Hidden gems

In the last post I suggested that I might be going all out to get to 4,000 species for my UK Pan-species list. This morning saw me out in the garden, holding a washing up bowl in one hand and beating Ivy and Pieris with a stick in the other. Had I gone mad? Maybe, but the result was - apart from a bit of vegetative debris - a number of invertebrates in the bowl, including several new species! All common, but it just goes to show that there is plenty of low hanging fruit literally on one's doorstep. 

This afternoon I walked up to Banstead Downs with one species firmly on my radar. Local naturalist Neil had recorded several White-shouldered Shieldbugs where the Lixus iridis weevils are, and this was an invert that I was keen on seeing! However, after two hours searching I had to make do with a number of Dock Bugs, Brassica Bugs, Woundwort Shieldbugs and a single Tortoise Shieldbug. I'll be back soon. I was, however able to add a further six species to my pan-species list that has now crept up to 3,984.

One thing that always staggers me when I deign to get down amongst the vegetation is just how many strange and unexpected wonders there are to see, hidden gems. The following fly really knocked me out, a pair in cop. They look... otherworldly, like what a Pixar animation team might come up with. Its name? Myopa buccata. It isn't uncommon and well worth your while to try and seek out.


Below is the crab spider Xysticus acerbus that my spider id-guide suggested was a national scarcity. I zipped the image across to arachnid guru Graeme Lyons who kindly confirmed that it is that species but did also mention that it is quite common. Not quite the coup that I had hoped...

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