This lovely bishop's mitre shieldbug (Aelia acuminata) was a nice late find. I know these can be found as adults all year round but I rarely see them in the summer months, let alone this late in the year. I think in all my years of finding and recording bugs, I have only ever seen 3 or 4.
The common green shieldbug is as its name suggests, common enough but they do change colour for the winter as this one was already starting to do...
The common green shieldbug is as its name suggests, common enough but they do change colour for the winter as this one was already starting to do...
Whilst looking for leafhoppers a couple of days ago, I stopped at a hazel tree and spied this great looking caterpillar...
Click any image for a larger view
It's the larva of the grey dagger moth. Easy to identify from the other dagger moths by that large 'hump' behind its head.
I also came across another (or maybe the same?) hirsute caterpillar of what I think is probably a garden tiger moth?
You may have noticed by the way that I have not been using caps for the names of these insects? To be truthful, I am never quite sure if using a capital letter at all times is correct or not? However, I decided to do a little research and this seems to be the definitive answer...'Lower-case initial letters are used for each part of the common (vernacular) names of species, genera, families and all other taxonomic levels'...so there!
I think this darker example may well be the same species but it's so difficult to be certain.
This year does seem to have been a good one for another moth larva; either that or I am becoming expert at finding them. I'm talking now about the fox moth...
Erm...take a look at this cute millipede picture...
I'm guessing that, like me, you know little about these arthropods? Even perhaps not understanding the difference between millipedes and centipedes?
Well here are a few facts about these fascinating (oh, yes they are) creatures that might help...
When they hatch, millipedes have just 3 pairs of legs. They go through something called anamorphic development. Each time a millipede moults, it will add more body segments and legs. By the time they become adults, they will have dozens of segments and hundreds of legs-never 1,000 though!
The difference between millipedes and centipedes is that centipedes have just one pair of legs per body segment, whereas millipedes have three. Although in millipedes, section one has no legs at all and 2 through 4 varies depending on species.
Apparently, although I have never tried this, you can sex a millipede by examining the seventh segment, as males will have small stumps replacing legs, or no legs at all.
To paraphrase Monty Python's Flying Circus...that dates me right? Anyhow, anyone familiar with the classic British T.V. show will know this phrase...."And now for something completely different..."
Well here are a few facts about these fascinating (oh, yes they are) creatures that might help...
When they hatch, millipedes have just 3 pairs of legs. They go through something called anamorphic development. Each time a millipede moults, it will add more body segments and legs. By the time they become adults, they will have dozens of segments and hundreds of legs-never 1,000 though!
The difference between millipedes and centipedes is that centipedes have just one pair of legs per body segment, whereas millipedes have three. Although in millipedes, section one has no legs at all and 2 through 4 varies depending on species.
Apparently, although I have never tried this, you can sex a millipede by examining the seventh segment, as males will have small stumps replacing legs, or no legs at all.
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To paraphrase Monty Python's Flying Circus...that dates me right? Anyhow, anyone familiar with the classic British T.V. show will know this phrase...."And now for something completely different..."
I am familiar with the fungus that affects flies and then causes them somehow to climb to the highest available point to die but I have never seen an earwig similarly affected before. I wonder if it is exactly the same fungi?
You have to just marvel at nature in all its guises and and diversities, here's yet another strange invertebrate...
This is the green lacewing larva (Neuroptera) which feeds on aphids, greenfly and other small insects and then frequently puts their remains on to its own back as camouflage to allow it to creep up on other victims.
Well I really should be attending to other things and I'm sure you have demands on your time other than reading these blog entries, and so I shall refrain from lengthening this update any further, other than to leave you with a photo of terrier Herbie patiently sitting beside our local pond waiting for me to finish taking yet more photographs...
Until the next time...
