We may be well into October but the new insects keep on coming. I use the term ‘insect’ loosely here, as the first new species today was a Long-horned Springtail (Pogonognathellus longicornis). The springtails were long regarded as insects but are now placed in a separate class. They are hexapods but not insects.

Next was a Scathophaga sp. dung fly, possibly S. stercoraria. Several were found sitting on separate leaves along a bramble cane.

The Ash Whitefly (Siphoninus phillyreae) puparia first seen 5 days are beginning to split open, with new whitefly imagoes emerging. Also noted on the same ash tree were the mines of the leaf-miner fly Aulagromyza heringii.

In the old sheep enclosure the latest plant to appear is Sun Spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia) and yet another mushroom in Common Ink Cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria).

More red berries too, this time a definite garden escapee, a Cotoneaster sp. possibly Himalayan Cotoneaster (C. simonsii). One Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) is showing rather pretty autumn colours.

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