Explore the diverse flora and fauna on the Downs from season to season through personal observations and photographs

Saturday, 16 May 2026

With weather conditions the same as yesterday I was again expecting to see very few insects on the wing. Unsurprisingly most were seen at rest on leaves. The total number of butterflies did not exceed 10, but 6 species were seen, 4 Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus), 2 Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), and one each of Brown Argus (Aricia agestis), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Small Blue (Cupido minimus) and Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

The Hemiptera were represented by three bugs. A Cinnamon Bug (Corizus hyoscyami) was found on brambles, a mid-instar nymph of the Forest Bug (Pentatoma rufipes) on sycamore and Trivial Plant Bug (Closterotomus trivialis) females on Hemp-agrimony as well as Dog Rose.

Bramble Sawfly (Arge cyanocrocea) was seen where one might expect from its name, on brambles.

Some new Common Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) growth, whether seedlings or suckers I am not sure, showed several leaf-mines of the fly Aulagromyza hendeliana, or A. cornigera, the leaf-mines of which can look very similar. These are upper surface mines, just beneath the upper epidermis of the leaf. A close-up photo appears to show the larva still present at the end of one of the mines. Leaf-mines were also seen on the leaves of Hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), which I believe have been made by larvae of the fly Phytomyza eupatorii.

Latest wildflower to appear is Broad-leafed (or Red) Clover (Trifolium pratense).

 

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