Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria) x2 & Cydia amplana in Bengeo on Wednesday night. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth

Breckland Plume (Oxyptilus distans) found Tuesday night in Bengeo, really attractive micro. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) ♀ today in Bengeo garden. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Geotrupes spiniger today in Bengeo garden, large beetle associated with cow dung on old grasslands. Until you explore nocturnal fauna by light trapping, one is unaware that such magnificent species are present. @bugmanjones.bsky.social #CommonDumbleDor #Geotrupidae #attractedtolight

Brachycarenus tigrinus today in Bengeo garden, associated with hot, dry, well-drained soils. 1st observed in UK at Battersea in 2003 by @bugmanjones.bsky.social & now spreading northwards. 6th species of rhopalid bug recorded here. @britishbugs.bsky.social @rockwolf74.bsky.social #Rhopalidae

Females are identifiable by combination of enormous size (body length - 20mm, wing length 16mm) & prominent greyish spots on abdomen.

Tabanus autumnalis ♀ today in Bengeo garden, massive horsefly associated with marshland & Herts rarity. Easily largest fly I have seen in garden. 6th tabanid species recorded here. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #Tabanidae

Same happened here in 2025, so this year I protected three out of 30+ Ragwort plants by systematically removing & relocating any caterpillars that appeared on them. Two plants currently in flower & plenty of Heriades truncorum.

As always eyes are fantastic.

Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) ♀ today in Bengeo garden. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Polistichus connexus yesterday in Bengeo garden, really attractive coastal carabid beetle. Once regarded as rare but now disperses on hot July nights & is increasingly recorded at light traps. @carabidaeuk.bsky.social #attractedtolight #climatechange

Chrysopa dorsalis yesterday in Bengeo garden, rare lacewing associated with Pines. One of two green lacewing species with significant darkened markings on head & body. Head pattern distinguishes it from much commoner perla. @kitenet.bsky.social #Neuroptera #attractedtolight

They can play dead which gives a rather different perspective.

Ledra aurita yesterday in Bengeo garden, Britain's largest leafhopper & associated with Oak. Their camouflage is exceptional ensuring their almost complete invisibility in oak foliage.

Oxycera nigricornis ♂ today in Bengeo garden, attractive tiny aquatic soldierfly. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #Stratiomyidae #attractedtolight

Rhyzobius lophanthae found yesterday in Bengeo garden, Herts. 23rd species of Ladybird recorded here. @ukladybirds.bsky.social @andrew-jewels.bsky.social #attractedtolight

Goniglossum wiedemanni appears here every so often & prospers until arrival of Utetes testaceus. After which, G.wiedemanni may disappear & U.testaceus also vanishes. Eventually Goniglossum wiedemanni re-appears & cycle starts over again. This perhaps explains why Goniglossum wiedemanni is scarce.

White Bryony (Bryonia dioica) is special plant with its own bee, ladybird, moth & picture-wing fly. These support other unique species. Utetes testaceus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, braconid wasp parasitoid of Goniglossum wiedemanni, picture-wing fly. @haggewoods.bsky.social @rlewington2.bsky.social

Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) ♀ has recently taken up residence in bone-dry Bengeo garden, note black legs provide easy ID. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) feeding on Buddleia (Buddleja davidii) today in Bengeo garden, now annual visitor here. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

Xylotrechus antilope ♀ from Tuesday night in Bengeo garden, attractive European species of oak longhorn beetle. Recorded here now for last three years & strongly indicative of successful colonisation. @bugmanjones.bsky.social @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social #Cerambycidae #attractedtolight #saproxylic

Nomada zonata ♂ feeding on Bramble (Rubus sp.) today in Bengeo garden. This cuckoo bee, whose host is Andrena dorsata, was 1st recorded in UK in 2016 & has dramatically expanded its range since.

Four species of Volucella today in Bengeo garden: V.bombylans 'plumata' ♂ , V.inflata ♀ , V.pellucens ♀ & V.zonaria ♂. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

Stictoleptura scutellata today in Bengeo garden, magnificent large nationally scarce longhorn beetle. Area between Hertford & Broxbourne Woods is one of their national strongholds. #Cerambycidae

Tabanus bromius ♀ today in Bengeo garden. Her eyes are fantastic but she is horsefly with vicious biting mouthparts able to pierce cow's hide. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) ♀ today in Bengeo garden. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Three species of Volucella enjoying Bramble (Rubus sp.) today in Bengeo garden: V.zonaria ♂, V.inflata ♀+♂ & V.pellucens ♀. Magnificent hoverflies. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) ♂ today in Bengeo garden. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

Chrysops caecutiens ♀ today in Bengeo garden. Females are stunning but they have one objective which is to bite your head & neck. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #SplayedDeerfly

Megastigmus aculeatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, attractive torymid wasp associated with Roses. @arnoldtortoise.bsky.social #RoseSeedChalcid