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478 Views 7 Replies Last post: Jun 12, 2013 10:26 AM by TRW

TRW

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Jun 12, 2013 9:36 AM

Beetle (?) larvae & Bird ID

Any help in identifying these 2 species would be much appreciated.

The larvae were found near still water & had stripped the plant on which they were feeding. They had recently passed through another instar & a photo of their moults is attached.

The Bird (an apalling, distant photo I know) I thought could simply be a Tree Pipit? Except that the disproportionately large bill doesn't fit ...

Attachments:

Unid Bird 01 June '13 Pewsey Downs (5) - Copy.JPG (101.2 K)
IMG_5629 - Copy.JPG (164.2 K)
IMG_5626 - Copy.JPG (175.2 K)

Tags: identification

bombuslucorum - Museum ID team

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Jun 12, 2013 9:41 AM (in response to TRW)
Re: Beetle (?) larvae & Bird ID

I would say that the beetle larvae are chrysomelids (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), but can you recall what plant they were feeding on as they are usually reasonably host specific?

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bombuslucorum - Museum ID team

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Jun 12, 2013 9:45 AM (in response to TRW)
Re: Beetle (?) larvae & Bird ID

I also meant to say that they do not look dissimilar to Gastrophysa viridula, the Green Dock beetle, but the plant does not necessarily look like dock. That said there are so many leaf-beetles that their larvae tend to look pretty similar.

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TRW

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Jun 12, 2013 9:49 AM (in response to TRW)
Re: Beetle (?) larvae & Bird ID

OK, thanks. Unfortunately there were so many larvae & so little plant material left, I have no idea what it was

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- bombuslucorum - Museum ID team
  
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  Jun 12, 2013 9:50 AM (in response to TRW)
  Re: Beetle (?) larvae & Bird ID
  
  The swines!
  
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TRW

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Jun 12, 2013 9:51 AM (in response to TRW)
Re: Beetle (?) larvae & Bird ID

Indeed!

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Florin - Museum ID team

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Jun 12, 2013 10:15 AM (in response to TRW)
Re: Beetle (?) larvae & Bird ID

Hello,
The bird is a pipit, and I don't see enough details for a proper ID, but I think that Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris is likely.
Yours,
Florin

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TRW

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Jun 12, 2013 10:26 AM (in response to TRW)
Re: Beetle (?) larvae & Bird ID

Thanks Florin - nothing to get excited about but a new bird for me nonetheless

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Jun 12, 2013 9:36 AM

Beetle (?) larvae & Bird ID

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