bugs at Maerdy - 29 July

A few bugs identified by Liam Olds at the Maerdy Wildlife Recording Day. Cicadella viridis (female & male), Leptopterna dolabata (with remains of last meal) and Nabis limbatus (2 images).

Also saw this froghopper (?) which I haven't yet managed to identify. Very distinctive colour and markings but ID is eluding me ...

Hoverflies at the castle

After the torrential rain ceased this afternoon, a good variety of hoverflies made an appearance on the Hogweed flowers around the edge of the Castell Coch woodland clearing. These included Volucella pellucens as well as the ubiquitous Episyrphus balteatus, along with both British species of Meliscaeva: M. auricollis and M. cinctella. These appear rather large-winged for the size of their bodies, and differ in the pattern of the yellow markings on their abdomens.

Meliscaeva auricollis

Meliscaeva cinctella

Alun Valley ... take 2

Also at the Moth Night in the Alun Valley on Thursday night, the light traps attracted a couple of miridae and a nice looking Tipula lateralis. The cranefly hung around on Paul's MV for most of the night - probably looking for shelter from the rain.

The two miridae have been confirmed on the UK Diptera Facebook pages as Stenodema calcarata

and Adelphocoris quadripunctatus. The latter was first recorded in Britain last year by Chris Lawrence (in Llantrisant) and has subsequently been found at other sites across South Wales. The Alun valley can now be added to the list of sites.

Alun Valley last night

On a very enjoyable Moth Night in the Alun Valley last night and saw these (thanks to Paul Parsons for pointing them out). I think they are Meadow Grasshoppper and a female Dark Bush-cricket but would welcome confirmation/correction.

Garden hoppers

The moth trap continues to attract a few leafhoppers new for the garden list. Last night, a warm and breezy night, produced two new species: Zygina flammigera and Linnavuoriana sexmaculata (just rolls off the tongue doesn't it). At least, these are what I've identified them as using the BritishBugs website. There are several similar Zygina species; flammigera is the commonest and mine seems to have the necessary features to confirm the ID. It is found on a range of trees, whereas L. sexmaculata occurs on sallows.

Linnavuoriana sexmaculata

Zygina flammigera

Llanerch Wood 02/07/2017

While at Llanerch wood checking out Odonata (see VC41 D & D) I found some other interesting insects. Volucella zonaria (one seen at Lavernock NR last Sunday as well) Black and Yellow longhorn (Rutpela maculata) and a wasp beetle (Clytus arietis).