Pied shield bug (Late instar nymph)

Although a distinctive black and white shieldbug, this species now requires careful separation from the very similar T. sexmaculatus, a recent arrival in south-east England (see this species for further details).

Like other members of this family, this is a ground-dwelling species, but may be found feeding on the aerial parts of white dead-nettle and black horehound, the main hostplants.

Widespread in southern Britain in hedgerow and woodland edge habitats, becoming rarer northwards and absent from Scotland and Ireland. There may be two overlapping generations each summer. Females exhibit brood care of the eggs.

I have posted the adult before

 

The jewel of the garden

Yes another Ruby tailed wasp , this one was so small it was the same size as the black ants on the same plant.

These ,I think made my year last year,  how can you go through 40ish years without seeing one , now I see plenty.

Tomoxia bucephala

Sorry hardly any info for this at all

Queen Mating hive

The queen mating hive I made the other week is now in use. It has a capped queen cell and a shake of bees, as you can see below the bees are drawing the frames out and they are tending the queen cell.

Wool Carder Bee * Female

 

I have posted information on this bee before but I don’t think I have ever seen the female in the garden before always the larger male.

Sphecodes sp (type of cuckoo bee)

Oxybelus uniglumis ( fly hunting wasp )

I was so excited to spot this wasp on one of my new plants in the garden (wild carrot)

If prizes were awarded to Hymenoptera, Oxybelus uniglumis would be a prime candidate for top honours. They are among the fastest hunters in the business (recorded catching 5 flies in 6 minutes).

A female can dig and complete more than one nest each day, this despite the time added on by taking the trouble to cover the entrance whenever the wasp goes hunting.

Clearly this exponent of life in the fast lane shows remarkable efficiency – even though the flies are paralysed with only one sting, there are still an awful lot of stings required for each nest.

Moreover, the prey, after being carried back to within a metre or so of the burrow by the female, uniquely is then deposited briefly and impaled on the sting before being carted into the nest forwards

Ruby tailed wasps

I have posted information on these before but I cant miss posting new photos of such beautifully coloured wasps

Tenthredo Celtica ?

 

Stictoleptura rubra- type of long horn beetle

I am chuffed with the bishops flower that I have tried for the first time this year , it has bought many other insects to the garden.

Other Names

Corymbia rubra and as Leptura rubra
Description
Sometimes known as the Red Longhorn Beetle from the colour of the female. Length up to 19 mm. The species is striking to look at the female being uniformly red-brown in colour; males having pale ochre coloured elytraand black head and thorax.

Habitat
Juveniles often found on various pines, firs and larches. Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen.
When to see it
The adults appear at the height of the summer.
Life History
The larvae develop in old dead wood and tree stumps, mainly in coniferous forests.
UK Status
Uncommon and with a southerly distribution in Britain.