bee collecting tringulins, no triungulins

now we know what this wild bee is doing. Or is it a collection of triungulins?

Pheasants eyes 08

narcissus poeticus, not native but naturalised and growing wild (and last year). I can't find anything interesting out about this plant but its name... Yes I can; it was allegedly brought back from the crusades by Sir Geoffrey de Fynderne and has become an emblem of the village of Findern, wherever that is. Is this true? Well done Geoff.

oil beetles

This is the female of the violet (or bluish) oil beetle (Meloe violaceus). Spot reads that this unusual beetle lays its eggs on the ground in leaf mould (as here). These hatch into long legged small larvae (triungulins) that swarm over plants in hot weather (they may have to wait a long time this year). They then attach themselves to a wild bee and are carried back to the bee's nest where they set about devouring the eggs and grubs. As they change into grubs themselves they eat the honey. They pass the winter as fat headless legless maggots then metamorphose one last time and crawl out in the Spring as adults to feed on buttercup plants. They also act as models for Alien. When picked up or otherwise irritated by inquisitive dogs they exude a foul fluid from their joints. They have overlapping wing cases. This one is distinctly blue.

a definite swallow

A swallow, with long tail streamers and a red chin. It is now clear that the swallows and martins arrived on the same bus yesterday. I had half a thought that I could see swallows and hear martins but they are very quick in flight and a bit blurred on the photos. Nevertheless is it is a joy to see them back.

million dollar view?

the view from Spot's kennel.

sky salute

and a special welcome from the sky