Wildlife

Flower crab spider

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It dawned on me that I frequently see pictures of crab spiders hiding under the petals of flowers, so thought I would go and give the calendula a look. It really is the flower that keeps on giving. There it was, just hiding under the petals as expected. I had to wait for it to come out, and contend with a very windy day. Nothing was staying still, but still I tried.

He didn’t seem happy once he spotted me and I have to give up and come back later. We was there for a couple of days until the flower was spent, so I did get my opportunity for a good shot.

This time he didn’t seem to mind being photographed and just waited, I was most pleased.

(c) K Wicks

Purple

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A selection of purples from my photos.

Bowles’s Mauve
Cheddar Gorge caves
Gloucestershire sunrise
African Daisy
Coral
Iris
Sunrise
Potato Flower
Bluetit Feather
Honey bee on lavendar

(c) K Wicks

Summer in the garden

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There have been some awesome little bugs and insects this year. Most of them have moved on now and the late summer change of plants begins. I shall get some new seeds planted to start the winter grow. Hopefully autumn will have some different things going on, its one of my favourite months. Here are some of the brightest and coolest of the last month or so.

Drone fly with a little friend
Chinese forget-me-not
Poppy head
Asian lady beetle?
Sow thistle leaf
Miridae plant bug
Small white butterfly on lavender
Speckled bush-cricket
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly
Caterpillars
Lavender
Hoverfly
baby Shield bug on wild strawberry
Fly
Charlock mustard

(c) K Wicks

July caterpillars & butterflies

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There have been fewer butterflies by this time last year, but the weather did really delay all the flowers coming out so its not surprising.

But July had made up for it, firstly with a tortoiseshell a couple of weeks ago, warming up on the fence.

But last week, I was contemplating getting rid of the overgrown and looking almost past it sow thistle. Then decided to look closely at all the fading heads and small aphid patches – thinking there is still a lot of life here. Then I saw them.

Lots of little caterpillars. The sun was coming up and made for a few awesome pictures.

I think they are starting to look like bright-line brown-eye moth caterpillars after looking through many options, but we will see. One has made it over to my small growing cherry tree and has munched its way through half a leaf or two, but that’s ok. There’s plenty there and it is food for them.

The cherry tree muncher

The detail on them is amazing when you get up close. I was also treated to large and small white butterflies making an appearance at last. Drawn in by the lavender rather than the nasturtiums. It landed as I had my camera in hand watching the bees, a rare treat compared to waiting, following and still not catching them. I hope for more to come.

(c) K Wicks

Ladybirds – July 2021

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Today has been very exciting in the garden. The warm weather and flowering plants have bought in an abundance of insects.

After seeing lots of ladybird larvae on my rose bush that had grown very tall in the last few months, I’ve been checking in case I see any grown up and today I saw them all. I don’t think I was checking properly before, just a quick glance and you can miss them. But I believe there are 5 different ones, just today, on one plant! One had strayed over to the charlock too.

10-spot Adalia decempunctata
2-spot ladybird Black on red
Middle stage ladybird
7-spot ladybird
7-spot ladybird larvae
22-spot ladybird
22-spot ladybird
Harlequin ladybird

The picture of a larvae was from a few weeks ago, but that’s not bad for a short time in the garden in one afternoon. Its roasting today and not easy to stand in it for too long, but I will be back out there again for rumage around. Have been picking more berries today to whip up a pudding which I may just share with you all later. Well, the recipe that is, I haven’t made enough for everyone.

Here is one from last year to add a bit more colour to a pretty cool set 🐞

22-spot ladybird

(c) K Wicks

Charlock mustard

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There has been lots of bug activity since the weather warmed, less on the honey bee front. Now a few of the tubes in the bee Hotel are blocked up there doesn’t seem to be as many visitors. I’m new to watching Bees so this might be their normal seasonal routine (although there have been a number of them the last few days on the lavendar).

For bumble bees and hoverflies, there have been tons. Seems that the charlock mustard is a big favourite. Many different types of hovefly and buff tailed bumblebees amongst others. Daily activity on this, so much so I can’t bring myself to scale it back until it stops flowering, it’s not a small plant. Then I guess it will go to seed and I may just pick them and see what I can do with them.

Buff-tailed bumblebee
Drone fly
Sweat Bee?
Eupeodes hoverfly
Charlock Mustard

(c) K Wicks