Hairy Shield Bugs a plenty

18th September 2025 - one hot sunny afternoon, Andy and Polly M noticed a very large number of beetle-like insects emerging up the fence from behind the lavender plants. Why remains unclear, but closer inspection showed these were similar in colour and patterning, but varied greatly in size. It turns out these are the various instars (or lifecycle stages) of Hairy Shield Bug (or Sloe Bug) nymphs - which start small and teardrop shaped, and gradually grow and moult into the large more typical Shield Bug shape, although all these are nymphs, or 'youngsters', with no adults being seen.

Interestingly, in amongst these were also a different type of oval fly-like insect - small in number and similar in colouration to the Shield Bugs, but clearly different. Whilst we are not sure what these are, it's possible these are some sort of predatory insect, such as an Assassin Bug species, which prey on many species, including Shield Bugs nymphs.

One small patch of the many smaller Hairy Shield Bug nymphs, 

but including a few other 'winged' species

Later stage Hairy Shield Bug instar, and several smaller earlier instars,

as well as a similar coloured winged species

Late-stage Hairy Shield Bug nymph

Life cycle stages (from ukwildlife.net)

Rivercare - September results

15th September 2025 - the Rivercare undertook their last sampling of the year, when rvier levels at the ford were still very low. The sample revealed a relatively low count, but a look back at previous years in September indicated this was fairly typical.

A few Olive larva were seen, as were a few Mayfly larva. Both Caseless and Cased Caddisfly larvae were found, as were quite a few small Gammarus (freshwater shrimp). Three Bullhead fish were found, and a few Angler's Curse larvae.

Olive larva

Caseless Caddisfly larva

Cased Caddisfly larva (head and legs can just be seen top right)

Mayfly larve

Angler's Curse larva

Bullhead

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

15th September 2025 - Suzan S reported seeing Hummingbird Hawkmoth in her garden on the LSA, and managed to get a nice photo.

European Hornet

10th September 2025 - as is not unusual around this time of year, a number of people have been reporting hornets in their gardens. These are European Hornet, which look similar to a large Common Wasp (not the slimmer and less brightly coloured Asian Hornet), and David F found a nest in Sluice Woods.

Painted Lady butterfly

7th September 2025 - Andy M spotted this rather splendid Painted Lady butterfly along the 'hairdresser's path' on Granta Park.

Pied Wagtail

7th September 2025 - this Pied Wagtail was seen by Andy M catching flies around the largely dry pools near the gym on Granta Park. This slightly scruffy individual is in the process of changing its feathers, which happens over several months each autumn.

Common Sandpiper drops in on GP lake

7th September 2025 - a Common Sandpiper was seen feeding around the edges of the Granta Park lake recently, and by carefully edging closer to it, Andy M was able to get these photos. Characterised by a white shoulder 'hook', plain brown back and by bobbing tail movement.

Common Sandpiper mostly breed in upland northern and western Britain, migrating at this time of year to lowland freshwater and the coast. Birds from Scandinavia also pass through Eastern UK on migration. This bird is unlikely to remain long at Granta Park, and was likely to be feeding prior to continuing its journey south.

Migrant Hawker on the wing

7th September 2025 - Andy M spotted a Migrant Hawker dragonfly patrolling over the Granta Park lake, and set himself the challenge of photographing it in flight. After many failed attempts, he got these shots. 

Migrant Hawker is one of the few dragonfly species that fly well into autumn, being seen as late as October. Similar to a Common Hawker in appearance, but has a narrow yellow triangle on the second segment of abdomen (S2), and a brown front edge (costa) to the wings (not yellow as in the Common Hawker). Both Migrant and Common Hawker also lack the large yellow 'headlights' on the front of the thorax of the Southern Hawker.

Mandarin Duck

7th September 2025 - this male Mandarin Duck was spotted by Andy M on the Granta Park lake recently. This individual is in eclipse, the period when it renews its feathers, and so does not have the flashy spring plumage characteristic of the male and appears similar to the female, but retains the male's red bill.