Spring is Progressing with Damselfly Pairing and Painted Lady

The Jumping Spiders have really thrived in the hot dry weather and whenever I am weeding, whether at ground level or, as here, in the currant bushes, one of them is eyeing me up. Fortunately he caught a leaf hopper soon after this. First Painted Lady of the season and the Red Damselflies and Azure Damsels are paired up and laying in the pond. The Weevil is exquisite in the detail for a very very small beetle - I haven't yet found a suitable match. 

Hot Weather Increases the Garden Insect List

The garden insects were very active yesterday as it was very warm and humid. Good to see returning Currant Clearwing and Bryony Bee (both earlier than last year), Wasp Beetle, Resin Bee, Tree Bumblebee, Shieldbug eggs etc and a new species - Denticulate Leatherbug with its white fringed pronotum etc. 

New and Returning Garden Species

The cooler but still sunny weather yesterday was ideal for insect spotting in the garden. Here are photos of some of the more interesting species (plus ID sheets with rest). The Figwort Weevil is about 4mm and just looked like an insect dropping. Good to ID another bee species that is using the Hotels - the Orange-vented Mason Bee, and always happy when the first Speckled Bush Crickets appear with their striped socks. The spider has a very metallic sheen which appeared green or bluish depending on its position. Only small patches of Spindle Ermine caterpillar webs at the moment.

Toft Garden Spiders

 I am a bit behind identifying the various mini-wildlife in the garden, so these spiders were from a warm day last week. No certainty on species as very difficult without capturing and dissecting various parts but hopefully the genus in each case is ok