Ian Beavis

In 1956 some of this scene was already mainly memory in England, Corncrake had become rare with horse drawn mechanical reaper. Corncockle was a seed contaminant, better seed cleaning it was gone, Cornflower and other arable weeds like poppy started to be eradicated by 2,4-D introduced in 1946.

Amazed to see fresh Silver-studded Blue in my Studland transects this morning. Here shown with typical worn ones still around. Possible second brood or just a late one? @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

In mainland Britain the heather-foraging mining bee Colletes succinctus has an associated cuckoo bee Epeolus cruciger, but that doesnt occur on Scilly. On Scilly the satellite fly Miltogramma punctatum occupies that niche & is often seen watching for opportunities at host nest sites

Male & female of Colletes succinctus - the second of two specialist heather-foraging mining bees on Scilly.

Nomada rufipes is the dedicated cuckoo bee associated with the heather-foraging Andrena fuscipes. It is most commonly seen flying around heather with its host. Tresco Abbey Gardens, Scilly

Male & female of the heather-foraging mining bee Andrena fuscipes on Tresco, Scilly

Some more pictures of the Agapanthus growing en masse on the dunes at Appletree Banks, Tresco, Scilly

This tephritid fly Anomoia purmunda was attracted to the Ni lure last night (along with 13 Silver Y and a Dewick’s Plusia). Besides the distinctive wing pattern it has green eyes with two red stripes. The larvae bore onto berries such as hawthorn

Gardeners urged to collaborate to help moths and hover flies thrive in cities Researchers found moths and hover flies are more negatively affected by urbanisation than bees

“… for every 10% increase in impervious surfaces – such as roads and building cover – there was a reduction of up to 7.5% in the variety of pollinating species…”

Cities need more green & blue spaces for nature (and people) to thrive.

The migratory hoverfly Scaeva pyrastri, St Mary's, Scilly

Red-tailed form of the bumblebee mimic hoverfly Merodon equestris, St Mary's, Scilly

Male & female of the Scillonian subspecies of Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria insula - with light brown rather than cream-coloured spots.

Spider-hunting wasp Arachnospila anceps, St Agnes, Scilly

Modern fake menhir and chambered cairn at New Grimsby, Tresco, Scilly

Higher Town Bay, St Martin's, Scilly

Yes, it used to be only occasional on Scilly but now much more frequent and sometimes in significant numbers. So I certainly get the impression it's become resident.

The Hornet Hoverfly, Britain's largest hoverfly and a convincing mimic, Tresco Abbey Gardens, Scilly

Stack of two male droneflies Eristalis nemorum hovering over settled female, Tresco Abbey Gardens, Scilly

Wooden bench being used as a 'thrush's anvil' (for breaking open snail shells), St Martin's, Scilly

The digger wasp Ectemnius continuus nesting in timber on Appletree Banks, Tresco, Scilly

The native outdoor cockroach Ectobius panzeri (Lesser Cockroach) at Appletree Banks, Scilly

Another characteristic sand dune species from Scilly - the robberfly Philonicus albiceps

The bee fly Villa modesta on coastal dunes, St Martin's, Scilly

The spectacular Rose Chafer beetle on coastal heathland, St Mary's, Scilly

Here it's native so not a problem. I've heard of a number of European plants that are perfectly well behaved here but have run wild over the other side of the Atlantic

Moths are often underestimated!

Camping on Scilly is very popular but you need to stick to the designated sites. There's no actual common land so everything belongs to someone.

Six-spot Burnet is its name - it's a day-flying moth

Yes, that's right. You were very lucky to find a bead! I get the impression the supply is very depleted nowadays - not surprising with so many years of people searching. I've never got around to doing a serious search myself.

It's a long-established escapee from the nearby Abbey Gardens, going back to the 1930s. It's a native of S Africa but very popular as a garden flower on Scilly as it likes the climate