Reacquaintance with the Willow Emerald Damselfly

 2020 is the third year that I have enjoyed watching the development of a population of Willow Emerald Damselflies (Chalcolestes viridis) on Pevensey Levels, that I first found in September 2018. 

I have observed males holding territories on most species of tree that occur at this site, including willow, aspen, hazel, blackthorn and field maple but this population seems to have a preference for oak.

The oaks that overhang the water ditches on this site have thin tendril-like lower branches that hang down into the water. I have now seen three tandem pairs of viridis, all of which have taken a very close interest in these oak branches in the form of oviposturing. However, I have only observed this behaviour through binoculars at distance and as yet I cannot be certain whether eggs have been laid, although it does seem likely.

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) 

Males

A couple of weeks ago, Bob and I enjoyed watching a mating pair of viridis as we sat on a ditch bank with the sun on our backs and zooming in on the action.

Dark Crimson Underwing

 The Dark Crimson Underwing (Catocala sponsa) is a rare Red Data Book moth species in Britain, only breeding in the New Forest area of Hampshire. 

However, sponsa has been turning up regularly at moth traps in Sussex and beyond in recent years and it seems probable that it is now breeding in the county, most likely from migrant stock.

Back in May 2017, I came across a mature sponsa larva in a West Sussex wood and it turned out to be the first larva to be found in the wild in Sussex since 1857. (Ref; "A Complete History of the Butterflies and Moths of Sussex" by Colin R. Pratt.)

Since 2017, I have been hoping that sponsa would make an appearance at my garden moth trap but alas it hasn't happened yet but as luck would have it, I disturbed one from a tree trunk in one of my local wealden woods during August. It took off just ahead of me but luckily it landed again on another tree.

Dark Crimson Underwing (Catocala sponsa)

Dark Crimson Underwing (C. sponsa) (larva resting on pendulous sedge, 2017)

Here are a couple of favourites from the moth trap during July and August.

Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides)

Gold Spot (Plusia festucae)

I have often thought that trying to identify flies to species level would be like treading a slippery slope to oblivion but the pandemic lock-down gave me the opportunity to take a much closer look at some of them, particularly hoverflies and sawflies.

Here are some images of  a few common hoverflies and a not so common sawfly species.

Blotch-winged Honeysuckle Sawfly (Abia fasciata) (female)

                                                                                         Myathropa florea (hoverfly sp.)

                                                                                              Syrphus ribesii (hoverfly sp.)

                                                                                                   Eristalis pertinax (hoverfly sp.)

 

Exploring Coastal Ditches

 I find coastal flats and ditches fascinating places to explore. They are full of insect activity and in south-east England, there is always a chance of seeing rare migrants that have arrived from across the channel. No such sightings for me this year but by way of a catch-up, here are a few images taken during July and August.

In East Sussex, the Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) is pretty much restricted to coastal flats but it can be fairly abundant in some ditches.

Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) (mating pair)

I came across a mating pair of Red-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius) in the same reed bed as the Variable Damselflies and it was interesting to see how different the male and female are from each other. You can also see just what a weapon the female stinger is!

Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) (mating pair)

The following photographs are of mating pairs of  Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) and Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum). Such images help to show the subtle differences between these closely related species.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (mating pair)

 

Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) (mating pair)