Category Archives: Uncategorized

With more cool and wet weather predicted for the middle part of June, we took the opportunity when the weatherman forecast dry weather on the 11th – 12th June to put out our moth trap. It was a cool night and there was a decent breeze about. Despite conditions not being great we did haveContinue reading “Moth Trapping – June 11th”

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘Thanatosis’ or ‘Tonic Immobility’? We certainly hadn’t until we filmed the Green Weevil below, seemingly playing dead upon being discovered. We have to admit to being slightly baffled by this behavior. After all, how could this possibly help prevent a predator attack, or for that matter any other formContinue reading “Playing Dead Behaviour”

Recently we recorded our 25th species of Spider (Araneae) in the Garden. In the grand scheme of things this is a low number, when compared to the 650+ species known to live in the UK. However for a small urban garden we think this is a rather diverse group. Especially as spiders are not somethingContinue reading “Our 25th Spider Species”

Calopteryx virgo & Pyrrhosoma nymphula The order Odonata includes the well-known Dragonflies and Damselflies, but also the less well-known Demoiselles, of which there are two species in the UK. On the 10th May, we finally welcomed our first visit from the aptly named Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo), pictured below resting upon some ivy. This particularContinue reading “Odonata old and new – Beautiful Demoiselle & Large Red Damselfly”

The Green Cellar Slug – Limacus maculatus We don’t talk about slugs very much, no one does really. Indeed if you find yourself involved in a coversation about them it’s usually either because someone is trying to kill them or one has left a slimey trail across your new garden furniture (it’ll wash off!). SoContinue reading “The Green Cellar Slug & The Jackdaw”

It’s only April and we have had some amazing wildlife in the Garden already. The latest trio of newcomers started with a species of hoverfly, the 25th hoverfly species recorded in the Garden so far, called Pipiza noctiluca. It is slightly unusual looking for a hoverfly… The British list of Pipiza runs to seven species,Continue reading “A new Hoverfly, Butterfly and Bird”

Back on the 18th March we came across the following… An earwig jammed into a hollow stem within the meadow area. What was not immediately clear was whether it was there by its own volition, or whether something more sinister was at play. So we sat and watched to try and figure out what wasContinue reading “Earwigs – what are they up to?”

We just happened to look in the right direction to spot this pair of mating Esperia sulphurella, which we thought blended into this old deadwood branch amazingly, especially in terms of the colouration. We regularly see this species, but rarely male and female together. The female will lay her eggs just beneath a loose pieceContinue reading “Esperia sulphurella – Hiding in plain sight”

We’ve had some sunshine recently in Bristol (UK) and this has encouraged a good number of insects to take to the wing. Including, we are delighted to say, several hoverfly species, including two species new to the Garden. On the 13th April we spied within the bramble and hazel, resting on some ivy, something unfamiliar.Continue reading “Two new Hoverfly Species”

Our 600th species recorded in the Garden. In truth, it is likely one of either two species, Oulema melanopus or O. duftschmidi. A popular species identification App we use suggests O. melanopus, but it seems unlikely the App is sophisticated enough to distinguish between these two closely related species. It’s a beetle in the familyContinue reading “Species No. 600 – Oulema sp”