"A Nature Observer′s Scrapbook"
Other Insects
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Green Lacewing
Chrysopa carnea (agg)
The suffix 'agg', short for aggregate, is used to indicate a 'Super species' group of several distinct species which appear to be superficially similar. Of the 14 different species of British green lacewings, Chrysopa carnea agg is the most common. Overall body length is about 12 - 15mm.
Chrysopa carnea hibernates as an adult insect during the winter whereas many other lacewing species hibernate as larvae. The adult in the upper image was found indoors in November, and the small larva (middle image) was found early in June (pointing to a recent hatch), so these seem to match C. carnea's life cycle. The larger larva was found in August and is rather more difficult to identify.
The tiny immature larva in the middle image was only some 6mm long, when it made its presence known by nipping my wrist with its 'comparitively' large jaws. It was very active and quite agile and, as it is seen here, foreshortened its abdomen when 'threatened'.
The lower image of a more mature specimen, (possibly third and final stage larva) was 13mm long and it is just about possible to see the small stiff bristles which cover the abdomen.
When the adults emerge from hibernation, they will survive on nectar and pollen but, will subsequently join their larvae in targetting their favourite diet, the aphid. Claims are made that one Lacewing can consume up to 600 aphids in its lifetime. In some parts of the world Lacewings have been used to biologically control aphid populations.
However, the first larvae to hatch are just as likely to start their carnivorous life off by eating the other unhatched eggs in the clutch. Which seems very much at odds with the 'calm, delicate, sedate' appearance of the adult lacewing.
| Date | Sighting |
| 02.06.2003 | Larva by pondside in back garden. |
| 04.04.2004 | Adults emerging from indoor hibernation. |
| 18.08.2004 | 2nd generation larva searching for aphids on ditch-side vegetation. |
| 14.11.2005 | Late season arrival indoors seeking a hibernation refuge. |
| 30.11.2005 | Hardy individual found outdoors on a very chill, rainy day. |
Brown Lacewing
Hemerobius sp.
At first, I mistook this for 'just another midge' silhouetted on the window before I noticed that the wings were folded 'tent like' over the body. That prompted me to take a second look and then it became apparent that it was a small lacewing (body length about 8mm).
It was only when the photograph was enlarged that the delicate tracery of the wing veins emphasised why they are called 'Lacewings'. There are a large number of genera and species in the 'Brown Lacewing' category and identification is extremely difficult. In this case, the clue to the Hemerobius genus is seen in the short veins on the leading edge of the wing, that are characteristically 'forked'.
Like the Green Lacewings, their better known relatives, their food of choice are aphids. The larvae are also similar but smaller and slimmer.
| Date | Sighting |
| 27.04.2008 | Found silhouetted on a window. |
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Scorpion Fly
Panorpa communis
This slim insect, about 20mm long with a 30mm wingspan, is one of the more easily recognised insects. There is not much to confuse it with in the UK, there being only one other species , P. cognata (smaller and paler) which has a very localised distribution in Britain. Several other Panorpa species are to be found in Europe.
With four wings (not that you could tell from these images), none of them are true flies of the general order of Diptera, two winged flies. These all belong to the order, Insecta: Mecoptera: Panorpidae.
The male (upper image) is characterised by the way in which the last segments of the abdomen, the reddish brown clasping organs like minature earwig pincers, are reflexed up and forward - scorpion like. Although the female's abdomen (lower image) also curves upwards, it is not so pronounced as in the male.
The wings of both are transparent with black markings. The apparent colour difference in the two images is due solely to direct sunlight reflecting from the females wings.
The upper surface of the abdomen is banded black and cream, with black predominating in the female. The underside of the abdomen is an almost transluscent creamy grey.
This species is quite common and is to be found in hedgerows and wooded areas from Spring to Autumn.
While it will take small insects, it is also a scavenger of dead plant and animal matter. The larvae are caterpillar-like, with six thoracic legs but no prolegs and undergo complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, imago)
| Date | Sighting |
| 05.06.2004 | Seen in SW corner of the Hay Meadow hawthorn hedge. |
| 19.06.2005 | Male found posing on the garage wall.. |
| 03.07.2005 | Female found on Night Scented Stock in back garden at 16.00hrs. |
| 14.06.2006 | Many found on Southern and Western hedges of meadow. |
Caddis fly - 1
Halesus radiatus
There are as many as 400 different European Caddis fly species with forewings ranging in length from 7mm to 30mm. All carry their wings 'tent-like' over the body and all have aquatic larvae.
Having so many species to choose from, it takes very detailed examination to positively identify any specific species. But, from the wing venation this image appears representative of H. radiatus.
Halesus radiatus has a forewing length of about 20 - 22mm. It is on the wing from August to November and breeds in moving water. This specimen probably came from a nearby drainage ditch which had retained a trickle of water throughout the year and larval cases were found there.
The soft bodied larvae of the different species construct unique protective 'cases' or silken webs around themselves that can be quite elaborate. This one builds up an inner tube of silk, stiffens that with three external slender twigs and then camouflages the whole with little pieces of plant debris, stuck on with salivary 'glue'. Others build cylindrical pots out of grains of sand or stone fragments.
With only their head and feet protruding from the case, the larvae use hooks at the end of their abdomen to latch on to the silken lining and drag the case, like a crab does it's shell, in their quest for food. Only prior to the state of pupation will the case be anchored to a stone or vegetation.
The adults may drink but are not known to feed. The larvae, on the other hand, are omnivorous and will take both small aquatic animals and plant material.
| Date | Sighting |
| 06.10.2005 | Adult fly found on the front door about 15 yards from a wet ditch. |
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Caddis fly - 2
Micropterna sequax,
aka M. affinis,
...... M. lateralis,
...... M. taeniata,
...... Stenophylax sequax
Quite apart from all it's various synonyms, there are several very similar species so, the best that can be said is that the image is representative of Micropterna sequax. The wing venation looks right but I cannot vouch for the spines on the legs which are one of the critical identification features.
What puzzled me about this find was that it was seriously 'out of season'. The normal flight period would be expected to be between May and November but, this one was on the wing in a not noticeably mild February.
Like many insects, it feigned death when disturbed and calmly allowed itself to be measured (20mm), but was quick to flutter off into the vegetation when placed in a more natural environment.
The three caddis flies described on the website all belong to the Limnephilidae family and it is characteristic that their larvae all construct tubular cases for protection but, each species creates its tube in a distinctive way. This one is formed from sand grains and small pebbles, others may be made from vegetation or a mix of materials. This one was found on the underside of a submerged piece of bark and had a silken lifeline attached to prevent it being swept away.
The larva has tiny claws on its soft abdomen with which it drags its case around when it is foraging for food - decayed plant or animal material.
| Date | Sighting |
| 15.02.2006 | Found alive and well in garage, after dark. |
| 29.03.2007 | Larva found on a submerged piece of tree bark in water filled ditch.. |
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Caddis fly - 3
Limnephilus lunatus
At last, a caddis fly with distinctive features. The coloration may vary from pale to dark brown but, the distinguishing feature is the pale 'half moon' on the rear margin of the wing - from whence the Latin 'lunatus'.
This is a cosmopolitan species to be found in all kinds of fresh water environments and can be 'on the wing' from May to November.
The larval case is constructed from leaf fragments, sand grains and other debris.
| Date | Sighting |
| 05.08.2006 | Two specimens found within three days on vegetation by wet ditch. |
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Lesser marsh grasshopper
Chorthippus albo-marginatus
When trying to identify this one, I was surprised to find that there are nine or more different British grasshopper species, of which five are to be found in Lincolnshire.
Anyone who has tried to watch - or catch, a grasshopper will know that they are quite nervous and do not generally sit still for long. But, I was fortunate to rescue this one from a water trough and he was obviously exhausted from his swim, so I was able to get several close shots of him before he sought cover in the grasses.
The clue to this one's identity lies in the almost parallel ridges or keels on the pronotum region behind the head. Other species tend to have a waisted or 'hour-glass' shaped pronotum.
The species, 20mm long, comes in various colour forms, green, brown and straw coloured being the most usual. And the females can have a prominent white streak on the leading edge of the forewing. They tend to frequent damp low lying meadows and marshes.
| Date | Sighting |
| 01.09.2004 | Northern end of hay meadow, rescued from the sheep water trough. |
| 08.08.2005 | Same area as last years specimen but greener. |
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Slender Groundhopper
Tetrix subulata
The two groundhopper species found in Lincolnshire, the 'Common' and the 'Slender groundhopper', have a broad-shouldered look about them compared to the larger grasshoppers. They are readily distinguished from each other by the length of the pronotum (the shield covering the abdomen) - the 'slender' species being long and tapering and extending beyond the folded wing tips, and the 'common' species being short with a pronounced central ridge and revealing the wingtips.
As the two images indicate there can be a fair degree of colour variation and texture within the 'slender' species. Whether this is related to sex, maturity or environment, I cannot say. The upper image was of a smooth, two-tone specimen found in long dank grass, whereas the lower image is representative of the specimens I found in more open, bare earth habitats.
Their adult overall body length is no more than 16 - 18mm. This 'slender' species favours damp, marshy environments and the 'common' variety can be found in drier heathland or open woodland places.
Their hopping capacity is quite amazing. The one in the lower image covered 1060mm in one bound - that's 60 times it's own body length! And no doubt it might have been capable of more with some encouragement.
| Date | Sighting |
| 06.06.2004 | Seen after rain, in a strawberry patch close to a field margin ditch. |
| 05.05.2005 | In long dank, coarse grass, on a Protected Roadside Verge. |
| 17.05.2005 | Back garden close to pond. |
| 28.05.2005 | On a patch of waterlogged ground at Benniworth. |
| 11.04.2007 | Several seen by the pond margins at the Horncastle Community Woodland area. |
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Mole flea
Hystrichopsylla talpae
When you have seen one flea, you have seen them all - I thought.
This one, at 5mm overall body length, definitely attracted my attention. A mature, well fed specimen, with abdomen fully distended might reach 6mm. Compared to the 2 - 3.5mm length of human, cat, dog and hedgehog fleas this makes it a giant among fleas. It is the largest of the Eurasian fleas.
But, fortunately, this species confines itself to the nests and tunnels of moles, voles, mice, shrews, etc. and equally re-assuring, it is regarded as 'not abundant'.
| Date | Sighting |
| 09.06.2005 | Solitary specimen found on the corpse of a mole. |