Admirable
On our way back from Cardiff and Tredegar yesterday we stopped in Monmouth and went into Waitrose to pick up one or two supplies, and the checkout cashier, asking about the camera equipment I was carrying, told us about a … Continued
Unconvincing
She’s pretending to be a bumblebee, bless her, but it’s not a very accurate impersonation. She’s Cheilosia illustrata, a hoverfly found primarily on umbellifers, and especially hogweed, whose roots are the preferred larval foodplant. August is the latter end of … Continued
Flavour of the week
The burdock is out along the bank of the Avon at Stratford, and this afternoon it was swarming with butterflies, most of which were Commas. I didn’t know before today that Commas find burdock nectar irresistible, but it must be … Continued
Speed Feeding Champion
The third day of the Alternative Olympic Games came to a thrilling climax this afternoon, with the finals of the 1m Speed Feed (Bees, solitary) competition. As had been predicted by most pundits, this came down to a head-to-head between … Continued
Sex and violence
I was watching a Wool Carder noodling through the hedge woundwort, thinking that it was smaller than I remembered, and half-forming the thought that it might be a female, when a second one swooped in and pounced. I think it … Continued
Small
posted in: Butterflies, Flowers and plants, Hoverflies, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire |
0
My bug hunts today yielded two especially nice finds, either of which I’d have been very happy to blip. After the usual bout of indecision this evening, I’ve finally decided to post both of them. This is a pristine male … Continued