Insects and Spiders

That is impressive!

I saw a mosquito in our bathroom yesterday, must be a sign of a warm winter.

I discovered this today in my derelict lean to, the colour makes me think pollen from a bumble bee, any thoughts? I have reached out to pest control to identify. no obvious owners about, can't be a wasp/hornets nest, right?

edit, pest control have said no insect, possibly a fungus should should be easy to extract without harm.

cheers

1 Attachment

Next installment using the ridiculously cheep digital microscope. This is a lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea. It's the only one in the UK to overwinter as an adult although the other giveaway is the series of hairs on the veins in it's wings. Not sure of the magnification but I recon the field of view is about 1 mm in both images.

2 Attachments

This dive-bombed the lab at work today. From my new insect book that someone recommended to me a few pages back, I think it is a Western Conifer Seed Bug (leptoglossus occidentalis).

@JoePablo - I missed you latest post - great pics!

Nice find. British Bugs has some good photos too and info on the Western Conifer Seed Bug https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Coreidae/leptoglossus_occidentalis.html

I found a Juniper Shieldbug today (Cyphostethus tristriatus)

1 Attachment

Nice, like it

Aka stink bug? Why stink bug?

Stink Bug is the American vernacular. I've never noticed a smell though I've never knowingly 'threatened, disturbed or crushed' one.

From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentatomidae

The American name "stink bug" is specific to the Pentatomidae, and
refers to their ability to release a pungent defensive spray when
threatened, disturbed, or crushed. The composition of this spray may
vary between species, and even by sex or age, but generally includes
aldehydes and alkanes. Descriptions of the smells vary widely, and
include oily, dusty, woody and earthy, and like coriander. In some
species, the liquid contains cyanide compounds and a rancid almond
scent, used to protect themselves and discourage predators.

Even if you just pick a shield bug up briefly you’ll smell it on your hands.

Smells distinctly… insecty. Some beetles release a similar smell too when you pick them up.

Here’s a stick insect loitering by my back door, he’s been there all day

1 Attachment

Until recently I thought all stick insects looked like that but there are loads of variants and some look bloody viscous! A colleague keeps them and educated me.

Late to it, but these are great! Please keep sharing any more you take...

This crazy dude in my bathroom tonight. About 3cm long (not including the feelers). Anyone know what it is? Apols for crappy phone pic

1 Attachment

It has some of the attributes of a 'solitary wasp', but then again so do their mimics.

Possibly ophion obscuratis

Thanks! Been working on desensitizing myself to spiders by taking some close up photos of them recently. This one is Nuctenea umbraatica, the Walnut Orbweb Spider. It's a nightime hunter of moths hiding away by day in cracks in bark and wooden fences - hence it's characteristic flattened apperance.

1 Attachment

awesome

Mayfly lovin here in NZ

2 Attachments

Love is in the air! Those look like what we call crane flies here (as opposed to the short lived Ephemeroptera that emerge in May-June time here that we call mayfly) , are they called Mayfly in NZ?

@jupiz Oops! I meant crane fly. Was going to write Daddy Long Legs, seemed too much effort, then got confused. Friday night, I’d had a few wines…

I have just made a solitary bee house and mounted it in a warm and sheltered spot ready for spring. I'll update if there is any action!

saw 2 bumblebees buzzing around today, good luck

First one up from this weekend isn't an insect or a spider but anyway ...

Lithobius variegatus, aka the Banded Centipede, is an apex predator when it comes to insects on the woodland floor.

1 Attachment

Next up is an insect ... Silpha atrata or the Black Snail Beetle. This spends most of its time under the bark of rotten logs looking for snails to eat. It has a particularly narrow head (you can't see it in this photo as its tucked up under its pronotum) to get inside their shells. A bit like the tiny tongs and forks humans sometimes use to extract and eat snails.

1 Attachment