aug 20, 2012

An interesting fly on the wall of my house this afternoon unfortunately disappeared when I went indoors to get my camera. I've tried to look for pics on the net but to no avail so thought I'd ask if anyone here can suggest an id.

The fly was blue/green on the thorax and bright pink on the abdomen. Sizewise it was similar to green bottle but perhaps a bit thinner and longer. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Chris

HarassedDad · Aug 21, 2012

Rather than a fly it might be a Jewel Wasp? There' several with that colour scheme in the Chrysidae

ChrisBish · Aug 21, 2012

HarassedDad said:
Rather than a fly it might be a Jewel Wasp? There' several with that colour scheme in the Chrysidae

Yep, I think you might be right!

Many thanks |=)|

NoSpringChicken · Aug 22, 2012

I was surprised to discover this on my kitchen ceiling tonight as I was doing the washing up. I don't know what it is but I suspect kitchen ceilings are not its usual habitat. It is now in the garden after its photo session. The body was about 15mm long. Can anybody identify it for me?

Edit: Elsewhere on this forum it has now been identified as an Oak Bush-cricket. A new one for me.

Ron

James Emerson · Aug 24, 2012

Loads of Dark Bush Crickets making a racket from the nettle beds at Whitlingham today, and the population of Long-winged Coneheads on the south shore seems to be doing well too.

Bittern2010 · Aug 24, 2012

It's Just Not Cricket!

You beat me to it Ron.

I also had a male Oak Bush Cricket on my bathroom wall in Norwich on Wednesday evening.

I understand they are common visitors to gardens but it's a first for my garden/house.

I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for the Coneheads at Whitlingham when I next visit.

Cheers

Steve

James Emerson · Aug 24, 2012

Bittern2010 said:
You beat me to it Ron.

I also had a male Oak Bush Cricket on my bathroom wall in Norwich on Wednesday evening.

I understand they are common visitors to gardens but it's a first for my garden/house.

I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for the Coneheads at Whitlingham when I next visit.

Cheers

Steve

The long-winged coneheads are in the vegetation along the broad edge about level with the place where Whitlingham Lane moves away from the broad towards the woods. They make a different noise to the other crickets/grasshoppers once you get your ear in, although it is a bit similar to Roesel's Bush Cricket (some of which are at Carey's meadow if anyone is interested in crickets locally).

Bittern2010 · Aug 24, 2012

James Emerson said:
The long-winged coneheads are in the vegetation along the broad edge about level with the place where Whitlingham Lane moves away from the broad towards the woods. They make a different noise to the other crickets/grasshoppers once you get your ear in, although it is a bit similar to Roesel's Bush Cricket (some of which are at Carey's meadow if anyone is interested in crickets locally).

Thanks James. I have often wanted to expand my knowledge of this group of insects.

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