MARSHAM'S NOMAD BEE (Nomada marshamella) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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 The Marsham's Nomad Bee (Nomada marshamella) is of the family Apidae which is in the genus Nomada. This cuckoo bee is a wasp mimic and is a cleptoparasite of the Chocolate Mining Bee (Andrena scotica) as well as other mining bees in the genus Andrena. The flight season is from April to early September and its food source is pollen.

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TAPERED DRONEFLY or TAPERED HOVERFLY (Eristalis pertinax) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

 

 

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The Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax) or Tapered Hoverfly is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Eristalis. This hoverfly is commonly found in Europe. It has a long flight season over a number of generations which extends from February to early November and overwinters as an adult. Key identification features include: large size, distinctive genus wing pattern, tapered abdomen, black antennae, yellowish front and middle lower legs (tarsi).

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Reference and highly recommended reading:

Britain's Hoverflies A field guide 2nd edition Stuart Ball and Roger Morris

MEADOW SPIDER (Pardosa saltans) female with egg sack Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Meadow Spider (Pardosa saltans) or Meadow Wolf Spider is of the family Lycosidae which is in the genus Pardosa. This is a small dark species but there are a number of similar wolf spiders so it can only be identified with 100% certainty by microscopic examination.

"Requires examination at high magnification in good lighting, typically examination of the genitalia." Bee, L., Oxford, G., & Smith, H. (2020). Britain's Spiders: A Field Guide. Second Edition. Princeton University Press.

HAIRY BINDWEED WILDFLOWER (Calystegia pulchra) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Hairy Bindweed Wildflower (Calystegia pulchra) is of the family Convolvulaceae which is in the genus Calystegia. This perennial species has large trumpet shaped pink flowers with pale white stripes as well as slightly downy or hairy stems and bracts.

 

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CARNIVAL CANDY SLIME MOULD (Arcyria denudata) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Carnival Candy Slime Mould (Arcyria denudata) is of the family Arcyriaceae which is in the genus Arcyria. This is a very striking pink species which was formally consider to be a fungus but has now been reclassified as a slime mould. It is found on dead and decaying wood in damp habitats.

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SMALL TORTOISESHELL BUTTERFLY (Aglais urticae) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly (Aglais urticae) is of the family Nymphalidae which is in the genus Aglais. It has a widespread distribution in the Palearctic region but is absent from southern Asia. The caterpillars (larvae) feed on Common Nettle (Urtica dioica). Overwintering as an adult, its cryptic under wing pattern helps to avoid detection. It emerges from hibernation in late spring to lay eggs on its larval plant.

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BLACK DARTER DRAGONFLY or BLACK MEADOWHAWK DRAGONFLY (Sympetrum danae) female, Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Black Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum danae) is of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Sympetrum. It occurs in northern Eurasia as well as parts of North America where it is know as Black Meadowhawk Dragonfly. The flight season is from July to September.

 

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GOAT MOTH (Cossus cossus) caterpillar on 12-08-2020, Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Goat Moth (Cossus cossus) is of the family Cossidae which is in the genus Cossus. This large species occurs in broad leaved woodland across North America and Eurasia. In mid summer when the lava (caterpillar) hatches it bores into a deciduous tree. Having spent up to five year feeding inside the trunk or branch, the fully grown 10cm long larva emerges from the tree during August. It then makes a cocoon among debris on the ground where the pupal stage takes place and remains there until June the following year when it becomes a moth. The flight season, during which the adults don't feed, peaks in June and July. There is a strong musky smell reminiscent of goat from the larva (caterpillar) hence the adults name.

 

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With thanks to the local lady and her two children who found the caterpillar and pointed it out to me.

FLOWERING RUSH Wild Plant (Butomus umbellatus) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus) is of the family Butomaceae which is in the genus Butomus. This perennial rhizomatous wild plant is native to Europe as well as Western Asia and is found as an invasive species in parts of North America. It occurs in aquatic habitats along fresh water lakes, streams and rivers. The flowering season extends from July to late August.

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GORSE SHIELDBUG (Piezodorus lituratus) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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Click external link here to see identification guide to British and Irish Shieldbugs

 

The Gorse Shieldbug (Piezodorus lituratus) is of the family Pentatomidae which is in the genus Piezodorus.This species is found in most of the temperate regions of North America, Europe, Northern Asia and parts of Africa. It mainly occurs on Common Gorse (ulex europeaus), Common Broom (Sarothamnus scoparius) as well as various legumes (Fabaceae). There are two colour forms, green when it emerges from hibernation in late spring, having overwintered as an adult. The next generation appear in summer and following five instar stages, become green adults with purple red bar markings on the upper parts. In spring, its fully red antennae help separate from the very similar Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) which has partially red antennae.   

 

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VIVIPAROUS LIZARD or COMMON LIZARD (Zootoca vivipara) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Viviparous Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) or Common Lizard is of the family Lacertidae which is in the genus Zootoca. This viviparous reptile gives birth to live young, which is an adaptation that enables it to breed in colder regions where it hibernates for the winter. In the warmer parts of its range, it is oviparous or egg laying like other species of lizards and is active year round.

 

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 Distribution map of Viviparous Lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

EUROPEAN COMMON FROG (Orthetrum cancellatum) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The European Common Frog (Rana temporaria) or Common Frog is of the family Ranidae which is in the genus Rana.

RED CAMPION WILDFLOWER (Silene dioica) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Red Campion Wildflower (Silene dioica) is of the family Caryophyllaceae which is in the genus Silene.

GREEN VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pieris napi) nectaring on Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) at Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Green-veined White Butterfly (Pieris napi) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Pieris. It commonly occurs in Eurasia as well as North America. This species is on the wing from March to October, over several generations, but in Ireland the normal flight season extends from mid April to mid September. It hibernates during the winter as a chrysalis.

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COMMON SNOUT HOVERFLY (Rhingia campestris) female, Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Common Snout Hoverfly (Rhingia campestris) is of the family Syrphidae which is in the genus Rhingia. It commonly occurs in the Palaearctic region. The flight season is from late March to mid November and there are two generations. This is a very striking species with a long snout and its larvae are found in dung or silage.

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Reference and highly recommended reading:

Britain's Hoverflies A field guide 2nd edition Stuart Ball and Roger Morris

CRYPTIC WOOD WHITE BUTTERFLY (Leptidea juvernica) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Cryptic Wood White Butterfly (Leptidea juvernica) is of the family Pieridae which is in the genus Leptidea.

LARGE RED DAMSELFLY (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) male Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) is of the family Coenagrionidae which is in the genus Pyrrhosoma. It is commonly found in Europe, smaller populations occur in northern Africa and western Asia. It is on the wing from April to early September.

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GORSE WEEVIL or GORSE SEED WEEVIL (Exapion ulicis) Girley Bog, Natural Heritage Area (NHA), Scurlockstown, Co. Meath, Ireland

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The Gorse Weevil (Exapion ulicis) or Gorse Seed Weevil is of the family Brentidae which is in the genus Exapion.

RAFT SPIDER (Dolomedes fimbriatus) Girley Bog, Drewstown Woods, County Meath, Ireland

 

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The Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) is a semi-aquatic member of the family Pisauridaeone which is in the genus Dolomedes. It is one of Ireland’s largest spiders. Also known as the Hunting Spider or the Jesus Christ spider for its ability to walk on water. It occurs in sphagnum bogs. Main prey items include aquatic and terrestrial  insects, invertebrates as well as tadpoles which it detects using its forelegs to sense any vibrations on the water surface. If threatened, it can submerge itself under water for up to 60 minutes.

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