Callicera spinolae

A recently posted photograph of a Callicera from South Woodham Ferrers caused me quite a lot of excitement.

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/rivercrouchwalker/8073739710/in/set-72157631737373239

Might it be C. spinolae? I suspected that it was as the date is right, but males are not easy to identify from photographs. I sent the link to Steve Falk who also felt this was the likely identity and posted accordingly.

Are we right? Take a look and see what you think - it will go into the Recording scheme with a slight level of caution attached. For me this is a good example of how a non-specialist can make a valuable observation - whether this is C. aurata or C. spinolae is somewhat immaterial as it shows how a rarely seen species can be picked up by casual observations.