Simon Knott
Birds, Chess, Coleoptera, Flora, Moths, R&I, Syrphidae, Stratiomyidae et al.
Slowly rewilding Herts garden & trying to photograph its fauna & flora.
- Typhaeus typhoeus x3 this morning in Bengeo garden. Males are very distinctive with their 3 prongs. Species is able to exploit winter availability of dung by digging much deeper burrows in sandy soil. These remain warm even in coldest months of January & February. #MinotaurBeetle #attractedtolight
- 8 species recorded last night in Bengeo including Acleris literana. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth
- Lastly other notable species in Bengeo garden in 2025: Drepanepteryx phalaenoides, fantastic leaf mimic lacewing; Nothochrysa capitata, large scarce lacewing; Leopoldius calceatus, conopid that has recently colonised UK; Callicera aurata, magnificent scarce hoverfly. @ianbeavis.bsky.social
- Light trapping again produced good beetle records in Bengeo garden from May to August. Highlights included: Bledius spectabilis, Prionocyphon serricornis, Silvanoprus fagi (RDB1) & Stephostethus alternans. @bugmanjones.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social
- Best Heteroptera of 2025 in Bengeo garden were all attracted to light during June & July: Alloeotomus gothicus, Miridius quadrivirgatus, Sehirus morio & Sphragisticus nebulosus. @britishbugs.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social
- Best beetles of 2025 in Bengeo garden were both longhorns: Prionus coriarius, truly a giant, & Xylotrechus antilope, european oak species recorded for 2nd year in row here.
- 109 species of hoverfly now recorded in Bengeo garden with 4 additions during 2025: Cheilosia grossa (106), Melangyna umbellatarum (107), Cheilosia illustrata (108) & Pipiza lugubris female (109). @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
- Black-spotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginosa) from Tuesday night in Bengeo. True winter noctuid that arrived in UK in 2011, colonised here in 2018. Population has slowly risen since but local area remains its only stronghold in Herts. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth
- Povolnya leucapennella last Friday in Bengeo, associated with evergreen oaks such as Holm Oak (Quercus ilex). Very scarce species in Herts. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth
- Beetles found indoors: Tasgius ater found last night by my wife, large (16mm) staphylinid predator of woodlice. Originally coastal species that has spread inland in last seventy years. Commonest Tasgius in garden. #Staphylinidae
- Soldierflies are much less well known than hoverflies but some species are highly colourful. Sargus bipunctatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, large attractive woodland species & last soldierfly to appear during year. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #Stratiomyidae
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- Every October without fail, hoverfly Myathropa florea ♂ start landing on my head on sunny days. Their buzz is very distinctive & with little coaxing they can be persuaded to stay long enough on my hat to be photographed. Today in Bengeo garden.
- Reposted by Simon KnottOne of the most incredible WTF!! moments I have witnessed in 41 years birding Belvide. 8 White-rumped Sandpiper on the north shore between 4pm-5.30pm. Just short of a British Record of 11 on the outer Hebrides. Thought I'd lost the plot when I saw them. Still pinching myself. #UKbirding
- Adonis Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata) today in Bengeo garden. @ukladybirds.bsky.social @andrew-jewels.bsky.social
- Leopoldius calceatus ♀ today in Bengeo garden, dark wasp-mimic conopid parasitoid & very recent arrival in UK (2018). All three species of Leopoldius have now been recorded here. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
- Mellinus arvensis ♀ today in Bengeo garden, common large late Summer solitary wasp that preys on flies. Associated with sandy places & 1st record here.
- Recorded 1st Plumed Fan-foot (Pechipogo plumigeralis) male in Bengeo recently. However tonight this almost pristine female turned up in sitting room. With Ivy (Hedera helix) as one of its hosts plants, species is likely to expand its range rapidly. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth
- Warm nights lead to dispersal of scarce invertebrates. Rhopalus parumpunctatus on Friday night in Bengeo garden, rhopalid bug associated with dry sandy soils. Curiously zone immediately north of Hertford already supports small range of Breckland species. @britishbugs.bsky.social #attractedtolight
- Pipiza lugubris ♀ today on Ivy (Hedera helix) in Bengeo garden, nationally scarce with distinctive dark wing clouds. 109th species of hoverfly recorded here. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
- 24-spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata) today in Bengeo garden. 22nd ladybird species recorded here. @ukladybirds.bsky.social @andrew-jewels.bsky.social
- Ivy (Hedera helix) in September (2): Colletes hederae ♀, Comma (Polygonia c-album), Ectemnius sp. ♀ & Volucella inanis ♀ today in Bengeo garden.
- Epistrophe grossulariae ♀ on Ivy (Hedera helix) today in Bengeo garden. Species resembles large Syrphus with almost dead straight black bands on abdomen. Best distinguishing feature though is its behaviour of often hovering at flowers to feed rather than landing. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
- Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) ♂ today in Bengeo garden, Herts. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
- Ivy (Hedera helix) now in full swing. Loads of Vespa crabro feeing on it today in Bengeo garden including 1st male of year. Males can be distinguished from workers by their much longer antennae. #EuropeanHornet
- Lastly, Ivy (Hedera helix) can attracts rare species. Callicera aurata ♀ today in Bengeo garden, magnificent large wasp-mimic hoverfly. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #saproxylic
- Ivy (Hedera helix) attracts unusual migrant species. Stomorhina lunata ♂ today in Bengeo garden, blowfly that is parasitoid of Locust. Every year, vast numbers migrate N from North Africa into Europe. It may be breeding in UK but, if it is, its host is unknown. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #LocustFly
- Ivy (Hedera helix) is wonderful resource for invertebrates in September. 7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata), Didea fasciata ♀, Volucella zonaria ♀ & Graphomya maculata ♀ today in Bengeo garden. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
