Weather wise?

After the fabulous weather that brought all the butterflies out, I was not sure that the last couple of days would come anywhere near that.

Yesterday it was so hot that we shortened out usual walk.  We did not see many invertebrates at all but were very pleased to see this newly hatched batch of Garden spiderlings Araneus diadematus</.  They can easily be dismissed as a flower head until tickled with a piece of grass when they disperse symetrically from the centre.

Garden spiderlings - Araneus diadematus

Today (22nd) was even less promising with quite a strong wind and overcast.  Nevertheless we completed out usual walk and were delighted to find new invertebrates along our normal route.

A Blood-vein moth Timandra comea was sheltering deep in the roadside vegetation and made no move while I took an extreme clos-up.

Blood-vein Moth - Timandra comae

Similarly, slightly further on,we spotted a Leaf beetle of the Chrysomelidae species.

And, just to round things off, a Wasp mimic Longhorn beetle Clytus areitis was found clinging on tightly to Hemlock Water Dropwort alongside the road near Stanbury Cross.  It is harmless without a sting, but uses its wasp-like colouring to deter predators

There is always something to be seen no matter the weather.