Possible water striders seen at Dale Fort Jetty and Castle Beach, presumably blown over the Atlantic? Seen by me and (independently) a student. They had amazing bioluminescing front ends pulsing like flashing headlights.
Also, 2 sightings of pseudoscorpions on consecutive days, I haven't seen one for years and then, like buses used to....
Emporer moth
By Peter Byles
I do not wish to dismiss your sighting of Water Striders, but a specimen or even a very clear photo would be needed before it has any chance of being accepted.
ReplyDeleteAs I said, possible. Not definite.
ReplyDeleteAre these poisonous? What do animals eat?
ReplyDeleteNot a water strider. Having asked Erica McAlister (Fly Girl)of The Natural History Museum, I think it's Aphrosylus raptor, a Dolichopodid fly that feeds on barnacles. They have palps for squeezing the juice out of their prey and the inner surface of the male's have brilliant white colour (presumably for attracting females). So as they open and close they appear to flash like headlights. I'm still surprised that they are not better known because they are spectacular.
ReplyDeleteIt is pleasing to have a correct identification of a dipteran that seems to be nationally scarce. Dolichopodidae are often known as Dollies to dipterists. Certainly a very interesting fly!
ReplyDeleteI think it was A. raptor. That was based on leg hairs viewed on my (not great) video. It could be A. celtiber. I wrote a blog about it which has some video:
ReplyDeletehttps://dalefort.wordpress.com/2019/08/19/dale-fort-blog-number-73/
Wow. So this is what Pembrokeshire Wildlife looks like. Thanks once again for sharing this kind of article. Try to check this too
ReplyDeleteTypes of Insectst