I have a dragonfly specimen that has been carefully preserved, mounted, framed and now hangs in my studio. The dragonfly is a darter, Common Red Skimmer – Orthetrum pruinosum neglectum to be precise, which if alive would have the most brilliant... Read More
October and insects are becoming more difficult to find. Sure enough, there are always the Red Admirals to be seen feasting on the abundant ivy but on the whole it seems that most creatures have taken to more secretive activities.... Read More
AS EARLY AS SEPTEMBER and the mania for Christmas shopping has already began with the paraphernalia of Christmas goodies taking pride of place in supermarket shelves. The gaudy and brash packaging seems to shout out, ‘come and buy me!’ Thank... Read More
I’VE WANTED A MOTH TRAP for quite some time but the temptation to spend my hard-earned cash on camera gear has always seduced me away from this yearning. However, this month I finally took the plunge and brought myself a... Read More
JUNE IS A GREAT MONTH FOR BUTTERFLIES with up to 54 species on the wing (a significant increase from the 35 species that can be seen in May). The bittersweet irony was that during June, work commitments meant that I... Read More
INSECTS ARE COLD BLOODED, and it is the outside temperatures that determine whether they are active or not. Take the honeybee, a sudden cold spell and the foraging workers can unexpectedly be caught out, having to find refuge wherever best... Read More
SPRING HAS ARRIVED and many butterflies (up to 35 species) are on the wing! It is at this time of year than many specialist species occur, such as the Grizzled Skipper. I had the privilege of seeing this chunky, plucky and totally... Read More
On the 6th April (22 days after finding the pupa) the cocoon split and a beautiful Angle Shades moth (Phlogophora meticulosa) finally emerged. I was beginning to think that the pupa had died and that my daily breaths of moist... Read More
During February, my attention shifted from that of stalking insects to playing detective while rummaging within my local woodland in search of the most elusive of organisms – Fungi. Fungi are fascinating for the incredible variety of fruiting bodies they... Read More