Venus Pool - 2 Jul 20

Today I visited the SOS Reserve at Venus Pool. Although the hides remain closed the 'arable field' is open and social distancing is not a problem. Not so much a bird-watching visit, more a chance for exercise in a different location with plenty of insects to be seen. This 'arable field' has extensive wild-flower margins and the field is managed to provide winter food for seed-eating birds. So it was head-down for an insect bonanza. The rain shower didn't help. Here are some images.

This seems to be an Elbow-stripe Grass-veneer moth (Agriphila geniculea). One of the many grass moths that are easily disturbed during the day.

A new moth for me. One of the plume moths which typically have long legs with spurs and hold their tightly rolled up wings at right angles when at rest. This is a Twin-spot Plume (Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla).

The lower hoverfly is one of the Syrphus pair S. ribesii or S. vitripennis, not usually separable from photos. Just about to land on the Knapweed at the very top is the distinctive shape of a Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus).

This IS S. vitripennis. The eyes do not meet so it is a female. Just visible through the wing the top segment (the femur) of the hind leg is dark and not yellow as it would be in female S. ribesii. This distinction does not apply to males.

Not a bee – check out the short antennae. This is the hoverfly Volucella bombylans of the form plumata with the white 'tail'. This is sometimes called the Bumblebee Hoverfly for obvious reasons. Insects enjoy Knapweed.

I am still getting to grips with all the various bumblebee species. This seems to be a Field Bumblebee (Bombus campestris) with buff around the head and white bands at the end of the abdomen.

Lots of activity deep within this Chicory flower (Cichorium intybus). A bee is emerging on the left....

A shot of the bee just as it departed. It is an Andrena mining bee. Seemed smaller than many species and I am wondering about Grey-banded Mining Bee (A. denticulata).

Now here is weirdo. It is one of the Thick-headed Flies, specifically Sicus ferrugineus. Apart from the strange head-shape note the thick thighs on all pairs of legs and the way it sits at rest with the body tucked under. Not one I have seen before. It is reported as widespread but not common.

The only confirmed species of damsel- or dragonfly was this male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum).

You would think White-lipped Snail (Cepaea hortensis). Maybe. None of the photos on the web show as dark a specimen as this. Cannot suggest an alternative.

May (I did say may) be on safer ground with this Brown-lipped Snail (Cepaea nemoralis).

I can identify two of the four things here. In the middle is the larva of a Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis). Bottom right is a smart Red Bug (Deraeocoris ruber). Top right may be an aphid sp. The small shiny beetle on the left would need much more visible detail for any chance of identification.

(Ed Wilson)