Red squirrel

Saw this red squirrel a couple of weeks ago while out for my morning walk with the dog. Who in their right mind would want to get on a crowded plane, suffer jet lag and airline food to get away from the paradise we have at home? We've no money, are living well beyond our means, the country has been run into the ground by incompetent, selfish and visionless politicians, but there is nowhere else I'd rather be. Let's hope the new lot can provide some leadership, and make us pay our way again. Rant over for now.

The spider catches the fly

The spider catches the fly. This is a jumping or zebra spider, one of my favourites. It has eyes like headlamps and you really do feel it is watching you. But not this one, it was too busy with the fly it had just stalked and caught. No web, just sheer cunning and strength. Just like lions hunting prey 2 or 3 times their weight, except they hunt in a pride, this spider hunts alone on a wall in my garden.

Roe deer

Saw these deer while out walking with the dog this morning. Luckily I had my camera, and even more luckily my dog stayed still long enough to let me take this.
Nothing to do with bumblebees, or even invertebrates, but thought I'd share it anyway.

Red tailed bumblebee, Bombus lapidarius queen

Just added this great image of a queen sent in by a visitor to the site to the Bombus lapidarius page

Uses of spider silk

Just added a chunk of text to the main spider page on the many uses of spider silk - it's not just for webs.

• webs to catch prey


• wrapping to keep prey until it is required


• retreats on or near the web


• lining of burrows


• sacs to protect eggs


• safety drag-line when moving around


• parachute to balloon and aid dispersal of young or small spiders


• small sheet of silk made by males to deposit a droplet of sperm before it is taken up in the palp