History two

Sadly my Rhanthus exsoletus record proved to be a mis-identification. I'm not quite sure how it came about, and why I'd rushed to put it on iRecord before it had been verified by BR the Orkney CCR and also how I'd mis-placed the photos. Anyway, one to scrub. At least the Cercyon unipunctatus was found and identified from this lead so one loss, one win.

In searching for the Rhanthus (not) I went through a box of old specimens. These were all identified and had been checked by BR. Back whilst I was still at work many things were done at a bit of a rush and so some of these specimens had not been checked properly after they were returned to me. In amongst a lot of common species which I'm familiar with I found a Limnebius truncatellus and a Hydroporus memnonius. I went back to Friday and keyed these out and then photographed them again. Interestingly, I've subsequently recorded Limnebius truncatellus here at Ross Bank.

Hydroporus memnonius, although there seems to be an issue identifying these to species. It keyed out fine via Friday and in the close up of the elytra you can make out the two rows of larger pores (just).

I then went on to another box of old specimens, pitfall trap catches that had not been sorted. The tube I pulled out was from very productive traps I placed by a dead Rook in our Orkney garden. The usual suspects were discovered, Philonthus marginatus, a very nice Philonthus splendens which I dissected, another Philonthus, a female that was probably P. carbonarius, but I couldn't be certain, Cercyon melanocephalus and then something unfamiliar.

Aedaegus of Philonthus splendens, nails the ID, and not a bad dissection and image.

I knew the mystery beetle was Leiodidae, but this is quite a tricky family, so on the off-chance I ran this tiny beetle through Obsidentify. Sciodrepoides watsoni 100% came the result. It's always easier to work through the key with a species in mind, next stop Mike Hackston's Leiodidae key. It keyed nicely until the last couplet which splits the two UK species of this genus. The antennal criteria seemed clear but on posting to the FB Group CW suggested that the antennal segments feature might not be as reliable as indicated in the key and MS suggested the identification was correct but it is more to do with how the antennae look, more robust, or less so. I decided a dissection was required.

Sciodrepoides watsoni dorsal

Sciodrepoides watsoni ventral

Aedaegus dorsal direct camera image

Aedaegus dorsal view, microscope image.

The aedaegus nailed the ID. 

 

This is the second Orkney record, the first was found in 1977 by Vincent Lorimer (Ian Lorimer's son) near Orphir. Quite a gap of time between the records.

 

I did manage to track down the other Cercyon unipunctatus record (see previous post), the NBN did reveal a bit more information on retrying. B. Poppius found the beetle in Kirkwall sometime between 1800 and 1905. Whilst the species is unmistakable the date is a bit to vague for this to be a useful record I think.

 

The rate at which I'm adding bird species to the patch list has slowed dramatically. Nothing more since the Stonechat and Red-legged Partridge within a few minutes and yards of each other back in early October, until walking back from counting the kite roost in the gloaming the other afternoon a Woodcock flew over my head. Some of the missing species are very surprising, so far no Skylark or Crossbill. However, I have recently discovered that although my hearing is good for Goldcrest and Treecreeper I am missing calling finches flying over, I can't hear them!

 

I don't usually bother to try to identify spiders. The other afternoon, after the community woodland work session I walked up to one of the butterfly orchid sites to talk to folk on site about managing the area for these special plants. Thinking to show people Larch Ladybird I got out the beating tray and banged a few Larch branches. Three quite interesting spiders dropped into the tray. Two turned out to be really excellent Scottish records.

 

Gibbaranea gibbosa, it looks as if there are just six prior Scottish records.

Tetragnatha obtusa, also a pretty decent record for Scotland.

I also found the Anthrocorid bug Acompocoris alpinus which was new for me. Finally, looking at the common moss on this wonderful fallen Salix caprea I realised that the moss was Hypnum andoi rahter than H. cupressiforme, it's down to the shape of the capsule.

 

Hypnum andoi

The fallen but still living Salix caprea (I seem to have mislaid the images of the whole tree.)

I was back at the woodland this afternoon and have a few more  specimens from European Larch, but these were photographed on the spot.

 

Leaf mines of the moth Stigmella aurella on Geum urbanum, I'm more used to seeing this species on Bramble Rubus sp.

Dicrytomina saundersi

Trioza urticae.

 

Ben Chonzie, the snow covered hill to the right, from Comrie Community Woodland.