Tuesday 29th. May 2012

I decided to have a quick look at Spring Park Pond first thing this morning , as it is usually a good spot for Broad Bodied Chasers , one of the dragonfly species found yesterday up on the Ridge . I arrived about 0830 , temperature already 18C , but no sign of any Odonata . I'm afraid that this site has deteriorated as regard species since the pond was first formed , the main problem being introduced vegetation , albeit a notice on the gate asks people not to , clogging the whole thing up , necessitating a yearly clear out of the vegetation , which means that many larvae are pulled out on the mud and roots  , and although left for a time on the side of the pond , do not manage to get back into the pond . I've chatter with the Ranger re. the problem , but there doesn't seem to be much else that can be done , not wanting to use chemicals . But , one group's loss is another's gain , as under the

water was alive with Smooth / Common Newts . I don't think I have ever seen so many at once before , with the males with their raised crests , chasing the non crested females . Every now and

again , an intruded would come on the scene , but the incumbent males usually saw these off . I was hoping to photograph a female laying an egg in a folded blade of grass or the like , but unfortunately didn't manage that . After about an hour , and still no sign of any Broad Bodied Chasers , I decided to see if I could find any on the woodland edge vegetation , which also failed , so I headed for the

small meadow , finding specimens of the Thick-legged Flower Beetle / Oedemera nobilis , only the

males have the thick thighs , and the Red Tipped Flower Beetle / Malachius bipostulatus , on the way . The small meadow was very quiet , but then I saw what I thought was a female BBC , but on chasing it down , proved to be a queen Hornet , same colour abdomen and almost as big . I tried hard

for a shot , but she stayed amongst the dead bracken and bramble . Then , a BBC flew in and landed on a dead stick , the blue abdomen identifying it as a male . A couple of minutes later , and a female

turned up . But , be careful of identifying yellow specimens of this species as females , as all juveniles emerge in this colour , the male's abdomens turning blue as they mature . Walking away

from this female , a splash of red crash landed in the long grass . It turned out to be the day flying

Cinnabar moth , and the answer to the question is yes . Heading back to the pond , I found a Garden

Chafer / Phyllopertha horticola along the way , and patrolling over the pond , at least four male BBCs . I also spotted the exuvia of the species , still gripped to the vegetation that it used to

transform from larva to dragonfly . While watching the males scrapping , a female flew in , and straight away one of the males grabbed her , mated on the wing , and then stayed close whilst she

started laying her eggs , carrying his genes . Each time she dipped her abdomen into the warm , shallow water , she would release a globe shaped egg that should hatch quickly in the warm water .
Whilst egg laying , another male tried to mate with her , but the original male drove him off , and while they were both out of the way , she made her escape . More damselflies were about now too ,

many egg laying in tandem , like these three pairs of Azure Damselfly , and the Dock Bugs / Coreus

marginatus weren't going to be left out of all this procreation business ., tumbling in the bankside vegetation . I found some of last year's stalks of Purple Loosestrife and set three pieces in the bank ,

overhanging the water . As I left the pond all three were occupied , but my favourite perch was this

one , on a soon to open Yellow Flag Iris . Butterflies recorded were Orange Tip , Peacock , Holly Blue , Large and Small White . As I walked across the meadow to the car , Yellow Rattle /

Rhinanthus minor , a semi parasitic plant and member of the Figwort family , had just started to flower .
Now some tidying up from last night's post . Firstly thank you to ShySongbird  who I know spent much time trying to ID the beetles , and putting forward a possible for the second one .
Next , thanks to Phil for IDing the third beetle as the Click Beetle / Athous haemorroidalis , even if we had to put up with his toilet humour , Cheers Phil .
And finally Greg who corrected the ID of my first shot last night as Cryptocephalus aureolus or
C.hypochaerides , not the Mint Beetle I thought it was . Then IDd the red and black beetle in the same family C.bilineatus , only to correct it a few minutes later to C.bipunctatus . I read the first message , Googled the first ID and found a yellow and black beetle . Now , how do I tell Greg that he is wrong ? I thought the only way was to try the professional entomologist who helps when I'm really stuck . He came back with C.bipuntatus or C.biguttatus , both of which are rare , stating it's very difficult to tell them apart . It was only then that I found Greg's amended ID . But the professional also IDd the second beetle as
Dascillus cervinus , so all are now identified . Thank you all for your help , it is very much appreciated , apart from Phils jokes of course .