It has been noted widely in the media that there are far fewer insects around this summer than usual, maybe due to ongoing climate change and almost certainly due to the long, extended, rainy winter. I have noticed the same thing on my meadows, although there have been a few interesting visitors. Going back to late July and coinciding (at last!) with warmer weather, there were lots of Gatekeeper butterflies (Pyronia tithonus) at their peak emergence period. They particularly enjoyed basking on the Oregano (Origanum vulgare).
I also noticed a False oil beetle, probably Oedemera nobilis, on a Small scabious flower (Scabiosa columbaria). I have seen them before - an impressive sight with their shiny, metallic emerald-green colour and the swollen thighs of the male. They feed on pollen and nectar in wildflower-rich grasslands, and I was amazed to find there are over 1000 different species in the Family. This one is actually more coppery-coloured than green, which happens, but I’m just wondering if it could instead be O. flavipes? This is very coppery but more of a European than UK species.
There was also a Hover fly I snapped on a Wild carrot flower head (Daucus carota). I think it is Eristalis nemorum (or interrupta). Apparently there are also very many different types of Hover fly: 6000 species in 200 Genera worldwide. They are sting-less mimics of bees and wasps, mostly feeding on nectar and pollen and are important flower pollinators. A few species eat pests such as aphids and thrips. They are very acrobatic fliers and have the fascinating ability not only to hover completely still in the air, but can also fly backwards.
Photos: 1. False oil beetle, 2. Gatekeeper butterflies mating, 3. Hover fly on Wild carrot.
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