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Insects (assorted) Page 13
Image Taken on 06 Oct 2017
at 12:49 Image of day on 15 Nov 2017
Ivy always seems an unlikely plant to make flowers, but each year we get a good
show at the end of the summer. The insects really appreciate this late bounty.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20171115_df3_20171006_1249_175 ivy flower with wasp flying in (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Nov 2019
at 09:12 Image of day on 15 Dec 2019
A few metres from the house we have a simple little conical rain gauge from
which we record the last days rain every morning. On this morning the edge
glowed with a green speck which close inspection turned out to be a Juniper
Shieldbug. The morning was cold and wet and the insect was comatose with several
raindrops on their back (very clear in the bottom image) and in the top image
one at the centre magnifying the underlying pattern.
We managed to read and empty the gauge without disturbing the 'sleeping' insect!
 with raindrops comatose on rain gauge (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20191215_p10_20191103_0912_368+371 juniper shieldbug (cyphostethus tristriatus) with raindrops comatose on rain gauge (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Sep 2020
at 16:15 Image of day on 11 Nov 2020
The female Kestrel sees something in the recently cut grass margin, and dives
onto it. You sort of expect a rodent to be the target, but no, this Cranefly is
worthy of the effort.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20201111_df3_20200925_1615_176 kestrel female catching cranefly then running over grass for another catch 01 of 19 (detail crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Sep 2020
at 16:15 Image of day on 11 Nov 2020
Then a first for us - this female Kestrel runs over the
grass to grab another prey item. The bird is, not unexpectedly, not particularly
good at running, and we show here about every third image of those taken at 7
fps - so just under half a second between each image accurately montaged except
for the last which would overlap the previous, hence the white bar. We never saw
what she caught, but the grass is alive with Craneflies.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20201111_df3_20200925_1615_182-204 kestrel female catching cranefly then running over grass for another catch 03+08+11+14+17+19 of 19 (accurate montage @7fps)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 19 Sep 2014
at 15:46 Image of day on 28 Nov 2014
Seeing this ladybird at the beginning of autumn reminded us that
after a flurry in the spring, we saw very few in the summer.
This is our regular 7-spot species, and relief at seeing
very few Harlequin invaders this year.
.jpg)
Ref: 20141128_df2_20140919_1546_531 7-spot ladybird(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 31 Aug 2013
at 08:36 Image of day on 21 Oct 2013
On a Dandelion leaf we made our first recorded sighting here
of the tiny 22-spot ladybird.
 on dandelion leaf (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20131021_p10_20130831_0836_983 22-spot ladybird (first ever image) on dandelion leaf (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Mar 2007
at 10:39 Image of day on 11 Mar 2007
Warm enough to tempt out this Ladybird for a walk on the violets.
.jpg)
Ref: 20070311_p34_20070303_1039_541 ladybird and violets(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Oct 2010
at 12:29 Image of day on 01 Jan 2011
Talking of 7-spot ladybird - this dead hogweed seems to be a good
place for them to cluster in the sunshine.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20110101_p34_20101030_1229_288 6 7-spot ladybird clustered in dead hogweed (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Mar 2015
at 16:08 Image of day on 24 Apr 2015
The first Ladybird out and about this year, rather than comatose
in some protected cranny. This is our most common - the 7-spot
ladybird - sunning itself on a piece of Lichen.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20150424_df2_20150310_1608_269 7-spot ladybird in blackthorn hedge on piece of yellow lichen (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 17 Feb 2007
at 11:31 Image of day on 25 Feb 2007
This ladybird was hiding in the creases in the bark of a
diseased elm.
.jpg)
Ref: 20070225_p34_20070217_1131_918 ladybird in elm bark(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 09 Aug 2009
at 11:36 Image of day on 24 Sep 2009
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20090924_da1_20090809_1136_066+1234_165_ft1 7-spot ladybird in flight with hawthorn twig (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Jun 2019
at 12:32 Image of day on 03 Aug 2019
A 7-spot Ladybird Larva on a mint leaf.
.jpg)
Ref: 20190803_df5_20190614_1232_001 7-spot ladybird larva on mint leaf(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 08 Aug 2019
at 10:49 Image of day on 26 Sep 2019
Not many Ladybirds of any sort at the moment, so we're pleased to see
this native 7-spot walking around on the Blackberry leaves, undoubtedly
in search of their favourite food - Aphids.
.jpg)
Ref: 20190926_df3_20190808_1049_002 7-spot ladybird on blackberry leaf(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Mar 2014
at 12:47 Image of day on 18 May 2014
This 7-spot ladybird has chosen a blackberry leaf to sun itself.
Ladybirds are surprisingly active even near freezing temperatures
as we discovered when researching appearances of insects in
UV light - see
Seven spot ladybird in UV. Even at 4 degrees C one
was walking about rather than torpid like most other insects at the temperature.
Once warmed up all the insects went back unharmed to where we found them.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20140518_p10_20140330_1247_752 7-spot ladybird on blackberry leaf (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 22 Mar 2023
at 10:13 Image of day on 28 Apr 2023
All the Ladybirds we have seen so far have been 7-spot Ladybirds - no
signs of Harlequins yet, but that won't last.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20230428_df3_20230322_1013_005 7-spot ladybird on blackberry leaf (1st of 2023)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Sep 2018
at 09:59 Image of day on 24 Oct 2018
There has been a severe dearth of Ladybirds this year, but those we have seen
are mostly the native 7-spot species photographed here, rather than more recent
years predominantly 'Harlequins'.
.jpg)
Ref: 20181024_df3_20180902_0959_072 7-spot ladybird on debris from clearing scrub in meadow(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Mar 2014
at 12:45 Image of day on 18 May 2014
We are pleased to see 7-spot Ladybirds in many sunlit patches.
Here one of several sunning themselves on a Lodgepole pine cone.
.jpg)
Ref: 20140518_p10_20140330_1245_746 7-spot ladybird on developing lodgepole pine cone(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Sep 2023
at 10:35 Image of day on 09 Nov 2023
A really poor year for Ladybirds here this year -
this is the first we have noticed for weeks.
It's a 7-spot Ladybird - a common UK species rather than the almost absent Harlequins.
.jpg)
Ref: 20231109_df3_20230914_1035_069 7-spot ladybird on fresh stinging nettle leaf(r+mb id@432).jpg
Image Taken on 28 Sep 2024
at 09:42 Image of day on 11 Nov 2024
Ladybirds have been around in much smaller numbers than usual this year.
We normally get an invasion in the house that just hasn't happened this year.
But we are now seeing a few - so far all British 7-spot rather than the invading Harlequins.
.jpg)
Ref: 20241111_d72_20240928_0942_038 7-spot ladybird on mint seed head(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 17 Sep 2024
at 11:02 Image of day on 31 Oct 2024
Both native and Harlequin Ladybirds have appeared in unusually low numbers
this year. Here this 7-spot Ladybird was one of two on this thistle plant - the first
of any Ladybirds that we have seen for weeks.
.jpg)
Ref: 20241031_df3_20240917_1102_113 7-spot ladybird on thistle leaves(r+mb id@768).jpg
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