Vespa
A couple of weeks ago I posted a few photos of a Hornet Hoverfly and talked a little about the European Hornet she was attempting to impersonate. Today I’m able to bring you the subject of that impersonation, because when … Continued
Butterfly day
This morning Butterfly Conservation emailed me to say that this year’s Big Butterfly Count has resulted in the lowest numbers ever recorded – which won’t come as a surprise to many people, because everyone on my socials seems to have … Continued
Red-tailed male
A couple of months ago I posted a male Early Bumblebee, and talked about the only two UK bees with which he might potentially be confused. Of these, I’ve never seen a Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola), and certainly wouldn’t expect … Continued
Post-coital munchies
Chronologically, this is the last of today’s sequence of three photos, but I’m featuring it because of its energy. Who am I kidding? I’m featuring it because it’s really quite hard to capture Wool Carder Bees in flight, and having … Continued
Orange-vented Mason Bee
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
Long-tongued
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