Welcome

" Welcome to the florafaunauk site , hope you enjoy the pictures and posts giving a detailed insight into the Natural History of our Country throughout the seasons and year "All that the Sun Shines on is beautiful, so long as it is Wild" John Muir "



Monday 27 October 2014

Quote Of The Week 5

" You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, yet she still will hurry back. "

HORACE, Epistles

"November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring."


- Elizabeth Coatsworth

1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Caterpillar

1906 Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Caterpillar found 18th August 2014


Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 1895


Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 1885


Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 1893

Not the easiest Caterpillar to identify but the prominent central raised region gives a good clue to its Identity it is a fresh early caterpillar more on the Development Sequence on This link  Click on the small image to expand

The larvae feed on a range of trees and bushes, including hawthorn (Crataegus) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).



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Saturday 4 October 2014

Sitona - A Grassland Weevil

Sitona lineatus

Size 3.4  -  5.3 mm

Descriptions

Likely lineatus but could be striatellus. Several Sitona appear very similar but lineatus will become obvious in the field; the elongate and parallel sided form and dull metallic colouration with paler longitudinal stripes are characteristic A Grassland Weevil Descriptions can be found on the links below
Can be found throughout the Year.. and are assoiated with fabaceae - Vetches Trefoils and Pea Family

Hostplants Include various clovers and vetches and the weevils are well known as pests of leguminous crops; 






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