New life in early summer
May/ June time is a beautiful time of year. New life, be it plant or insect, is all around us. Just a brief look in hedgerow and garden will show you this everywhere.
Over a few days I pointed my camera at all manner of things, guided by eagle eyed Rosey, and here are a few images taken during this period, with a brief detail.
Drinker Moth caterpillar
Caterpillars from August to June. Britain and Ireland. Large hairy dark grey caterpillar found mainly in damp habitats.
Fully grown caterpillars are up to 7 cm in length. They are dark grey with golden speckling and have brown hair tufts along the body. A line of white hair tufts is present on either side of the body. The caterpillars hibernate when part grown and continue feeding in the spring, becoming fully grown by June. In winter they can sometimes be found at rest on grass stems and on the twigs of bushes. In the spring they feed mainly at night, but during the day can be found resting low down on vegetation.
Tree bumble bee
The Tree bumblebee only arrived in the UK in 2001 and then rapidly spreading north, with it being recorded for the first time in Scotland in 2013. This bumblebee does really well in the UK. It is a generalist species which means it feeds on a wide range of flowers though it is particularly fond of raspberries and blackberries, making gardens and allotments great places to see them.
This adaptable bee is the most arboreal of all bumblebees and will nest in abandoned bird boxes or empty roof cavities. However some can be found nesting low down in old mouse nests or even in the fluff of tumble drier vent pipes.
Tree bumblebees aren’t particularly aggressive, although they are likely to defend their nest if they feel threatened. But don’t panic! - they swarm, which is scary, but is is is actually something called ‘Nest surveillance’ and it’s the frisky males hanging around. Male bumblebees cannot sting as they don’t have a stinger (the stingers are modified egg laying tubes called ovipositors which obviously only females will have). The males are just waiting for the virgin queens to emerge and once they do, the males will attempt to mate with them, very often falling to ground during the process. Once the queens have mated they feed themselves up and find a hibernation spot, ready to start a new colony next year. These fantastic pollinators don’t appear to be harming our native wildlife and they are truly wonderful to watch in flight.
Small Grass Emerald - Pseudoterpna pruinata
A nationally scarce moth restricted to counties in southern England.The wings are a dull green colour with a gold leading forewing edge and two fairly straight, white cross-lines.The adults fly at night from dusk and are attracted to light. The caterpillars can be found from July to August before overwintering as pupae suspended by threads from the foodplant or in leaf litter.
Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)
The large red damselfly is a medium-sized damselfly which lives around the edge of ponds, lakes, ditches and canals and can also be found away from breeding sites in grassland and woodland. The earliest damselfly to emerge in the UK, it is on the wing from the end of April through to August. It is a regular visitor to gardens.
Sawfly (Rhogogaster viridis)
Sawflies are part of the insect order, Hymenoptera, together with bees, wasps and ants. However they are considered to be the most primitive group and form the sub-order - Symphyta. They differ from the bees, wasps and ants in not having a 'waist' and in their wing venation. Most female sawflies possess 'saw-like' genitalia which they use to cut through plant tissue in order to lay their eggs. All sawflies are harmless and cannot sting. In Britain there are around 107 different genera and about 500 species. The actual numbers constantly change as new species are added and others are lost. It is unclear how many can be found in Leicestershire and Rutland as it is a very under-recorded group.
Soldier beetle- Dichelotarsus
The Common Red Soldier Beetle is a medium-sized, narrow beetle commonly found on open-structured flowers, such as daises, Cow Parsley and Hogweed, during the summer. It can be spotted in grassland, woodland, along hedgerows and in parks and gardens. Adults feed on aphids, and also eat pollen and nectar. Larvae prey on ground-dwelling invertebrates, such as slugs and snails, and live at the base of long grasses. The adults spend much of their short, summer lives mating and can often be seen in pairs.
Green Shield bug - -Palomena viridissima
This flat, shield-shaped bug is common throughout England and Wales, but less so in Scotland.
It is bright green and stippled with tiny black dots in spring and summer, but changes to greeny-bronze in autumn. Its wing tips are dark brown.
Adult shield bugs hibernate in grass tussocks or leaf litter and emerge in May.
Females lay clusters of small, barrel-shaped eggs on the undersides of leaves. These hatch into wingless nymphs, which crawl between plants to feed, and become the new generation of adults in September. These bugs can often be seen basking in the sun during late summer before they hibernate. Both adults and nymphs suck plant sap.
It is sometimes called a green stink bug as it produces a pungent odour from special glands if handled or disturbed.
Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)
Recorded all year but mainly May to October. Common and resident to Great Britain but also a common migrant seen in large numbers at coastal locations.
An unmistakable and distinctive moth with pinkish-brown markings. The wings are folded along the body at rest which gives the impression of a withered autumn leaf.
The adults are attracted to light and feed on flowers of Common Reed and other grasses. They are frequently seen during the day, resting in the open, on walls, fences or vegetation. They overwinter as larvae so the caterpillars can be seen all year round, feeding in mild weather. They usually pupate in a cocoon just under the soil.
In a row - Oxeye Daisy
In bloom around the solstice, this large daisy is a sure sign that summer has arrived. It is similar to the daisy but with larger flowerheads, which can be 6 cm across. The base leaves are spoon-shaped and about 10 cm long. The stem leaves are toothed and more oblong.
It grows in a variety of habitats including meadows and fields, under open-canopy forests and scrub and in disturbed areas. Best time to see is June to August.
The Mullein - (Cucullia verbasci)
The yellow, black and white caterpillars of Mullein moths are one of the most distinctive caterpillars found in the British Isles. When fully grown they are almost 50 mm in length with a mixture of black and yellow markings on a pale bluey grey/whitish body.
Drinker Moth caterpillar
Caterpillars from August to June. Britain and Ireland. Large hairy dark grey caterpillar found mainly in damp habitats.
Fully grown caterpillars are up to 7cm in length. They are dark grey with golden speckling and have brown hair tufts along the body. A line of white hair tufts is present on either side of the body. The caterpillars hibernate when part grown and continue feeding in the spring, becoming fully grown by June. In winter they can sometimes be found at rest on grass stems and on the twigs of bushes. In the spring they feed mainly at night, but during the day can be found resting low down on vegetation.
Blackberry blossom - what more can one say?
Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria
Occurs in woodland, gardens and hedgerows. Butterflies often perch in sunny spots, spiralling into the air to chase each other.
The aptly named Speckled Wood flies in partially shaded woodland with dappled sunlight. The male usually perches in a small pool of sunlight, from where it rises rapidly to intercept any intruder. Both sexes feed on honeydew in the tree tops and are rarely seen feeding on flowers, except early and late in the year when aphid activity is low.
Thick-legged flower beetle Oedemera nobilis – (family Oedemeridae)
Often known as the False Oil Beetle. This spectacular metallic-green beetle is usually seen on flowers. Only the male – seen here – has the characteristic thickened hind ‘thighs' (femora). This species is common in gardens and grassland, and in open spaces in woods, in the south, but is more often found in coastal areas in the north of the country. The larvae feed and develop within plant stems.
Wild Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
The charismatic, pink flower spikes of Foxgloves are famous as both a reminder of the hazy days of summer and of their deadly poisonous nature. The high flower stems are only produced in the plant's second year and can be seen between June and September. Foxgloves can be found in woodlands and gardens, and on moorlands, coastal cliffs, roadside verges and waste ground.
A snail - have not identified the name as yet.
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