Hannah Breach
@hannahbreach
Naturalist. Norfolk. Mostly wandering about looking at invertebrates with Kevin Radley (in which case all photos his) or observing the creatures in my garden.
Nice to see these almost full grown Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) cats a couple of days ago in Surlingham, feeding on Oak. #teammoth
We often see the larvae whilst in the Broads but rarely the imago so it was nice to bump into this Drinker (Euthrix potatoria) near Barton Turf at the weekend. With Garden Tiger numbers in steep decline I wonder if Drinker cats are an increasingly large part of some Cuckoos' diets. #norfolkmoths
A little cloud of braconids emerged from the two Small Tortoiseshell larvae I posted photos of on 14th. From what I have been able to find out Cotesia vanessae appears to be the most likely species, fitting with the host species and the rather fluffy cocoons. #parasitoid
Red-tipped Clearwing (Synanthedon formicaeformis) nectaring on the Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) today, which is growing in profusion in the garden this year. There are definitely fewer butterflies and bees on the flowers this year though compared with previous ones. #teammoth
Traffic jam on Milk-parsley. The smaller larva is a 4th instar preparing to moult was unlikely to move out of the way in a hurry. #swallowtail #norfolkbutterflies
At both ends of the colour scale; lots white Marsh Thistle (Cirsium palustre) and the rich yellow of Greater Bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris) which was growing in a dried up 'pool' in the Ant Valley. #wildflowerhour
Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) cats which have apparently been parasitized. I am assuming it is the work of a parasitic wasp, not seen these weird cotton wool-like cocoons before. If anyone has any ideas please share! Hopefully whatever it is will soon emerge. #smalltortoiseshell #parasitoids
Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) larva freshly moulted to 4th instar. When we passed by again about an hour later it had eaten its exuviae and turned the much darker 'normal' 4th instar colours.
After a couple of good years in my garden Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) sightings have been few and far between here this so lovely to see this very fresh individual. Photo K. Radley #UKbutterflies
A rare sighting! Verified as Trogus lapidator — the specialist ichneumonid parasitoid of the Swallowtail butterfly — by Dr Mark Shaw (NMS). We spotted this individual at How Hill on 30 June. #parasitoid #swallowtail
Our first Willow Emerald (Chalcolestes viridis) of the year today at a Yare Valley site that reliably produces our first of the season year after year! #damselfly
A sad end for one of the Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) larvae we'd been observing. From what we've seen it appears to be a common occurrence for larvae feeding on Hemlock (Conium maculatum) to succumb to invertebrate predators even in the 5th instar as this individual.
One of the Swallowtails (Papilio machaon) we've been observing on Hemlock (Conium maculatum) progressing well having avoided the many predators that stalk that food plant. #hemlock
Behind with my posting; we saw this Banded General (Stratiomys potamida) and a Large White (Pieris brassicae) last weekend, both making use of Hemlock! #soldierfly #pupa
One of a couple of Reed Dagger (Simyra albovenosa) larvae we saw yesterday in the Ant Valley. #teammoth
At a different site to those we've found previously this year, a 3rd instar Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) larva feeding in a Hemlock (Conium maculatum) flowerhead. Seen at the weekend. #hemlock
Something I do like about towns is the 'weeds'. ?Shaggy Soldier (Galinsoga quadriradiata) and Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis) in Beccles today, nice to see a number of nooks and crannies left 'untidied up'. We've tried and failed to get Ivy-leaved Toadflax going in the garden
Tell-tale signs even from afar on this Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) of Mullein (Cucullia verbasci) larvae. These were in a lovely church yard the Yare Valley, today I also found some feeding on Verbascum chaixii in the garden. #norfolkmoths
This Musk Beetle (Aromia moschata) kindly landed right in front of us. We only see one or two a year so it's always a thrill to see one! #beetle
Red-tipped Clearwing (Synanthedon formicaeformis) spotted today in the Yare Valley. #norfolkmoths #clearwing
One of the surviving Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) eggs found on Hemlock (Conium maculatum) hatched today. It took over 12 days to develop which is a little longer than 'normal' as a result of the recent cool temperatures.
Pretty sure this is a male Splayed Deerfly (Chrysops caecutiens), it hadn't occurred to me until today that I've never seen one in the garden before! There's certainly not usually a shortage of the female of the species... #diptera
Two Longhorn Beetles seen today in the Yare Valley. Leptura quadrifasciata and perhaps the more frequently seen Rutpela maculata. #beetle
A fuzzy phone photo I took yesterday but thought these Meadow Plant Bug (Leptopterna dolabrata) looking very fetching gathered together the flowerhead. #miridae
A 24-spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata) gets my vote for the cutest beetle larva! There were hundreds of these larvae last year at this site but we've only seen a handful this year. #ukladybird
Another day of sunshine & showers. A few creatures seen today on a meander about Surlingham & Rockland St. Mary. Comma (Polygonia c-album) larva, Chrysotoxum bicinctum (Two-banded Spearhorn), Red-eyed Damselfly (Erythromma najas) and Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata) #invertebrates
Sicus ferrugineus (Ferruginous Bee-grabber). Seen today in the garden in the sunshine between showers. A male I believe from the relatively shorter abdomen. #diptera
Kevin found this pair of Hornet Moths (Sesia apiformis) this morning when checking our favourite Poplar tree. Can't say I'm not just a little bit jealous! #norfolkmoths #teammoth
The outline of this Glyphipterix fuscoviridella (Woodrush Moth) from a distance looked uncannily like a bat dropping it was resting by on shed window with until I took a closer look! #teammoth