Lasius fuliginosus, Jet Ant

The intricacies of insect life cycles continue to amaze me! Today I noticed a stream of black ants along the fence on the edge of our lane and decided to try and photograph them. I later identified them as the Jet Ant Lasius fuliginosus with their heart-shaped head and shiny black body. The Jet Ant queen is incapable of founding a colony on her own - she makes use of an existing Lasius umbratus nest, which in turn would have been founded in a Lasius niger nest. Not sure what they are carrying ?larvae -will update when find out!!

Too late to include this tale in my lecture at Paxton Pits tomorrow (Thursday 1st May) on the Amazing World of Insects (see poster) but certainly a candidate for later versions!!

Blue Damselflies and Other Insects at Paxton

This morning, we were doing a wildlife survey in the Gully area at Paxton  - the weather was decidedly chilly and breezy so no Butterflies or Dragon/Damselflies but we recorded quite a variety of Insects, Flowers and Birds including a very vocal Nightingale - let's hope he finds a mate. I think the Mining Bees were the stars photographically (Andrena haemorrhoides and Colletes cunicularis)!! In the afternoon, I took a short walk along Meadow Trail and found two Common Blue Damsels and one Variable Damselfly - all looking rather cold

Paxton Survey - Sanctuary

I did a survey of the sanctuary and the Meadow along side it on Thursday as I could't go on Saturday.Here are some of the more confiding insect and spider species - over 50 more or less identified.

More Small Invertebrates

Pruning the Buddleias yesterday took a very long time as each branch needed to be beaten to dislodge any insects etc, some of which I photographed and most of which were minute like this exquisite Leafhopper and the Rough Woodlouse. The Spider and Centipede were dislodged from our low brick wall while tidying the ivy - wonderful brick coloration!

Mini Garden Invertebrates

An interest in invertebrates can be a serious impediment to any gardening activity. I started to cut down some of the dead plants in the garden but decided to shake them to dislodge any creatures before putting in the green waste bins - a mistake as an hour later I was still photogaphing the abundant spider, snail and other mini-life - some 10 species of spiders alone!!