Monday, December 31, 2018

Horsey Corner - Happy New Year to you all

Still beavering away at some tubes, plus a few additions for things I've seen this year but hadn't added them to the list, so now over 2,100 species. I reckon I've got over a hundred new species still to identify, mainly but not exclusively parasitic hymenoptera and micro-moths that need dissecting, so the final total could be in excess of 2,200.

Favourite sightings of the year? Well, I know you've seen these photos before, but the sightings of Swallowtail butterflies in my garden (one in June and one in August) were stunning, what fabulous creatures.



Here are the latest additions for the year:

2083 Tenthredopsis litterata Hymenoptera Symphyta
2084 Empis stercorea Diptera Empididae
2085 Triarthria setipennis Diptera Tachinidae
2086 Operophtera brumata Lepidoptera:moths Winter Moth
2087 Falco columbarius Birds Merlin
2088 Syntormon bicolorellum Diptera Dolichopodidae
2089 Cetema neglectum Diptera Chloropidae
2090 Notiophilus palustris Coleoptera Carabidae
2091 Chlorops planifrons Diptera Chloropidae
2092 Ramonda spathulata Diptera Tachinidae
2093 Lasioglossum minutissimum Hymenoptera Least Furrow Bee
2094 Anobium punctatum Coleoptera Ptinidae
2095 Hydrotaea militaris Diptera Muscidae
2096 Javesella dubia Hemipteroids Delphacidae
2097 Argyra argentina Diptera Dolichopodidae
2098 Platycheirus peltatus Diptera Syrphidae
2099 Lumbricus terrestris Annelid Worms Common Earthworm
2100 Tetragnatha extensa Arachnids Spider
2101 Bryum capillare Bryophytes Capillary Thread-moss
2102 Phragmidium violaceum Fungi Rust fungus on Rubus
2103 Cyphon hilaris Coleoptera Scirtidae
2104 Opomyza florum Diptera Opomyzidae
2105 Agriphila selasella Lepidoptera:moths Pale-streak Grass-veneer
2106 Eucosma hohenwartiana Lepidoptera:moths Bright Bell

Friday, December 28, 2018

Last update for 2018

Finished the year at Thorne on 1009 species. I am certainly happy with that but hope to do even better next year.

Next year I plan to do the Thorne square again plus a square near Bridport, SY 46 93.

Hopefully a few more people will attempt the challenge and if you are keen on Pan Species Listing really looking hard, at everything, in just one square adds a surprising amount of new species. At Thorne this year 148 of the 1009 species were PSL lifers for example.

Finally good to meet up with all the other challengers earlier this year, and thanks to Andy for hosting the webpage.

Hope you all have a fantastic 2019.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Dalgety Bay - that Ot-ter do it

Seasons greetings to all!

As my working year draws swiftly to a close I'm going to sign off on 2018. Preparations are well under way for two squares in 2019.

I shall be visiting my old and most faithful patch Cullaloe (Cul-LA-loe) Reservoir SWT reserve - blog: Cataloguing Cullaloe. I hope to get to 1500 there partially since I know where a lot of the stuff is already. I'll be looking to add a couple of 100 species to the list though, especially since I didn't really do flies there before.

I'll also be throwing in my number one vismigging site at Inverkeithing - blog: Divit Watch. Inverkeithing is known locally as The Divit, no idea why! It's much closer to my work and accessible more easily at lunchtimes. I've seen some cracking things there before including the below otter, Leach's Petrel, Pilot Whales (the latter not in the square though).

So I'll declare at 1404, and not being really competition inclined I won't make any attempt to get past 1407 until I can do it properly - my Cullaloe target will be 1500. If I do come across a waxwing I'll add it, though it may be next year before I can (out of office).

It's been a lot of fun and particularly our meeting on Skye. Everyone made it over 1000 and as for Tim's total it gave me that Andy Murray feeling - I could only "win" if the proper good players were injured! Well played, everyone.

Here's an old favourite from Inverkeithing:


Until next time!

Numbers:
1400 * fungus Ascochyta pseudacorus A pyrenomycete fungus
1401 fungus Xylaria longipes Dead Moll's Fingers
1402 lep-moth Epiritta dilutata November Moth
1403 * fungus Plagiostoma inclinata A fungus
1404 * flowering plant Ilex x altaclerensis Highclere Holly

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Oh you pretty things...

A few nice little flies ID'd recently, plus more rummaging about in tubes.

One of the things I've been pleased about is the number of hymenoptera recorded in the square this year, now up to 160 species. However, I do have at a guess another 50 species of parasitic hymenoptera awaiting identification. This will take a significant amount of time and effort as they are largely new to me, and I'm a bit trepidatious as to how many will ever be identified. Still, I thought that about diptera a couple of years ago and the clouds of unknowing have dissipated with many of them, so I live in hope.

Rivellia syngenesiae

Hybos culiciformis

Pipunculus tenuirostris

2064 Quedius fumatus Coleoptera Staphylinidae
2066 Enochrus quadripunctatus Coleoptera Hydrophilidae
2067 * Phaonia serva Diptera Muscidae
2068 * Platypalpus optivus Diptera Hybotidae
2069 * Sphaerophoria taeniata Diptera Syrphidae
2070 * Ornithomya avicularia Diptera Hippoboscidae
2071 Paracorixa concinna Hemipteroids Lesser Water Boatman sp.
2072 * Pipunculus tenuirostris Diptera Pipunculidae
2073 * Hybos culiciformis Diptera Hybotidae
2074 * Paracoenia fumosa Diptera Ephydridae
2075 * Chrysopa commata RSO Lacewing
2076 Hercostomus nigriplantis Diptera Dolichopodidae
2077 Rivellia syngenesiae Diptera Signal-fly
2078 * Scolytus rugulosus Coleoptera Curculionidae: Scolytus
2079 Diodontus minutus Hymenoptera Pemphredoninae
2080 * Mycophaga testacea Diptera Anthomyiidae
2081 * Passaloecus corniger Hymenoptera Crabronidae
2082 Pemphredon lugubris Hymenoptera Crabronidae

Friday, December 7, 2018

Dalgety Bay - not quite done yet

After a long session of rain some fungi have started to emerge, allowing me to take my PSL list to 600. I was doubtful about the Leucoagaricus but fortunately finding it coincided with meeting a friend who was able to verify it. It's more of a greenhouse species so to find it growing outside in Scotland is a decent record.

So I should make 1400 tonight with a following wind

Leucoagaricus badhamii - Blushing Dapperling
Pluteus salicinus - microscope pic of cystidia

Numbers:
1393 fungus Coprinopsis lagopus Hare's Foot Inkcap
1394 mollusc Deroceros reticulatum  Netted Field Slug
1395 fungus Lepista nuda Wood Blewit
1396 fungus Mycena vitilis Snapping Bonnet
1397 * fungus Pluteus salicinus A mushroom
1398 * fungus Leucoagaricus badhamii Blushing Dapperling
1399 fungus Cantharellus cibarius Chanterelle