Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Tom Hill on May 16, 2013, 23:52

Title: What Insect is this ?
Post by: Tom Hill on May 16, 2013, 23:52

 :unsure:

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: Mum2mj on May 17, 2013, 08:22

Is it a beetle? How big is it?

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: Springlands on May 17, 2013, 09:15

It looks like a ground beetle - if so it is your friend at they eat garden pests.  :)

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: Salmo on May 17, 2013, 10:23

It is a beetle. Why do you want to know?

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: Tom Hill on May 17, 2013, 15:18

It was on my allotment and it looked as if it could sting.

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: gavinjconway on May 17, 2013, 17:04

Do the "Touch Test" then we will all know..  :D :D :D

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: Beetroot queen on May 17, 2013, 17:24

Quote from: gavinjconway on May 17, 2013, 17:04

Do the "Touch Test" then we will all know..  :D :D :D

Tom could always be a gent and say after you  :tongue2:

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: Yorkie on May 17, 2013, 18:45

Quote from: gavinjconway on May 17, 2013, 17:04

Do the "Touch Test" then we will all know..  :D :D :D

Norty gavin  :unsure: :nowink: ::) :D

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: gavinjconway on May 17, 2013, 19:31

Tom - I don't think you have much to worry about.. Your beetle is tame compared to what we had loads of in Zimbabwe... Check these nippers out..

(http://bugguide.net/images/cache/VZ5L9Z4LGZ9H1HGH1H5HVHEHFH2HRR5LUZEHJH9HFH7HDHZL5Z5HOHLL1HPHHR7LGZXLJH7LAZWHHRPHJH5L1ZMLUZ.jpg) (http://bugguide.net/images/cache/8KOK7KCKRKRS5QJ0BQF0NQF0VQHS6QRSVQRSVQAKAQRSMKF08KOK4K1KMKY08KWKKK6KQKT00KA05Q102QEKRKO0ZK.jpg)

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: Beetroot queen on May 17, 2013, 21:29

Gavin I saw those pics and lifted my feet off the floor, well you never know what lurks under the sofa  :unsure:

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: gavinjconway on May 17, 2013, 22:03

Sorry to scare you... you should be safe in Somerset  :unsure: 

Our cats would occasionally belt into the house with one stuck to their lip... ouch!! Big problem to remove them as well.

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: savbo on May 18, 2013, 11:36

Is it just me or is there a hint of transparency at the lower end of the back? and i can't see a line down between the wing-cases that I would expect on a beetle...And the legs seem to me held in more of a fly-like position than a beetle...and the thorax doesn't seem right

I think it is a fly of some kind

sav

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: Gryphon on May 18, 2013, 13:30

Quote from: savbo on May 18, 2013, 11:36

I think it is a fly of some kind

I thought that too. However, my internet searches turned up nothing, i will check it out once i am back at work and have my books :)

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: Gryphon on May 18, 2013, 13:44

I think that it is a March Fly. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lofaesofa/3694936543/

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: A Reyt Tayty on May 20, 2013, 09:20

It's a blackclock.

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: savbo on May 20, 2013, 09:51

March fly=St Mark's Fly - my thoughts too. The fly that hangs around annoyingly on Spring days but is harmless!

sav

Title: Re: What Insect is this ?
Post by: Salmo on May 20, 2013, 09:51

I will go along with Gryphon. I know it as a Hawthorn Fly, it appears in great numbers just as the hawthorn comes into flower. Both are late this year. The one in the photo is a female. Males have huge eyes, as the one on the right in Gryphon's web referance.

See this site http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/st-marks-fly (http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/st-marks-fly)