Norfolk: other insects (1 Viewer)

firstreesjohn · Aug 25, 2012

The hoverfly Volucella zonaria (photo below, from 26th) diced with death on the tarmac surface from which the target aircraft were launched at the Warham Greens whirligig. However, since it hasn’t been used for some 60 years, it was probably not at immediate risk.

Attempts to acquaint Dave & Kieran N (no, not brothers, just sharers of the same initial) with this striking insect proved in vain, as they arrived out-of-breath, having pounded along the tarmac- and scared the thing away.

Alison Allen · Aug 25, 2012

This makes a change from spiders in the bath. Anybody have any ideas what this is?
Thanks
Alison

James Emerson · Aug 25, 2012

finderswife said:
This makes a change from spiders in the bath. Anybody have any ideas what this is?
Thanks
Alison

Its a female Dark Bush Cricket. The 'spike' at the back is the ovipositor. There are often loads this time of year in nettles, making a racket at dusk.

Regards,
James

thorin · Aug 27, 2012

anyone know any good sites for solitary bees in norfolk at this time of year

cheers nick

Bittern2010 · Aug 28, 2012

Starship Troopers!

I thought I had stumbled onto a scene from the film Starship Troopers when I came across this beast at Cley Marshes on Saturday.

Another gentleman had found it dazed and confused on the path to one of the hides and was moving it out of harm's way.

I presume it's a Great Diving Beetle. Please can anyone tell me the species?

Cheers

Steve

firstreesjohn · Aug 29, 2012

Bittern2010 said:
"dazed and confused"

Please can anyone tell me the species?

Steve: this Led Zeppelin-loving water beatle is, I believe, not a GDB (which should have a yellowish sort of frame all around it), but Ilybius fenestratus. I’m sure I can detect a reddish tinge to its legs in your photo.

Shirley, it should’ve been on a rock; I hope you didn’t pop it back on the path !

Ficedula · Aug 29, 2012

firstreesjohn said:
Steve: this Led Zeppelin-loving water beatle is, I believe, not a GDB (which should have a yellowish sort of frame all around it), but Ilybius fenestratus. I’m sure I can detect a reddish tinge to its legs in your photo.

Ilybius fenestratus 11.5mm, my little finger is 18mm wide at base, assuming the hands in photo approx same Ilybius fenestratus should be shorter than width of finger. It is also a scarce sp. Our largest and common Ilybus is ater at up tp 15mm so still much too small to be this one.

It is Hydrophilus piceus (Great Silver Water Beetle)

Tideliner · Aug 29, 2012

Without the specimen to be keyed out I would be reluctant to put a name to this water beetle But I would guess a Hydrobius species . The wedge at the top of the elytra is very big for most of the Dytiscid species. If it is H piceus it is a small specimen. I have only seen two live specimens ( male and female ). The male spaned three of my fingers and the female 4. They are big beetles with a length of 40-50 mm. I would not rule out Hydrochara carcboides.

A word of warning , beware of handling water beetles like this as some species , ie Dytiscid sp , can give you a sharp bite.

In retrospect I now think Ficdula may well be correct with his ID. My first impression was the beetle was too small for H piceus , but of course everyones hands are different and make judjument of the size anything they hold is subjective.

firstreesjohn · Aug 29, 2012

Thanks for the corrections. I was solely going on the evidence of my eyes, on searching the illustrations in Chinery’s “Insects . . ”.

I could see no ridging on the elytra, which is why I made my ID. Having no field experience of these, I defer to others more well-versed.

BTW, they were the “Silver Beatles” for a time in 1960 (but not yet Great), when they changed their name to the one we all recognise.

Bittern2010 · Aug 29, 2012

firstreesjohn said:
this Led Zeppelin-loving water beatle...

Shirley, it should’ve been on a rock; I hope you didn’t pop it back on the path !

Thanks to everyone for all the prompt and knowledgeable feedback. The gentleman who handled the beetle did appear to have large hands which may have resulted in some of the confusion regarding ID.

The attached photo may be able to give a better indication of scale.
Otherwise, I will settle for Hydrophilus piceus (Great Silver Water Beetle).

Regards

Steve

P.S The beetle was moved from the middle of the path to the edge so that it did not ascend the "Stairway to Heaven" prematurely.

PYRTLE · Aug 30, 2012

A larger specimen of H piceus was removed from a moth trap earlier this year at Cley Marshes, so appears this beetle is locally present though still quite scarce as a county species.

firstreesjohn · Sep 1, 2012

Three of the handsome hoverfly Volucella zonaria were at the concrete pad (and one V. inanis) and northern ends of the westernmost track at Warham Greens today.

The one below is a female: note the eyes separated by the frons. In males, the eyes meet. (Thanks, Tony.)

Bittern2010 · Sep 2, 2012

Hoverfly ID

firstreesjohn said:
Three of the handsome hoverfly Volucella zonaria were at the concrete pad (and one V. inanis) and northern ends of the westernmost track at Warham Greens today.

The one below is a female: note the eyes separated by the frons. In males, the eyes meet. (Thanks, Tony.)

Excellent photo as usual firstreesjohn and a very timely post.

I came across the same species of stunning female hoverfly at Lackford Lakes in Suffolk yesterday (Sorry I know it's not Norfolk) and was wondering about its ID but now I know.

I won't post the awful record shot taken with my mobile phone.

Cheers

Steve

firstreesjohn · Sep 3, 2012

Hand’s off Spiderman !

A few days ago, I passed through Stiffkey, during their annual Scarecrow Week, in aid of UNICEF. There was an impressive Spider-crow.

Unfortunately, it seems that someone has dismembered the super-hero (not for the costume, surely?) and this is all that’s left. Actually, right !

FOOON · Mar 11, 2013

Diving beetles, new to Cley

Via NWT today

"Dytiscus circumcinctus (Dytiscidae, diving beetles) recorded at Cley Marshes, a new 10 km record. Has been seen in the Broads before"

jimbob · Apr 8, 2013

Dear all,

Bugs Brittanica is currently available in everyone's favourite cheap bookshop, The Works, for £6.99 (RRP £35.00). Please note, this is not an ID guide but more of a cultural assessment of man's relationship with our creepy crawlies down the years. I am sure many of your own Birds Britannica and if so, will know what to expect. This is a superb body of work and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the natural world.

Cheers,
Jim.

firstreesjohn · Apr 16, 2013

First Bee-fly ?

Yesterday, the westernmost track at Warham Greens surprised me with this Bee-fly: on the track just N of the concrete pad.

firstreesjohn · Apr 22, 2013

Hoverfly bee mimic Eristalis intricarius E of conifers at Walsey Hills, yesterday.

(It is the largest of the three insects!)

HarassedDad · May 5, 2013

The mayfly Ephemera danica emerging on the Wensum in Norwich today

tootsietim · May 15, 2013

Hoverfly

I found this smart little chap crawling under my garden bench this evening.
I think it is Xanthagramma pedissequum, but stand to be corrected.

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