Wednesday 14 September 2016

Paracraspedothrix montivaga - 2nd Scottish record

While attempting to net some kind of Syrphid at Cullaloe this was swept up in the net alongside it. Later emptying of pooter contents revelaed a tiny tachinid, not more than 5mm long, which eventually came out to Paracraspedothrix montivaga. This species wasn't in the RES key as it hadn't been recorded in Britain at the time the key was written. Thanks to Chris Raper's personal intervention and his revised key it was identified. Further investigation revealed I had been beaten to the punch and one record is alreaedy on the way to publication in Dipterist Digest. Well, there's always a next time!


Slime Mold - Didymium squamulosum

The reserve doesn't have a big slime mold list. This magnificent beast was found on the stem of dead water horsetail at the pond margin