AJCann

Ey up mi duck

#Birds #Lestah

Entomology Update - February 2026 February was a varied month, spring-like at times but mostly wet. I didn't get out much but made some interesting finds when I did.  Culture...

Entomology Update - February 2026
February was a varied month, spring-like at times but mostly wet. I didn't get out much but made some interesting finds when I did.
Learn more: ajcarthropoda.blogspot.com/2026/03/ento...
#Leicester #Leicestershire #environment #nature

Barn Owl and a Carrion Crow

Photo of the Month February 2026
The NatureSpot Photo of the Month for February is this image of a Barn Owl and a Carrion Crow, taken by NatureSpot contributor Marian Markham. Learn more: www.naturespot.org/node/264952
#Birds #Leicester #Leicestershire #Rutland #nature #UKWildlife

Pteromalidae, but I'm not sure beyond that.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Stenomalina, possibly S. gracilis ... ?

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Quantifying the unquantifiable: why Hymenoptera, not Coleoptera, is the most speciose animal order We challenge the oft-repeated claim that the beetles (Coleoptera) are the most species-rich order of animals. Instead, we assert that another order of insects, the Hymenoptera, is more speciose, due in large part to the massively diverse but ...

“…if the micro-hymenopterists would get off their lazy asses and start describing species, there would be more micro-Hymenoptera than there are Coleoptera.”
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

All the scales look too healthy :-)

Can't find any in the garden, but drowning in Lichtensia viburni, although none of them seem parasitised.
This is interesting:
bsky.app/profile/norw...

Coccus hesperidum?
Would be good to get some males.

Microterys hortulanus female

Microterys hortulanus frontovertex

Microterys hortulanus ovipositor

Another day, another Microterys hortulanus - from a different site. This thing is clearly here in good numbers.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Bristly Ladybird, Rhyzobius lophanthae

The Bristly Ladybirds, Rhyzobius lophanthae, have survived the wet winter and are still kicking around in the conifers in good numbers.

#Beetles #Coleoptera #VC55 #OlympusTG6

Thanks! :-)

Pretty similar! Ovipositor not exserted (tessellatus) vs. hardly exserted (hortulanus).

I think this is right for M. hortulanus?

@arnoldtortoise.bsky.social

Thank you!

(Just as well, I managed to lose the single specimen, only a lone antennea remaining in the dish!)

It's white all round, so OK for Microterys tricoloricornis?

Second could be Microterys hortulanus??
@arnoldtortoise.bsky.social

Microterys tricoloricornis?

Microterys spp.

A little Microterys help please?
I think the first is Microterys tricoloricornis - F4-6 pale?
Second one - Unsure F5-6 pale - ??
@arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

I've not tortured myself with the species.

Telenomus spp. solitary wasp

Telenomus spp. solitary wasp on tip of a pencil for scale

Telenomus spp.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Scelionidae

Epiclerus panyas female

Epiclerus panyas female

Epiclerus panyas

#wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Tetracampidae

Cyrtogaster vulgaris female

Cyrtogaster vulgaris female

Cyrtogaster vulgaris

"I have rarely found any other Chalcidoid (except Cyrtogaster vulgaris) hibernating in grass."
Graham, M.D.V. (1969) The pteromalidae of north-western Europe (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Under Callitula bicolor, p 461.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Fairy Wasps, Ooctonus vulgatus females, Mymaridae

Female Fairy Wasp, Ooctonus vulgatus, Mymaridae, on match head for scale.

Bring on the dancing fairies

First I'm gonna make it
And then I'm gonna break it 'til it falls apart

Fairy Wasps, Ooctonus vulgatus.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Mymaridae

Sadly the Pholcus ate them all, now locally extinct.

Please keep a look out for Anthocoris visci later in the year.
I have a feeling I can't find it in VC55 is because I can't find Cacopsylla visci.
#Bugs #Hemiptera

Trichomalus repandus Head in dorsal view temples less strongly convergent, and one third or slightly more than one third as long as the eyes ; head about 1-3 times as broad as the mesoscutum. Antennal flagellum testaceous, at least beneath; legs except coxae testaceous; head and thorax tending towards bright green. (Graham, 1969)

Keys out to Trichomalus repandus.
(see alt text). #wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Got as far as Pteromalidae for this one, then stuck.
Help please?

#wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55

Gaster is characteristically flattened dorsally; may be entirely dark but usually with reddish spot in basal half.

Key thing is first couplet in the key - macropterous (C. bicolor) vs brachypterous (C. pyrrhogaster) (happy days!).

Genus Callitula • Antennae inserted low on the face, typically just above the level of the lower eye margins. • Antennal formula: 11353 (1 scape, 1 pedicel, 3 SMALL ANELLI, 5 funicle segments, and a 3-segmented clava). • Pronotum relatively large and collar-like, often nearly as wide as the mesoscutum, giving a "boxy" rectangular shouldered appearance. • Forewing marginal vein is significantly longer than the stigmal vein. Postmarginal vein is also quite long, usually longer than the stigmal vein. • The petiole short and difficult to see, gaster typically ovate and pointed at the apex in females.

Genus Callitula:

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