Mark Webster

When it comes to naming beetles you'd just have to call this one the Cherrystone beetle (Hyphydrus ovatus). Nothing better than having 5 of these darting about in the sampling tray.

What a beauty. Great photo. Looks like the bigger one of the two, Volucella zonaria rather than V. inanis.

All the action's on the Fleabane now. What a wonderful plant for inverts. I thought this was a Tachinid fly but it's the Hoverfly Eristalinus sepulchralis.

A friend of mine received a painful "sting" after putting his hand in a garden water butt with stagnant water. Subsequently suffered an infection followed by necrosis and had a finger amputated (lucky to keep his hand). Still debating what might have been the instigator.

So today's challenge was trying to find any tiny water beetles in a large sampling tray when it's full of Saucer Bugs. Never seen as many and as I discovered they stab first and ask questions later. I'm so used to handling friendly beetles but these things are complete psychopaths. Hurts as well !

The Cherrystone water beetle (Hyphydrus ovatus) is one of my favourites as it really does resemble a tiny cherry stone swimming around in the water. Found one today at Barrows Hill but also this curious looking creature with what looks like a long nose. I think it must be the beetle larva.

I had a local charity group knock on the door offering to "tidy up my garden" for free since I couldn't do it myself. Told them it had taken me years to get it like this. They thought I was joking and went off a bit peeved.

Lovely Horseshoe photo !

This beetle has got me thinking. I'm pretty sure it's Galerucella calmariensis that's often found on Purple Loosestrife. But I've never seen one before with those two distinctive black spots on the elytra. Makes me wonder if all beetles might have a gene that can throw up spots once in a while.

Wonderful photo !

What I love about species recording are the seemingly endless surprises that keep you guessing. Like this 4mm "thingy" swimming around in my pond-dipping tray today. Turns out it's a Fish Louse (Argulus foliaceus?) The two big circles are actually the suction cups it uses to latch onto a fish.

Beautiful Deer Fly (Chrysops relictus) seen laying eggs beside pond at Fen's Pool. Just look at those eyes !

This might just look like a photo of a Brimstone but in 3 years or more of chasing bugs around with a camera this is the first time I've ever managed to get a Brimstone at rest !

What happens on a baking hot day when you go looking in Hazel trees for Hazel Leaf-Rollers ? Of course, you get a Purple Hairstreak !

It really is. I 1st saw one in Trench Wood 3 years ago and remarkably it was exactly the same situation, sat on a bramble stem overhanging the path. This one in Monk Wood was at head height so just stumbled into it. They must be fairly abundant in these 2 woods. Haven't seen them elsewhere (yet!).

Was at Monk Wood in Worcestershire yesterday. Famous for it's Wood White's which despite furnace temperatures were in abundance. Beautiful butterflies but what really made my day was seeing this right in front of me on a Bramble overhanging the path. The Horned tree-Hopper (Centrotus cornutus).

It's the commas that bother me the most.

Might just be an old one where the colours have faded or scales worn off. I was watching a strangely coloured pale grey and brown Red Admiral this morning but just a really old battered one.

Never seen as many as today (West Mids) ! No idea why.

Feeling a bit guilty now as I might have disturbed this Hazel Leaf-Roller while it was at work. Only just noticed that the inside of the mid tibia is serrated, I wonder if that helps grip the leaf when rolling it up? The the end result is always great to see. Like cigar stubs hanging from the tree.

What makes bug hunting so much fun is the sheer random finds. In wellies in the pool looking for Reed Beetles and see an "odd looking 7-spot" hiding in the sheathes of a Reed just above the water line. Adonis Ladybird! 1st one I've ever found. Think I wasted a lot of time looking in "gravel pits" !

Curculio glandium - such a fabulous weevil - and it seems to be in just about every Oak tree with a bit of sun on it.

@vc40orthops.bsky.social

Thanks ! Amazing how beautiful these tiny fry are.

Pond dipping at Ryders Mere. I think this might have been a very tiny Stickleback I had on the end of my spoon.

Most of the Damselfly nymphs I found yesterday were a dark or dull brown in colour except this one which really stood out. I wonder if they gain colour as they become more mature as this one already has quite long wings ?

Thanks, that one had me really puzzled.

Started spending more time in wellies looking at what lives in the water. What I love about pond dipping are all the weird little creatures you find that you just can't name.

Well I never thought I'd end up finding leeches so adorable. But look at those eyes.

Just along River Stour near Stourbridge and the Merlin app keeps saying "Nightjar". Then again there's a farmer with an old David Brown tractor in the next field.