Bug

Spring has been cold and slow to warm up. An early Cuckoo at the community woodland was a welcome surprise and a small hirundine movement on 19th included all three species. The occasional flock of Pink-feet are heard and/or seen heading north. Moth trapping has been very slow and unspectacular with just Water Carpet as additional to the year. Most of the time its been just too cold to bother.

Water Carpet

However, interesting things have been found. The vane traps, still unmodified, I must sort out the rain protection, have produced a few interesting beetles.

Epuraea melanocephala and  fore tibia for ID feature

 

Melinopterus prodromus, there's an improved key in Duff. A surprise was that this species can be so much larger than M. sphacelatus, by at least 1mm. This image shows the notoriously awkward to see 8th stria well. A trick with these is to put them in liquid as the pale/orange rear edge to the pronotum will then show up well. However, I always think there is a difference in the pores on the pronotum which is a quick clue to the beetles identity.

Anacaena globulus

It's unsurprising I'm catching Aphodines as there are horses in a nearby field to one of the community woodland traps and at home there are plenty of Red and Roe Deer, frequently in view from the house in the evening. I've caught M. sphacelatus and Agrilinus ater as well.

 Anyway, to cut to the chase the star beast was found making its way across the kitchen floor by Louise.

Eremocoris abietis

One large (hard to see) and several smaller spines on fore femur.

Hairs on the hind tibia shorter than the width of the tibia.

 There are twenty records of this Highland specialty bug on the NBN (perhaps only 13 accepted) - this record has already been verified. Heck of a good find for the kitchen floor. The kitchen is proving to be a seriously effective trap for rare species.

Friends appeared from north and we went for a walk around the community woodland in the afternoon. Standing by one of the small pools and a beast from the deep appeared on the surface.

Newt sp -  Lissotriton

Lissotriton newts are tricky to identify, ideally you have to see the throat and if it is spotted or not. There was no choice, insect net was deployed and with a quick dip a newt was captured.

No spots on the throat = Lissotriton helveticus Palmate Newt.

 As a bonus the net was full of Ampullaceana balthica Wandering Snail, which I'd not seen before and was new for the CCW.

I'm still doing some botany. The list of common species I've never recorded  is fairly shocking, Harrap's book is helping but an attempt to download a plant list for a tetrad around home was unsuccessful, I need to read the BSBI instructions most likely.

Latest common plant to be added is...

Ceratium globeratum Sticky Mouse-ear

 Also found Gooseberry growing out in the wild, a good way from any garden. Currently puzzling over various small Cruciferae species....