That's what happens in spring...

Shall we buck the trend and begin with a graph (of kinds)

...so this really demonstrates cell division; but for my purposes, it is going to represent proliferation!

Why? Yes, good point: why?

Erm, well, because...because...that's what happens in spring. Take the Red-legged Shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes for instance. Their growth cycle seems to be at the final instar nymph stage right now, and I am finding lots of them on many kinds of trees and bushes...

I just hope that the proliferation of these instars translates to lots of adult insects.

Moving right along then. Don't want to get...

If like me you get out early in the morning, you might well come across lots of these too: Ladybird pupae are becoming numerous and varied. This one is actually a Harlequin, but there are plenty of natives to be found also.

I guess you could imagine how the pupa would eventually turn into an adult Harlequin Ladybird that looks like this one...

Harder to believe though that it could look like this. But that's what happened; it became a red and black one that looks like this photo...

Get out even earlier and you might find something like this...

Of course, if you were on the ball, which I am sure you are, you would spot that this is nothing more than a photo of a caterpillar I took in which the flash failed and I added a moon image to try and fool...well nobody really, let's be honest!

Here's another Shieldbug, that has already made it to adulthood: Troilus luridus, the Bronze Shieldbug. I don't think that Sawfly larva had any idea just how dangerous it was sitting there next to this bug. It soon found out though, as the second image shows. Bronze Shieldbugs are a woodland species and are highly predatory!

Something I found on thistle in mixed woodland: but what?

Instead, let's return to the 28th word of this update: Proliferation!

Now would you believe me if I said there are 28 larvae here to illustrate my point in a symetrical manner? No? good, because there are a few more than that actually. 

It occured to me when I spotted these that I am seeing larger than usual (or what has become usual) numbers of larvae - instars, and even eggs this year. Could it be connected to the improved conditions I wondered? 

Then again, I am always wondering about something; things like:

Why do placebos work?

Why are some humans left-handed, and do some apes favour the left?

Why is yawning contagious?

Why isn't phonetic spelled the way it sounds?

What is a "free" gift? Aren't all gifts free?

I think perhaps I had better 'beetle' off. Before I do though, you may already know that I am not generally a fan of dark backgrounds to my images. However, recently I have been experimenting a little with just that, to see how it changes the feel and ambience of a photo. Here are a couple of examples, starting with a plant bug 'Grypocoris styis'...

A couple of almost transparent Psyllids...

And a Horsefly...

Just a quick note to alert you to the fact that my Wealden articles have resumed following the enforced covid break. You can find the latest one by clicking on the 'My articles for the Wealden' link at the top of this post.

It's fun to wander through, the alphabet with you...

Why is it sometimes so difficult to know where, or how to start a piece of writing? After all, there are only 26 letters in our alphabet and all I have to do is to pick out a few and order them into some semblance of recognisable language and half the battle is already won?

Perhaps I will take the alphabet as my lead this time and try to structure this update in alphabetical order.

Here goes then...

Is for.....Bugger! I don't have anything beginning with 'A'

Is for Barkfly...

There are currently 68 known species of barkfly in the UK, although they are much under-recorded and so this is likely to rise at anytime. You might think that with only 68 to chose from, I could readily identify this one? Wrong! Too many similar looking ones for this barkfly novice to pick from.

Is for Caterpillar...

This caterpillar was displaying behaviour I have never seen before. It seemed to be pulling at the surface of the leaf and extracting sap? Or...certainly there was some kind of translucent liquid involved, that it appeared to be covering itself with. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to observe it for more than a few minutes. Having had a look around the internet for an explanation, I am still no wiser. 

Whilst we are on the letter 'C' I found a stem of dry grass that had a whole colony of emerging caterpillars...

Once again I can offer no ID for these tiny larvae. They were really small though, three of the eggs fitted into a 1mm length.

Is for Dead Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar...

This elephant hawk moth caterpillar was still firmly attached to the willowherb it had been feeding on, but had failed to reach pupation for some reason. When I spotted it, it was being 'up-cycled' by a female scorpion-fly.

Is for (live) Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar...

It has been a good year locally.

Is for a Fence-post Jumping Spider...

Marpissa muscosa

I know I am probably going to regret this when I get to letter 'M' but here is the largest jumping spider we have in the UK. 

Is for Groundhopper...

A Common Groundhopper (Tetrix undulata)

At 8-11mm the Common Groundhopper is related to Grasshoppers, but is smaller and well armoured.  These are to be found in drier places but also woodland rides, which is where this one was. I'm not sure but, possibly this is a female?

Is for Harvestman...

Leiobunum rotundum-A Havestman

One of the long-legged Harvestman that can be found from late summer, though autumn. I think there are roughly half the amount of Havestman species to Barkflies in the UK with a couple added to the list quite recently. Some of these are southern species only and I really should make an effort to see how many of those I can record.

Nope!

Is for Lizard skin...

Is for.....erm...Damn! I knew I should have saved that spider. OK, give me a minute, I am determined to find something.

Here's a little musical interlude whilst I search...it's a banging toon!

(This won't show in the emailed version of my blog. You will need to view online)

Be honest..you skipped it didn't you? Your loss. I have my finger on the pulse of popular culture, especially the latest trends in music and you'll only have yourself to blame when this becomes 'Top of The Pops' and you still haven't heard it. Oh well...I tried...

Is for Mystery...

When I saw this I was convinced I had found my very first Bristly Millipede. Well, convinced for a few seconds anyway. Looking closer through the macro lens, I could see that it is probably a beetle larva of some description.

Is for Nothing to be seen here!

Is for Oh Please Quickly go to the letter 'R'...

Is for Robberfly...

I found this large robberfly sitting in the sunshine on a fence, as they like to do.

Is for Sawfly Larva...

Eriocampa ovata-An Alder Sawfly Larva

These larvae grow to about 2cm long and are covered in a white, powdery substance that is supposed to camouflage them as bird droppings. They lose this in the final instar and become green.

Is also for Speckled Wood...

Pararge aegeria - A Speckled Wood Butterfly

Is for Troilus luridus...

Troilus luridus - A Bronze Shieldbug

A woodland species of shieldbug that can be found as an adult from July onward. If you are not an adult...you shouldn't even be looking!

Is for...U Very well know I don't have anything for these letters...

Is for Wasp...

Okay... Okay! It's not a wasp it is a bee. Be pedantic, I don't care!

Let me try that again?

Is for Woundwort Shieldbugs...

This year has been a really great year for these bugs in the garden. There are still plenty to be seen, and at most stages of growth too.

Is for...

Until the next time...

Its fun to wander through the alphabet with you...(link)