The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 38⁰C but feels like 44⁰C, minimum 24⁰C. 20km/h Easterly gusts of wind. Phew.
Wildflower (Orlaya grandiflora) Lace Flower
Pansies.
Typical spider but I cannet get much further with ID!!
My Favourite Chateau in La Rochefoucauld, 15 mins from home, so we see it often.
Thick-legged flower beetle (Oedemera nobilis). This is a female, she has not got the muscle that the males have :-)
Same as the shot above, with a wider view of the Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare).
La Marguerite.
The 8th of May - Remembrance day in the local village.
France marks the end of the Second World War in Europe on May 8th each year – it is a national holiday, and is called 'National Day' in France.
Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)....
Les Lézards des murailles.
Yet another spider without ID, see the underneath below which looks so different....
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena) with a Common Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata) le cercope sanguin.
Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) Le Cuivré commun ou Bronzé - on Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans).
Lace flower with a Beehive beetle (Trichodes alvearius) le Trichode des ruches ou Clairon des ruches.
Solitary bee larvae are the victims of the voracious appetite of this beetle's larvae.
See above. The small Carpet beetle is on the left of the photo (Anthrenus verbasci). L'anthrène du bouillon blanc ou anthrène bigarré des tapis.
Four Spotted Crane Fly (Nephrotoma quadrifaria). Tipule à quatre tache.
Large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba). Also called an Owl moth or Le Hibou in French.
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A male greenfinch (Chloris chloris) Le Verdier d'Europe, and a male sparrow (Passer domesticus) Le Moineau domestique taking a drink.
Four different insects on the Lace Flower, the main one being a Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Abeille européenne.
Rosemary beetle larva (Chrysolina americana) la chrysomèle du romarin.
I think I have managed to ID this spider and it is (Runcinia grammica). It is a species of araneomorph spider in the family Thomisidae. It is apparently called a Grape Seed Crab Spider, or in French, Le Thomise rayé.
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) Pigeon ramier.
Small tortoiseshell (I think) (Aglais urticae) La Petite tortue ou Vanesse de l'ortie.
As above. The beetle at the back is a Grey rose chafer beetle (Oxythyrea funesta). La Cétoine grise .
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) Le Pic épeiche.
If you look carefully at the top photo, you can just see some red on the back of its head, proof that it is a male.
As above.
Spotted horned longhorn beetle (Paracorymbia maculicornis) on a Californian Poppy. Lepture à cornes tachetées.
As above.
I just might get to finish May photos if this heatwave continues for as long as they say it will!
I am not a spider fan...:-((( butterflies are great though. That chateau looks grand!
ReplyDeleteI am not a spider fan either but they make great photographic studies! Thanks for the comment.
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous captures, Diane. Thank you for sharing, and I hope you have a lovely week ahead. 😊
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda we are still in a heat wave and keeping up with anything is difficult. Keep safe, Diane
DeleteAll the best at getting through the hot summer. Your photos are great as usual.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane and Happy Birthday. The heat is not letting up and we are told July will be bad as well!!!! Take care, T;other Diane.
DeleteWe are having such a crazy weather in Western Europe, I can't imagine what it will be like in 20 years time... BTW your photos are beautiful, congratulations.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the slow reply, but the heat is starting to get to me and the brain is slowing up!! Thanks for the kind comment. Keep cool, Diane
DeleteDo you go out hunting all these critters or do that seek you out? LOL....keep the spiders!
ReplyDeleteI just walk around the garden being very observant. They are all over the place if you care to look and some are very small :-)) Keep well Diane
DeleteHi Diane.i t is good to hear from you and to enjoy a little news and photos from France. Your insect pictures are super where you do seem to have such great variety that we don not enjoy up here in NW England. Perhaps it's something to do with 38 degrees? We are now enjoying summer (at last) with temperatures in the twenties and beyond for SE England. I think I would love to visit your locale and would have great time at that fantastic chateau. I need to get on with Part Two of the Greek trip as it is too hot to sit out at the moment. Most unusual.
ReplyDeleteHi Phil I am delighted to hear from you I was getting worried. You missed all my photos early in the year when we were in RSA. That chateau is as beautiful inside as it is outside, my all time favourite chateau, and we get to see it almost every time we go out. The heat here is ridiculous, no let up at all and we are told July will also be as bad!! Keep well. Cheers Diane.
DeleteWow! Fantastic photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks Yvonne for taking the time to comment, it is appreciated, Take car Diane
DeleteYou sure are having hot temperatures. Good for you staying inside and catching up.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane, sadly it looks like July is going to be much the same!! T'other Diane x
Deleteyour pics of the lizards was so close up, I thought it was a crocodile! As I have said before and prob will say many times to come....keep your spiders. I can't stand them! lol...The Chateau is WOW! Do you have many of them around you.
ReplyDelete?
Pam I am not a spider fan at all, but the ones in the garden make good photos! The lizards are numerous this year, probably because they are struggling to find food in this stupid heat wave. This Chateau is just down the road from us, and in 'my' opinion is one of the very best. I love it outside and inside. There are many Chateaux in France and they are not hard to find but this, as I said, is my favourite.. I hope all is well over there. Cheers Diane
DeleteHas hecho un reportaje precioso, todo me gusta incluido las arañas. Por aquí también está haciendo muchísimo calor. Besos.
ReplyDeleteGracias Teresa. ¡Las temperaturas son altísimas y me han dicho que espere otra ola de calor en julio!
DeleteMe alegra que te hayan gustado mis fotos. ¡Cuídate y mantente fresca! Besos, Diane
I hope that you are keeping well and safe in this terrible heat. The garden looks to be bearing up nicely.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thanks Amelia. We are coping as the house is mostly cool with thick stone walls, but outside it is far too hot. The garden has now given up and the lawn is brown!! Take care, Diane
DeleteI have enjoyed each photo Diane, your macros are particularly amazing. I like to see all the details of these tiny insects. Somehow it brings them more personality :) Thank you and I hope you are having a wonderful week so far. Take care of yourself in all that heat, Denise
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise, we are now back into another heat wave with temperatures expected over 40 C. Over 104 F. The little insects I think, are mostly now in hiding!! Keep cool, Diane
DeleteGreat set of pictures - at least somethings seem to be enjoying the heat. You're not wrong about it being cooler here! (Thankfully!)
ReplyDeleteStewart M - Walkerville - Victoria
Thanks Stewart, today 06/07/2026 we are over 40C, It is ridiculous it just goes on and on. Take care Diane
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