Insects Abundant

The day was overcast but still held the warmth of the last few days. This had helped with the moth trapping as a fairly respectable number was caught for us to identify. We have a great team of folk identifying the moths, which later on in the year can take most of the day as it is not unusual to have over 150 species.

Highlights of the moths were a Scalloped Hazel, alas it escaped before a photo could be taken, however a Pebbled Prominent is always worth a look.

and Pine Beauty

There was no rain which made the precision measuring out of the stone circle on the moorland fairly pleasurable. Marsh Valerian was fairly prominent .

Onthe route back we observed numerous insects feeding on the Blackthorn flowers that lined our route.

The St Marks Fly with its large dangling legs were fairly numerous trying to mate during their brief time as an adult. These flies are very easy to sex, and could be totally different flies if you were unknowing. The male has large eyes and clear wings

The larger female a smaller head and smokey wings

These flies normally are on the wing around the 25th April, St Marks Day, having spent nearly a year as a larva in the soil feeding on rotting vegetation. Once mated the female lays her eggs in the soil and soon after dies having spent no more than two weeks on the wing.

There are plenty of insects about at present, almost as if they are trying to make up for lost time due to the recent cold wet weather.

Thank you to the moth team today.