Jakub Steinhűbel

It is another from the series of extremely hot days. But it is time to go out becouse is Oryctes nasicornis season and I dont want to miss it. This Scarabaeid beetle is common here and in this period of year can be found in profusion throught out whole forest. The beetles can be found mainly in sparse forest or in open xerothermic localities with dead Oak trees. The trees must be in sandy soil and must have naked roots. This is the sine qua non for females to lay eggs. Solitary oak trees are the most theratened becouse of another beetle Cerambix cerdo that larvae developed under the bark drive trees to the death. Around this dead trees or tribes lot of Oryctes beetles can be found. Among the beetles there is wide variety in size and the bigger beetles tend to be in the most suitable trees.  (GPS: 48.58957, 17.28425) Detail of the dead oak tree shows how worn the tree si. The body of both males and females is sturdy. Mainly brown or black coloured. Males have prominent horn ...

As I found myself out of the forest the Tabanid fly Haematopota pluvialis landed on my index finger and started drawing blood. It was little bit itchy as lancet like mandibles were piercing throught my skin but I was holding on. As I was losing blood its flattened abdomen that was hardly seen under wings started to be swollen and showed black pleurites on both sides. The fly body was slender and grey coloured with some camo patern on wings. I noticed the beautiful metallic eyes on its head. Unlike the males the eyes were separated so I identified it as female. Males also dont feed on blood but prefer nectar so can be found on various flowers. After the fly flew away small droplet of blood appeared on my finger. But I expected that. Black pleurites showed on both sides of the abdomen as blood flowed in. U nlike Solenophgy blood feeders that draw blood directly from capillary, Tabanids flies are Telmophagy blood feeders that cut the skin with sharp mandibles and lick running bl...

In Bratislava in botanical garden We found this bee on the ground. At first look I thought it is our common Xylocopa violacea . But its body was slimmer and not so shiny. This bee interrested me so I took it with Me. After closer examination I detremined it as Megachile sculpturalis . This bee is not native to Slovakia, nor Europe. This is invasive species from far East. This finding turns out to be only fourth case in me country and all previous findings were also only few days old. The bee is dark with yellow hairs on thorax and coarse abdomen. Wing are transparent but slightly dim to brown shade. Males have yellow hairs on the front of the head. The female can reach up to 25 mm what is quite impressive size. (GPS: 48.14717, 17.07409)   Detail of the abdomen of the bee posses coarse surface. About the biology: Megachile sculpturalis is solitary living bee that buids its nests in pre existing cavities in wood or artifical holes. Since They dont make the holes by itself sometime...