Hawking
I was tired today, after yesterday’s party. Because of the way I live my life these days, I’m more used to chatting to six-legged creatures than to two-legged people, and though I had a good time at the party, by … Continued
All grown up
It’s barely more than a month since all the Red-legged Shieldbugs I was finding in the garden were nymphs, and less than four weeks since I saw a couple of them go through their final moult, but here are two … Continued
Improvement
The rain stopped early this morning, because of course it did, on the day most of our family group was going to be spending travelling back home. Sigh. But at least the Boy Wonder got to do some swinging and … Continued
Chrysotoxum cautum
As Batesian mimics go, this hoverfly is pretty effective: not only does it look a lot like a wasp, it also moves fast and erratically like a wasp, and sounds irritatedly waspish. 9/10 – would recommend. It was concert day … Continued
Batesian mimickry
When a dull and overcast morning suddenly gave way to a bright, warm and sunny afternoon, and I wandered out with the camera to see what invertebrates were about, I almost punched the air when I spotted this wasp beetle: … Continued
Fancy dress
“There’s an interesting hoverfly here,” I called out to the menfolk, who were watering the patio plants. (Or at any rate, the patio.) “Shall we go and see what Grandma’s found?” said R to the Boy Wonder. And then, a … Continued
Large meadow mining bee
As soon as I looked at that sweet little face, I felt sure that I was making a new acquaintance. I thought he was probably a mining bee, but I couldn’t think of one with such extensive yellow facial markings, … Continued