A diminutive find
On 18th August, some of the Entomology Section joined forces with the local wildlife group Action for Wildlife for a “Big Bug Hunt” at the SSI Ouaisné Common.
Pots and nets in hand the enthusiastic group set off, and it wasn’t long before the experts were challenged on their identification skills.
Crickets and grasshoppers had been skilfully outsmarted, butterflies and micro moths, woodlice and spiders. Three types of bumblebee, ladybirds, various bugs and a tiny wasp of no more than 10mm.
The diminutive wasp was the mystery of the morning and after much research that evening it was identified as Pterocheilus phaleratus.
It has only been recorded once in Jersey, back in 1934 on Les Blanches Banques and found no where else in the British Isles.
Needless to say the local Entomologists are delighted with this find and our colleagues in the UK are rather envious!
A great example of Citizen Science involving an enthusiastic group of nature lovers.
All records have been added to the Jersey Biodiversity database.
Alli Singleton
