Plasterer
I’d been planning a little road trip today, but life got in the way. We have had two phone lines for as long as we’ve been here, one a general line for the family, and the other dedicated to work … Continued
Polylectic
Well, you say that… Polylectic in this sense means a bee that collects pollen from a range of unrelated types of flower. It’s said that Megachile willughbiella is happy to collect from daisies, campanulas and willowherbs, as well as from … Continued
Early and late
Three weeks ago I posted a little clutch of first instar woundwort shieldbug nymphs, and commented that they would be approaching adulthood in around a month. I’ve tried to keep an eye on their development since then, but the weather … Continued
Refreshment
After the hottest night I ever remember failing to sleep through, the morning was dark and overcast, and eventually it rained a little. The temperature has now dropped into the normal range for a British summer, but we’re going to … Continued
Oak bush cricket
I’m indebted to R for enabling this post, by finding me an insect I’d never seen before, and then acting as my glamorous studio assistant while I photographed it. It was after 5pm, and after spending most of the day … Continued
Mr and Mrs
I’m back with the leaf cutter bees tonight – not least because they kept working today, when almost everything else had retreated to the shade, and thereby gave me the day’s best photo opportunities. The main image is a female … Continued
Big-headed
Today was hot and sunny – though nowhere near as hot as the next three days are expected to be – and I turned my back very firmly on all the work that was waiting for me in the house, … Continued
Emergency butterfly
I like to post at least one photo of a Meadow Brown each summer, and at least one photo of something or other feeding on our blue hebe. This year, in the interests of efficiency, I’ve combined them. Efficiency was … Continued