Solar Eclipse

Incredibly, just as the solar eclipse today was at its maximum a cloud passed in front of the sun. I grabbed my camera and pointed it through the widow of my living room, didn't even have to get off the sofa! A bit blown out but I only had a few seconds. Last photo shows a sunspot too.

Large Scabious Mining Bee on Salisbury Plain

Back in July I went looking for the Large Scabious Mining Bee - Andrena hattorfiana on Salisbury Plain. A bee which as its name suggests is mainly to be found on scabious flowers from which it collects pollen. The pollen of scabious is pink which gives the pollen brushes a very attractive and distinctive appearance. Once again I managed to see my target species (plus others) within a few yards of where we parked the car. For a while though I thought I was going to have to go home empty handed because every site I had planned to visit was out of bounds due to a large military training exercise. Eventually just as we were about to give up and go home, the trackway we wanted to drive down was reopened so we parked up and I was able to get some nice shots. We had just gone on spec to take advantage of the lovely sunny weather but in hindsight we should have gone at the weekend when the army normally aren't training. For plant hunting I used to go at 5am but that's not going to work very well for bees!

Female Large Scabious Mining Bee - Andrena hattorfiana

Here seen on the same flower-head as another scabious specialist the Scabious Longhorn Moth

Scabious Longhorn - Nemophora metallica
 

Orange Vented Mason Bee - Osmia leaiana

Essex Skipper - Thymelicus lineola

The Maer, Exmouth

During July last year I made a couple of visits to The Maer in Exmouth to look for solitary bees and other inverts. It's an ideal spot for me as I only have to walk a few steps from the car to be ensconced among the dunes with only the wildlife for company. Apart from the odd couple of folks cutting through on their way to the beach it's extremely peaceful, even though, said beach is only a few metres away. Unfortunately no habitat shots again, but the following are the species I captured. 

Silvery Leafcutter Bee - Megachile leachella

 They nest in dense aggregations in the dunes. Males (above) have conspicuous bright green eyes.The females can be seen carrying rolled pieces of leaf and often land, seemingly to rest. Sometimes whilst resting they are accosted by a male and are forced to drop their leaf cutting in the ensuing tussle. They then appear to abandon this piece, as I watched for a good while and the dropped pieces were never retrieved. They must have to go and cut a fresh one. Exhausting work I'm sure!

Female about to be accosted by a male.

Females carrying variously coloured pieces of  leaves and petals.

Coast Leafcutter Bee - Megachile maritima

Female excavating her nest.

Pantaloon Bee - Dasypoda hirtipes

Males

Females 

 

 

Large Sharp-tail Bee - Coelioxyis conoidia

These were the first Sharp-tail Bees I've ever seen. I was lucky enough to see both male and female. They are a parasitic bee the host species being the Coast Leafcutter Bee.

 

Males

 

Females

Other Inverts

Bee Wolf - Philanthus triangulum. With male Pantaloon Bee (above)

Dune Villa - Villa modesta

Dune Robberfly - Philonicus albiceps
 

Coastal Silver Stiletto - Acrosathe annulata