Insects:
Links UK moths; Hoverfly Recording Scheme; BRISC Bumblebee Identification Page.
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Insects: Links UK moths; Hoverfly Recording Scheme; BRISC Bumblebee Identification Page. |
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Moths and Butterflies of the Outer Hebrides This page contains links to the moths photo gallery which is split into four main titles to aid faster download times. The gallery has been set up to help with moth identification in the Outer Hebrides and to illustrate the current knowledge on their status in the islands. The moths are split into: Geometrids which contains all the species photographed within this family so far; Noctuids which is the largest group and is split into White-line Dart to Red Sword Grass and Dark Brocade to Pinion-streaked Snout; Other moths shows all the macro moths that don't fall into the latter two large families. There is also a gallery of micro moths which also contains the group known as Pyralids. All the files will be expanded on as more shots are catalogued and the distribution of moths in the Outer Hebrides becomes better known. Please forward all record of moths and butterflies to the county recorder for the Outer Hebrides at: steveduffield@hebrides.net Moths Links: UK Moths Butterflies – 16 species have been recorded in total: Clouded Yellow (rare), Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Dark green Fritillary, Grayling, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Large Heath, Speckled Wood (Castle Grounds since 2004), Monarch (4th Oct 1951, Torlum and more recently on Baleshare).
(Dark Green Fritillary) (Red Admiral) (Common Blue) |
Bees, Wasps and Hoverflies
Eristalis interruptus
Helophilus pendulus
56 species of hoverfly have been recorded in the islands
Bombus jonellus / Heath Bumblebee
Five species of bumblebee are commonly seen in the Outer Hebrides: Great Yellow Bumblebee, Garden Bumblebee, Heath Bumblebee, White-tailed Bumblebee and the Moss Carder Bumblebee. Two species of mining bee also occur; Colletes succinctus and Colletes floralis; the latter having a very restricted world distribution
For more information on bees and wasps
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Other creepy crawlies: There are 260 species of arachnids known from the islands of which 106 are spiders and 134 are ticks and mites. Luckily only two of these are ticks, although they can certainly be abundant on the moors in the summer.
(spider at Druidibeg, autumn 2006)
(gossamer, Loch Mor, Benbecula winter 2006)
ichneumon wasp - this group of insects are represented by over 1200 species in the UK. They are parasitic, laying eggs in caterpillars where the larvae feed and develop eventually killing their host before they pupate and hatch into an adult wasp.
Other groups of insects that have been at least partly studied include the beetles (605 species compared with 3,845 in the UK); sawflies (7 species); ants (4 species) and the flies (519 species). There's plenty of creepy crawlies out there with many to be discovered for any one with the inclination. |
Dragonflies and Damselflies: 10 species of Dragonfly / Damselfly have been recorded on the islands although one species, Azure Damselfly has only been recorded from Lewis and is unconfirmed. The resident and widespread species are: Large Red Damselfy (May - early August) Common Blue Damselfly (June- late August) Blue-tailed Damselfy ( June-late August) Common Hawker ( July-late September / early October) Four-spotted Chaser (late May - early August) Common Darter (July - October) Black Darter (July- September)
Black Darter (male)
Highland / Common Darter. Not all authorities recognise Highland
Two other species have been recorded but are scarce; the Golden-ringed Dragonfly and the Emerald Damselfly (recently from Barra).
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