Another warm afternoon saw me again visit Hillditch Pool to record the dragonflies. Today there were 4 Emperor Dragonflies (3♂ , 1♀) present, the female of which was seen oviposting (egg-laying). A single immature Scarce Chaser was also noted.
♀ Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) oviposting
Another invert of note today was a bumblebee mimic hoverfly called Volucella bombylans. This hoverfly lays it's eggs in the nests of bumblebees and wasps where it's larvae will scavenge for food.
Bumblebee mimic hoverfly (Volucella bombylans)
Saturday 3rd June 2017:
This afternoon I again decided to spend my time at Hillditch Pool. The weather was warm and sunny and a number of butterflies were on show including my first Meadow Brown of the year. Also observed were 2 Large Skippers, 1 Red Admiral and a ♂ Common Blue.
♂ Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus)
There were 3 Emperor Dragonflies (2♂ , 1♀) present and also a ♂ Scarce Chaser. This was my first male of the latter species I had recorded at the site this year. Unlike the orange/brown female Scarce Chaser the male develops a powdery light blue colour (or pruinescence as its known) on it's abdomen.
♂ Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva)
Another insect of note today was a Wasp Beetle that was seen feeding on umbellifer flowers.
Wasp Beetle (Cletus arietis)
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