tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25739380164659095452024-03-13T11:26:41.071+00:00Focus On WildlifeAn informal photographic record of the natural world in and around my home on the Warwickshire / Worcestershire border.Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-38018882995458704732011-09-04T19:39:00.000+01:002011-09-04T19:39:06.648+01:00Trench Wood - More Butterflies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At this time of year at Trench Wood the rides are lined with Scabious in full flower and the insects flock to the abundant flower heads to feed, especially the butterflies, Hoverflies and Bees.</div>
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You also get the occasional Hornet patrolling from flowerhead to flowerhead, a giant amongst the other flies and even the largest bumblebees but they don't often stop for more than a second and I didn't manage to catch one on camera</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DmzSbTyCQ2o/TklqANkOyUI/AAAAAAAACyM/6gU6FNeBqvM/s1600/_MG_8679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DmzSbTyCQ2o/TklqANkOyUI/AAAAAAAACyM/6gU6FNeBqvM/s640/_MG_8679.jpg" width="598" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hoverfly - Volucella inanis</span></b></div>
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This was the largest Hoverfly I saw and it is an impressive creature but it's not our largest Hoverfly which is the closely related Volucella zonaria which mimics a Hornet. They are mainly a southern species but have been seen in these parts and I always live in hope of catching sight of one but am so far unsuccessful.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LJEPiP4FfxA/TmJfdtByG0I/AAAAAAAAC0c/YBf5Nj4-XZs/s1600/_MG_8770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LJEPiP4FfxA/TmJfdtByG0I/AAAAAAAAC0c/YBf5Nj4-XZs/s640/_MG_8770.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Brown Argus - Aricia agestis</span></b></div>
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There were still a few of these about but not as many as 3 weks ago and there were very few Common Blues. I saw one Meadow Brown and no Gatekeepers</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta</span></b></div>
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The larger colourful Butterflies were the ones on show like this Red Admiral in typical pose</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui</span></b></div>
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And this Painted Lady. I only saw the one and it didn't let me get too close but it was nice to see especially when you consider that it had migrated from Africa. This is the first Painted Lady I have seen this year and the numbers in Britain do fluctuate Year on Year. </div>
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2009 was a bumper year with 12,700 sightings registered on the <a href="http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/text/2601/results_of_the_2010_survey.html">Butterfly Conservation Migration Watch</a> web page but only 528 in 2010. This year it is so far under 400 so it is probably an even worse year. This does appear to be the usual cycle however with a bumper year followed by poor years so it is not necessarily something to be concerned about</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b> Comma - Polygonia c-album</b></span></div>
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By far the most abundant butterfly I saw was the Comma. Here you can see the difference in colouration between its open and closed wings. When closed it is drab brown and shaped a bit like a dead Oak leaf. Great camouflage.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Comma - Polygonia c-album</span></b></div>
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With wings open it couldn't be more different. The Commas around at the moment will be recently emerged specimens which will feed for the next few weeks before hibernating until next spring. The ones I saw were all very bright and with undamaged wings which will contrast with the early spring Commas which are usually a bit battered and faded.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Brimstone - Gonepteryx rhamni</span></b></div>
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The brimstone is another butterfly busy feeding on nectar before settling down to hibernate under evergreen leaves such as Ivy.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Brimstone - Gonepteryx rhamni</span></b></div>
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They are known to favour purple plants and this is borne out by these two photos.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas</span></b></div>
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I don't see a lot of Small Coppers and when I do see the odd one it usually flies off pretty quickly. This one was unusually cooperative and stayed basking in the sun.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria</span></b></div>
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This Speckled Wood was also very obliging allowing me to get quite close and posing for the camera</div>
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<br />Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-29881365358804966312011-08-16T20:13:00.000+01:002011-08-16T20:13:24.189+01:00Butterflies - Browns and Blues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought I would show a small selection of some the butterflies that are around at the moment concentrating on Browns and Blues.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pi-JXdd93B8/Tjb1LS0r7sI/AAAAAAAACow/HDDcSM_XHy8/s1600/IMG_7991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pi-JXdd93B8/Tjb1LS0r7sI/AAAAAAAACow/HDDcSM_XHy8/s640/IMG_7991.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Ringlet - Aphantopus hyperantus</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Ringlet has to be the brownest of the Browns. In flight it just looks brown and when it lands it still looks brown. But that is not to say it is dull especially when in full sun light when its rings almost glow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhWDgbwFZj0/Tjb0j35m0nI/AAAAAAAACnU/wd-ASRn1YpI/s1600/IMG_7793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhWDgbwFZj0/Tjb0j35m0nI/AAAAAAAACnU/wd-ASRn1YpI/s640/IMG_7793.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Ringlet - Aphantopus hyperantus</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even when it opens its wings it is still the same colour!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VOMGaaeM_Dg/Tjb1Z8qqHLI/AAAAAAAACpQ/E9vwmuFDh4A/s1600/IMG_8036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VOMGaaeM_Dg/Tjb1Z8qqHLI/AAAAAAAACpQ/E9vwmuFDh4A/s640/IMG_8036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Meadow Brown -Maniola jurtina</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I see quite a lot of these and also the Gatekeeper and used to get confused by the two as they seem quite similar at first. The Meadow Brown is a bit bigger than the Gatekeeper and its upper wings have less orange but knowing that and seeing one in isolation doesn't always help especially as you can get a lot of variation between individuals....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AhuRTSTzE1o/TklqEfXuOcI/AAAAAAAACyU/_OpLZWtWeVM/s1600/_MG_8694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AhuRTSTzE1o/TklqEfXuOcI/AAAAAAAACyU/_OpLZWtWeVM/s640/_MG_8694.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Gatekeeper - Pyronia tithonus</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...however there is one tell tale identification feature. The Gatekeeper has two small dots inside the "eye spot" on the wing tips whereas the Meadow Brown has one. Simple.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You now just have to get close enough to see it...but not too close if you are getting a bit long-sighted like me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVbqp2-wqas/TklpjHphI5I/AAAAAAAACxc/wq8maTWtHdU/s1600/_MG_8571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVbqp2-wqas/TklpjHphI5I/AAAAAAAACxc/wq8maTWtHdU/s640/_MG_8571.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Gatekeeper - Pyronia tithonus</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The helpful Gatekeeper even has the two spots on its upper wings as well , so it doesn't matter how it decides to perch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are of course other tell tale differences but the two spots is a great confirmation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pulABP7k4LA/TklpbSxeC0I/AAAAAAAACxM/10yasN940cY/s1600/_MG_8557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pulABP7k4LA/TklpbSxeC0I/AAAAAAAACxM/10yasN940cY/s640/_MG_8557.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Brown Argus - Aricia agestis</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is where it gets confusing. This (obviously) brown butterfly is a actually a Blue!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What we are talking about here is related families of butterflies of different species which get grouped together under the name "Browns" or "Blues" (or "Whites", "Hairstreaks" etc). The Brown Argus being closely related to the Common Blue (below) and other "Blues".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In fact the female Common Blue does look very similar to this but the brown wings have a blue iridescence mixed in whereas the Argus wings do not have any hint of blue, although the abdomen may do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Cc3HCCbYKI/Tklpss0BEDI/AAAAAAAACxs/W2N_yv0D6kQ/s1600/_MG_8626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Cc3HCCbYKI/Tklpss0BEDI/AAAAAAAACxs/W2N_yv0D6kQ/s640/_MG_8626.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus (Male)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The Blues are small colourful, dainty butterflies with an almost metallic sheen to the wings. And I have great difficulty getting a decent picture. I tend to use flash with my Macro photography to help freeze movement and to add light to often dull inaccessible places where insects live but using flash on these never quite seems to work right because of the reflective nature of their wings and the colours often become washed out.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">So natural light (as above) is the way to go if possible.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_6FJdU0rtA/Tklp6wHlEKI/AAAAAAAACyE/J_0h3qJvB4E/s1600/_MG_8644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_6FJdU0rtA/Tklp6wHlEKI/AAAAAAAACyE/J_0h3qJvB4E/s640/_MG_8644.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The Blues mainly have under-wings like these with orange and black spots in very similar looking patterns.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">If I had got a picture of the Brown Argus at rest like this it would have looked very similar at first glance.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I am no expert but I think that this is a male because of the blue tinges near the body.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3-DkNgTv1CY/Tklp2-VAzkI/AAAAAAAACx8/1vbTL7LkZ00/s1600/_MG_8636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3-DkNgTv1CY/Tklp2-VAzkI/AAAAAAAACx8/1vbTL7LkZ00/s640/_MG_8636.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Brown Hairstreak - Thecla betulae</span></b></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This is another "Brown" that is more closely related to a "Blue". It is also quite scarce and I was both lucky and surprised to see it at Trench Wood, Worcestershire. Worcestershire is one of the few places in the country where these occur but their stronghold is a few miles away in Grafton Wood. I hadn't realised that they occur in Trench Wood.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was only able to get this one shot before it flew off and it was quite overcast and breezy so it was quite a low shutter speed and it isn't the sharpest picture but good enough for an ID shot and quite an unexpected thrill.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The "trouble" with Brown Hairstreaks is that they spend most of their time high up in trees so even if they are about you don't always get a good view of them.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4pCXYUhu4F0/Tjb1f3uIB1I/AAAAAAAACpg/FgRODlYy2EI/s1600/IMG_8073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4pCXYUhu4F0/Tjb1f3uIB1I/AAAAAAAACpg/FgRODlYy2EI/s640/IMG_8073.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Well copper is sort of Brown! But again this is more of a hairstreak.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't see many of these where I usually visit but I took a trip to Hartlebury Common (Worcestershire) and they were quite common but also very active and I spent more time chasing than photographing and still didn't manage to get any shots with its wings open.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-86617511696978806582011-08-06T16:54:00.000+01:002011-08-06T16:54:02.240+01:00Garden Hoverflies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't know about your garden but at the moment mine seems to be awash with Hoverflies and by far the most abundant is the Marmalade Fly - Episyrphus balteatus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There seems to be a lot more this year than normal and I guess not everyone finds them as interesting as I do but it is worth remembering that they are completely harmless and they are not wasps despite their appearance. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They seem quite unfazed by humans and even curious, often hovering near to you for a closer look but they do not have sting or bite so no need to swat them. A gentle wave of the arm is all that is needed to "move them on" if they are are annoying you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are, in fact, doing a great job as pollinators and in my garden they are particularly interested in the vegetable patch where the runner beans are in full flower.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Marmalade Fly - Episyrphus balteatus</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Marmalade Fly - Episyrphus balteatus</strong></span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Resting on the Grape Vine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_0rjf9ccEB8/Tjb2Kf11FZI/AAAAAAAACrQ/W6W9bKgW110/s1600/_MG_8352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_0rjf9ccEB8/Tjb2Kf11FZI/AAAAAAAACrQ/W6W9bKgW110/s640/_MG_8352.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Marmalade Fly - Episyrphus balteatus</strong></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5bFJAY5r6aE/Tjb1A5oOvTI/AAAAAAAACoU/VeflKFOy0AM/s1600/IMG_7958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5bFJAY5r6aE/Tjb1A5oOvTI/AAAAAAAACoU/VeflKFOy0AM/s640/IMG_7958.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Marmalade Fly - Episyrphus balteatus</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The other irresistible thing about this Hoverfly is to try to take pictures of it in flight because it is so obliging and with a little bit of patience and trial and error it isn't too difficult to achieve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>The Marmalade Fly may be the most abundant Hoverfly in the garden but it is not the only one . There are over 250 species of Hoverfly in the UK but maybe only 40 of these are "common" and many of these will be unlikely to turn up in your garden. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are a few that did visit this weekend</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3v4XympXkvc/Tjb1uCxXV_I/AAAAAAAACqE/NybDVWZjXp4/s1600/IMG_8255.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3v4XympXkvc/Tjb1uCxXV_I/AAAAAAAACqE/NybDVWZjXp4/s640/IMG_8255.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Scaeva pyrastri on "Fox and Cubs" flower</strong></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quite a large dark hoverfly typically seen in mid summer visiting flowers though not in great numbers. Sometimes called Pied Hoverfly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgmIt_UNVpI/Tjb19emmA8I/AAAAAAAACqw/XX1XSy3pP2c/s1600/IMG_8311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="451" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgmIt_UNVpI/Tjb19emmA8I/AAAAAAAACqw/XX1XSy3pP2c/s640/IMG_8311.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Euopedes species</strong></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a much smaller hoverfly than the Pied and together there would be no mistaking them but in isolation they can be confusing, especially when you are first setting out to start differentiating and identifying the different hoverflies you see. To make things even more difficult some species (like this one) can have a wide variety of forms with different amounts of black and yellow.</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G8ENwnZVpog/Tjb16S1GqFI/AAAAAAAACqo/XruOKOAQcVg/s1600/IMG_8308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G8ENwnZVpog/Tjb16S1GqFI/AAAAAAAACqo/XruOKOAQcVg/s640/IMG_8308.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><strong>Euopedes species - in flight</strong></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are a bit more flighty than the Marmalade Fly and a bit harder to get an in-flight shot. To be honest I think this was more luck than judgement. I was probably trying to get a shot of it on the plant and it moved! Just luckily got it in focus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pBbKE1CD4vg/Tjb130CU7PI/AAAAAAAACqg/eT6gijQIy_8/s1600/IMG_8282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pBbKE1CD4vg/Tjb130CU7PI/AAAAAAAACqg/eT6gijQIy_8/s640/IMG_8282.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Sphaerophoria scripta</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
This is a small slender hoverfly so easily distinguished from many others. Not that common but not rare either and I usually spot the odd one at this time of year. This is a female which is a little smaller than the male. See below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SoN0UgHEi2Y/Tjb1qunTILI/AAAAAAAACp8/7VX-tq0sCos/s1600/IMG_8192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SoN0UgHEi2Y/Tjb1qunTILI/AAAAAAAACp8/7VX-tq0sCos/s640/IMG_8192.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Sphaerophoria scripta - Male</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
This male was not in the garden but at Grove Hill. One of the ID features for a scripta male is that the abdomen is so long that it extends far beyond the folded wingtips. Even though the wings are not folded here it is quite obvious that the abdomen is much longer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-52732911545407559232011-06-22T18:14:00.000+01:002011-06-22T18:14:26.478+01:00Male and Female<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is not always possible to tell if an insect is Male or Female but in some cases with a bit of "insider" knowledge and knowing what to look for it isn't too hard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Large Skipper Butterfly</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Large Skipper - Ochledes venata - Male</span></strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one is quite subtle but the giveaway is the black "streak" mark on each forewing which indicates it is a male. Note the lack of this on the female below.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8ArJ9tcgo0/Tf-NGxXlxfI/AAAAAAAACgc/AhJ9GjBE5LY/s1600/IMG_6791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8ArJ9tcgo0/Tf-NGxXlxfI/AAAAAAAACgc/AhJ9GjBE5LY/s640/IMG_6791.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Large Skipper - Ochledes venata - Female</strong></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Scorpion Fly</u></span></strong></div><br />
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</div>With the Scorpion Fly you need to look at the tail which gives it its name. The male has a bulbous turned up tail like a scorpion whilst the female (below) doesn't.<br />
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Longhorn Fairy Moth - Nemophora degeerella -Male</strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you guess what it is yet? Yes the distinguishing feature of this male is its unfeasibly large antennae. To be fair the Female (below) has pretty large antennae for its size, but not in the same league</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Longhorn Fairy Moth - Nemophora degeerella -Female</span></strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><strong></strong><strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong></div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-52637856910885450342011-06-21T23:16:00.000+01:002011-06-21T23:16:30.053+01:00Recent Selection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've been a bit busy lately and whilst I have managed to get out and about a bit I have not had time to sort out my pictures and make any blog entries so I am going to offer up a bit of a random selection</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Common Spotted Orchid </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was at Knapp and Papermill NR amongst thousands (?) more in the wild flower meadows there but I have also seen huge numbers of them at Oversley Wood and Trench Wood. I don't remember seeing so many last year so maybe it is a good year for them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Forest Shieldbug Nymph - Pentatoma rufipes</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shieldbugs go through a number of phases (instars) on there way to adulthood, and often look very different from the Adults even when in the final Instars.I think this is probably a late Instar and compare it to <a href="http://focusonwildlife.blogspot.com/2010/09/late-september.html">this Adult</a> from a previous post. You will need to scroll down the page)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Common Earwig - Forficula auricularia</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They aren't unusual or rare but I don't see many Earwigs. Probably because they are primarily nocturnal and usually keep hidden away in the leaf litter or under things. Anyway this one looked like it was having a day out and feeding on top of an umbellifer</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I struggled to identify this distinctive fly but I think I have narrowed it down to the so called Snail Killing Flies. I couldn't find out much but, if like me, you are wondering how this small thing kills snails well I think it is actually the larvae of the fly that does the damage as it parisitises the snails.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Bombus Pascuorum - Common Carder Bee</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm not 100% on the ID, I keep thinking it can't be that hard to get grips with Bumblebee iD but they do vary quite a bit and they also move about so quickly and you usually need to see Head / tail, Front / Back of the bee to confirm iD. Anway I am trying and what I can confirm is that this is a social Bumblebee and it is a Female because it has a Pollen Basket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And that really is what is so striking about this picture. Look how full the Pollen Basket is. What a size! Time to go back home for a rest if you ask me , this has been a very busy Bee</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just like these Beetles, they are such an odd shape ( and easy to spot!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moth?? you say. Well the larvae or Pupa of of a Psychid moth.Within the shell of twigs will be a silken Pupa from which will emerge either a winged male or possible a grub like female which may not even leave its "shell" but extend its abdomen to mate. There are a number of different species and they cover themselves in various bits of plant bits / sand / debris.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are very easy to overlook as there are often bits of fallen twig etc on leaves but once you see one of these you will start to notice more because you know what you are looking at.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am also spotting a lot of these. Might be the time of year or, as above, maybe I've got my eye in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-86222383778320298622011-06-07T17:35:00.000+01:002011-06-07T17:35:44.183+01:00Cardinal Beetle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I only featured the Cardinal Beetle in my last post but I saw a couple of interesting ones at Knapp and Papermill NR at the weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok so not the finest specimen with a strangely bent antennae but this picture is purely for reference against the next picture.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">I managed to catch him (?) at the moment of take off which gives a rare insight into a beetles anatomy. Looks like one of those "Transformers" toys. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The (red) wing cases are called Elytra and they are hardened modified forewings which protect the softer membranous Hind flight wings.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Elytra are held open in flight whilst the hindwings do all the work. If you have ever seen a beetle in fight you will know how ungainly and unaerodynamic they look and from this picture you can understand why. But I suppose as a secondary means of mobility it does the trick.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">In my last post I mentioned that there is a black headed version of the Cardinal Beetle but I had not managed to spot one. Well I have now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was alerted to the noisy ungainly flight of a Beetle and whilst it is hard to tell what sort of beetle in flight it was clearly Red and of a size which could only really be a Cardinal Beetle and he landed close by and at about waist height so I wasn't going to turn down the opportunity to get a picture even though I had seen and photographed others that day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was busy lining up the shot and getting focus etc and had probably even taken a shot or two before it suddenly dawned on me that it had a black head!! A real lightbulb moment.</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">And he generously posed for me, showing off his spectacular antennae.</div><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-10141147815559285212011-05-22T18:36:00.000+01:002011-05-22T18:36:04.482+01:00Beetles and Bugs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zwFE2fglLg/Tc_E9b2nD4I/AAAAAAAACY8/ImBE78CdZlU/s1600/IMG_5918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="592" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_zwFE2fglLg/Tc_E9b2nD4I/AAAAAAAACY8/ImBE78CdZlU/s640/IMG_5918.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cardinal Beetle - Pyrochroa serraticornis</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my favourites. Brilliant distinctive colouring and I also like the large serrated antenna. There is another form with a black head rather than scarlet but I've not come across one yet. Typically seen in the adult form between May and July</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SuGUkDatuy8/Tc_EkfEGuGI/AAAAAAAACYc/kNGMYNiEhFI/s1600/IMG_5758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SuGUkDatuy8/Tc_EkfEGuGI/AAAAAAAACYc/kNGMYNiEhFI/s640/IMG_5758.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Green Tortoise Beetle - Cassida viridis</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One for Monica, she likes these. A male and female presumably! Easiest to spot at this time of year when they are mating as usually they are well camouflaged when pulled down tightly against leaves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6ivlJZIb9Q/Tc_E_RF5eKI/AAAAAAAACZA/4KruUeFBpc4/s1600/IMG_5984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6ivlJZIb9Q/Tc_E_RF5eKI/AAAAAAAACZA/4KruUeFBpc4/s640/IMG_5984.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Black and Red Froghopper - Cercopis vulnerata</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are EVERYWHERE at Trench Wood at the moment. Must have seen 30 before I had left the car park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Froghoppers are also referred to as Spittle Bugs because it is they that are responsible for Cuckoo Spit on plants. The nymphs produce the froth which completely hides them from predators and also tastes bad so puts off predators. As you see a lot of Cuckoo spit but not the nymphs I guess the strategy works. However I suppose if you wanted to go poking around in it you would find the nymphs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g9h5jXIujW4/TdAUgupqurI/AAAAAAAACZ0/Fl6TY0eu_IQ/s1600/IMG_5873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g9h5jXIujW4/TdAUgupqurI/AAAAAAAACZ0/Fl6TY0eu_IQ/s640/IMG_5873.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Froghopper nymph - aphrophora salicina</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> To save you having to go poking about in the horrible froth to satisfy your curiosity, this is one I prepared earlier showing the back end of the nymph poking out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Incidentally if you are wondering WHY it is called Cuckoo Spit it is because in the past it was thought to have been produced by Cuckoos who arrived on migration at the same time the froth started to appear. Just coincidence.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are many species of Froghopper nymph that produce the froth (though not the Black and Red Froghopper above) and if you are wondering what the Adults typically look like see my previous post <a href="http://focusonwildlife.blogspot.com/2010/07/garden.html">here</a> for an example.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found another of these, at Trench Wood this time. This angle shows off its horns well</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-15007547899920675902011-05-17T18:42:00.000+01:002011-05-17T18:42:33.498+01:00Sawflies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As Sawflies are abundant at the moment I thought I would do a quick post about them</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are apparently 500 species in UK and many of them are like the examples below i.e distinctive, and colourful with elongate bodies. They aren't always easy to identify despite their colourful bodies but they are quite photogenic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is how I like to photograph Sawflies with outstretched wings revealing their bodies and also the wing veination which can often help with identifying the species (in theory!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However they don't often want to cooperate and as soon as they land they usually fold their wings back along their bodies hiding their true colours or just hinting at it through the semi transparent wings. For instance this ones body is black at the front and red at the rear but you can't really see it that well. At least this one has another interesting feature being the white tips of the antennae.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They really do come in a wide range of colours.....Green.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">....Black and Yellow. Even the legs are often colourful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So anyway, I'll continue to look for the "posers" to get photos of, but it's not easy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This "punk caterpillar" is a sawfly larvae but I've not been able to find out what the adult is like .I would like to think it is as impressive as the larvae!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-40589185620507377232011-05-16T19:51:00.000+01:002011-05-16T19:51:47.286+01:00Flies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of the big guns in the Fly world. They're big and they're ugly !</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[Click on the picture to see large]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QAD344coiE0/Tc_EqJvP0GI/AAAAAAAACYk/K3SmqRuU11c/s1600/IMG_5773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QAD344coiE0/Tc_EqJvP0GI/AAAAAAAACYk/K3SmqRuU11c/s640/IMG_5773.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Snipe Fly - Rhagio scolopacea</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Often called the Down Looking Fly because it is unusual in that it often rests on tree trunks etc facing downwards. Having said that, like here, it is just as likely to be facing up!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_j1gBC26t4U/Tc_EnSsnI_I/AAAAAAAACYg/l5EYNc9GeEk/s1600/IMG_5762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_j1gBC26t4U/Tc_EnSsnI_I/AAAAAAAACYg/l5EYNc9GeEk/s640/IMG_5762.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Empididae sp</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looks like something out of Alien to me</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are quite common in the garden and elsewhere and at a distance they just look like big bluebottle type flies but brownish. Close up you can see it is covered with spiky hairs making it look more intimidating than it really is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They look Like Bumble Bees !</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But they aren't.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not only are these 2 not Bumble Bees, they are both the same species (but different variants)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This Hoverfly is a Bumble Bee mimic and comes in the 2 distinct varieties which closely resemble 2 different species of Bumble Bee. They live by scavenging in and around the nests of Bees and wasps and presumably this is why they have evolved this disguise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However whilst they superficially resemble a Bumble Bee it is very easy to tell the difference by their flight characteristics as well as their facial looks and the fact that Bees have 2 pairs of wings and Hoverflies one pair!. So if I can tell the difference how come an actual Bumble Bee (or wasp) cannot. Makes you wonder.</div><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-33155717802764777442011-05-07T18:06:00.000+01:002011-05-07T18:06:56.297+01:00Speckled Bush Cricket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[Click on photos for larger version]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Speckled Bush Cricket Nymphs</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally had rain today after weeks of very little so haven't ventured out but I took a quick look in the garden between showers and on a Buttercup plant I saw what looked like a greenfly. However closer examination revealed something quite different and unexpected. What I thought was "greenfly" turned out to be Bush Cricket Nymphs. I think they are the Nymph of the Speckled Bush Cricket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Nymphs go through a number of moults (shedding their skin). Each time becoming a larger more developed version until they are the finished adult . The juvenile versions are called "Instars" and a cricket can have up to 13 instars but the Speckled Bush Cricket has a more modest 6 instars. I am not sure which number this is but it must be fairly early because they are so small.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They may be tiny and not fully developed but they can still jump a good distance and when they jump they are pretty hard to find again as they blend in well with the vegetation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-30825028274422085082011-05-03T23:31:00.000+01:002011-05-03T23:31:24.109+01:00Tiddesley Wood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spent an enjoyable few hours at the Tiddesley Wood Open Day. A lovely sunny day but even windier than the past few days. Managed to take a few pictures whilst there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looks like he has climbed up the grass to have a look around. Maybe he was lost.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wow, this is one weird,exotic looking bug. Well done Monica for spotting it. Not seen one before so very pleased. The family it belongs to is mainly tropical and there are only 4 species in Europe (2500 species worldwide). The tropical species are often very spiky hence their other common name of Thorn Bugs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-pZUft5Om8/Tb7rSEG2IiI/AAAAAAAACVk/-gE6PcmjK6c/s1600/_MG_5383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-pZUft5Om8/Tb7rSEG2IiI/AAAAAAAACVk/-gE6PcmjK6c/s640/_MG_5383.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Squash Bug - Coreus marginatus</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></strong>AKA Dock Leaf Bug as it is often found on Dock leafs or similar. Squash Bug comes from the fact that is a pest of Squashes (melon, courgette etc) in America.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_WXLaCD5InM/Tb7rV_ffXXI/AAAAAAAACVo/kmqzYahd4nI/s1600/_MG_5399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_WXLaCD5InM/Tb7rV_ffXXI/AAAAAAAACVo/kmqzYahd4nI/s640/_MG_5399.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Green Shieldbug - Palomena prasina</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"></span><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Doing a good job of blending in with the greenery. This bug overwinters as an adult and in winter it turns a reddish Brown colour, changing back to green in the Spring. Makes a lot of sense as it would be far too visible in this bright Green colour in the winter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-84848877117149958662011-05-02T23:25:00.000+01:002011-05-02T23:25:25.073+01:00Trench Wood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another Bank Holiday weekend with fantastic sunny weather. The only drawback was the wind which was quite strong and whilst it wasn't a cold wind it wasn't the best conditions for photographing insects. There was absolutely no shortage of different insects so this is just a small sample of what was about.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are tiny creatures so I rarely spot them but I had my friend Monica with me and nothing gets past her!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are quite a few species of these Plant Bugs but again they are quite small and often go unnoticed. (Thanks again Monica!). This is a particularly well marked one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How many Sloe bugs does it take to destoy a Dandelion Head?...The answer seems to be 5 !</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Having spotted this "phenomenon" of Sloe Bugs in Dandelion seed heads last week I have noticed it loads of times since. In fact I have to check all the Dandelions now! Not sure if it is feeding or mating or both. There definitely seems to be mating going on in any case....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">......and talking of Shieldbugs mating...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-18637207264900402412011-05-02T19:30:00.000+01:002011-05-02T19:30:08.139+01:00Garden Insects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[CLICK ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a few from the garden over the past few days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSwcC7QOxs4/Tb7jn5z9PwI/AAAAAAAACUE/xtxd2RXOTzg/s1600/_MG_5147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="554" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSwcC7QOxs4/Tb7jn5z9PwI/AAAAAAAACUE/xtxd2RXOTzg/s640/_MG_5147.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bee - Feeding on Forget me Nots</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Forget me Nots continue to be popular with the local insects. Not sure what species of Bee this is as it is an unusual viewpoint, but that is what I liked about the shot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jwwn51Bzcxg/Tb7jsFZ353I/AAAAAAAACUI/rAodjaGeFGo/s1600/_MG_5165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jwwn51Bzcxg/Tb7jsFZ353I/AAAAAAAACUI/rAodjaGeFGo/s640/_MG_5165.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Brimstone Moth - Opisthograptis luteolata</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A night flying moth so not seen as much as its butterfly namesake but just as attractive. This was one of the few moths caught in a moth trap on a very windy night. It did a photo session and was then released.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-35527065342283199622011-04-26T18:39:00.000+01:002011-04-26T18:39:07.762+01:00Shield Bugs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whenever I come across Gorse I always have to stop and have a look for the Gorse Shield Bug but I've never managed to find any until a recent visit to Snitterfield Bushes nature reserve. Even then I had a good look and found nothing until I noticed one right under my nose and then I noticed a few more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think you have to "get your eye in" so it is worth persisting if you don't immediately see one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8iLf6UbxLtM/TbVOcQPF4hI/AAAAAAAACRY/jlIItlebxjI/s1600/_MG_4605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8iLf6UbxLtM/TbVOcQPF4hI/AAAAAAAACRY/jlIItlebxjI/s640/_MG_4605.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Gorse Shield Bug - Piezodorus lituratus</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looks like they would stick out like a sore thumb against the dried Gorse but the reality is quite different</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Shield Bugs at Grafton Wood</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MX-RNct8hV8/TbVRabUZCBI/AAAAAAAACSc/1-UVTkxudK4/s1600/_MG_5081-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MX-RNct8hV8/TbVRabUZCBI/AAAAAAAACSc/1-UVTkxudK4/s640/_MG_5081-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Rhopalus subrufus</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not , strictly speaking , a shieldbug but very closely related. I spotted this small insect on a Dandelion "Clock" seedhead. Its not an insect I had seen before and I was engrossed in getting a picture and looking through the camera viewfinder when I noticed some movement at the top of the seedhead. and was surprised to see a Sloe Shield Bug deep within the Dandelion "Clock".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RlaCrDMFAwM/TbVRIkiRtUI/AAAAAAAACSY/k0yYov3o_h4/s1600/_MG_5081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RlaCrDMFAwM/TbVRIkiRtUI/AAAAAAAACSY/k0yYov3o_h4/s640/_MG_5081.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Rhopalus subrufus & Sloe Bug</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tlg8lP6Jb_o/TbVRqoSUD3I/AAAAAAAACSg/WS4f3BIbqcI/s1600/_MG_5085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="520" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tlg8lP6Jb_o/TbVRqoSUD3I/AAAAAAAACSg/WS4f3BIbqcI/s640/_MG_5085.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sloe Bugs</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then seemingly out of nowhere another one appeared and it looked like 2 shieldbugs trapped inside some magical cage....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYSr0j0lZtI/TbVR7jCXguI/AAAAAAAACSk/fc-D-YWW-3w/s1600/_MG_5091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="566" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYSr0j0lZtI/TbVR7jCXguI/AAAAAAAACSk/fc-D-YWW-3w/s640/_MG_5091.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sloe Bugs</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">... but they weren't trapped and one of them broke free!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-42146974130699247172011-04-25T19:12:00.000+01:002011-04-25T19:12:53.531+01:00Garden Insects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The recent warm spell has attracted lots of insects into the garden and they have particularly been attracted to the Forget-Me-Nots which have spread substantially since last year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ0sUVp15bY/TbVN_SpemKI/AAAAAAAACRQ/G96QlKRcAzI/s1600/_MG_4568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ0sUVp15bY/TbVN_SpemKI/AAAAAAAACRQ/G96QlKRcAzI/s640/_MG_4568.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Small White - Pieris rapae</span></b></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HX5V3vTWN6g/TbVN0eATfbI/AAAAAAAACRM/ISEhlXjWE9o/s1600/_MG_4550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="580" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HX5V3vTWN6g/TbVN0eATfbI/AAAAAAAACRM/ISEhlXjWE9o/s640/_MG_4550.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Unidentified Fly - Getting stuck in!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UDervUsjzR4/TbVQ6lQs5OI/AAAAAAAACSU/w-q2M6GnygA/s1600/_MG_4955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UDervUsjzR4/TbVQ6lQs5OI/AAAAAAAACSU/w-q2M6GnygA/s640/_MG_4955.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cuckoo Bee - Nomada sp</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DU4KVeFXiXM/TbVQVAMmB_I/AAAAAAAACSA/XcKHDVjCR0M/s1600/_MG_4923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="594" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DU4KVeFXiXM/TbVQVAMmB_I/AAAAAAAACSA/XcKHDVjCR0M/s640/_MG_4923.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sloe Bug - Dolycoris baccarum</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When the sun comes out so do these Sloe Shield Bugs. There are loads of them...and its mating season!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-23390977474504110742011-04-17T11:07:00.000+01:002011-04-17T11:07:44.415+01:00Oversley Woood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kCNiKXgJA8k/TaqVbLF2vII/AAAAAAAACQY/3NrNSTuE1vU/s1600/_MG_4398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kCNiKXgJA8k/TaqVbLF2vII/AAAAAAAACQY/3NrNSTuE1vU/s640/_MG_4398.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hoverfly on Stinging Nettle</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The little black ones are hard to ID! Note the nettle's "hairs" to get some idea of his size.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSdR_Kzf57Q/TaqVk0_kGbI/AAAAAAAACQk/W0hGdiqMeBs/s1600/_MG_4438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSdR_Kzf57Q/TaqVk0_kGbI/AAAAAAAACQk/W0hGdiqMeBs/s640/_MG_4438.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cuckoo Bee - Nomada sp</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't resist trying to take pictures of these Nomada even though they do their best to dodge a photo opportunity. Sometimes they oblige though. Maybe he couldn't see me through all the pollen grains on his eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cz3172oOyWA/TaqVhJd3l9I/AAAAAAAACQg/N3lD4z_coYI/s1600/_MG_4428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cz3172oOyWA/TaqVhJd3l9I/AAAAAAAACQg/N3lD4z_coYI/s640/_MG_4428.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hornet Queen - Vespa crabro</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An unexpected pleasure! The queens will have recently emerged from their winter hibernation and will be looking for somewhere to build a nest but there can't be too many about and the chances of seeing one are pretty low let alone getting a decent photo so I struck lucky. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I find that I hear a Hornet before seeing it. They have an unmistakable deep loud drone like a Lancaster Bomber compared to the Spitfire of a fly or wasp. Even deeper than a really big Bumble Bee. Fortunately I heard the noise just a few feet from where I was poised with camera "chasing" Nomada bees and instantly knew what it was and that it would be gone in an instant. I swung round to where the Hornet was emerging from the nettles in the undergrowth and managed to fire off a couple of shots before it disappeared .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i2ZmGVE1G8M/TaqVo-2_rcI/AAAAAAAACQo/R1k6FSiS83I/s1600/_MG_4417-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i2ZmGVE1G8M/TaqVo-2_rcI/AAAAAAAACQo/R1k6FSiS83I/s640/_MG_4417-Edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Orange Tip - Antocharis cardamines (Female)</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not managed to get the more striking and familiar Male yet with its characteristic orange wing tips, but here is a female. They are a lot easier to distinguish from other whites when you can see their lower underwings which are mottled with green but if you look closely you can just make out the pattern showing through the wings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-29979867082538490502011-04-15T18:03:00.000+01:002011-04-15T18:03:45.457+01:00Monk Wood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6czVlyPXNOU/TaTT2Cr8JMI/AAAAAAAACPw/N4R5CpiR4JI/s1600/_MG_4304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6czVlyPXNOU/TaTT2Cr8JMI/AAAAAAAACPw/N4R5CpiR4JI/s640/_MG_4304.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Ashy Mining Bee - Andrena cineraria</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another of the small Mining Bees. They are presumably called "Ashy" because of their grey/white hairs against their black bodies but this one is so covered in pollen that you have to look closely to see the white hairs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HXg0JKsT50I/TaTT5f9PxEI/AAAAAAAACP0/v2pq0j6hrkk/s1600/_MG_4334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HXg0JKsT50I/TaTT5f9PxEI/AAAAAAAACP0/v2pq0j6hrkk/s640/_MG_4334.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Hoverfly - Epistrophe eligans</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the early hoverflies. Quite a small one but I was able to get up close and as he was sitting on a leaf at about chest height I was able to get a shot in profile. Is it just me or does the head look almost like a human face in profile (nose/mouth etc).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Still seeing loads of Orange Tips but none are stopping to have their photo taken. Fortunately this Green Veined White was more obliging</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Groundhoppers</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are part of the Grasshopper family but I've not come across them before. There are 3 species in the UK but one of them is limited in its distribution and mainly in the South. I managed to find both of the others at Monk Wood. Though I wasn't entirely sure what they were until I got home and did a bit of research.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Found on a fairly bare piece of ground which had been recently coppiced and cleared at the side of a woodland ride. My first thought was that it was a young Grasshopper (Nymph) but I did think it was a little early in the year. It was also the sort of place where I wouldn't be surprised to see grasshoppers in the summer, particularly when a little vegetation had grown back. I had also seen one at Tiddesley Wood the day before and filed the picture away to try to identify which Gasshopper it was when I had more time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sqfb_HIpaFM/TaTUB2EROQI/AAAAAAAACQE/v-NmI1n7bn8/s1600/_MG_4361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sqfb_HIpaFM/TaTUB2EROQI/AAAAAAAACQE/v-NmI1n7bn8/s640/_MG_4361.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Common Groundhopper - Tetix undulata</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one was found in a shady damp part of woodland on a rotten log. Not where I would expect to see a grasshopper or nymph which made me question whether it was a grasshopper. I knew of groundhoppers but nothing about them but when I started researching it became obvious that this was a groundhopper as was the one above!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tiny leaf beetle which would be fairly unremarkable except when you notice the enlarged thigh on the rear leg which identifies it as a Flea Beetle a jumping beetle. I could never have seen that detail out in the field</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-3586695346377032832011-04-13T20:33:00.000+01:002011-04-13T20:33:56.319+01:00Trench Wood<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">On the same day I went to Tiddesley Wood I also went to Trench Wood. This was a glorious sunny day , almost too sunny for photography, and very warm with not too much breeze. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These Bee Flys seem to be everywhere at the moment which gave me the chance to try to get a shot showing the full extent of its proboscis. The biggest problem was trying to get one against a nice contrasting background. They seem to like sunbathing on the dirt tracks or dead leaves but not so much on greenery. However there were so many about that it didn't take too long. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hoverfly - Eristalis species</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is either Eristalis Tenax or more likely Pertinax. It is one of those "Drone Flies" which love to hover a few feet in front of you then darting away and darting back again seemingly checking you out and stalking you. This one is enjoying the Blackthorn blossom</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9HPoY42NqZU/TaSd-eNpFjI/AAAAAAAACOg/5X_vFa1Klok/s1600/_MG_4031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KXBtfg72hgw/TaSeW-21TgI/AAAAAAAACO4/lHVaHv-Sjq4/s1600/_MG_4083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KXBtfg72hgw/TaSeW-21TgI/AAAAAAAACO4/lHVaHv-Sjq4/s640/_MG_4083.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Muntjac Deer fawn</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, unusually, something cute and furry. I haven't got anything against cute or furry creatures it is just that they usually see me before I can take a picture, I have a growing collection of the back end of deer/rabbit/fox etc !</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'd like to say I don't know who was more surprised me or the baby Muntjac but I am sure it was me! I had been feet away from where it was lying for a good 5 minutes taking pictures so I am certain it knew I was there and was demonstrating one of its survival tactics which is stealth. Don't give away your position.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The parents leave the young deer alone for long periods during the day whilst they go about their business and the only defence the baby deer has against predators is to remain hidden and only take flight at the last possible moment which is what this one did next, off to find another quiet bit of undergrowth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, I was very happy to have had the encounter but a bit sorry to have unwittingly disturbed it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iefFORTQ4IQ/TaSeZina8fI/AAAAAAAACPA/wvDS2R2k414/s1600/_MG_4099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iefFORTQ4IQ/TaSeZina8fI/AAAAAAAACPA/wvDS2R2k414/s640/_MG_4099.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A small Bee</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Demonstrating pollenation in action. The hoverfly is getting covered in pollen which it will carry to the next plants it visits. Also shows that it it isn't only Bees that do the pollenation all the other Flies and wasps and butterflies do their bit. It is just that the Honey Bee does it so well and on a much bigger scale because of the large colonies it lives in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-15186818317338658272011-04-13T09:59:00.000+01:002011-04-13T09:59:52.126+01:00Tiddesley Wood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An unseasonably warm spell (Low 20's C) and a few days off prompted me to do a whistle stop tour of a few of the local woods to see how nature is reacting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, Spring has definitely sprung and somehow the insects and plants have got through the harshest winter in years and natures cycle continues unabated. Lots of butterflies, bees and flies on the wing and the woodland floors are covered in Primrose, Dog Violet, Wood Anemone etc to fuel the newly emerged insects with nectar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zTSyA9tn5Js/TaSQYWYXVhI/AAAAAAAACNo/DxOOL8CMkjk/s1600/_MG_4155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zTSyA9tn5Js/TaSQYWYXVhI/AAAAAAAACNo/DxOOL8CMkjk/s640/_MG_4155.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cuckoo Bee - Nomada sp</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my favourites of early spring. These are small wasp-like Bees that lay their eggs in the nests of Mining Bees like a Cuckoo. The mining bee digs a nest burrow and lays eggs in individual cells into which it leaves a ball of pollen and nectar to feed the larvae when it emerges in the spring. The Cuckoo Bee saves all the hard work and follows the Mining Bee, nips into the nest burrow and lays its own egg which will then be able to feed on the food store when it emerges. Not entirely sure what happens to the Mining Bee Egg? There are several species of this Bee which are very hard to tell apart but they each specialise in a particular Mining Bee species so you see a particular Mining Bee and you often also see its "stalker". The technical name for this practice is Cleptoparasitism!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VbsmYWPx3xI/TaSQdDGGT9I/AAAAAAAACNs/rXFyqJ-GxkQ/s1600/_MG_4180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VbsmYWPx3xI/TaSQdDGGT9I/AAAAAAAACNs/rXFyqJ-GxkQ/s640/_MG_4180.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Leaf Rolling Weevil - Apoderus coryli</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not seen this one before but you can hardly miss it. Looks superficially similar to some other beetles eg Lily Beetle but it is quite unusual in that it has a distinctive "neck" to attach its strange head to its body.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-88sgfqX46Ck/TaSQnsS0ESI/AAAAAAAACN0/ZeR4ej611FM/s1600/_MG_4202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-88sgfqX46Ck/TaSQnsS0ESI/AAAAAAAACN0/ZeR4ej611FM/s640/_MG_4202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tortoise Beetle sp</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These are normally bright Green so this is either an immature one or possibly an adult which has overwintered and temporarily lost its colour, which happens in other species like the Green Shield bug. I expect to see more of these (green ones) in the coming weeks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N4xHVIlFhCo/TaSQtGBKJII/AAAAAAAACN4/0YnLo4Bwv3g/s1600/_MG_4212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N4xHVIlFhCo/TaSQtGBKJII/AAAAAAAACN4/0YnLo4Bwv3g/s640/_MG_4212.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">22-Spot Ladybird - Psyllobora 22-puncta</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I haven't counted them! Actually these are much smaller than the "normal" ladybirds and can easily be overlooked. I would definitely be unable to count the spots with the naked eye... Should have gone to specsavers! Unlike the usual Ladybird these do not feed on aphids but on leaf mold.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the common Ladybird and it seems abundant at the moment they are everywhere. Not sure what this one is trying to do in the Teasel head, maybe there are some seeds still in there or it just looks like a safe place to sleep?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-68374326738140847452011-04-03T14:54:00.001+01:002011-04-03T19:18:33.305+01:00Garden Insects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The recent warm spell and the sun breaking through the clouds has got the early spring insects dashing about looking for suitable food supplies , nest sites and , no doubt, mates.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mr5bWRlnV4I/TZhPBLx-kVI/AAAAAAAACMg/ei_U9cylats/s1600/_MG_3913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="458" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mr5bWRlnV4I/TZhPBLx-kVI/AAAAAAAACMg/ei_U9cylats/s640/_MG_3913.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Small Tortoiseshell - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Aglais urticae</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first butterfly I have seen in the garden this year. Adding some colour to an already colourful pot on the patio</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Bee-Fly</u></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Is it a Bee? Is it a Fly? ...... It's a Bee-Fly. Well I don't make the names up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Strictly speaking this is a Fly but it superficially resembles a Bumble Bee being quite round and hairy. It is quite easy to overlook this fascinating fly as it is quite small, quite a drab brown colour and it flits around quickly so you don't get a good view of it. However it has one very distinctive feature being its huge proboscis (the long pointy bit at the front) which makes it look like some kind of dangerous cartoon creature. In reality, as with most dangerous looking insects, it is perfectly harmless and the proboscis is for feeding on nectar in those difficult to reach places.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6xrWG22wP_Y/TZhOt_oCsEI/AAAAAAAACMQ/_nkc_ptmcMw/s1600/_MG_3884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6xrWG22wP_Y/TZhOt_oCsEI/AAAAAAAACMQ/_nkc_ptmcMw/s640/_MG_3884.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bee-Fly - Bombylius major</span></b></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mtgv3ZuW1L0/TZhPDytgy-I/AAAAAAAACMk/AgrAHqvXTCo/s1600/_MG_3920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="522" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mtgv3ZuW1L0/TZhPDytgy-I/AAAAAAAACMk/AgrAHqvXTCo/s640/_MG_3920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bee-Fly - Bombylius major</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...using its long thin proboscis to reach nectar in a Forget-Me-Not flower</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bees</span></u></b></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">As more plants are coming into flower then so the Bees start appearing</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJwk4c-u7CQ/TZhPHWmoxiI/AAAAAAAACMo/mjEDnrCY6Js/s1600/_MG_3962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nJwk4c-u7CQ/TZhPHWmoxiI/AAAAAAAACMo/mjEDnrCY6Js/s640/_MG_3962.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tawny Mining Bee - Andrena fulva</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This striking bee was flying at ground level around the garden probably looking for a good place to dig itself a nest. Don't worry even if they do nest in your garden you wont get a swarm of them as they are solitary Bees. The "nest" is quite a modest affair (small hole in the ground) and you probably won't even know its there although you might see a small volcano like mound of soil which they have excavated at the entrance hole .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was having no luck getting a picture of this female until it buzzed around me a few times and then landed on my trousers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cmp-Tk2vea0/TZhPKQ2y-PI/AAAAAAAACMs/qAQVdvCLTtA/s1600/_MG_3965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cmp-Tk2vea0/TZhPKQ2y-PI/AAAAAAAACMs/qAQVdvCLTtA/s640/_MG_3965.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Honey Bee - Apis mellifera</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-85399694124304388892011-03-13T18:46:00.000+00:002011-03-13T18:46:47.528+00:00First Butterfly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The day started wet but the forecast was to clear up by midday so we decided to set off for Monk Wood Nature Reserve in deepest Worcestershire. As forecast, the skies cleared before we arrived and by the time we were getting our boots on the sun was shining and it was a very pleasant day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Still not a lot of wildlife about although we did flush a pair of Foxes who beat a hasty retreat through the trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">However we did encounter our first butterfly of the season, this rather fine looking specimen of a Comma. It was in very good nick when you consider that it has spent the winter hibernating probably in a log pile in the reserve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D7sgFWxrDa4/TX0MAmuPIvI/AAAAAAAACLs/q6PKhGuaYsI/s1600/_MG_3826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D7sgFWxrDa4/TX0MAmuPIvI/AAAAAAAACLs/q6PKhGuaYsI/s640/_MG_3826.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Comma - Polygonia c-album</span></strong></div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-52356392538358285672011-03-11T17:36:00.000+00:002011-03-11T17:36:24.475+00:00Signs of SpringI went for a walk in Hanbury Woods, Worcestershire today and the first signs of spring are now evident. It was a bright sunny day but quite windy so little sign of insect life as yet apart from a few ladybirds and the odd bumble bee which have been nudged into activity by the recent temperature rise. We are probably 3 or 4 weeks away from an explosion in insect activity and very much dependent on the weather.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Snowdrops</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Mallards</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Frogs</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sharing the pond with the Mallards were a whole bunch of Frogs which were in the shallow edges of the pond with a load of fresh frog spawn. Some of those frogs looked very pleased with themselves.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-45481160525695109402010-11-07T16:09:00.000+00:002010-11-07T16:09:45.201+00:00Autumn at Oversley Wood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few pictures showing the colours and Fruits of Autumn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TNWXwJWbqcI/AAAAAAAAB3g/vcXj9wJqDMQ/s1600/IMG_2396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TNWXwJWbqcI/AAAAAAAAB3g/vcXj9wJqDMQ/s640/IMG_2396.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TNWXz3__0tI/AAAAAAAAB3o/PGbf3-ZKV0s/s1600/IMG_2406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TNWXz3__0tI/AAAAAAAAB3o/PGbf3-ZKV0s/s640/IMG_2406.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Sloe - Fruit of the Blackthorn</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TNWX4b0N3eI/AAAAAAAAB3s/V0mjZgx8tNw/s1600/IMG_2420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TNWX4b0N3eI/AAAAAAAAB3s/V0mjZgx8tNw/s640/IMG_2420.jpg" width="592" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>On the forest floor</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TNWX8G-C0mI/AAAAAAAAB3w/EUHGj_Nv9mk/s1600/IMG_2429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TNWX8G-C0mI/AAAAAAAAB3w/EUHGj_Nv9mk/s640/IMG_2429.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Bramble - Got its timing wrong</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TNWYI1DDquI/AAAAAAAAB4A/Bi6iFBHMoFU/s1600/IMG_2468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TNWYI1DDquI/AAAAAAAAB4A/Bi6iFBHMoFU/s640/IMG_2468.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Holly - LOTS of berries this year. Harsh winter ahead?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><strong>Stinkhorn</strong></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><strong><br />
</strong></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This unmistakable "phallic" funghi exudes a fowl smell from the slime which it produces on its cap. This attracts flies which then carry away the spores helping it spread.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I saw a number of these and disappointingly (?) I couldn't smell anything. Not sure if that is because I am suffering from a cold or that they were coming to the end of their lives and the smell had diminished. I was pleased that the first one at least showed some evidence of the slime and was still attracting flies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-83204327187806967272010-10-10T17:23:00.002+01:002010-10-12T19:44:21.097+01:00Hornets Nest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was a beautiful hot sunny day so decided to go for a walk in the fields around the village (Sambourne) and stumbled upon a Hornets nest in an Oak tree. The nest was in a hole in the trunk of the tree about 18 inches from the ground at the edge of a field. It would probably have gone unnoticed but I saw something large buzzing around and stood to see what it was and if it would settle. It went to the small hole in the Oak and I then realised it was a Hornet and there were several more around. I was only a couple of feeet from the nest and they had obviously spotted me and I was soon being checked out by 6 or 7 more Hornets so I moved away 10 feet or so and they went back to their business.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They were not agreessive to me but they clearly didn't like me being too close to the nest so I took 2 or 3 pictures then retreated and let them settle back down and then went back and took a few more and retreated again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I did that 3 or 4 times and decided I had distubed them enough ( and had maybe pushed my luck far enough! ) and moved on. I just wish I had spotted the nest earlier in the year as it will die off soon when the weather gets colder and will not be repopulated next year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TLSoD7R2xiI/AAAAAAAAByw/a36mEGTsZ_M/s1600/IMG_2090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="518" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TLSoD7R2xiI/AAAAAAAAByw/a36mEGTsZ_M/s640/IMG_2090.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Hornet - Vespa crabro</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573938016465909545.post-74415910360963985492010-09-26T19:31:00.000+01:002010-09-26T19:31:12.932+01:00Late September<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TJ9TJyjParI/AAAAAAAABuo/UsPoSO_Dbuo/s1600/IMG_1953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TJ9TJyjParI/AAAAAAAABuo/UsPoSO_Dbuo/s640/IMG_1953.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Bright "crisp" days</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TJ9FRKLRCeI/AAAAAAAABt8/DDLpqkwYHmo/s1600/IMG_2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TJ9FRKLRCeI/AAAAAAAABt8/DDLpqkwYHmo/s640/IMG_2000.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Rose Hips - Brightening up the hedgerows</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>"What you lookin' at"</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">There are a lot fewer insects about now but I spotted this Dragonfly which was sunbathing and I managed to creep up on him until I was only 1/2 metre away and he was totally unbothered by my presence. Often wondered how people manage to get so close to these dragonflies when they usually fly about so fast you can't tell what species they are. I guess it is just a matter of catching them at a lazy moment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">He eventually flew away when a Crane fly came blundering across the ground as they do and bumped into him!</div><div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Shield Bugs</span></b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TJ82zPfIsSI/AAAAAAAABtw/XRTxPeugG6I/s1600/IMG_1797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TJ82zPfIsSI/AAAAAAAABtw/XRTxPeugG6I/s640/IMG_1797.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Forest Shieldbug - Pentatoma rufipes</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Superficially similar to the Sloe Shieldbug (below) especially in the field but the easiest way to differentiate the Forest bug is by its square shoulders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TJ9FUvTg_oI/AAAAAAAABuA/wnmtu3DNhB4/s1600/IMG_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="620" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TJ9FUvTg_oI/AAAAAAAABuA/wnmtu3DNhB4/s640/IMG_2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Sloe Shieldbug - Dolycoris baccarum</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Which reminds me..soon time to collect sloes for Sloe Gin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TJ9FYM5igBI/AAAAAAAABuE/tc5Iev6pRoY/s1600/IMG_2039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tKzV88T3QJI/TJ9FYM5igBI/AAAAAAAABuE/tc5Iev6pRoY/s640/IMG_2039.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Corizus hyoscyami</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I might start calling this the Thistle shieldbug because I always seem to find it in thistles. Although I have just read on the internet that the Dutch call it the Cinnamon Bug because it smells of cinnamon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'd better make sure there is no one watching if I try that ID trick, could look very odd!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Pete Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00618623681559061109noreply@blogger.com0