The Lyons Share

Violet and dangerous

Posted by Graeme Lyons , Monday, 28 March 2011 22:23

There are more Hairy Violets in flower at Mill Hill than I think I have ever seen.  As well as the violets, there were a few invertebrates there that are associated with them. I spotted a couple of tiny Violet Weevils Orobitis cyaneus which can roll themselves up to look just like a violet seed.

There was also a beautiful little orange and black micro moth that after some effort I finally managed to photograph. There were lots of them actually. I think it's Pancalia schwarzella and one of the food plants is Hairy Violet. It wasn't until later that we realised there were probably two species present, the other being Pancalia leuwenhoekella, with obvious white sections to the antennae, which also feeds on Hairy Violet. Both would be new ones for me. However, considering schwarzella is pRDB2 (both photos) and leuwenhoekella is Nb I will get a second opinion. Watch this space! The greatest lesson I learned today though was not to try to attempt Mill Hill without my walking boots, I very nearly ended up at the bottom several times.

Posted in beetles, Mill Hill, moths, plants

6 Response to "Violet and dangerous"

Martin Harvey Says:

Thanks for the violet weevil tip-off, I must go and look for that. And good luck with the Pancalias, I've never been able to convince myself that I've found anything other than leuwenhoekella, but it's always worth checking out.

29 March 2011 at 20:52

Graeme Lyons Says:

Hi Martin
No problems. Is the Violet Weevil quite scarce then? It certainly is a smart looking thing.
Graeme

30 March 2011 at 15:38

Martin Harvey Says:

Don't know if the violet weevil is scarce, probably not, just one of the many species I've not got round to seeing yet! All I need is a few more lifetimes ...

30 March 2011 at 23:27

Graeme Lyons Says:

Well it turns out it is P. schwarzella! I may have gone there looking for Dotted Bee-fly but I got two Nbs and a pRDB2 out of it so I think it's worth a visit for more than just the Violet Weevil. Let me know if you want a grid reference.

1 April 2011 at 16:32

J Everitt Says:

Went up there today Graeme, I counted 11 schwarzella and 3 leuwenhoekella. Also another tiny micro im working on an id for! Cheers for the tip off!

3 April 2011 at 21:39

Graeme Lyons Says:

Cool! The tortrix that is very common up there at the moment, and on the chalk generaly, is Ancylis comptana. A re Pyrausta despicata too but that one is easy. I bet it's the first one you have!

4 April 2011 at 06:46