I still call it Strangalia quadrifasciata although I rather suspect it’s been shunted through several different genera over the last 30 years. I still regard it as a scarce species, much more restricted than the common ‘wasp’ longhorn, S. maculata which turns up in gardens, on roadsides and in woodland rides all over the place.
There are lots of them out today, on Addington Hills, near Croydon. This open space marks just about the eastern end of the Surrey heaths.
Also today, my first marbled white of the year, which ever of the native cockroaches, Ectobius species, occurs on acid grassland and Noeeta pupilata, a pretty and pretty scarce picture-wing fly.
Not bad for about the only day this month, so far, with no rain.
Richard Jones
