On Friday, while rummaging about in an old meadow, just north of Aberdare, I came across this sawfly larva, on the flower stem of Ribwort Plantain. I haven't been able to identify it, so I'd be grateful if someone could give me some pointers. Bonus points for the identity of the weevil.
I also came across this colourful spider in a young birch. I know Adam is going to tell me it is immature or not showing the main diagnostic feature, which is fine, but what stands out for me is the shape of the tip of the abdomen. I assume this is a sign of immaturity.
Having had a good look through Roberts' field guide I can't see any spiders that even vaguely resemble that long tubercle, and I son't think it is likely to be a Linyphiid which are not covered in my guide. Obviously you will have had a better look than me Mark, but I think there is a possibility that the tubercle on the rear of the spider may actually be part of the leaf. It's hard to see the palps properly from the photo but what I can see of them (and the relatively modest size of the abdomen) leads me to think you have a mature male, so I don't think the tubercle is likely to be a facet of maturity.
ReplyDeleteIf I were a betting man (and only a fool would bet on the id of most spiders without a specimen and a microscope to hand!) I would say you may well have Araniella cucurbitina / opisthographa both of which are relatively common. Just to add further confusion there seem to be a couple of other southern english species which are rare, but also indistinguishable from the other two without a specimen! A lovely little thing though...!
Have a look at this link Mark: http://www.galerie-insecte.org/galerie/araniella_cucurbitina.html
ReplyDeleteThanks Adam. I think you are absolutely correct regarding the tubercle: well spotted. Looking again at the photo, it is obvious that the apparent tubercle is just a tooth of the birch leaf. In the field, without my reading glasses (I'd rushed off without them, as usual!), I could see there was a spider and the colours, but it was only when I got the photos up on the computer that the chance alignment led me up the garden path.
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