Soldier and sailor beetles

Last month I photographed both of these beetles. The Grey sailor beetles was scrabbling around in a buttercup flower, and probably eating the pollen, and is a sun lover.
The Yellow-tipped malthine is the opposite. It prefers shady locations, and I only spotted it because of the yellow tips to its wings.

Now both are on the Cantharidae page.

Adult stonefly

Over this summer I've seen many stoneflies, even some in the garden. Before I'd olny seen the little needle flies in the garden, but this year I'm seeing the bigger species too. This one I found in the woods though, there were loads of them. It was hard to get it to stay still long enough to take this, and you can just make out the "double ladder". I've added it to the Plecoptera page.

Bumblebees and hedgehogs

I've had a few emails about hedgehogs breaking into bumblebee nests recently. All nests have been above ground, and only one was destroyed completely. From the hedgehog's point of view a bumblebee nest in the open must be a very tempting morsel with juicy grubs, and honey and pollen to follow. I imagine it is impossible for a bumblebee to sting a rolled up hedgehog, but I should think a hedgehog snout would be a very easy target. This year I've seen far more hedgehogs than I usually see, and this is after one of the severest winters this generation. Perhaps there is a shortage of other, easier to get at foods, or perhaps people are more vigilant where bumblebees are concerned. Hard to tell. Also hard to tell people that have watched the progress of "their" bumblebees for months that the destruction is "natural". So hedgehogs have been added to the predator page.

Tegenaria atrica

Found this mature female Tegenaria atrica while emptying my compost bin last month. I do not know how I didn't squash her. Anyway I certainly ruined her web, so I took her photograph and added it to the Aglenidae page then put her in my cold frame where I could do with her help.

Ringlet butterfly

Added this image of a ringlet to the Satyridae page. There are still a few flying around, but they are now looking very tattered.

Dark arches

Just got round to adding the dark arches I found in my greenhouse one June morning to a new Noctuidae page . It has been such a busy summer - I don't know when I'll catch up!

Sawfly saw

Just added this image of a sawfly saw to the sawfly and wood wasp page. The woods and fields are full of saw flies today, all the same species. They just sit lazily on the heads of flowers.

Grey dagger, Acronica psi

Just added this to my Noctuidae page. Got up at 4 am in the morning with the dog to find this on the wall of the house about a month ago. Being me I rushed in to get the camera and took this photograph, and all without my glasses!