Friday, 10 April 2020

COVID19 List - day 18

Saturday 4th April

191. Little Owl Athene noctua - one was calling nearby about 0500 (I was woken by the dog)

192. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris - two calling from trees in the back of the garden, pleasing to get after there had been hundreds nearby for weeks but I thought they'd now all gone for the summer.

193. [A weevil] - Liophloeus tessulatus - a fairly large weevil found in the back garden


194. "Torpedo Sawfly" Nematus lucidus - netted along the drive. This is a common sawfly around hawthorns and similar shrubs. With practice, it is also a distinctive species that does not need to be retained for microscopic examination.



195. [A ground bug] Lygus pratensis - a difficult genus but this seemed to key correctly.

196. [A leaf beetle] Bruchus rufimanus - distinctive beetle, keyed to rule out a few similar species. Feeds on broad bean crops.



197. [A leaf beetle] Longitarsus jacobaeae - small orange beetle, found whilst weeding. Required very close examination to confirm species.

198. [A dung beetle] Aphodius prodromus - a common species in spring, this one found whilst weeding.

199. Primrose Primula vulgaris - a single plant in the back garden

200. Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines - a welcome sign of spring, the males being particularly noticeable. Eggs are laid on Garlic Mustard and Honesty.

201. Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni - another classic spring butterfly. Doesn't breed in the garden as we don't have any buckthorn or alder buckthorn.

202. [A centipede] Lithobius forficatus - a very common large centipede, this one found under a log

203. Common Pill Woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare - very common woodlouse, able to roll itself into a ball. Found under a log.