Empicoris vagabundus, Finglandrigg Wood Nature Reserve, 25 August 18 (3 of 4)
Empicoris vagabundus found on a fencepost at the edge of woodland to the south of Little Bampton Common in the Finglandrigg Wood Nature Reserve, 25 August 18.
I didn't even know what Order of insect this belonged to when I first had a look at it with my magnifier, and I almost dismissed it as a crane fly of some sort. However, after a closer examination I spotted the rostrum and eventually realised what it was - my first Assassin Bug!
All shots were taken using the integral camera on my SX10D microscope with the insect alive: Photo 1 at 10x, Photos 2 and 3 at 20x, and Photo 4 at 40x magnification. It was measured at 6.4mm in length.
The photos might have their flaws but they're the best of about 200 taken over several sessions spread over two days, and in view of the challenges involved I'm very happy with them!
As the CBDC have withdrawn county data from NBN, I don't know how scarce this bug is within Cumbria. Although Tullie House has 8 preserved specimens of Empicoris vagabundus, only one of these appears to have been collected from within the county (from Durdar to the south of Carlisle) and this was in 1941. Make of that what you will!
(See Photo 1 for note on identification.)
Empicoris vagabundus, Finglandrigg Wood Nature Reserve, 25 August 18 (3 of 4)
Empicoris vagabundus found on a fencepost at the edge of woodland to the south of Little Bampton Common in the Finglandrigg Wood Nature Reserve, 25 August 18.
I didn't even know what Order of insect this belonged to when I first had a look at it with my magnifier, and I almost dismissed it as a crane fly of some sort. However, after a closer examination I spotted the rostrum and eventually realised what it was - my first Assassin Bug!
All shots were taken using the integral camera on my SX10D microscope with the insect alive: Photo 1 at 10x, Photos 2 and 3 at 20x, and Photo 4 at 40x magnification. It was measured at 6.4mm in length.
The photos might have their flaws but they're the best of about 200 taken over several sessions spread over two days, and in view of the challenges involved I'm very happy with them!
As the CBDC have withdrawn county data from NBN, I don't know how scarce this bug is within Cumbria. Although Tullie House has 8 preserved specimens of Empicoris vagabundus, only one of these appears to have been collected from within the county (from Durdar to the south of Carlisle) and this was in 1941. Make of that what you will!
(See Photo 1 for note on identification.)