Cooler temperatures and very wet weather meant that insect observations were few and far between last week.
In sunnier moments, bees were still visible but I haven’t noticed many moths, butterflies or ladybirds recently; I do hope that changes soon.
However there were a few momentous insect observations last week. I discovered a Mining bee nest on the allotment. As there was an Ashy mining bee (Andrena cineraria) on the plot last year then it could be evidence of another one making its home there.
The other insect, one I got to learn about later in the week, was a stunning parasitic wasp; possibly an Amblyteles armatorius (however identification is difficult to be completely certain).
If it was an Amblyteles armatorius then it’s hosts can be several species of moth caterpillar, such as the Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba).
The yellow and black parasitic wasp was 15mm in length (antennae included) and is often seen in June; although there is a second generation later in the year too. Adults can be noticed feeding on pollen from plants with umbellifer flowers such as Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) or Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium). There was Lovage (Levisticum officinale) in flower in the garden where the parasitic wasp was noticed, so perhaps it had visited that before flying off to find another plant.
Bee in the Moment 