May 3rd Garden Insects

Some insects from the garden yesterday when the temperatures were still high - very different feel today with a cold breeze!! There were several Red Damselflies prospecting around the pond but I didn't see any paired up yet. The Hornet Queen was a very impressive insect - although I am happy for her to nest ion my log pile, it is a bit close to the bungalow and right next to where I park the car so hopefully she will have found a quieter spot. The Spotted Lacewing (no.3), Tachycixius pilosus, is a new one for the garden list and good to see most of the Bee hotels being used.

Garden Project May 2025

 With this last week's warm temperatures, a  lot of flowers have come into bloom while others are dying away. It is definitely Red Campion time making wonderful splashes of colour everywhere contrasting with the blue Alkanet and Centaurea. Buttercups have largely taken over from Cowslips in the meadow, the Bogbean is in bloom in the pond, the Perennial Alyssum is attracting lots of insects along with the three species of Spurge  etc!!

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!!

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

Lackford Woodland Feeder

A very pleasant hour (or two!) watching and photographing the birds coming down to feed in the woodland area at Lackford on Friday.