27,000  is the answer. What's the question? (answer at end of blog update)

Just before we get into a new update proper; here's something that has been vexing me of late. Take a look at the following images for a clue...

So what do you think is the connection between these characters?

Well for me (and I realise that you'll all have your own ideas on this) they represent people who might just qualify as being...

God forbid, it may even be this chump...

But I could never have imagined that I was so far behind the curve to the point of not even knowing who this guy was when I Googled the very same question...

And the moral behind all this? Don't Google stupid questions!

(The funniest one I saw was..."HOW DO YOU TURN OFF CAPSLOCK?") 

The Garden cross spider (Araneus diadematus)

Of course it's a spider! Why didn't I warn you? Because I thought it would be obvious given that I wrote Happy Arachtober, that's why. What d'ya mean you couldn't read that text! If you only knew how I slave over these updates, putting every ounce of my creativity into each one - I know, you wouldn't/couldn't care less. All you want is a spider-free update, right? 

Well, I value your input and will always try to accomodate your particular interests and thoughts. With that in mind then;here's another spider photo...

In fact...I was looking at somebody's Flickr photos recently and saw the word 'triptych' and thought what a lovely word it is, and so let's have our very own triptych, and then we can put the spiders to bed for this update...

In reverse order (why not) they are called, a Long jawed orb-weaver, which should in my opinion have been called a Long bodied orb-weaver? The top right spider is called a Misumena vatia crab spider (male) and the first spider, top left is called Samantha I think...because I am not 100% certain about the species of that one!

Okay, if you are still with me, I promise, no more spiders on this web-log.

What about ants? Well, you haven't posted any ant pictures for an age JJ!

"What about me...I'm an ant!

Okay then, you haven't posted any ant pictures...except for that one: don't you have any more JJ?

"Well yes I do actually, I have another I could share, but you're not going to like it."

Oh, and why is that?

"You'll see..."

Nothing wrong with that JJ. It's a Fire ant isn't it? Or a Red ant at least.

"Ah but...look what it's investigating: a spider egg sac, at least I assume it is investigating the eggs, and not the actual spider, which, as you can see, is still there also."

Oh I see, the 'S' word again!

Not sure what the feck that has to do with owt, but still, I do love learning new things. Meanwhile, nose to the grindstone and all that...

I am pleased to be able to announce that the spectacular Rhododendron Leafhoppers are back...

Yes, 'Graphocephala fennahi' is a species of leafhopper native to the United States. Its common name derives from it feeding on the sap of rhododendrons. The species was introduced to Great Britain in the 1930s and I am lucky enough to be able to find these locally most years.

Here's another, much smaller species...

I think this one is Eupteryx species, but they can be extremely tricky to separate from a photograph. I found it on a wild plant that I call Elephant's Ear; now what is its name? Erm...let me think...hang on.. oh yes! Elephant's Ear, that's it. Bergenia perhaps if ya wanna be pedantic, oh, you do!

What about this tiny lava though...

I'm not too sure just what species this is: I found it beneath what I think was a Red Oak leaf, and so that's not much help. If I manage to sort an ID out, or if anybody else knows and contacts me, I will let you know. It might be moth, rather than butterfly and will possibly hibernate until spring.

-------------------

Spiders, ants, hoppers, caterpillars, what else? Hmmmm, what about a cracking fly...

Amazingly (well it was amazing to me) I found some parsley still in flower in one of the fields I visit. It had attracted this big Tachinid fly but it wasn't keen on having my lens shoved in its face. However, as this was the only parsley flowering, it soon returned, having scooted off, and I was then able to grab this photo.

Back near the beginning of this meandering update we had a triptych, and so let's go one better now and end on a tetraptych, or quadriptych if you prefer: either way, it comprises four images...

And they are, another spider that isn't a spider at all but is an Arachnid all the same; actually a spider mite. A cute little barkfly nymph, a hairy snail (yes there is such a thing) and another barkfly, this time an adult that landed on my hand whilst out walking (me not the barkfly).

Postscript: If you are wondering what inspired my title for this update, it seemed apt in that my mind wandered a lot during the writing, as you might be able to tell. Also I too was searching for something, although in my case, it was just some missing photos I wanted to use. 

If you are interested though, here is the lovely poem:

The Song of Wandering Aengus

BY WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS

I went out to the hazel wood,

Because a fire was in my head,

And cut and peeled a hazel wand,

And hooked a berry to a thread;

And when white moths were on the wing,

And moth-like stars were flickering out,

I dropped the berry in a stream

And caught a little silver trout.

When I had laid it on the floor

I went to blow the fire a-flame,

But something rustled on the floor,

And someone called me by my name:

It had become a glimmering girl

With apple blossom in her hair

Who called me by my name and ran

And faded through the brightening air.

Though I am old with wandering

Through hollow lands and hilly lands,

I will find out where she has gone,

And kiss her lips and take her hands;

And walk among long dappled grass,

And pluck till time and times are done,

The silver apples of the moon,

The golden apples of the sun.

Question/answer is: ¿ʞ∩ ǝɥʇ uᴉ ʇɔǝsuᴉ ɟo sǝᴉɔǝds ʎuɐɯ ʍoH

Hopping mad down in Kent...

Guess what ? 

Yep! More rain, how depressing. Oh well, could be worse? At least I have an excuse for not cutting the lawn. As somebody recently remarked, "We seem to get rain every other day." A fairly accurate assessment and that means at least I can get out with the camera on the good days. 

The old orchard behind our house continues to fascinate me with its ever diverse inhabitants, and over the past few weeks, I've been concentrating on leaf hoppers. I thought it'd be fun to see how many species I could find and photograph in this little area.

CLICK ON ANY PHOTO FOR A LARGER VIEW

Alebra albostriatella

This leafhopper of the family Cicadellidae is a common species found on oak across the U.K. 3.5-4.5mm.

Of course (and here comes the excuse) many, in fact most of these little hoppers are really beyond the reach of my 100mm macro lens. That is to say, to get decent detail they are. Therefore, I've had to resort to using all kinds of reversed lenses attached to the camera, as well as extension tubes and generally anything that will increase magnification a bit. 

This means that the quality of the shots may not be as good as I'd like, yardy, yardy, yah.....you get the idea?

Cicadella viridis

Cicadella viridis is a relatively large and colourful species associated with damp grassland. The forewings in females are turquoise green and in males are a much darker blue-purple, making this a male. This is also probably an immature specimen as the adults can reach around 8mm and this was little more than half that.

Evacanthus interruptus

A striking leafhopper that is fairly common in grasslands and scrub. The black patterning is variable but the wings are always shorter than the abdomen in females. 5mm.

Lassus lanio

Another hopper from the cicadellidae family that can be found on oak. These are even larger at around 7mm+ making them quite conspicuous- adults can be found June-October.

Idiocerus confusus?

I hope my i.d. is O.K. for this one-these can be tricky to get right and another possibility is I. nitidissimus? Anyhow, assuming it is correct.
This is another fairly widespread species, this time to be found on salix/willow and is about 6mm in length. Just to further confuse matters, they can sometimes be referred to as 'Populicerus confusus'.

Typhlocyba quercus

At only 3mm this is one of the smaller leafhoppers but it has superb markings.  No other leafhopper has markings like this, although the colouring and intensity can vary. 

Issus coleoptratus

One of my personal favourites here. Issus coleoptratus is a distinctive species in the Issidae family. Found on a range of woody plants and most common deciduous trees.

A really strange looking hopper to follow...

Ledra aurita nymph

The three photos above are all of Ledra aurita and show a nymph (juvenile) of the species.

These are rarely seen because of the excellent camouflage but are found locally across southern Britain on lichen-covered trees. This species can reach a whopping 13-18mm and is the only member of Ledrinae to occur in Europe.

Ledra aurita (adult)

The unmistakeable adults have these ear-like projections on the pronotum and can stridulate quite loudly.

Graphocephala fennahi nymph

 The Rhododendron Leafhopper.July-November: 8-10mm. An introduced species that is native to the USA. It can now be found quite widely in the U.K. One of the few insects to use rhododendron as a food-plant. I was pleased to get the photo of the nymph pictured above as this is the first year I've spotted any.

Graphocephala fennahi (adult)

A hopper 'moult'

By now I guess you're thinking, "By 'eck! That J.J. sure knows his hoppers" But the truth is that I probably found more that I couldn't i.d. than I could. This next section then, included the ones that I can't be sure of...

Eurhadina pulchella?

Philaenus species?

Aphrophora alni?

Then there are the unknown hopper nymphs...

Fieberiella florii?

I've no doubt that there may be doubles of some of these hoppers but if anyone has suggestions for an i.d. on the ones I've been unable to sort out, or indeed,any corrections on the ones I have, I'd be pleased to hear from you.

Not a bad haul for such a small area and there no doubt are lots more to find yet?

Until the next time then...