Author Archive
17th August 2011, Wednesday

Out and about in Peasmarsh was a bit of a surprise today first I found an adult Adder sunning itself in an area I have not seen them before. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to get a photo as by the time I had organised myself it slid off into the bushes. However a short time later I found a small group of Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata) They were amongst a group of 7 spot ladybirds and I very nearly missed them. They are a first for me.
Posted in Insects | by Gordon Jarvis
13th August 2011, Saturday

A few weeks ago I found a very small weevil in the woods at Peasmarsh. I couldn’t get a decent photo before I lost it and so I have been keeping an eye open for it. Today I was successful and found a pair mating. I believe they are Curculio sp. possibly C. betulae or C. rubidus.
UPDATE from Ispot: Have compared to specimens and they’re clearly a match for Curculio rubidus (Nationally Scarce (Nb)). C. betulae is similar but would show a much longer rostrum. Both birch species.
Posted in Insects | by Gordon Jarvis
8th July 2011, Friday

After the showers today a short walk in Malthouse wood (near Peasmarsh) revealed a few colourful nymphs of the Bronze Shieldbug (Troilus luridus, above) and a good number of Red Legged Shieldbugs (Pentatoma rufipes). The coppicing carried out during the winter and autumn seems to have attracted a good variety of insects.
Posted in Insects | by Gordon Jarvis
29th June 2011, Wednesday

A few butterflies were showing themselves in Bixley Wood this morning including, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Small Skipper and this rather beautiful White Admiral.
Posted in Butterflies | by Gordon Jarvis
15th May 2011, Sunday

The swollen stems of thistles (galls) made by the larvae of the thistle gall fly are quite a common site but until yesterday I had never seen the fly – a Tephritidae species Urophora cardui. Yesterday I finally found the adult fly whilst I was walking around Beckley woods.
Posted in Insects | by Gordon Jarvis
13th April 2011, Wednesday

Yesterday afternoon I found this rather impressive sawfly in my Peasmarsh Garden. I believe it to be a Cimbicidae species possibly Abia sericea. I haven’t seen one before but whilst trying to identify it I found that I had a photo of a Abia sericea larva in my unidentifed box since last year from Beckley Woods.
Posted in Insects | by Gordon Jarvis
19th March 2011, Saturday

A walk today around Peasmarsh revealed considerable numbers of 7-spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) I counted well over 50 and a couple of Pine Ladybirds (Exochomus quadripustulatus) but the best for me was an Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata). I have found one larva of the eyed ladybird before but this was my first adult. There were a few Comma butterflies about as well.
Posted in Insects | by Gordon Jarvis
12th November 2010, Friday

A walk in the woods this morning in the Beckley area revealed some surprises. A slow-worm crawling across the path, dog violet, primrose and bugle in flower. There were a number of fungi around including two areas where I found Orange Peel fungus (Aleuria aurantia). I don’t think it needs much explanation for its common name.
Posted in Fungi, Reptiles and Amphibians | by Gordon Jarvis
30th October 2010, Saturday

The sun today brought out the Gorse Shieldbugs (Pizodorus lituratus) along the track to the farm at Rye Harbour. I counted about 10.
Posted in Insects, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve | by Gordon Jarvis
9th August 2010, Monday

Sam posted a rather attractive fly recently, now perhaps I can post a rather less attractive looking fly. I believe it’s a ‘Hippoboscidae’ species possibly ‘Ornithomya avicularia’. It is a parasite fly found on birds but in this case found on my wife after a spot of gardening in Peasmarsh…
Posted in Insects | by Gordon Jarvis