Running out of time

The recent heatwave was probably the last chance to pick up a fair few insects before they succumb to the first frosts. Checking out the flowering ivy in the garden produced the two standard large Eristalis species (tenax and pertinax) but also this rather handsome Epistrophe grossulariae which is a first for the year.

500

Have just keyed out a hoverfly netted on the Nunnery Lakes reserve as a female Melanostoma scalare which brings us a nice landmark total of 500 species (or aggregate taxa) so far this year. As well as the fun of the competitive element of the TEAL challenge, it's also good that it gives us the impetus to have a good look at just what we've got on our respective reserves. I'm sure there will be a number of exciting discoveries as the summer progresses.