The Hedgecourt Nature Reserve's Common Invertebrates
All the common invertebrates found at Hedgecourt Nature Reserve.
Heineken Fly
Rhingia campestris is a species of hoverfly, 7–11 millimetres (0.3–0.4 in) long, with a wingspan of 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in). It is common in many parts of Europe from March until November. It has a broad orange abdomen with a black line along the sides (the black line is absent along the sides of Rhingia rostrata), and has the distinctive long snout of all Rhingia ...more ↓
Dangling Swamp-Lover
Helophilus pendulus is a European hoverfly. Its scientific name means "dangling sun-lover" (from Greek Helios, "sun", -phil, "love", Latin pend-, "hang"). It is a very common species in Britain, where it is the commonest Helophilus species; it occurs as far north as the Shetland Islands. It is also found in Ireland.
Comma
The Comma (Polygonia c-album) is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae. Its irregular wing edges are characteristic of the Polygonia genus, which is why they are commonly called anglewings. It is found in northern Africa and across Europe from Portugal through Asia as far as Japan. Its dorsal wings are colourful but its underside has a pattern ...more ↓
Speckled Wood
The Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic ecozone. The species is subdivided into multiple subspecies, including Pararge aegeria aegeria,Pararge aegeria tricis, Pararge aegeria oblita, and Pararge aegeria insula. The coloration of this butterfly varies between ...more ↓
Common Blue Damselfly
The Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) is a European damselfly. The species can reach a length of 32 to 35 mm (1.3 to 1.4 in). It is common in all of Europe, except for Iceland.
Migrant Hawker
The Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) is one of the smaller species of hawker dragonflies. It can be found away from water but for breeding it prefers still or slow-flowing water and can tolerate brackish sites. The flight period is from July to the end of October. A. mixta occurs in North Africa, southern and central Europe to the Baltic region.
Common Darter
The Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae native to Eurasia. It is one of the most common dragonflies in Europe, occurring in a wide variety of water bodies, though with a preference for breeding in still water such as ponds and lakes. In the south of its range adults are on the wing all year round.
Emperor Dragonfly
The Emperor Dragonfly or Blue Emperor,Anax imperator, is a large species of hawker dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae, averaging 78 millimetres (3.1 in) in length. It is found mainly in Europe and nearby Africa and Asia.
Small Dusty Wave
The Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is found throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. In the British Isles it is common in England and Wales but is only found in the eastern half of Scotland and is absent from Ireland.
Garden Grass-veneer
The Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It is found in Europe.
Small Tortoiseshell
The Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae L.) is a colourful and well-known Eurasian butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.
Meadow Brown
The Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina, is a butterfly found in the Palearctic ecozone. Its range includes Europe south of 62 N, Russia eastwards to the Urals, Asia Minor, Iraq, Iran, North Africa and the Canary Islands. The larvae feed on grasses.
Gatekeeper
The Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus), sometimes called the Hedge Brown, is most commonly found in South and East Britain, and confined to coastal areas of south and southeast Ireland. It is also found in the Channel Islands, but not in Scotland nor the Isle of Man. Given its preference for warmer weather, it can be assumed that the restriction of range expansion is due to ...more ↓
Green Shield Bug
The green shield bug (Palomena prasina) is a shield bug of the family Pentatomidae. It may also be referred to as a green stink bug, particularly outside of Britain, although the name green stink bug more appropriately belongs to the larger North American stink bug, Acrosternum hilare. The adult green shield bug ranges in the colour of their backs from bright green to ...more ↓
Dock Bug
Coreus marginatus is a herbivorous species of True Bug in the family Coreidae. It is commonly known as the dock bug as it feeds on the leaves and seeds of docks and sorrels. It is a medium-sized speckled brown insect, between 13 to 15 mm long as an adult, with a broad abdomen. It occurs throughout Europe, Asia and northern Africa. It is often found in dense vegetation, ...more ↓
Common Red Soldier Beetle
The common red soldier beetle, also misleadingly known as the bloodsucker beetle,Rhagonycha fulva, is a species of soldier beetle (Cantharidae).
Ringlet
Note that information on this species applies to Western Europe and some details may not be consistent with the species in other parts of its range.
Empis livida
Empis livida is a species of dance fly, in the fly family Empididae. Males range from 7.5–9.3 millimetres (0.30–0.37 in), females 7.5–10.2 millimetres (0.30–0.40 in). The male's abdomen is brownish, and his wings appear faintly brown and clouded. The female's abdomen is gray and her wings are clear.E. livida lives in hedgerows, feeding on the nectar of several species of ...more ↓
Black-lined Skimmer
The black-tailed skimmer, Orthetrum cancellatum, is a European and Asian dragonfly. It occurs nearly all over Europe except northern UK and Scandinavia; to the east, the range extends to Kashmir and Mongolia.
Elophila nymphaeata
The Brown China Mark (Elophila nymphaeata) is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It is found in Europe. The moth is notable as its larva, like most members of the crambid subfamily Acentropinae, is aquatic and has tracheal gills.
White-legged Damselfly
The White-legged Damselfly or Blue Featherleg, Platycnemis pennipes, is a damselfly of slow-flowing, muddy waters. It occurs from the Atlantic to Siberia and is often abundant throughout its range.
Common Earwig
Forficula auricularia, the common earwig or European earwig, is an omnivorous insect in the family Forficulidae. The European earwig survives in a variety of environments and is a common household insect in North America. The name "earwig" comes from a false superstition that these insects crawl into human ears and enter the brain; in fact, they are harmless to ...more ↓
Cepaea (Cepaea) nemoralis
Cepaea is a genus of medium-sized air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Helicidae, the typical snails. The shells of species within this genus are often brightly colored and patterned with stripes.
Red Admiral
The Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) is a well-known colourful butterfly, found in temperate Europe, Asia and North America. The Red Admiral has a 45–50 mm (1.8–2.0 in) wing span. The species is resident only in warmer areas, but migrates north in spring, and sometimes again in autumn.
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis is a large coccinellid beetle. Its colour ranges from yellow-orange to black, and the number of spots between none and 22. It is native to eastern Asia, but has been artificially introduced to North America and Europe to control aphids and scale insects. It is now common, well known, and spreading in those regions, and has also established in South Africa and ...more ↓
