As with last year I headed up to Martin Down to look for the enigmatic hoverfly Doros profuges, the Phantom Hoverfly, but as per last year there was no sign, I suspect it was a week or two too late but the weather over the last few weeks has been suboptimal and any better spells I was tied up with work. Unsurprisingly there was no sign of Doros but a pleasant morning was had with Dark-green Fritillary new for my butterfly yearlist.
Dark Green Fitillary
Ectophasia crassipennis - A large and spectacular Tachinid fly that has colonised the UK in recent years with the first record in 2019 along the Sussex coast. The species is now reasonably frequent and is best search for on Hogweed flowers.
Robberfly Eutolmus rufibarbis
Downland Villa - Once a rare and localised bee-fly, has undergone a significant range expansion and is now far more widespread and even common at some sites
Common Stiletto-fly
