15 Jun 2024: Insects and flowers
We are continuing to discover and sometimes identify lots of new wildflower and insect species at the Pond. Here is a Digger Wasp (a species of Ectemnius, possibly E. lituratus) spotted by Ian. Digger wasps are solitary wasps which do not make communal nests. At the previous meeting on 3rd June there was a 14-spot ladybird, which I've never seen before. It rejoices in the Latin name of Propylea quattuordecimpunctata, which you may (or may not) recognise as referring to its 14 spots.
We also saw several Orange-tip butterfly caterpillars. The Pyramidal orchid is back again this year, this time with two flower-spikes. Sadly there was a dead hedgehog, or what remained of it, mostly skin and prickles. Badgers are suspected of killing hedgehogs, using the claws on their powerful front legs to unroll the hedgehog.