Warmer weather this morning, and only a light breeze, but annoyingly overcast, which would yet again restrict the insects on the wing.

Several first sightings of the season today, including Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) on Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens), Curled Rose Sawfly (Allantus cinctus) on Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) and Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) on Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica).

On a Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) flower I came across a Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major) with a Platycheirus sp. hoverfly (possibly P. peltatus) hovering alongside waiting its turn to land, while on a Dandelion clock (seed head) I found a March fly (Family Bibionidae), a Lesser Variable Bibio (Bibio lanigerus).

A search of new Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) leaves produced a Cream-spot Ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata), a sub-adult Araniella sp. orb-weaver spider and an unidentified 3mm larva (moth or sawfly).

The unopened flower buds of a Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana) sapling hosted a Parent Bug (Elasmucha grisea), while on one of the new leaves I discovered the first aphid of the season. Due to the poor quality of my image the identity of the aphid is uncertain, with the most likely species being either Black Bean Aphid (Aphis fabae) or Wayfaring Tree-sedge Aphid (Ceruraphis eriophori).

As for plants, I have already mentioned Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana), which is starting to produce new leaves and flower buds. Another plant seen for the first time this year is Sun Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia), which has very clear bright orange spots on some of the leaves. These are uredinia, spore-producing structures, the primary stage of the rust fungus Spurge Rust (Melampsora helioscopiae).

                                                                                              <<<< Previous page | Next Page >>>>