Tipula maxima

Another welcome visitor today in the shape of Tipula maxima which with a legspan of around 100mm makes it Britain's largest Crane Fly. Fabulous.......

Lunchtime

Plenty of bits and bobs around the Conkers Circuit this lunchtime including good numbers of Common Blue, Cinnabar and Burnet Companion. Also of interest were very large numbers of what appear to be the beetle Oedemera luridia feeding on pollen. Pretty sure thats what they are. They have a strong southerly bias but there is a good scattering of records from the Midlands, although I suspect that they, with many other species, are greatly under recorded.

Panorpa communis

A very attractive, but very common, Scorpion Fly at work today. An interesting genus that feed largely on carrion which is frequently taken from spider's webs. Dangerous game if you ask me...............