Puzzling Insects

Friday June 21

Plans for a day out again stymied by the garden's needs. Adrian arrived at 9.00 to plant out my 70 sweetcorn plants. The kernels freeze very well so it's worth growing two packets of seed. There's also room in the veggie plots as I have cut down on the variety of veg grown. 

Late morning, we decided to try Strumpshaw for butterflies. The sun was out so hopes were high. 

This is a very popular reserve these days but I was still surprised to find all the car parks apparently full. We found a space, crossed the railway line and parked ourselves at the wild flower bed near Reception. 

This bed has a wooden post full of holes, which insects love. We then spent half an hour trying to pohotograph the stunning Ruby-tailed Wasps which appeared for a short while before diving down another hole. What were they up to?

Chrysis ignita, also known as the ruby-tailed wasp, is a species of cuckoo wasp. Cuckoo wasps are kleptoparasites – they lay their eggs in the nests of other wasp species and their young consume the eggs or larva of the host wasp for sustenance. These wasps have a number of adaptions which have evolved to equip them for their life cycle. Chrysis ignita parasitize mason bees in particular. Ruby-tailed wasps have metallic, armored bodies, and can roll up into balls to protect themselves from harm when infiltrating the nests of host bees and wasps. 

I have yet to ID this bee species. Some sort of Mason Bee? 

This insect also appeared on the post.

 A Black-tailed Skimmer made a brief appearance, too fast for me.

 Seeking some shade, we moved to a nearby pool where Azure Damselflies mated and oviposited, mostly in the distance. 

Pam visited the  Reception hide to buy a drink and was told that there were Swallowtails everywhere at the moment. One had just flown past the hide.... 

On the way back, she was told that a Swallowtail had flown past where we had been sitting. Ah well. Another visit is not a penance.

I also photographed this wildflower beside the pool. The nearest I've got is Tansy ? But there are not enough flower heads......It's Black Medick

 

Deathshead Caterpillar update

Growing by the day and eating voraciously. The largest is 7+ cms long.