Insekter på Nólsoy/ Færøerne.

INVERTEBRATES

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BUTTERFLIES

NEW SPECIES OF BUMBLEBEE FOUND BREEDING IN THE FAROE ISLANDS

The first bumblebee that we know of, was caught in the Faroe Islands in 1887. Since then there have been some very few observations from some of the different islands. Lately there has been an increasing amount of bumblebee observations, and even if we have no proof, everything interprets, that they breed here.
Bumblebee has breed in the Faroes in the past, especially in the Viking Age, when the climate was warmer then now.
In Iceland they had 3 different species of bumblebees, but this year the variety of species have increased with 2 new breeding species, counting 5 in all. In Shetland they have 6 different species.
The different species of bumblebee looks different as well as they vary in size and colour. Some are yellow and white striped and other are black and red behind. They do have one thing in common, they are built strong, they hum and they are hairy.
I am collecting all information’s about bumblebees in the Faroes, and in that connection I am interested in hearing from people who see or have seen bumblebees, perhaps have a photo or even might have caught one.
I am interested in any kind of information!
Contact me on phone 327064, e-mail jkjensen@olivant.fo or nolsoy@gmail.com

Updated 14. July 2010: I was nearly bombarded with information’s from all over the country after the bulletin about bumblebees was spread in the news in the Faroese television "Dagur & Vika" 06. July. Everybody believed, they had or had seen bumblebees in their garden. Some were right, although most of the “bumblebees” showed to be Eristalis intricarius. Even if I am far from finished double-checking all the information’s, I can conclude, that bumblebees are breeding in the Faroe Islands, and I am of course still interested in any kind of information’s about this matter.

Updated 04. February 2012: The bumblebee species Bombus lucorum (Linnaeus, 1761) was observed breeding in the Faroe Islands for the first time in 2011. The breeding locations were in Strendur and Runavík in Eysturoy.

Eristalis pertinax (Scopoli, 1763)

By seing these photographs it is easy to understand, how the hooverflies operate as transporters of the seed between the flowers.

BEDSTRAW HAWK-MOTH Hyles galii (Rottemburg, 1775) (No 6855)

Drotningarfirvaldur / Hyles galii (Rottemburg, 1775) (No 6855)

On 08. July 2011 Sonne Johannesen caught this Bedstraw Hawk-moth, as he was passing Lítla Dímun on board the vessel Norðlýsið. This is the 6 observation of Bedstraw Hawk-moth in the Faroe Islands.

The day after - 09. July, Eva Andersen, Strendur, photographed 1 Bedstraw Hawk-moth in her garage, so at least 2 Bedstraw Hawk-moth's have been in the Faroe Islands at the same time.

WASP BEETLE Clytus arietis

I caught this beautiful Longhorn Beetle Clytus arietis in my own basement in Nólsoy 20. April 2011. It's name Wasp Beetle comes from the look.

NEW ZEALAND FLATWORM Artioposthia triangulata

LEOPARD SLUG Limax maximus

Do not kill the Leopard slug!

Read a very interesting Norwegian article with English summary

You ought to be very careful not to collect any Leopard slug Limax maximus when you are collecting Spanish slugs Arion lusitanicus in your garden, because the Leopard slug is an enemy of the Spanish slug.
Some Leopard slugs looks as the dark one on the photo, while other have long spots, so they look as a leopard on the skin. A Spanish slug has a plain colour without any spots, and often their head is darker then the body.
The Leopard slug is fairly new for the Faroe Islands as well. It was observed for the first time in 2003 and has spread to Klaksvík, Funningsfjørður, Toftir, Eiði, Kirkjubø, Kollafjørður and Tórshavn.
New Norwegian studies have proved, that Leopard slugs and Spanish slugs don’t get along at all. The Leopard slug eats the egg of the Spanish slug, the small Spanish slugs and licks and bites the fully grown Spanish slug as well. The result is a great decrease of Spanish slugs in the garden.
The Leopard snail feeds on the same plants as the common black Faroese slug, so he is a very good and strong assistant to have in your garden in the fight against the destructive Spanish slug.

Spanish slug Arion lusitanicus

THE FIRST DRAGONFLY IS OBSERVED IN FAROE ISLANDS

On 13. April 2011 this Vagrant Emperor Anax ephippiger landed on Lúkka and Bjørn Patursson boat, as they were sailing from Koltur to Kirkjubøur. Adrian Parr determined the specie. Vagrant Emperor lives in Africa and Asia and is known for migranting to South- and mideurope. It has breed as North as in Denmark.

Hjørdis & Tekla Atladóttir, Sandoy

15.04.2011 Tekla Atladóttir found a Dragonfly in Hornsbønum on Sandoy. Two days later she and her sister came on a visit together with their father where they handed me the Dragonfly. It appeared to be the second Vagrant Emperor, found in the Faroe Islands in 2011.

Hertha Ravnsfjall from Sandavágur put the washing out to dry Tuesday 13. April 2011. Later, when she wanted to fold it, a Dragonfly flew out of the laundry. Hans Ravnsfjall took this very fine photo of the Dragonfly, which made it possible for me to determine the species. Also it will be used to proof the third visit of a Anax ephippiger in Faroe Islands in 2011.

TARANTULA

On 29. March 2011 Poul Eyðun Joensen found the remains of this Tarantula in a parking space in Fuglefjørður. The spider measures app. 16 cm. between the legs. Karl Hansen notified me about "this catch", which must be the biggest spider ever found outdoor in the Faroe Islands.

But how did this Tarantula end up in Fuglafjørður? Could it have been imported with goods or is it somebody's pet, that have escaped from captivity? Please contact me in case you have some information.

Update 07.04.2011: The mystery is solved!

The Tarantula was a 3 year old Chorco golden Knee female, recently held as a pet by Petur Hansen in Norðagøta. When the spider died, he gave it to a friend, who later throwed it away in Fuglafjørður.

LAVEWING Wesmalius nervosus

Only one species of Lacewing breeds in Faroe Islands and that is Wesmalius nervosus. This on the photo was caught by Dánial Jespersen in Tórshavn 06. October 2010.

Cyphostethus tristriatus (Fabricius, 1787)

Cyphostethus tristriatus (Fabricius, 1787) is often imported on Christmas trees and other branches, used for Christmas decorations. I - Jens-Kjeld - am very interested in any kind of information about Shieldbugs, found in Faroe Islands, so kindly contact me in case you find any.

Link to relevant article about the subject by Jens-Kjeld and S. Tolsgaard

Propylaea 14-punctata

Gunnar Bjarnason found this 14-spotted Ladybug Propylaea 14-punctata indoor in Tórshavn in the beginning of November 2010.

Bluebottle ♀ Calliphora vicina

Calliphora vicina is the most common Bluebottle in the Faroe Islands, and it is caught on every island except Lítla Dímun.

Nuctenea umbratica

Kári Petersen, Sandur, caught this big Nuctenea umbratica female near Skopun. Nuctenea umbratica is found 5 times in the Faroe Islands, but this is the first time, it is found in Sandoy. The site, where it was found, could very well be it's breeding place, but we have no proves yet.

Cepaea hortensis

05.10.2010 Hans Eli Sivertsen found this Cepaea hortensis (Müller 1774) in Argir. This species is found several times in the Faroe Islands lately, but it is the first time, that the yellow form is found.

Araneus quadratus

Dánial Jespersen found this Araneus quadratus (Clerck, 1757) in Tórshavn 07.10.2010. This spider is only found some few times indoors in the Faroe Islands.

Enoplognatha ovata

This Enoplognatha ovata was on a plant, that Jacoba T. Winther got 01. September 2010. Far to many insects are imported to the Faroe Islands this way.

HORNTAIL Urocerus gigas

This female Horntail was caught outside a timber yard in Tórshavn 01. September 2010. Horntails are imported to the Faroe Islands for example as pupaes inside the imported timber.

Cepaea nemoralis

24. August 2010 Agnethe Jacobsen found this photographed Cepaea nemoralis (L. 1758) under a stone beside the house of Jákup av Skarði in Nólsoy. This is the second time, that I have seen Cepaea nemoralis in the Faroes.
Several Arianta arbustorum were found around in the village of Nólsoy this summer, so it is clear, that they are doing fine.

LONGHORN BEETLE Cerambycidae

This amazing alive Longhorn beetle entered Faroe Islands in the foot of this wood miniature sculpture - produced in China, which Fríðgerð Stakkslíð bought in Tórshavn.
Longhorn beetles caterpillars can live in the dry wood for many years, until they first reach the stage of a pupa and then a fully grown Longhorn beetle. There are more than 20.000 different Longhorn beetles, so I don’t know the accurate name of this one.

Helophilus pendulus (Linnaeus, 1758)

GARDEN TIGER Arctia caja (Linnaeus, 1758)

Birthe Nedergaard found this Garden Tiger on Nólsoy 03. July 2010. Garden Tiger is only found twice in the nature and once probably imported, so it is very rare in the Faroe Islands.

Steatoda bipunctata

Steatoda bipunctata is an introduced spider, only found in Suðuroy, Streymoy, Nólsoy and Eysturoy. It is found in high number in some large buildings, but it is not considered as common in the Faroes. Hans Eli Sivertsen caught this male 19.11.2009 and Jørgen Lissner determined the species.

DEATH'S-HEAD HAWK-MOTH Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758)

On 10.09.2009 this photographed Death's-Head Hawk moth was caught in Miðvágur. Seven years old Tóra Mouritsen sent it to me for closer examination. The first Death's-Head Hawk moth was caught 20. October 1933 and this is the ninth observation for the Faroe Islands.

COMMON WASP Vespula vulgaris

In 2000 the must discussed subject in the Faroe Islands was, whether the wasps would survive the winter. I don't think, anybody is in doubt today...

Here you can read the Faroese article from 2001, published in Frøði, "Verða vespurnar verandi" which is still most relevant.

Nuctenea umbratica

Edith Petersen found this beautiful Nuctenea umbratica spider in Tórshavn 10.08.2009. This is the 4'th observation of this spider in Faroe Islands.

PAINTED LADY Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)

The first Painted ladies Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758) arrived in the morning 30. May 2009, and they were observed all over Faroe Islands. The invasion seems to continue, since today - 08. June - we still see them all over in large numbers.

This is definitely the biggest invasion I have seen in the last 40 years.

Also we have seen some Red admirals Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758), since the invasion started on 30. May.

Among other interesting things 2 Striped hawk moths Hyles livornica (Esper, 1779) were caught. Silver Y Autographa gamma (Linnaeus, 1758) has also lately been observed.

Here are two interesting links about the same invasion:

English link: Butterfly-conservation

Icelandic link: Náttúrufræðistofnun Ísland

Cepaea nemoralis

23. May 2009 Karin Fuglø á Husamørk found this beautiful Cepaea nemoralis (L. 1758) snail in the village Kirkja on Fugloy. This is the first time that I have seen this snail in the Faroes.

Cepaea nemoralis closest relative is Cepaea hortensis (Müller 1774). I have seen a single species occasionally, but I have never found them breeding.

On the photographs with the 2 snails, the large Cepaea nemoralis is beside the smaller, but fully grown relative Cepaea hortensis.

WEEVIL

A lot of plants, trees, fruits and vegetables are imported to the Faroe Islands almost without any restriction. As a side effect a lot of creepy crawlers are imported such as this not yet determined weevil, found in a supermarket at christmas 2008.

LIGIA OCEANICA

Høgni Thomsen found this woodlouse in Nólsoy 31.12.2008.
4 species of woodlice are registered in the Faroe Islands, whereof Ligia oceanica is the largest.

Jumping spider Salticidae

Jógvan Niclasen caught this impressive Jumping spider in a grocery store in Tórshavn 16. September 2008. It is a young female Philaeus chrysops (det. Rudolf Macek, Czech Republic).

Most likely the spider is a South-european species, hereby registered for the first time in the Faroe Islands.

See Jørgen Lissner complete site with Faroese spiders

INVASION OF HOVERFLIES

Neistabressa

Reðurbressa

Sunnanbressa

Tvírandabressa

Nólsoy 5. juli 2008

After a week with Eastern winds, the biggest invasion - as far as I know, of migrating hoverflies arrived in the Faroes.
95 % were of the species Metasyrphus corollae. Status: Common migrant in the Faroe Islands.
2 % were of the species Scaeva pyrastri. Status: Only registered 2 times earlier in the Faroe Islands.
2 % were of the species Episyrphus balteatus. Status: Common migrant in the Faroe Islands.
1% were of the species Syrphus vitripennis. Status: Rare migrant in the Faroe Islands.

I counted 23 Metasyrphus corollae in 4 square metres, and that is a lot in Faroe Islands.

COMPLETE LIST WITH FAROESE MOTH AND BUTTERFLY NAMES

Annleyg Patursson and Jens-Kjeld Jensen have spent a lot of time and effort finding the right names for the Faroese moths and butterflies. They are still busy finding new names for the new "Faroese" butterflies, so even though they finished the updating of this list already in in 2002, it will be updated regularly.

COMPLETE LIST WITH FAROESE HOVERFLY NAMES

Yet again Jens-Kjeld Jensen has made an effort for the Faroese nature by registrating and naming the Faroese hoverflies.

Name and checklist of the Faroese hoverflies.

Alopecosa pulverulenta

24.05.2008 Jóannes Joensen, Klaksvík, made, what I call "a real coup", when he found this rare spider in Kalsoy. Alopecosa pulverulenta has been found 3 times earlier in the Faroes - in Vágoy and Svínoy; but this is the first catch in Kalsoy. All of the 4 spiders found in the Faroes until now have been females.

Family: Lycosidae (Wolf Spiders)
This family is represented in Europe with 260 species in 23 genera.

14 new species of Lepidoptera were found in the Faroe Islands in 2004
The first Diarsia rubi (Vieweg, 1790) for Faroe Islands. A male found in Kunoy 21. or 22. July.			The first male of Aethes smeathmanniana (Fabricius, 1781) was found in Nólsoy 09. August 2004.
Read the pdf file

Recently ants and grasshopper are found in the Faroe Islands
Read the ant article			Read the grasshopper article