Green Bug response

Response to Annies question about the green bug. I am no expert on this group but there is a photo in the Collins "Complete British Insects" of a similar bug that is commonly found feeding on ripening seeds and flowers. It is called Stenotus binotatus and as hinted in the name, it has a pair of black dots on the pronotum.

Hope this helps, Jon

Oil beetle identification response

In response to Annie's Oil beetle question, I think that it is M. proscaberous we get round here. There is a Key to oil beetles in British Wildlife vol14 october 2002. Have you got it?

jon

June

Pembrokshire
I found a few Dark Green Fritillaries towards the end of June on the coast path between Trefasser Cross and Strumble head. Also some metallic green moths about the size of the common blue butterfly. I think they may be foresters has anyone else seen them?
Ceredigion- butterflies
Meadow browns and ringlets are fairly numerous on the transects I monitor inspite of bad summers in 2007,2008. Skippers and common blues are around but few in number, small tortoiseshells, peacocks and small coppers are rare this year. Maybe the second flight season will be better.
Moths
poplar hawkmoths, privit hawkmoths and elephant hawkmoths have all been in the trap in June.
Also lychnis, silverground carpet, white banded and garden carpets, brimstones, phoenix, pebble prominent, blood veins, buff and white ermines. small magpie, poplar grey, green and grey arches, coxcomb prominent and willow beauties.

What are these bugs?

These bugs were feeding on knapweed. Anyone know what they are? Or more importantly, where do I go to start trying to identify them? Those illustrated in my insect book don't have green eyes or black dots on the pronotum.

Annie

I've seen lots of oil beetles on the coast between St Justinians' and Porth Taflod this year. I'd assumed from the bright blue-purple colour that they were Meloe violaceous, but are they? The NBN map doesn't show them in Pembrokeshire, but does show some records of M proscarabaeus. How do I identify them? I have some photos.

Annie

Coastal bees etc

Lots of solitary bees along the coast enjoying the early seasson warmth. Species included
Andrena cineraria
A. ovatula
A. scotica
A. thoracica
Nomada goddeniana
N. fabriciana
Sphecodes monilicornis
Halictus tumulorum etc etc..........

Of interest was the numerous oil beetle larvae (triungulins) found clinging to various species of Nomada bees. Good info on Oil beetles and their bizzare life cycle at http://www.buglife.org.uk/discoverbugs/knowledge/typesofinvertebratesbyhabitat/terrestrial/oilbeetles.htm

For all bee, wasp and ant info take a look at http://www.bwars.com/

Numerous small copper butterflies on the wing, near Solva.

Orthoptera etc

First sighting of a Silver Y moth on Pen Dinas (Solva) today.Also first instars of Grey Bush cricket and (probably) Meadow grasshopper. Lots of Podalonia hirsuta (Shecid Wasps) too.
Oil beetle (Meloe violaceus) and dozens of Bloody nosed beetles.