Gorse Lacebug, Low Ploughlands, 24 July 18
Gorse Lacebug (Dictyonota strichnocera) found on a fencepost at Low Ploughlands near Finglandrigg Wood, 24 July 18.
I'm pretty sure that this is the first lacebug I've ever seen - and what a beauty!
Unfortunately the Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre have recently withdrawn their records from NBN, which means that the general public - including recorders like myself - can no longer access county records via NBN Atlas. Consequently, I've no idea how scarce this species is within Cumbria.
(In theory it's still possible to obtain county records free of charge by filling out a Data Request Form and e-mailing it to CBDC, who will then reply within TEN working days; additionally, this is a Word document which I can only open with Wordpad, and so some of the content is jumbled.)
Note added 1 August 18: I didn't make a note of the surrounding vegetation when I took these photos, but on returning to the same spot today, I noticed that the post the bug was found on was midway between two gorse bushes. I thought this was worth mentioning, as there was no gorse (or broom) in sight when I found my second Dictyonota strichnocera near Gelt Woods two days later!
Gorse Lacebug, Low Ploughlands, 24 July 18
Gorse Lacebug (Dictyonota strichnocera) found on a fencepost at Low Ploughlands near Finglandrigg Wood, 24 July 18.
I'm pretty sure that this is the first lacebug I've ever seen - and what a beauty!
Unfortunately the Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre have recently withdrawn their records from NBN, which means that the general public - including recorders like myself - can no longer access county records via NBN Atlas. Consequently, I've no idea how scarce this species is within Cumbria.
(In theory it's still possible to obtain county records free of charge by filling out a Data Request Form and e-mailing it to CBDC, who will then reply within TEN working days; additionally, this is a Word document which I can only open with Wordpad, and so some of the content is jumbled.)
Note added 1 August 18: I didn't make a note of the surrounding vegetation when I took these photos, but on returning to the same spot today, I noticed that the post the bug was found on was midway between two gorse bushes. I thought this was worth mentioning, as there was no gorse (or broom) in sight when I found my second Dictyonota strichnocera near Gelt Woods two days later!