February 21, 2022

December 26, 2020

Plans for 2021

Local areas

Kogelberg (St. Margareten) [Map]
http://www.st-margarethen.at/tourismus/aktuelles/archiv/detail/article/koglberg-st-margarethen/

Pischelsdorfer Wiesen [wetland, semi-arid grassland] [Map]
https://www.noe-naturschutzbund.at/pischelsdorfer-fischawiesen.html

Marzer Kogel, Teichwiesen [Map]
http://burgenlandflora.at/schutzgebiet/hangwiesen-rohrbach-loipersbach-schattendorf/
http://burgenlandflora.at/schutzgebiet/geschuetzter-lebensraum-mattersburger-kogel/

Eichkogel (Mödling) [Map]
Goldene Stiege (Mödling) [Map]

Malleitenberg (Wöllersorf) [xerothermic pine forest] [Map]

Hermannskogel (Wien) [beech forest] [Map]

Steinstückl/Ochsenriegel/Kienberg [serpentmite bedrock] [Map]
http://burgenlandflora.at/wandertouren/tour-1/

Teichalm [montane forests, meadows] [Map]

Steyersberger Schwaig, Hochwechsel [montane and subalipine forests and meadows] [Map]

Neusiedlersee Ostufer
Lange Lacke [meadows, steppes, salt sites, wetlands] [Map]

Schlosspark Eisenstadt [large old trees with many rotholes] [Map]

Leiser Berge, Buschberg [Map]

Hochmoore im Waldviertel
https://www.waldviertel.at/natur-moore

Engelsberg, Winzendorf [Map]
Großer Kitzberg, Waidmannsfeld/Pernitz [Map]
Schlosspark Pottendorf [large old trees] [Map]
Schmuckerau, Wiener Neustadt [Urban aera, old trees, wetland] [Map]
Kalenderberg Mödling [xerothermic pine fores] [Map]

Naturschutzgebiet Thenau, Breitenbrunn [Map]
Anninger Ostabhang, Pfaffstätten/Gumpoldskirchen [Map]
Michelberg, Haselbach [Map]

Tattendorf https://www.insekten-vielfalt-tattendorf.at/
Föllig, Großhöflein [Map]

Anyone how is interested in is welcomed to join me, I will go by car there, pick-up/drop-off at a train station is possible

Posted on December 26, 2020 11:49 AM by waldgeist waldgeist | 0 comments | Leave a comment

August 18, 2020

Unknown Tachinids - ID help needed!

It would be fine if someone could ID those tachinids down to genus level if possible.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?lrank=family&place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=51953&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any

Posted on August 18, 2020 12:17 PM by waldgeist waldgeist | 1 comment | Leave a comment

August 13, 2020

General Notes on my observations

Several species are unterrepresented in my observations. If they do not appear that often in my observations it does not mean that they occour with the same frequency in my area. They are usually quite common. I usually take photos of flower visiting or resting insects in areas with decent light condition.

This affects in general:

Everything living in shadowed or dark environment
Most tiny insects below 2mm size.
Apis melifera
Vespula sp.
Polistes sp.
Formicidae
Heteroptera
Oxythyrea funesta
Cetonia aurata
Nematocera
Arachnida
Haematopota pluvialis

Literature I'm using:
Hoverflies of Northwest Europe by M.P. van Venn, 2004
Britains Hoverflies by Stuart Bell and Roger Morris, 2014
Manual of Central European Muscidae (Diptera), 2016

Posted on August 13, 2020 05:51 PM by waldgeist waldgeist | 0 comments | Leave a comment

August 5, 2020

Horse manure fauna

Horse manure is a quite interesting habitat for a number of insects

Diptera

Pyrellia rapax: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=1006806&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any
Pyrellia vivida: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=466463&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any
Brontaea (Gymnodia) polystigma: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=946399&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any
Neomyia cornicina: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=129218&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any
Neomyia viridescens: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=516705&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any
Polietes domitor: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=714021&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any
Polietes lardarius: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=855026&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any
Sphaeroceridae: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=177496&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any
Scathophaga stercoraria: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=132718&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any
Asilus crabroniformis: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=465458&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any

Coleoptera

Ontholestes murinus: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=458194&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any
Creophilus maxillosus: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=82463&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any
Aphodius sp.: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&taxon_id=130590&user_id=waldgeist&verifiable=any

Posted on August 5, 2020 11:24 AM by waldgeist waldgeist | 1 comment | Leave a comment

October 23, 2019

Literature collection (on insects in Austria)

The tachinid collection Friedrich A. Wachtl (Diptera: Tachinidae)
https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/VeroeffFerd_84_0181-0236.pdf

Revision der Gattung Onesia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Beitraege-zur-Entomologie_14_0915-0938.pdf

Rote Liste der gefährdeten Tachiniden Steiermarks (Diptera, Tachinidae)
https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/MONO-NATURSCH_MN6_0131-0134.pdf

Tachinidae key
https://archive.org/details/biostor-97167

Observations on the distinctions between Polietes lardarius (Fabricius) and Polietes meridionalis Peris & Llorente (Diptera: Muscidae)
http://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2016/vol4issue6/PartK/4-6-68-106.pdf

Calliphoridae key (UK)
http://www.stevenfalk.co.uk/files/21577/testkeytobritishblowflies132016.pdf
https://www.dipterists.org.uk/sites/default/files/download/Calliphoridae%20forensic%20species%202019.pdf

Posted on October 23, 2019 09:12 AM by waldgeist waldgeist | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 5, 2019

Another two observation days

Work from home is quite fine - one can go outside at noon, when insect activity, expecially flies, reaches its peak. Even on relatively cold, windy and cloudy days like Friday (4th) and Saturday (5th October). If temperature is something around +16, 17°C flies like to busk in the (invisible) sun on large leaves - in my case the leaves of the - now in the fall slowly decaying - pumpkin plants of my landlord. The growing mold on the leaves seems to attract quit a lot of flies. Erigeron and Achillea are still blossoming.

Posted on October 5, 2019 06:21 PM by waldgeist waldgeist | 120 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 1, 2019

Rare Phasiinae of September 2019

Erigeron sp. seems to attract a lot Phasiinae, even some quite rare species.

Posted on October 1, 2019 10:39 PM by waldgeist waldgeist | 3 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 1st, 2019

Very windy, try and sunny - around +20°C. Unfortunately too windy for sharp and usefull fotos.
A lot of Phasiinae still around (expecially Phasia obesa and Ectophasia sp.), a lot of "green" flies (Lucillia sp, Neomyia sp, Pyrellia sp., ...), many Bellardia sp. and a few hoverflies - Eristalis tenax, Eristalix arbustorum, Sphaerophoria sp, Episyrphus balteatus and the ubiquitous Syritta pipiens (no photo, as they hover around all the time) - most on Erigeron sp. and Achillea sp.

Posted on October 1, 2019 10:07 PM by waldgeist waldgeist | 22 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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