A diary of wildlife on Banstead Downs

Explore the diverse flora and fauna on the Downs from season to season through personal observations and photographs

Category: Scorpionflies

Scorpionflies, named after the upturned tail of the male, which looks like a scorpion’s sting but is quite harmless.

Thursday, 22 May 2025

male Scorpion Fly

The Cuckoo has gone silent (or maybe just gone). Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) was out in large numbers today and new insects were a jewel beetle, the Oak Borer (Agrilus angustulus) and having first seen it at Warnham Nature Reserve 9 days ago I have now recorded Scorpion Fly (Panorpa communis) on the Downs.   […]

Tuesday, 13 May 2025 – Warnham Nature Reserve

Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly resting on sedge

Something different today. I spent the morning at the Warnham Nature Reserve, near Horsham in West Sussex. I will just post a gallery of some of the things that you cannot or may not see on Banstead Downs.                                   […]