Pie
In the Middle Ages this bird was simply called a Pie, a name thought to be derived from its Latin name of ‘pica’. According to the Collins English Dictionary, this meaning of ‘pie’ is recorded as early as the C13th, … Continued
Second instar
I found this shieldbug nymph in the wild garden this morning, hanging out in a clump of pendulous sedge by the pond. It’s a Red-legged Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes), which is unusual among British Shieldbugs in that it overwinters not as … Continued
Autumnal orb-weaver
Before you go all girly on me, she was about 5mm long, which in my book makes her a money spider. She was also considerably more frightened of me than you are of her, and so well-camouflaged against this dying … Continued
