Simon Knott

Black-spotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginosa)

Black-spotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginosa) from Tuesday night in Bengeo. True winter noctuid that arrived in UK in 2011, colonised here in 2018. Population has slowly risen since but local area remains its only stronghold in Herts.
@bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth

Povolnya leucapennella

Povolnya leucapennella last Friday in Bengeo, associated with evergreen oaks such as Holm Oak (Quercus ilex). Very scarce species in Herts. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth

Lovely species. Very restricted distribution in Herts associated with gravel or sometimes on chalk. Have recorded it once at Kings Meads & often at Waterford Heath, former gravel pit where it is surprisingly common.

Ectophasia crassipennis female?

Good record. Nocturnal species that seems to be recorded mostly from light traps. Distribution appears to be very patchy with few hotspots.

Super shot of Goldcrest. Possibly braconid wasp but not really able to make out enough detail of prey item.

Tasgius ater

Beetles found indoors:

Tasgius ater found last night by my wife, large (16mm) staphylinid predator of woodlice. Originally coastal species that has spread inland in last seventy years. Commonest Tasgius in garden. #Staphylinidae

Lovely female.

Sargus bipunctatus female

Sargus bipunctatus female showing red & blue abdomen

Sargus bipunctatus female showing small discal cell on wings

Soldierflies are much less well known than hoverflies but some species are highly colourful.

Sargus bipunctatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, large attractive woodland species & last soldierfly to appear during year. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #Stratiomyidae

Three records in garden, much less common here than quadripustulatus.

Acrocerids are amazing. Two records of A.orbiculus from Kings Meads nr Hertford, 4th & 23rd July. 1st record was found by @britishbugs.bsky.social.

Agrilus olivicolor

Agrilus olivicolor is Carpinus specialist. 1st recorded in UK in 2016, colonised Hornbeams here in Bengeo garden in 2018.

Kings Meads, local wetland to Hertford, is county stronghold for species where it is abundant. Elsewhere in Herts, it is rare.

Hard-hitting quote from RSPB nails it! markavery.info/2025/10/14/r...

Planning Bill amendments #poorprocess #legislativechaos #noclarity #cynical #planningshambles

Myathropa florea male

Every October without fail, hoverfly Myathropa florea ♂ start landing on my head on sunny days. Their buzz is very distinctive & with little coaxing they can be persuaded to stay long enough on my hat to be photographed. Today in Bengeo garden.

One of the most incredible WTF!! moments I have witnessed in 41 years birding Belvide. 8 White-rumped Sandpiper on the north shore between 4pm-5.30pm. Just short of a British Record of 11 on the outer Hebrides. Thought I'd lost the plot when I saw them. Still pinching myself. #UKbirding

Warm weather can produce some good wall records. Had 5 species of Hemiptera here on wall yesterday including Rhopalus parumpunctatus, Leptoglossus occidentalis & this pine leafhopper, Grypotes puncticollis.

Adonis Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata)

Adonis Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata) today in Bengeo garden. @ukladybirds.bsky.social @andrew-jewels.bsky.social

Three records of Phaeostigma notata in garden including two this year. Xanthostigma xanthostigma is much commoner here & is recorded annually. Also single record of Atlantoraphidia maculicollis below Scots Pine. Nearly all records follow windy weather when snakeflies are displaced from canopy.

Yes, but tall deep bushes are able to survive.

In 2019, had one spend three weeks in garden on Box.

Leopoldius calceatus female

Leopoldius calceatus female

Its host is unknown but its dramatic range expansion coinciding with Ivy season is very similar to that of Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae). Perhaps there is a connection?

Leopoldius calceatus female

Leopoldius calceatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, dark wasp-mimic conopid parasitoid & very recent arrival in UK (2018).

All three species of Leopoldius have now been recorded here. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

Plenty of Ectemnius, Cerceris etc here. Local former quarry is full of Mellinus, garden despite sandy soil is perhaps too wooded for species.

Mellinus arvensis female

Mellinus arvensis female

Mellinus arvensis ♀ today in Bengeo garden, common large late Summer solitary wasp that preys on flies. Associated with sandy places & 1st record here.

Plumed Fan-foot (Pechipogo plumigeralis) female

Recorded 1st Plumed Fan-foot (Pechipogo plumigeralis) male in Bengeo recently. However tonight this almost pristine female turned up in sitting room. With Ivy (Hedera helix) as one of its hosts plants, species is likely to expand its range rapidly. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth

Small range of plants locally more reminiscent of Breckland including Anthriscus caucalis, Filago minima & Potentilla argentea.

Rhopalus parumpunctatus

Warm nights lead to dispersal of scarce invertebrates.

Rhopalus parumpunctatus on Friday night in Bengeo garden, rhopalid bug associated with dry sandy soils. Curiously zone immediately north of Hertford already supports small range of Breckland species. @britishbugs.bsky.social #attractedtolight

Your find at Kimpton in 2014, of course, was 1st in Herts since 1940.

Annual here to light since 2018, typically in August or late July. Coincided with their reappearance in Herts after 70 year absence.