I found it very satisfying to step out of my front door this morning, take two steps across the lawn, and find this pretty female Orange-vented Mason Bee (Osmia leaiana) nectaring on the thistle I’ve left there. I wish I … Continued
One way in which entomologists categorise bees is by the length of their tongues. In terms of the number of bee species there are worldwide, not many are truly long-tongued, but the mason, leafcutter, carpenter and carder bees are among … Continued
Halteres are the vestigial hind wings of flies, and are believed to act as balance organs. I’ve never found an explanation as to why in Melanostoma scalare they’re sometimes (though not always) green, but it’s a peculiarity that as far as … Continued
Today was overcast and quite cold, and very few invertebrates seemed to want to be out and about. The black horehound along the old wall at Tilly’s field was empty of Wool Carders, but a few hardy Common Carders and … Continued
Tilly’s field has finally produced a reasonable number of butterflies, including about half a dozen Marbled Whites. Because of this year’s dearth of wild flowers, though, there’s quite steep competition for food among all the nectar-feeding insects, and the black … Continued
At the point when the Wool Carder spotted the red spider mite and turned to look at it, he lifted the spikes at the end of his abdomen in a way I’d have interpreted as threatening if I’d been the … Continued
