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Post by nomad on May 29, 2017 7:38:39 GMT
Yes a pretty special ab. in both the upperside and underside.
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Post by nomad on May 28, 2017 16:54:11 GMT
The forewing shape also looks to be unusual in this gynandromorph. A red letter day for Marc.
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Post by nomad on May 28, 2017 9:13:35 GMT
Marbled Orchard Tortrix, Hedya nubiferana Haworth, 1811. One of a number of the smaller moths (Micros) that are camouflaged to resemble a bird-dropping. Ancient woodland where the larvae feed on Hawthorn and Blackthorn.
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Post by nomad on May 28, 2017 7:15:36 GMT
Sometimes its nice to find old acquaintances. I had not seen the well named Chimney Sweeper moth, Odezia atrata, Linnaeus, 1758 in the Ancient Forest since the late 1970s, some 38 years ago but recently found a small colony there among the foodplant, pignut, Conopodium majus, a welcome sight. The moth flies in the daytime and is very hard to approach with the camera.
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Post by nomad on May 26, 2017 16:05:35 GMT
Adela croesella male resting on one of the foodplants Wild Privet in the early Morning on chalk Downland. A local species in the UK.
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Post by nomad on May 24, 2017 15:15:41 GMT
Yes nature is impressive and you do need to always travel to far off countries to find interesting insects, there is plenty to see in your own country.
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Post by nomad on May 24, 2017 14:40:57 GMT
All Diptera have those organs which are known as halteres but they are very noticeable in Hoverflies. They are balancing organs that takes the place of the hindwings, vibrating during flight. Much more here. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halteres
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Post by nomad on May 23, 2017 16:06:39 GMT
In the UK Caliprobola speciosa is a very rare and truly spectacular large hoverfly that is confined in the UK to ancient wood pasture in the Windsor area and to a few sites in the New Forest. The population is very small and it is on the wing in May and early June. With its orange legs and metallic green body with yellow bands this magnificent species cannot be confused with any other species. The male form territories around old Beech and oak stumps in which the larvae feed and the adults look very much wasp like in flight. I watched a visiting bee mimic hoverfly Criorhina floccosa at a dead beech stump being repeatedly dive bombed and then grabbed by the pictured male Caliprobola speciosa which forced it to retreat. It was one of two Caliprobola speciosa in a several day search that I found and two local insect experts and their friend drew a blank in the same area, where in other years they have found several. In the UK and in several other European countries this hoverfly is classified as endangered and is a protected species at its localities here.
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Post by nomad on May 23, 2017 14:40:42 GMT
The European hornet, Vespa crabro is a really impressive insect and the queens are a feature of the woodlands such as New Forest in May, seeking out new nest holes. The first image shows a queen feeding at a sap run.
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Post by nomad on May 23, 2017 14:26:15 GMT
Anoplodera sexguttata in the New Forest where at the right locations in its short flight season it is frequent. This locality is the British Stronghold.
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Post by nomad on May 23, 2017 9:09:41 GMT
Not too sure if I will be there but thought it would be worth an announcement. I think the guy who is running it does the other Midland entomological fairs which are tiny but this is in a bigger venue. The word entomological show in the UK or fair, usually means lots of what some term creepy crawlies, big spiders and other insects. But the orgainisers point out there will be dealers there in both dead stock and equipment. Britain on floor space alone (two large rooms) has probably the largest entomological fair in Europe, its called the AES but there is only a fraction of deadstock compared with the big European fairs. Not so many British collect butterflies today and the big European dealers do not attend the AES as a result.
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Post by nomad on May 21, 2017 19:11:37 GMT
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Post by nomad on May 20, 2017 19:03:08 GMT
That is the date when New Britain was part of the German colonial empire, ending when in 1914 Australia took control of the Island. The specimen has New Pomerania on the data label, so it was certainly captured when New Britain was a German protectorate. What is more of a mystery is why being a lowland species, Delias lytaea on numbers taken, seems is one of the rarest Delias on the Island. I believe most of the old specimens came from the Rabaul area which has seen much devastation from an earthquake, but on saying that this species has always been scarce in collections. In recent years hardly any new specimens of this species seems to have been forthcoming from any dealers or collectors for that matter.
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Post by nomad on May 20, 2017 7:33:17 GMT
I have become increasingly interested in hoverflies-Diptera and my forays into the field are now mainly concerned with photographing these fascinating and very important pollinators. In some instances specimens have to be netted and examined for identification purposes. Otherwise, I just enjoy watching their behaviour and photographing them which is quite a challenge, as they have a much better eyesight than butterflies and in warm weather are very wary insects. A day with sun and cloud is best. The UK is lucky in that it has quite a few experts regarding these insects who have produced two excellent books that would be quite useful for many species occurring in Europe. The publications are
British Hoverflies An illustrated Identification Guide. Alan E. Stubbs & Steven Falk. 1983. Second much revised edition 2002, reprinted 2012. The standard reference guide. Includes accounts of the 276 UK species including a Key. Colour illustrations of 190 species by Steven Falk. Hardback 469 pages. Since the second edition of this book appeared a further 7 species have been found in the UK!
British Hoverflies A field Guide. Stuart Ball & Roger Morris. 2013. New revised edition 2015. A photographic guide of 167 species, list of all species and a full account of their biology. 650 colour images with 312 pages.
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Post by nomad on May 19, 2017 17:33:30 GMT
Delias lytaea female. A rarely seen lowland species endemic to New Britain. This old specimen in my coll was taken at some point between 1884 & 1914 in New Pomerania" German New Britain.
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