Colin Booker and I visited Carlton Marsh nature reserve today. It was my first visit and I was impressed by the range of things to be seen.
Golden bloomed grey longhorn beetle (Agapanthia villosoviridescens)
Early in the walk, we found a golden-bloomed grey longhorn beetle – minus one horn (antenna) – on hogweed. This is the second species of longhorn beetle that I have seen in one week and it may be an indication of how these species are expanding their ranges northwards.
Cheilosia illustrata
Another insect seen was a large hoverfly, for which my suggested identification is Cheilosia illustrata.
Fly killed by Entomophthora fungus
We also spotted a fly, on the underside of a leaf, which had been infected by an Entomophthora fungus. This fungus causes the fly to change its behaviour so that it walks up a plant. It then dies but it doesn’t fall from the plant because fungal hyphae grow from its feet to attach it to the plant. Spores of the fungus are then carried away on the breeze.
Mignonette (Roseda lutea) & musk mallow (Malva moschata)
There was a wide range of plant species to be seen.
Wild carrot (Daucus carota)
Wild carrot is a common plant but the flower head is very attractive when viewed closely.
Greater knapweed (Centauria scabiosa)