Bugz n Slugz

A photo of a crab spider with its front legs extended to the side. It is a pale cream colour and sat on a green leaf

Hug?

My trail cam encountered a spiky customer the other night - I think I will call this one Stripe.

A photo of a butterfly that is mainly orange with irregular dark brown markings across its wings

Here is a lovely Comma Butterfly from yesterday. I also managed to spot a Purple Emperor during a walk around the village with Mike Slater from @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

A photo of a brightly coloured butterfly that has a burnt orange base colour and four eyespots - one on each of its four wing sections. It is sat on a pink flower stem

A photo of a brightly coloured butterfly that has a burnt orange base colour and four eyespots - one on each of its four wing sections. It is sat on a pink flower stem

I have so many Peacock butterflies in the garden at the moment all over my Buddleia bushes.

@bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

A photo of a beige coloured moth that has faint brown lines across its wings

Found a nice little Idaea aversata moth hanging out during the day

@bcwarwickshire.bsky.social

I would love to see a Swallowtail. I got very excited yesterday when I thought I saw a Clouded Yellow - turned out to be a Brimstone

A photo of a orange and brown butterfly called a Gatekeeper

A photo of a brown butterfly with yellowish spots that is called a Speckled Wood

A photo of an orange butterfly with dark markings across its wings. This on is a Comma

A photo of a brightly coloured butterfly called a Peacock

My new garden appears to be a bit of a butterfly hotspot - I’ve recorded 16 different species so far. The buddleia must have had a dozen Peacocks on it, with Almost as many Red Admirals also.

I spotted my first hedgehogs in my new house last night - so have set it lower to get better footage.

I still have the Blackthorn tattoos in some of my hands. Would love to get back - and definitely will in the future - but off to Abu Dhabi in 12 days

Looking good

A photo of a moth that is predominantly white with a black border around it

This is essentially the devil incarnate for any country cottage garden owners - Cydalima perspectalis, the Box Tree Moth - and invasive pest from Asia that is currently decimating Buxus across the UK.

A photo of a yellow tinged spider on a green leaf

A photo of a dark coloured tiger moth on a dried lily stem. The moth is black with cream splotches across its wings

A photo of a hoverfly sat on a cream coloured flower

A photo of a dark coloured bee sat on a cream coloured flower

Here are a few more from the other day.

A photo of some small black weevils that live on Hollyhock plants

A photo of a butterfly feeding on nectar. Its wings have bright red bands amongst black wings with white patches

A photo of a small bee that has a golden brown coloured section just behind its head

A photo of a tiny spidering that is yellow in colour

I’ve been busy refurbishing my new house of late but managed to grab a few minutes in the garden to get some bug shots.

A photo of a pinky red rose that measures 5” across

My new garden has all sorts of roses growing within it, as I cut back undergrowth I keep discovering more. I suspect this one is “Fragrant Cloud”, a type of hybrid tea rose. It smells pretty sweet as well.

A photo of an orangey brown butterfly on a green leaf. Its main body is light brown with soft hairs covering it

Had a Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) in the new garden today - it appears to already be a wildlife haven. Something large appears to be sleeping in my long grass each night so will need to get some trail cams set ups

My barn swallows have fledged - still hanging out with the parents whilst they increase their flying and bug catching skills. I think I have counted six of them so not bad for the first brood.

I’ve ordered some yellow rattle to put in some of the wildlife areas to clear some ground for more wildflower diversity. Have also noticed lots of meadow ant mounds. The garden is also full of ladybug larvae in various instar stages.

Was surprised by a nesting wren right by my back door so.

It’s certainly going to need some magic (mixed with blood, sweat and tears) to get it where I want it to be. Wildlife pond is a must at some point.

Been a bit busy of late - but I finally got my new house today - here is the garden. I’m gonna be busy methinks.

Elon Khordorkovsky

@alastaircampbell2.bsky.social so what are the chances that Musk will become Trump’s Khordorkovsky?

My Cottoneaster tree is blooming at the moment and the pollinators are all over it every day. Bees, wasps, Hoverflies and butterflies can’t get enough of it.
#Invertebrates #Pollinators #Insects #Bees #Butterflies

A photo of a small wasp sat on a green leaf. It has black eyes bordered by a bronze red rings.

Bluesky is dying……………..for more bug photos!

Where else would be able to tell me if this is a type of Bracon parasitoid wasp or not.
#Invertebrates #Insects #Wasps #Bugs #Macro

A photo of a fly on a glass surface. The fly has big black eyes and you can see its reflection in the glass underneath.

A fly and it’s reflection
#Invertebrates #Flies #Insects #Bugs #Macro #Wildlife #Sony #Cygnustech

This is a great reminder that I need to add more flair to my alt text - rather than just functional descriptions.

The lack of pesticides in that part of France also helps

It’s a Sony A7R5 with a Sigma 105mm macro lens - I bought it for underwater work. A lot of land macro folks use the OM System cameras. For me light is the most important thing so using a flash with a diffuser really helps.

A photo of a Hawkmoth that is hovering in front of some small pink flowers. The moth has a light brown body with a dark claret band around the middle. Its wings are transparent with a red band along the bottom edge.

Hemaris fuciformis - Broad-boarded Bee Hawkmoth from Najac in France
#Invertebrates #Moths #Insects #Bugs #Najac #Insects #Nature

Looks like the Mayflies were active today
#Invertebrates #Insects #Mayfly #Bugs

A photo of a moth on a flower bud. The moth is mainly charcoal black with a small white patch on each wing tip

This is the Odezia atrata moth - commonly called the Chimney-sweeper. Found on a woodland hike in Najac, France
#Teammoth #Moths #Lepidoptera #Invertebrates #Insects