That chrysocoma is stunning, species has unusual distribution see: hoverfly.uk/hrs/species/...

Brachypalpus laphriformis female

Brachypalpus laphriformis female

Brachypalpus laphriformis ♀ today in Bengeo garden, large nationally scarce species associated with ancient woodland & wood pasture.
110th species of hoverfly recorded here. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #saproxylic

asperifoliarum is predominantly on Green Alkanet here but numbers are always low.

Rhagium mordax

Rhagium mordax today in Bengeo garden. Longhorn beetle season commences here. #Cerambycidae #saproxylic

In Bengeo garden, Herts.

Attractive species that is common nocturnally here.

Sarcophaga sp., not identifiable to species from photos.

Streamer (Anticlea derivata)

Pale Pinion (Lithophane socia)

Frosted Green (Polyploca ridens)

Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)

17 species recorded last night in Bengeo including Streamer (Anticlea derivata), Pale Pinion (Lithophane socia), Frosted Green (Polyploca ridens) & Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria).
@bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth

Sure is, lovely species.

Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Last year this Fox (Vulpes vulpes) was present here much of time from May to October. Today it returned to Bengeo garden. Spent afternoon sunbathing on lawn.

Myathropa florea male

Spring Hoverflies (1): Myathropa florea ♂ back in Bengeo garden today. Earliest record here by one day. @hnhsoc.bsky.social

Originally I thought display fighting but on closer inspection it appeared that one male was desperately trying to escape other's grip.

Warm days in mid March are best time to find Stylops, helps to have good local population.

Stylops sp. male x2

Stylops are very strange with their own order (Strepsiptera). Male Stylops display some of their distinctive characteristics such as only two wings like flies but they are much more closely related to beetles. Their eyes are unique with eyelets rather than usual insect compound eye.

Stylops sp. male x2

Two Stylops sp. males today in Bengeo garden. Males live for only few hours seeking out females on their Andrena bee hosts & so are very rarely observed.
@hans-pohl.bsky.social @vannabartlett.bsky.social #Strepsiptera

This male had emerged elsewhere & was attempting to mate with two females present.

Andrena sp. with winged Stylops sp. male

Very occasionally it is possible to find winged Stylops male.

Andrena sp. showing Stylops sp.

Andrena sp. abdomen showing Stylops sp.

Stylops are one of strangest parasites. Often overlooked, they are not infrequent on some of larger Andrena bees in mid March. This example today in Bengeo garden shows Stylops female visible on last abdominal segment of unfortunate Andrena sp. host. #Strepsiptera

Epistrophe eligans male

Epistrophe eligans male

Epistrophe eligans ♂ today in Bengeo garden, iconic spring hoverfly. Earliest record here by 4 days. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social #SpringHoverflies #climatechange

Typhaeus typhoeus male

Typhaeus typhoeus female x2

Typhaeus typhoeus x3 this morning in Bengeo garden. Males are very distinctive with their 3 prongs.

Species is able to exploit winter availability of dung by digging much deeper burrows in sandy soil. These remain warm even in coldest months of January & February. #MinotaurBeetle #attractedtolight

Acleris literana

8 species recorded last night in Bengeo including Acleris literana. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #teammoth

Drepanepteryx phalaenoides

Nothochrysa capitata

Leopoldius calceatus female

Callicera aurata female

Lastly other notable species in Bengeo garden in 2025: Drepanepteryx phalaenoides, fantastic leaf mimic lacewing; Nothochrysa capitata, large scarce lacewing; Leopoldius calceatus, conopid that has recently colonised UK; Callicera aurata, magnificent scarce hoverfly. @ianbeavis.bsky.social

Bledius spectabilis

Prionocyphon serricornis

Silvanoprus fagi

Stephostethus alternans

Light trapping again produced good beetle records in Bengeo garden from May to August. Highlights included: Bledius spectabilis, Prionocyphon serricornis, Silvanoprus fagi (RDB1) & Stephostethus alternans. @bugmanjones.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social @nottscoleoptera.bsky.social

Alloeotomus gothicus

Miridius quadrivirgatus

Sehirus morio

Sphragisticus nebulosus

Best Heteroptera of 2025 in Bengeo garden were all attracted to light during June & July: Alloeotomus gothicus, Miridius quadrivirgatus, Sehirus morio & Sphragisticus nebulosus. @britishbugs.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social

Prionus coriarius male attracted to light

Xylotrechus antilope female

Best beetles of 2025 in Bengeo garden were both longhorns: Prionus coriarius, truly a giant, & Xylotrechus antilope, european oak species recorded for 2nd year in row here.

This represents c38% of hoverfly species recorded in UK. It is difficult to predict which species may yet appear here. The only common features of these 4 new species is that I have previously recorded them within 2 miles of here at major wildlife sites. Dogwood & Ivy yet again featured.

Cheilosia grossa male (106th species recorded), 6th April 2025 on Cherry Laurel

Melangyna umbellatarum male (107th species recorded), 4th May 2025 on Dogwood

Cheilosia illustrata male (108th species recorded), 16th May 2025 on Dogwood

Pipiza lugubris female (109th species recorded), 19th Sept 2025 on Ivy

109 species of hoverfly now recorded in Bengeo garden with 4 additions during 2025: Cheilosia grossa (106), Melangyna umbellatarum (107), Cheilosia illustrata (108) & Pipiza lugubris female (109). @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

Single garden record from last year when one flew onto my shirt.

Very rare now in SE England, only recorded in single hectad since 2020 see hoverfly.uk/hrs/species/...

Wonderful species, 15 records in garden + 2 further records locally. Always single males. Hertford-Broxbourne area is one of its national strongholds.