I discovered this egg-sac of the RAY'S SPIDER at Holy Vale over a week ago and although the spider itself has never been recorded on Scilly, This image proves there here and breeding!
In the last three weeks myself and Jo have been out late, most nights, searching for insects and we have made a lot discovery's including first and seconds for Scilly and new colonies of some species. As a result of these night walks, we heard a Night Heron at Porth Hellick and then observed it fly over west towards Lower Moors, 3rd. Three nights later at the former site, in the dark, I thought I heard a Lapwing call once and sure enough there was a adult on the pool the following morning that stuck around for another five days.
This Lapwing was at Porth Hellick 5-10th Today I had my first Crossbill in the small influx that hit the islands in the last few days.
However, it was the insects that were the main interest and by far the major highlight was the first Scilly sighting of LUNAR HORNET MOTH in Julie Love's garden found by her son at Trewince. The following day she had a mating pair!! Unfortunately by the time the news was out it was too late for any of us to see them but it gives us hope now that we know they are breeding on St Mary's.
On one of the evenings that Jo and I went out, Martin Goodey joined us at Higher Moors/Holy Vale and had another first for Scilly, RAY'S SPIDER. I took a photo of the egg-sac hanging from a long thread of silk as I knew that it was something good and the following day Bobby 'Dazzler' Dawson identified it.
The 28th June was are first night out looking for insects and Jo Turner turned up the second HEATHER LADYBIRD for Scilly on the Dead Pine Walk, Garrison. Bobby 'Dazzler' Dawson had the first record three years ago on Buzzer Hill.
Also, we discovered that Alder Spittle Bug had colonised pn St Mary's with sighting at Higher Moors, Porth Hellick and The Garrison. Before this there was only a single record on Scilly and have a guess who had that? 'Dazzler' Dawson!! Another discovery we made was a colony of Ten-spot Ladybird at Porth Hellick after only a handful of records on Scilly. After Jo finding the third record of Willow Tortrix over a month ago, we discovered a single at Porth Hellick indicating that they probably breed on Scilly.
This second HEATHER LADYBIRD for Scilly, at 3-4 mm, was found by Jo Turner on the Dead Pine Walk, Garrison, 28th June
There was only one record of Alder Spittle Bug on Scilly and we found them at Porth Hellick, Garrison and Higher Moors including this mating pair.
We also discovered the first Scilly record of breeding Ten-spot Ladybird at Porth Hellick. Before this I had only seen a single on the island.
However, this individual emerged with a species of parasite
Only the forth Willow Tortrix for Scilly was at Porth Hellick but they're probably breeding in the area.
Kentish Snail (top two images) we've seen at both Higher Moors and Garrison and we had 2 probable Slender Amber Snail at Holy Vale.
Good numbers of Long-winged Coneheads including this indervidual with species of parasite in it's side
Lesser Earwing
Note parasite on the body of this Long-jawed Spider
Tinea Trinotella Moth
2 Hearld Moth drinking
And what on earth is this?? Any ideas please??
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