Pin Mold (Phycomyces sp., #971)

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Spotted these impressive hair-like structures growing out of some organic matter (bird poo probably) on our outdoor table. They are sporophores from a pin mold fungus that’s quietly going about its business of naturally breaking down organic waste in the garden. With the current damp autumn weather it should be good for fungi.

Leylandii: What is it Good For?

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Well, it turns out that my neighbour’s not very attractive (IMO) non-native Thuja hedge is good for these two non-native Mediterranean moths! Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri, #763) was first observed in UK in 1951 and is now established over most of lowland UK. It flies in one generation Sept-Nov; this being the first one I’ve recorded. Cypress Carpet (Thera cupressata) arrived in 1984 and so far its main range in UK only extends as far North as Birmingham. If has two generations, one in May-June and another in August-September.

Green Lacewings

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These lacewings were attracted to the moth trap last weekend. The one on the left is a Common Green Lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea agg), which are the commonest species in the autumn as unlike other species they hibernate as adults. I’m not sure about the one on the right - should have had a closer look at it, as it lacks the pale dorsal stripe and has some black markings on its head - so perhaps it is another species.

Limnephilus Caddisflies

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A couple of caddisflies in the moth trap at the weekend. On the left Limnephilus lunatus is the most frequently caught large caddisfly, named after the crescent moon-shaped pale mark at the tip of its wing. Smaller and less marked, Limnephilus auricula (#968) is a new species for the list. It frequents water edges that dry out in summer, the adults laying eggs in the autumn and the larvae overwintering.

Ashy Button (Acleris sparsana, #967)

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A bit drab, but Ashy Button (Acleris sparsana) was another new species for the garden trapped this weekend. Not a big surprise to record this as it likes Beech trees, of which there is a large one nearby in next-door’s garden. Another micro in the trap, actually a few times lately, was Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) - another species which didn’t need to travel far from its plant host.

October Moths: White-point (Mythimna albipuncta, #966)

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There are less moths, but this weekend some new species and a bit more variety. White-point was a new one for the garden. Flying in the Autumn, it’s an immigrant from the continent caught mainly in the South-East of England, that may have started establishing a resident population - not a bad catch for Gloucestershire. Superficially similar the Satellite has a different shaped while spot on its wings. This moth can be caught throughout the Autumn & Winter, from September until April. Deep-brown Dart and Black Rustic are both autumn species, typical for this period.

Lunar Underwing

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This is one of the commonest Autumn finds in the moth trap. Flying from August to October, it comes in different forms: most commonly (here at least) a dark form with pale veins over the wings, and a paler sandy-coloured form where the veins don’t show so much, but you get black spots towards the tips of the wings instead.

Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata, #965)

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After a few wet and windy weekends I was able to put out the moth trap on Friday night. The catch of moths was right down from early September, but there are some Autumn-flying species around. This moth, Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata), is one such species, flying in Sept-Oct, hibernating as an adult, then flying again in early Spring. With its cryptic green colours, it’s a handsome moth and a new species for the garden.

Twin-spot Centurion

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This red and metallic-green Centurion fly got trapped inside the house. Called the Twin-Spot Centurion (Sargus bipunctatus) because if the two white spots on the front of its face, it is a late-flying member of this fly family, typically seen sunbathing on vegetation from September through to November.

Strawberry Sawfly (Claremontia confusa, #964)

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I wondered what was shredding the leaves of alpine strawberry plants in a planter outside the front door. Turns out to be sawfly larvae from the Strawberry Sawfly (Claremontia confusa). The sawflies are supposed to fly in May-June and people report their strawberry plants being eaten in July, so maybe these are from a second generation.

German Wasp (Vespula germanica, #963)

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This is another insect attracted to flowering Ivy. German Wasp is pretty similar to the Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris), but has some slightly different features - especially the black on the front of the face. Where Common Wasp has an anchor-shaped black mark above the mandibles, German Wasp has 3 black spots, though sometimes the centre one is fused (as in this case) into a line. It’s a rather common species, but this is the first one that I’ve identified in the garden.

Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae, #962)

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I’ve been looking for these late-flying bees the past couple of autumns, so I’m glad they have reached my neck of the woods this year. These stripey Colletes bees fly from September to November, timed to match when Ivy is in flower, and nest (sometimes in huge colonies) in sandy South facing slopes. The ivy on our wall is now flowering and attracting lots of insects, and several of these bees were present. Ivy Bee is another non-native species in UK, first recorded in 2001 and now spread across southern England and Wales.

Young Parent Bug

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This Parent Bug nymph (final instar) dropped on me out of the birch trees. The nymphs go through several development phases before becoming adults, which overwinter to breed the following spring. Parent Bugs (Elasmucha grisea) live in Beech and Alder trees, and are so-called because in this species the females stick around to brood the eggs and young larvae.