The present warm temperatures (up to 18 degrees yesterday) have certainly woken up the insects in Toft. Athough the two hoverflies are the same as last year around this time - Episyrphus balteatus and Eristalis tenax - there were lots of different Diptera species, a new bug to me - the Jumping Nettle louse, lots of Ladybirds including another new species, the Pine Ladybird, an interesting Door Snail, three species of spider, and four Hymenoptera including the expected Early Bumblebee - Bombus pratorum.
Showing posts with label snail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snail. Show all posts
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Life on a Log
I had to move a log from my wildflower meadow so I could mow off the extra grass growth before the cowslips show their heads and decided to see what was growing on it. Delighted to find this slime mould fruiting body Pirate Spider Egg Sac (thanks Barry Webb for correction!!) and several species of various crusts and moulds. Lots of slugs, snails, spiders, wood louse and this door-snail species Clausia bidenta - a new species for my garden list.
Saturday, October 7, 2023
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!!
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Lackford Lakes at 30 Degrees
Like us the only insect life active at Lackford yesterday tended to be lurking in the shade and hence difficult to get quality photos but enjoyed the day hunting.
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Garden Insects etc as 'Autumn' Starts
Most of my rose bushes, especially the wild dog rose shoots, are full of Sawfly larvae now able to thrive as the various tits and other small birds have fledged. Here two different species. Yesterday was a mix of sun and showers gradually getting warmer throughout the day - ideal for insect hunting and for cleaning mouthparts as this Rhingia campestris shows - amazing how it can fold that back into the rostrum. Still trying to get that 'perfect' flower spider image
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