Friday, June 21, 2019

21/06/2019 Bugs in the garden.

Maximum temperature today 23C, minimum 12C.  Dry; but it has just started raining as I type this.  13km/h South-easterly winds with gusts up to 32 km/h.  

I have not forgotten the last holiday photos, but I am still battling to keep up with everything in general!  Yesterday we suddenly had a lot of bees that kept appearing in the house.  They were coming in faster than we could safely get them out the window.  Bearing also in mind I react very badly to bee stings!  After a couple of hours, we discovered they were coming down the chimney, and looking outside we then saw lots of activity at the top.  We decided that maybe smoking them out was the best answer and the fire was duly lit.   This morning all seems to be well.  I hope they find somewhere nice and safe now to settle.

As always I am happy to be corrected if my ID is incorrect.

Carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea) on the Sweet William...

As above.

Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) also on the Sweet William...

As above.

Hoverfly possibly (Episyrphus balteatus) - Sweet Wlliam.

Bee.

I thought this was a bee at first, but looking at its head I think it is, in fact, a fly of some kind. Californian Poppy.

Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina).

Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)...

Hoverfly possibly (Episyrphus balteatus). and unknown. Calendula flower.

Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina). On the cotoneaster.

Hoverfly possibly (Episyrphus balteatus).  Californian Poppy.

Chafer beetle On the cotoneaster.

Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata).  As pretty as they are we do not want them in the garden!!  On the potato plants!

Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata)

Hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri) on the cotoneaster...

As above on the Sweet William.

Hoverfly possibly (Episyrphus balteatus).

I think these are Longhorn beetles of some kind, whatever, we are obviously going to get a lot more of them. 

Bombylius species on the lavender.

Beetle (Oxythyrea funesta) - Cotoneaster.

Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva).

Shield bug but not sure which one - Cotoneaster.

Bombylius species on the lavender....

As above.



See also my Bird blog 


29 comments:

  1. This is just a terrific series of pictures, Diane. Given my lack of experience with European insects I will not weigh in on the identification of any of them, but I am sure you are correct with most or all of them, especially the more "obvious" ones like the butterflies. We all love bees, we all cherish pollinators, but not coming down the chimney, please!


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    1. Thanks David for your kind comment. It took us a while to realise where the bees were coming from after shutting all the doors and windows. Thankfully nobody got stung, and the bees obviously did not appreciate the smoke and moved on. Nigel has had two wasp stings this week so we were both a little wary of trying to help the bees escape in one piece. Enjoy the weekend it suddenly seems to be that time again!! Diane

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  2. Pics with lavender are my favourite, so pretty☺

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    1. I also love this time of the year and we have a lot of lavender in the garden. Take care and enjoy your day. Diane

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  3. Gorgeous photos, Diane! Oh, I lllllllove your microlife shots!!!!!!!!! The bombylius on the levander photos are amazing! Hugs, my friend.

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  4. You have a nice looking flock of insects this year.

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    1. Thanks Emma, hope all is well with you. Diane

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  5. So glad you weren't stung, Diane! I remember once when our father was stung on an eyelid, he passed out and scared me so. After a few seconds, which felt like minutes, he was ok. So glad he didn't hit his head on something.

    Your photos always make me smile. You're such a pro!

    I hope you and Nigel have a great weekend. What is the weather like there? We're having some really hot days here in Florida.

    Xoxo

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    1. The weather has improved over the last couple of days and Thursday and Friday expected high is 39C (102.2F). Sorry I am not keeping up very well!!! Take care Diane

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  6. The insects are so interesting! You take great photos of them.

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    1. Thanks Marie, such an important part of life. Keep well Diane

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  7. Such pretty little bugs and your flowers are gorgeous. Thanks Diane, and wishing you a lovely weekend.

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    1. Thanks Denise, it was a busy weekend, there just seems to be so much on!!! Take care Diane.

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  8. what beautiful flowers and butterflies!! really summer there!! xo

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    1. Thanks Gloria, yes at lat summer has arrived. Keep well Diane

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  9. A sad irony that you are allergic to the stings yet totally love to photograph insects of all kinds. Glad the smoke out worked. The probiscus on that Bombylius is amazing. I am sure you are busy with the garden. Even without a garden I've been crazy busy. Working sure takes a lot of time out of life. ;) Wishing you both the best.

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    1. The days just seem to be going faster than I can keep up with them. The garden is very time consuming and we are trying to get the window frames repainted, garden furniture oiled and a dozen other jobs that need doing before Michael and Mary arrive mid-August. Hope all is well with you, take care Diane

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  10. Beautiful insects and flowers. Great photos. Happy weekend!

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    1. Thanks Nancy, hope you have a great weekend. Take care Diane

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  11. Great close up pics. Looks like you were getting close and personal with some of those bees! Amazing color and beautiful plants.

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    1. Thanks Pam some I get close to others I am very wary of!!! Hope you are well Diane

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  12. Stunningly beautiful macros as always Diane, your garden is alive with beautifully photogenic insects 🐞🐝

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    1. Think it is going to be too hot for them this week, temperatures up to 39C expected Thursday and Friday! Only a week ago we were complaining it was too cold! Keep well Diane

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  13. Such tiny creatures yet so important to the survival of our planet.

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    1. You are right very important, just wish everyone would take note. Cheers Diane

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  14. So nice, all! I love the small hoverfly. They are so beautiful

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  15. Went back to look at these again...Got a little BUGGIE with these shots! haha

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  16. Amazing photos of a lot of different insects. That was a nasty experience with the bees in the house. Hope they have gone for good.

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