Author Archives: dogsdave

Our August diary entry has been added to the Diary page. The month things became too over grown and nine new species added to our growing list.

From time to time we like to talk about the weather. Yesterday we felt was note worthy enough to post about. At around 18:20 on August 26th 2023, I think it’s reasonable to say we had the heaviest rain we have seen in some time, certainly since launching this website. Having lived locally all myContinue reading “The Downpour 26th August 2023”

When it comes to flies (Diptera) we have tended to focus on Hoverflies as they are so striking, obvious, easy to film and a favourite of ours in the Garden. However we have been focusing a little on other species lately and have uploaded two youtube shorts to support our pages on Sarcophaga sp (FleshContinue reading “Flies – Other Than Hoverflies”

Our July 2023 update is on the website. Lots of new species and lots of rain. Including two species of Longhorn Beetle, the Ruby-tailed Wasp reported in our last post and a whole new Order of insects. We’ve also added large thumbnail images to our species list, and where possible links to species accounts. DC:Continue reading “July 2023”

One of the main insects we have been waiting to record in the Garden finally showed up today, a Ruby-tailed Wasp. Think neon tetra (for those who like tropical fish) with wings and you’re on the right track. A spectacular looking insect belonging to the Cuckoo Wasp family Chrysididae. Our visitor was very happy foragingContinue reading “Ruby-tailed Wasp”

Our June 2023 calendar entry is now on the website. Showing some of the new species recorded in the Garden. Plus highlighting the benefits of having uncut areas in terms of soil moisture rentention during prolonged hot dry spells. https://wildlifegarden.org/june-2023/ If you’re considering starting a project to record wildlife in the garden and improve /Continue reading “June 2023”

Lots of new species recorded already this month in the Garden. It’s looking a bit wild down there… The Garden now has a good balance of fresh water areas, nectar sources, shaded leaf litter areas, varied vegetation structure and we hope improving soils. Plus a few bits of rock and rubble that a surprising amountContinue reading “Welcome to the Jungle”

A regular visitor came to the Garden on Monday and is one we always like to see and it’s nice to get the chance to film it for a while. A hoverfly with no common name we know of, so sticking with Latin it is known as Sphaerophoria scripta. Our brief information page for thisContinue reading “Sphaerophoria scripta “

In November 2021 we briefly posted about a species of Megachile called Willughby’s Leafcutter Bee – Megachile willughbiella (click HERE to see post). We were unsure at the time if we had identified the species correctly and have not seen this species since in the Garden. However on the 9th June 2023 we recorded theContinue reading “Megachile centuncularis Patchwork Leafcutter Bee”

In our May 2023 entry posted just two days ago, we noted that whilst this year has been brilliant in terms of numbers of Swollen Thighed Beetles present, we were perplexed as to why we were only seeing males, which have the distinct swollen thighed (hind femora) appearance shown below, and never any females. WellContinue reading “Swollen Thighed Beetles – Where are the females?”