Ground beetles, common blue butterfly and other species that that visited Old Weston in July 2009
Birds
One new bird species recorded for the year, a Whinchat passing through having finished breeding. There were few other highlights but these included regular sightings of Hobbies causing local swallows and house martins to panic, the first large flock of Lapwings to arrive on the 17th and an unusual record of four Sand Martins heading south into a strong head wind.
Insect life
In activity was much in evidence this month thanks to the warm humid weather.
The last week of the month saw the result of the painted lady invasion earlier in the year, a large emergence of a fresh batch of adults. These individuals, unlike the original invaders, have strong vibrant colours. Other species of butterflies have appeared in good numbers. Red Admirals at last have become reasonably numerous. Marbled Whites are just hanging on with only three individuals recorded.
Marbled White Butterfly
Small Copper butterflies are regularly recorded locally in small numbers although, nationally, a widespread and common species.
Small Copper Butterfly
Common Blues have had a good year locally with numbers seen often in double figures.
Mating Common Blue Butterflies
There were numerous sightings of dragonflies and damselflies. The photo of Banded Demoiselle damselflies shows the typical heart mating position. The female, the lower green specimen, arches her abdomen up and forwards to join to the males abdomen just behind the thorax where he had previously deposited a packet of sperm. During this process the male clasps the female between her head and thorax.
Banded demoiselle
Beetles can be found in almost any habitat feeding on a wide range of substrates. Many can be seen on flowers feeding on pollen.
Oedemera nobilis feeding on ragwort
The above species feeds on pollen as an adult but the larvae are wood borers.
Violet Ground Beetle
Violet ground beetles are usually a nocturnal species which hide under stones and wood during the day. Ground beetles are carnivorous and run around on the ground hunting for worms and slugs.
