On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 00:42:37 +0100, Warwick wrote:

My one from last year is more evil looking than yours.

http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/g...iew_photo.php?
set_albumName=erm&id=bug002

Sadly, I couldn't ID that one either.


Definitely a beetle larva, possibly some ground beetle. Almost certainly
carnivorous. I've found a few in my garden recently.
--
Tim C.

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:17:27 +0100, WRabbit wrote:

Kay wrote:
In article , WRabbit
thewrabbit@replace invalidwithcomgmail.invalid writes
Have now been out and taken photos of my mystery insects - little
blighter wouldn't stay still!
snip

Thanks for all the thoughts so far.

That's not a vine weevil!

Well that's good (I'd sort of sussed that after looking at it closely and
taking photos).

Question is what is it?

Do you get caterpillars in the soil - I've only seem them on plants before?
Is it good or bad - do I squish or leave?

Some overwinter in the soil as caterpillars, some in crevices in
builldings.
Leave it. it's only one. if it's bad it'll make little difference. If it's
pretty it'll brighten your day when it flutters around your garden.

--
Tim C.

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:17:27 +0100, WRabbit wrote:

Kay wrote:
In article , WRabbit
thewrabbit@replace invalidwithcomgmail.invalid writes
Have now been out and taken photos of my mystery insects - little
blighter wouldn't stay still!
snip

Thanks for all the thoughts so far.

That's not a vine weevil!

Well that's good (I'd sort of sussed that after looking at it closely and
taking photos).

Question is what is it?

Do you get caterpillars in the soil - I've only seem them on plants before?
Is it good or bad - do I squish or leave?

It's a butterfly or moth caterpillar and never a beetle larva. What sort I
don't know. Your photo here shows how you can tell.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t/Insect03.jpg

See the head end, bottom of the photo? It has two clearly visible sharp
brownish legs just behind it (really there are 3 pairs). These are the
real legs.
Towards the rear are 4 pairs of claspers - false legs. It's these false
legs that are a dead giveaway.

--
Tim C.

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 14:51:28 +0200, martin wrote:

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 13:28:27 +0200, Tim Challenger
wrote:

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:17:27 +0100, WRabbit wrote:

Kay wrote:
In article , WRabbit
thewrabbit@replace invalidwithcomgmail.invalid writes
Have now been out and taken photos of my mystery insects - little
blighter wouldn't stay still!
snip

Thanks for all the thoughts so far.

That's not a vine weevil!

Well that's good (I'd sort of sussed that after looking at it closely and
taking photos).

Question is what is it?

Do you get caterpillars in the soil - I've only seem them on plants before?
Is it good or bad - do I squish or leave?

It's a butterfly or moth caterpillar and never a beetle larva. What sort I
don't know. Your photo here shows how you can tell.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...t/Insect03.jpg

See the head end, bottom of the photo? It has two clearly visible sharp
brownish legs just behind it (really there are 3 pairs). These are the
real legs.
Towards the rear are 4 pairs of claspers - false legs. It's these false
legs that are a dead giveaway.

You are Mixi impersonating Tim AICMFPR.

A new prototype.
I (think) I said something useful, at least relevant, and I use commonly
accepted definitions.




--
Tim C.

Warwick wrote:
My one from last year is more evil looking than yours.

http://www.affordable-afpers.co.uk/g...iew_photo.php?
set_albumName=erm&id=bug002

Sadly, I couldn't ID that one either.


That one looks quite cute, not evil at all! I'm glad I'm not the only
idiot^h^h^h enthusiast who was out with their digital camera.

--
WRabbit
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Tim Challenger wrote:
On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:17:27 +0100, WRabbit wrote:

Do you get caterpillars in the soil - I've only seem them on plants
before? Is it good or bad - do I squish or leave?

Some overwinter in the soil as caterpillars, some in crevices in
builldings.
Leave it. it's only one. if it's bad it'll make little difference. If
it's pretty it'll brighten your day when it flutters around your
garden.

I'm going for the laissez faire method of gardening. They can stay until
evidence to the contrary.

Especially if they're going to produce pretty flying things.

I had thought of planting something to attract butterflies, but from what I
know about buddleias (which is what immediately springs to mind) is that
they would be far too large for my small garden.

Is there a variety that stays a manageable size or some other species of
plant that would attract butterflies. I wouldn't want anything more than
4-5' high and 3' spread.

--
WRabbit
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WRabbit wrote:
[...]
I had thought of planting something to attract butterflies, but
from
what I know about buddleias (which is what immediately springs to
mind) is that they would be far too large for my small garden.

Is there a variety that stays a manageable size or some other
species
of plant that would attract butterflies. I wouldn't want anything
more than 4-5' high and 3' spread.

There's always sedums; or if you want a shrub, try a hebe.

--
Mike.

On Thu, 28 Apr 2005 18:34:38 +0100, WRabbit wrote:

I had thought of planting something to attract butterflies, but from what I
know about buddleias (which is what immediately springs to mind) is that
they would be far too large for my small garden.

We have flowering sage, catnip and oregano - they are loved by bees and
butterflies, especially the humming-bird hawk-moths.

--
Tim C.