Very windy again today. Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) still the dominant butterfly, seemingly on every patch of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense). Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) are definitely increasing in numbers.

An insect added to the year’s list was Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) moth. On a Hogweed I came across a Flower Crab Spider (Misumena vatia) that had caught a Lasioglossum sp.  or Andrena sp. bee. While it was busy dealing with its victim it had a small black beetle crawling over it. This was obviously irritating the spider and when the beetle ended up at the end of one of the spiders’s legs it was duly flicked away. I could just imagine the spider’s satisfied smirk.

The Goat willow sapling with the aphids that I mentioned in the diary entry for 9^th June now has Seven-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) present. One at least has laid eggs on the underside of one of the leaves on the stem occupied by the aphid nymphs. The aphid nymphs are a food source for newly hatched ladybird nymphs.

I found a different species of aphid, possibly Large Chicory Aphid (Uroleucon cichorii) on the stem of a Cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris radicata).

Close to the Banstead Commons Conservators noticeboard at the south-east corner of the Downs several clumps of Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) are flourishing and I will keep a watch on these as they are a good host for several insect species.

Nature note for the day

The Flower Crab Spider has the ability to change colour, much like a chameleon, to blend in with the colour of the particular flower that it has chosen to lie in wait for suitable prey. Unlike the chameleon this colour transition can take several days and the spectrum of colour change is more limited. Generally the spider will be white or a shade of yellow, occasionally with pinkish hues, but green and bluish ones are not unknown.

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