Bugs

Although the term 'bugs' is used by the general public as a synonym for insects or small invertebrates generally it has a specific meaning to the entomologist - insects in the order Hemiptera. In order to clarify the meaning, members of the order are sometimes referred to as True Bugs.


Bugs are small to moderately large insects with a large, horizontally held head which is generally visible from above. In most species the forewings are partly chitinous and the hindwings membranous but may be absent. They possess a sucking or stabbing proboscis. Bugs have widely differing shapes and habits and some confusion with beetles, cockroaches and psocids is possible.


My favourite bugs are the shield bugs – 11 species seen and photographed so far - which have a fairly distinctive shape and are comparatively easy to recognise as adults. As nymphs, especially in their early instars, they are a lot less easy to recognise but it all adds to the fun. My least favourites are the aphids and as yet I haven’t tried to list the individual species seen.

Moth list

The first list of species I ever compiled was butterflies. The second was British macro-moths and moths remain one of my major interests. It really infuriates me when I find, or attract to my moth light, a species that I am unable to identify. This happened earlier in the year at GB’s where I caught a few carpet moths of the same species to which I couldn’t put a name. I have some reasonable photos so hopefully I will manage to identify it before too long. In the meantime my life list of macro-moths stands at 262. I have photos of the majority of these.


I apologise to anyone who is seeking a logical order in my lists on the left of the page. In some cases they are in alphabetical order; in some they are in families; and a couple are in an order used only by me!



The Moth species are listed accordingly to family and then sub-family / tribe, etc.- from the most primitive to the most developed. I concluded there were too many to make a separate alphabetical list.

Dragonflies and Damselflies

 

The number of species of dragonflies and damselflies that I have seen has only had one addition in recent years – Keeled Skimmers near Llithfaen on the Lleyn Peninsula in July 2003. However, I am constantly improving the photos that I have taken of the various species.


Even in Helen’s garden in September this year I got better photos of Migrant Hawker and Golden-ringed Dragonfly than I had previously taken.


So far only one species has ventured into the garden (and the house!) at The Willows - the Southern Hawker. But I live in hope.


The list currently stands at 7 species of damselfly and 13 species of dragonfly (with the addition of Highland Darter – a subspecies of the Common Darter - taking it to 14). I have also seen an Emerald dragonfly but I don't know which species.

British Butterflies

There are 58 species of Butterfly which breed on the British mainland (Real’s Wood White occurs only in Ireland) of which one is a re-introduction from the continent after having become extinct - the Large Blue. There are also a number of occasional vagrant and exotic species, some of the latter simply being escapes from captivity. Of these 58 I have seen 39 species in the wild and two more in captivity.



I have photos of nearly all of them – the exceptions being the Small Blue (seen near Grange-in-Borrowdale in the 1960s) and the White Admiral (Forest of Dean 1990s).,
It is a long time since I added a species – the last being the Scotch Argus when on Skye in the 1990s. It is about time I saw a new one!

Amphibians

Of the five species of frog, toad and newt that I have seen I have only photographed four - the exception being the Natterjack Toad. Although I have seen a number of these at the end of the Fisherman’s Path at Ainsdale I never got a photo. Both Common Frog and Smooth Newt live in the garden at The Willows and we also had a Common Toad at Yew Tree. Palmate Newts swarmed in the pond at the caravan.