Insects recorded from Blaxton Common on 8th July 2000
Ordnance Survey 1 km grid square SE6801

ODONATA
Enallagma cyathigerum
Ischnura elegans
Lestes sponsa

DIPTERA
Chrysopilus cristatus (Rhagionidae)
Physocephala rufipes * (Conopidae)
Paragus haemorrhous * (m) (Syrphidae)
Platycheirus scutatus * (m) (Syrphidae)
Episyrphus balteatus (Syrphidae)
Metasyrphus luniger * (f) (Syrphidae)
Syritta pipiens (Syrphidae)

HYMENOPTERA
Priocnemis ?exaltata * (f) (Pompilidae)
Crossocerus sp. * (Sphecidae)
Colletes sp. * (Apidae)

LEPIDOPTERA
Zygaena filipendulae
Epiblema roborana
Lathronympha strigana
Crambus perlella
Agriphila straminella
Homoeosoma sinuella
Thymelicus sylvestris
Pieris napi
Polygonia c-album
Maniola jurtina
Coenonympha pamphilus
Aphantopus hyperantus
Idaea emarginata
Idaea aversata
Camptogramma bilineata
Cabera pusaria
Tyria jacobaeae

(*) Denotes voucher specimen retained

Gavin Boyd

An accompanying letter

11th July 2000

Dear Mr. Marsh,

Attached is a list of the assorted insects which I saw at the Blaxton Common Meeting last Saturday and which I have been able to identify. There are two Hymenoptera for which I can only give the genus, but I’ll save these for Michael Archer to look at. Most of the species on the list are both common and widespread. The only surprise was the minute black Hoverfly (Paragus haemorrhous) which I had never seen before; since it has a body length of only 4 1/2 mm it is very much overlooked. It was only after I had got it pinned and set That I could be certain that it was a Hoverfly at all!

The common is a splendid site; it is only a pity that the weather was not just a little warmer and more sunny.

Yours Sincerely,

Gavin Boyd