#985 Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)

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The small collection of moths in the moth trap this morning, included this Nut-tree Tussock Moth, which is a new species for my list. This moth’s food-plants are trees such as hazel and beech. It flies in 2 generations, in April-June and July-September.

Other moths included four Sliver Cloud moths, which are a local speciality with a small range in UK centred on the Severn & Wye valleys, and a few other typical Spring fliers.

Cleeve Hill Fungi

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It’s not a big season for fungi, but one exception is St George’s Mushroom, which is a Spring fungus, usually found from St George’s Day (23 April) through to June. It is an edible mushroom, tending to be found in short grass, but also other habitats. Yellow Brain is a more specialised species, found on hazel or (as in this case) on dead Gorse branches.

Mining Bees

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Nice to have some bees about. On the left Chocolate Mining Bee (Andrena scotica) and on the right Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria). Late April is about the best time for both these common mining bee species.

Pinion-spotted Pug (Eupithecia insigniata)

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Finally, the first outing this your for my moth trap. The star of the show was a Pinion-spotted Pug (Eupithecia insigniata, #982), top left. This is not a common moth, usually only a few caught per year in Glos, so the most unusual moth I’ve caught in a while and a great start for the year. Otherwise there were not many moths flying, but a Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) is always welcome. The small grey cranefly, maybe a Monophilus species, was likely a new species, but not sure if I’ll ever confirm any ID for it.

An Irish Slug

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Irish Yellow Slug or Green Cellar Slug is a common garden species, often found - like in this case - under rotting logs. Originally native to Crimea and the Black Sea area it is believed introduced to Ireland in the 17th century and then on to UK is 20th century. In the UK, Limacus maculatus seems to be replacing the Yellow Cellar Slug (Limacus flavus), itself a 17th century import to UK from Eastern Europe, across much of its range.

#980 Irish Yellow Slug (Limacus maculatus)

Netted Crust (Byssomerulius corium, #979)

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This blob of what looks like old chewing gum on a dead Buddleia branch, is I believe Netted Crust (Byssomerulius corium), a new species for the garden. This fungus is found all year round on dead wood - usually deciduous/ The white spots on another piece of dead wood, this time from my Corkscrew Willow, are some kind of slime mould.

Egyptian Locust (Anacridium aegyptium)

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I’m currently over in France. and came across this enormous grasshopper in the yard, hiding out on some old fence materials. Female Egyptian Locusts can grow up to 7cm in length and apart from their size can be recognised by their odd striped eyes. They can be found year-round here, over-wintering as adults; but they do occasionally turn up in UK either as accidental escapes or potentially wind-blown vagrants.

Autumn Fungi @ Kemerton #2

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Eight fungi and a slime mould from a guided walk at Kemerton Lake this weekend. Several fungi I never saw, or managed to identify, before. Now I just need some to pop up in the garden, where I’ve barely seen any fungi this year - it’s certainly damp enough…

Cleeve Hill Fungi

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Some spectacular fungi up on Cleeve Hill on the Cotswold scarp last weekend; they were everywhere. Still a few I didn’t identify yet.

Phaonia subventa (#976)

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This is a new fly for the garden, from the genus Phaonia. These are medium-sized flies with a yellow abdomen, black body and bulge in the fore edge of the wing. They can be seen from early Spring through to November, with their larvae overwintering in rotting vegetation. Identification at species level is based on details of bristles on the legs and thorax, but I believe this one is P. subventa.

The Sprawler (Asteroscopus sphinx, #975)

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Only two moths came to the light yesterday; probably one of last times my moth trap will be out this year. A lone Satellite (Eupsilia transversa) in the trap and a Sprawler (Asteroscopus sphinx) - a new species for me - on the wall nearby. The Sprawler is a late-flying moth, on the wing from October to December, but peaking around now. It’s a woodland species whose caterpillars rears up its spiny head when threatened, giving the moth its name.

More Leaf Mines

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Here are a couple more leaf mines, this time both are from flies. Phytomyza angelicastri is a leaf-miner found on wild angelica and also, as in this case, on Ground Elder. This is the first mine I’ve noticed here on Ground Elder, and is a new species for the garden. The similar-looking mine (but more “random” in direction) on Aquilegia (Columbine) is from Phytomyza minuscula. Many of these miners are very specific which leaves they will go for.

Leaf-mines on Corkscrew Willow

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The first two leaf-mines are from the larvae of a Sallow Pygmy moth (Stigmella salicis, #973). These moths have two generations in the Spring and Summer and the twisting mines from the second generation are seen right through to November. The mine doubles back to create a blotch and the frass makes a broken line in the centre of the mine.

The second pair of mines are from the larvae of a weevil Isochnus sequensi (#680), which leaves these dark, blotchy mines. The larva by the second mine is that of a Syrphus hoverfly, which is a predator mostly of aphids and but also other insects.

Autumn Fungi @ Kemerton

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Some fine fungi, but sadly not in the garden. A local nature reserve at Kemerton is always good for Autumn fungi, and also for otters which I now see on most visits if there are not too many people & dogs around.