Ladybirds
Did I read somewhere recently that there aren't many ladybirds around
this year? There certainly are now! .....and damsel flies. David -- David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK |
Ladybirds
On 2013-07-15 15:42:01 +0100, David Rance said:
Did I read somewhere recently that there aren't many ladybirds around this year? There certainly are now! ....and damsel flies. David Still no ladybirds but quite a few of the common blue damsel flies. We're awaiting the arrival of something classier! ;-) -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Ladybirds
On Mon, 15 Jul 2013 15:56:21 +0100, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-07-15 15:42:01 +0100, David Rance said: Did I read somewhere recently that there aren't many ladybirds around this year? There certainly are now! ....and damsel flies. David Still no ladybirds but quite a few of the common blue damsel flies. We're awaiting the arrival of something classier! ;-) I've seen one ladybird so far this year (and have been looking a lot). Perhaps the corresponding absence of green/white-fly may explain that and they've gone elsewhere for lunch. OTOH, inundated with damsel flies which are getting so crowded that they'll try to lay in anything that has a bit of water in it (including the cat's water bowl - while the cat's drinking from it - and a glass of water I'd put down for a minute). -- Cheers, Jake ======================================= Wilting just a little at the east end of Swansea Bay. |
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Bumblebees around at last, but still some queens, which is late for them to be flying. Hoverflies haven't really arrived yet. Far fewer butterflies than one would expect in this weather, though we did have a ringlet in the garden today -that's a first. Lots of red damsel flies and a scattering of blue. |
Ladybirds
Jake wrote:
I've seen one ladybird so far this year (and have been looking a lot). I haven't seen any fully grown ladybird for a while, but I think I've seen a few larvae |
Ladybirds
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Ladybirds
On 2013-07-15 22:38:24 +0100, kay said:
Jake;987654 Wrote: On Mon, 15 Jul 2013 15:56:21 +0100, Sacha wrote: - On 2013-07-15 15:42:01 +0100, David Rance said: - Did I read somewhere recently that there aren't many ladybirds around this year? There certainly are now! ....and damsel flies. David- Still no ladybirds but quite a few of the common blue damsel flies. We're awaiting the arrival of something classier! ;-)- I've seen one ladybird so far this year (and have been looking a lot). Perhaps the corresponding absence of green/white-fly may explain that and they've gone elsewhere for lunch. OTOH, inundated with damsel flies which are getting so crowded that they'll try to lay in anything that has a bit of water in it (including the cat's water bowl - while the cat's drinking from it - and a glass of water I'd put down for a minute). . Pests in general seem to be remarkably thin on the ground. Everything's looking really healthy. Bumblebees around at last, but still some queens, which is late for them to be flying. Hoverflies haven't really arrived yet. Far fewer butterflies than one would expect in this weather, though we did have a ringlet in the garden today -that's a first. Lots of red damsel flies and a scattering of blue. We've got lots of bumblebees and a few hoverflies, aphids are remarkably low in number but I suppose the cold spring has something to do with that. We're still feeding the birds as insect life isn't too prolific. But the rooks and jackdaws have gone off on their holidays and won't be back for a few weeks, I expect. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Ladybirds
"Sacha" wrote in message ... We've got lots of bumblebees and a few hoverflies, aphids are remarkably low in number but I suppose the cold spring has something to do with that. We're still feeding the birds as insect life isn't too prolific. But the rooks and jackdaws have gone off on their holidays and won't be back for a few weeks, I expect. Yup - I have also noticed the sudden absence of those black pests ! Wonder where they go to ? Pete |
Ladybirds
On 2013-07-16 10:46:02 +0000, Pete said:
"Sacha" wrote in message ... We've got lots of bumblebees and a few hoverflies, aphids are remarkably low in number but I suppose the cold spring has something to do with that. We're still feeding the birds as insect life isn't too prolific. But the rooks and jackdaws have gone off on their holidays and won't be back for a few weeks, I expect. Yup - I have also noticed the sudden absence of those black pests ! Wonder where they go to ? Pete We see them on harvested fields sometimes, presumably picking up beetles etc. Ray thinks they go up onto the moor for the same reason. I always panic they won't return and then a day comes when there is a riotous amount of noise and they all swoop in again, fighting for their favourite spot in the cedar tree. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon |
Ladybirds
"David Hill" wrote On 15/07/2013 23:37, wrote: Jake wrote: I've seen one ladybird so far this year (and have been looking a lot). I haven't seen any fully grown ladybird for a while, but I think I've seen a few larvae More lady birds around here than I have seen for several years, started in April. David @ a cool side of Swansea Bay Only seen one solitary ladybird so far. Perhaps it's too hot for them across here in the east; they must all be holidaying over on your side of the country. There does seem to be fewer red peril lily beetles this year too, which is one good thing. By contrast we've had loads of bumble bees of all sizes and I was pleased to see we've had hordes of honey bees again visiting the variegated euonymus that grows up the south facing back wall of our garage. The flowers are only tiny but you soon know when they're blossoming because of the loud buzzing as you walk past. The bees have also now spread attentions to a tall Cotoneaster lacteus further down the garden that's begun to flower on its sunnier side. -- Sue in sunny & dry E Anglia |
Ladybirds
On 2013-07-16 13:52:33 +0100, Indigo said:
"David Hill" wrote On 15/07/2013 23:37, wrote: Jake wrote: I've seen one ladybird so far this year (and have been looking a lot). I haven't seen any fully grown ladybird for a while, but I think I've seen a few larvae More lady birds around here than I have seen for several years, started in April. David @ a cool side of Swansea Bay Only seen one solitary ladybird so far. Perhaps it's too hot for them across here in the east; they must all be holidaying over on your side of the country. There does seem to be fewer red peril lily beetles this year too, which is one good thing. By contrast we've had loads of bumble bees of all sizes and I was pleased to see we've had hordes of honey bees again visiting the variegated euonymus that grows up the south facing back wall of our garage. The flowers are only tiny but you soon know when they're blossoming because of the loud buzzing as you walk past. The bees have also now spread attentions to a tall Cotoneaster lacteus further down the garden that's begun to flower on its sunnier side. They also love Eucryphia and butterflies go crazy for Eupatorium atropurpureum, so planting both those is well worth it. Last year you couldn't go near our Eucryphia. It was like a flowering beehive! -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
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Ladybirds
On 2013-07-16 15:28:12 +0100, echinosum said:
Sacha;987646 Wrote: On 2013-07-15 15:42:01 +0100, David Rance said: - Did I read somewhere recently that there aren't many ladybirds around this year? There certainly are now! ....and damsel flies. David- Still no ladybirds but quite a few of the common blue damsel flies. We're awaiting the arrival of something classier! ;-) Sacha It was red damsel flies I saw quite a few of at the weekend, which are not a very common sight. Not seen any ladybirds. Something has been eating the aphids on my roses, though I expect it is hoverflies, I think they do more to keep the aphids down than ladybirds. But my cardoon (I grow it as a decorative in the flowerbed) is heavily covered in blackfly now, nothing seems to want to eat them. My daughter got stung by a bumblebee while picking some peas yesterday. There seem to be a lot of bumblebees around now after the dearth earlier in the year. Several more blue damselfies seen today, is the male green? One 'hitched' pair had that combination, or so it seemed. Our cardoons are clear of blackflies so far (handsome plnts aren't they?) but the Phlox are getting them, I think. Closer inspection tomorrow. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
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Ladybirds
On 2013-07-17 07:18:32 +0100, kay said:
Sacha;987743 Wrote: Several more blue damselfies seen today, is the male green? Other way round. The green one is the female. Ah, thanks Kay. So we have a lot of desperate males around! -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
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Don't know a lot about mating damselflies, but the front one appears to be the male. He uses the end of his body to clasp the female around her neck. |
Ladybirds
On 17/07/2013 16:18, kay wrote:
Sacha;987755 Wrote: On 2013-07-17 07:18:32 +0100, kay said: - Sacha;987743 Wrote:- Several more blue damselfies seen today, is the male green?- Other way round. The green one is the female.- Ah, thanks Kay. So we have a lot of desperate males around! - Some of the blue ones will be desperate females. They come in both colours. Don't know a lot about mating damselflies, but the front one appears to be the male. He uses the end of his body to clasp the female around her neck. You might find this of interest. http://www.naturemagnified.com/2010/...lies-mate.html |
Ladybirds
On 2013-07-17 16:18:39 +0100, kay said:
Sacha;987755 Wrote: On 2013-07-17 07:18:32 +0100, kay said: - Sacha;987743 Wrote:- Several more blue damselfies seen today, is the male green?- Other way round. The green one is the female.- Ah, thanks Kay. So we have a lot of desperate males around! - Some of the blue ones will be desperate females. They come in both colours. Don't know a lot about mating damselflies, but the front one appears to be the male. He uses the end of his body to clasp the female around her neck. Thanks, Kay, we've certainly seen a few pairs looking for somewhere to lay eggs, flitting around the ponds and causing a flurry of delighted shrieks from children who spot them. They're such pretty little flashes of irridescence. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
Ladybirds
On 2013-07-17 23:32:04 +0100, David Hill said:
On 17/07/2013 16:18, kay wrote: Sacha;987755 Wrote: On 2013-07-17 07:18:32 +0100, kay said: - Sacha;987743 Wrote:- Several more blue damselfies seen today, is the male green?- Other way round. The green one is the female.- Ah, thanks Kay. So we have a lot of desperate males around! - Some of the blue ones will be desperate females. They come in both colours. Don't know a lot about mating damselflies, but the front one appears to be the male. He uses the end of his body to clasp the female around her neck. You might find this of interest. http://www.naturemagnified.com/2010/...lies-mate.html Fascinating. And what fantastic photographs. Thank you, David. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
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One year I was lucky enough to find 3 cases of the much bigger dragon fly larvae on the pond just outside my study window. |
Ladybirds
On 2013-07-18 21:28:34 +0100, kay said:
Sacha;987827 Wrote: Thanks, Kay, we've certainly seen a few pairs looking for somewhere to lay eggs, flitting around the ponds and causing a flurry of delighted shrieks from children who spot them. They're such pretty little flashes of irridescence. - A bit earlier in the year you can see them emerging - the larvae crawl out of the water, then slit their case and the adult emerges and clings to the vegetation for a few ours while they pump up their wings and get ready to fly - a vulnerable time for them. And if you look carefully on stems and leaves of emergent plants you may find lots of discarded exo-skeletons - looking just like the damselfly larvae in the pond, but empty! One year I was lucky enough to find 3 cases of the much bigger dragon fly larvae on the pond just outside my study window. I'm amazed any survive in the old pond here because it's teeming with fish. But clearly they do. I'll look out for that. When's a good time? May/June? -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
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Ladybirds
On 2013-07-19 23:03:23 +0100, kay said:
Sacha;987882 Wrote: I'm amazed any survive in the old pond here because it's teeming with fish. But clearly they do. I'll look out for that. When's a good time? May/June? - I don't know. Ours were emerging afterthe warm weather started, so that was some time in June. I suspect weather has something to do with it - maybe they don't emerge until the water has warmed up for example. And they come out on sunny mornings, not overcast or rainy days. Thanks, Kay. I'll know to keep my eyes open next year! -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.com South Devon www.helpforheroes.org.uk |
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