Epistrophe eligans male
Epistrophe eligans male
Epistrophe eligans ♂ today in Bengeo garden, iconic spring hoverfly. Earliest record here by 4 days. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #SpringHoverflies #climatechange
Typhaeus typhoeus male
Typhaeus typhoeus female x2
Typhaeus typhoeus x3 this morning in Bengeo garden. Males are very distinctive with their 3 prongs.
Species is able to exploit winter availability of dung by digging much deeper burrows in sandy soil. These remain warm even in coldest months of January & February. #MinotaurBeetle #attractedtolight
Acleris literana
8 species recorded last night in Bengeo including Acleris literana. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth
Drepanepteryx phalaenoides
Nothochrysa capitata
Leopoldius calceatus female
Callicera aurata female
Lastly other notable species in Bengeo garden in 2025: Drepanepteryx phalaenoides, fantastic leaf mimic lacewing; Nothochrysa capitata, large scarce lacewing; Leopoldius calceatus, conopid that has recently colonised UK; Callicera aurata, magnificent scarce hoverfly. @ianbeavis.bsky.social
Bledius spectabilis
Prionocyphon serricornis
Silvanoprus fagi
Stephostethus alternans
Light trapping again produced good beetle records in Bengeo garden from May to August. Highlights included: Bledius spectabilis, Prionocyphon serricornis, Silvanoprus fagi (RDB1) & Stephostethus alternans. @bugmanjones.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social
Alloeotomus gothicus
Miridius quadrivirgatus
Sehirus morio
Sphragisticus nebulosus
Best Heteroptera of 2025 in Bengeo garden were all attracted to light during June & July: Alloeotomus gothicus, Miridius quadrivirgatus, Sehirus morio & Sphragisticus nebulosus. @britishbugs.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social
Prionus coriarius male attracted to light
Xylotrechus antilope female
Best beetles of 2025 in Bengeo garden were both longhorns: Prionus coriarius, truly a giant, & Xylotrechus antilope, european oak species recorded for 2nd year in row here.
This represents c38% of hoverfly species recorded in UK. It is difficult to predict which species may yet appear here. The only common features of these 4 new species is that I have previously recorded them within 2 miles of here at major wildlife sites. Dogwood & Ivy yet again featured.
Cheilosia grossa male (106th species recorded), 6th April 2025 on Cherry Laurel
Melangyna umbellatarum male (107th species recorded), 4th May 2025 on Dogwood
Cheilosia illustrata male (108th species recorded), 16th May 2025 on Dogwood
Pipiza lugubris female (109th species recorded), 19th Sept 2025 on Ivy
109 species of hoverfly now recorded in Bengeo garden with 4 additions during 2025: Cheilosia grossa (106), Melangyna umbellatarum (107), Cheilosia illustrata (108) & Pipiza lugubris female (109). @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
Single garden record from last year when one flew onto my shirt.
Very rare now in SE England, only recorded in single hectad since 2020 see hoverfly.uk/hrs/species/...
Wonderful species, 15 records in garden + 2 further records locally. Always single males. Hertford-Broxbourne area is one of its national strongholds.
Black-spotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginosa)
Black-spotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginosa) from Tuesday night in Bengeo. True winter noctuid that arrived in UK in 2011, colonised here in 2018. Population has slowly risen since but local area remains its only stronghold in Herts.
@bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth
Povolnya leucapennella
Povolnya leucapennella last Friday in Bengeo, associated with evergreen oaks such as Holm Oak (Quercus ilex). Very scarce species in Herts. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth
Lovely species. Very restricted distribution in Herts associated with gravel or sometimes on chalk. Have recorded it once at Kings Meads & often at Waterford Heath, former gravel pit where it is surprisingly common.
Ectophasia crassipennis female?
Good record. Nocturnal species that seems to be recorded mostly from light traps. Distribution appears to be very patchy with few hotspots.
Super shot of Goldcrest. Possibly braconid wasp but not really able to make out enough detail of prey item.
Tasgius ater
Beetles found indoors:
Tasgius ater found last night by my wife, large (16mm) staphylinid predator of woodlice. Originally coastal species that has spread inland in last seventy years. Commonest Tasgius in garden. #Staphylinidae
Lovely female.
Sargus bipunctatus female
Sargus bipunctatus female showing red & blue abdomen
Sargus bipunctatus female showing small discal cell on wings
Soldierflies are much less well known than hoverflies but some species are highly colourful.
Sargus bipunctatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, large attractive woodland species & last soldierfly to appear during year. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #Stratiomyidae
Three records in garden, much less common here than quadripustulatus.
Acrocerids are amazing. Two records of A.orbiculus from Kings Meads nr Hertford, 4th & 23rd July. 1st record was found by @britishbugs.bsky.social.
Agrilus olivicolor
Agrilus olivicolor is Carpinus specialist. 1st recorded in UK in 2016, colonised Hornbeams here in Bengeo garden in 2018.
Kings Meads, local wetland to Hertford, is county stronghold for species where it is abundant. Elsewhere in Herts, it is rare.
Hard-hitting quote from RSPB nails it! markavery.info/2025/10/14/r...
Planning Bill amendments #poorprocess #legislativechaos #noclarity #cynical #planningshambles
Myathropa florea male
Every October without fail, hoverfly Myathropa florea ♂ start landing on my head on sunny days. Their buzz is very distinctive & with little coaxing they can be persuaded to stay long enough on my hat to be photographed. Today in Bengeo garden.
One of the most incredible WTF!! moments I have witnessed in 41 years birding Belvide. 8 White-rumped Sandpiper on the north shore between 4pm-5.30pm. Just short of a British Record of 11 on the outer Hebrides. Thought I'd lost the plot when I saw them. Still pinching myself. #UKbirding
Warm weather can produce some good wall records. Had 5 species of Hemiptera here on wall yesterday including Rhopalus parumpunctatus, Leptoglossus occidentalis & this pine leafhopper, Grypotes puncticollis.
Adonis Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)
Adonis Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata) today in Bengeo garden. @ukladybirds.bsky.social @andrew-jewels.bsky.social
