Belle Demoiselle - Christophe Maé

Firstly a correction to our last Post where one Moth was captioned Rosy Rustic, this was in fact a

BORDERED SALLOW

a new addition to the Property List with thanks for putting me right.

The hottest day of the year without a doubt and the thermometer, exposed to the glare of the sun, topping 100°F well before noon. Such days are guaranteed to get most Insects on the wing so, after attending to the traps, it was a wander along the banks of the River Stour.

SMALL SERAPHIM

 SWALLOW-TAILED MOTH

SHEARS

the Micro

 CHILO PHRAGMITELLA

a reed-bed species which is often caught well away from that type of habitat.

 The Spider

 TIBELUS OBLONGUS

What are generally referred to as

Burying Beetles

NECROPHORUS INVESTIGATOR

Reading up on these fascinating insects from Michael Chinery's work A Field Guide to the Insects of Britain and Northern Europe this most interesting passage was found.

Burying and Sexton Beetles are so called from the habit of some species burying small carcasses. These Beetles have a good sense of smell and they are attracted to carrion.The first individuals of each sex to arrive at the carcass appear to fight later arrivals and turn them away. After mating, the Insects set to work of burying the carcass - bird, mouse, mole etc - by removing the soil beneath it. The jaws and tibiae are used in this operation, grass roots and other small obstacles being no problem for their strong jaws. They have even been known to amputate the limbs of a victim to ease its passage down through the soil and also drag a dead animal to another position where the soil is easier to dig. When the carcass is buried, the female excavates a small passage leading off from the burial chamber and lays her eggs there. She then returns to the carcass to eat, feeding the offspring with regurgitated food until they can feed from the carcass themselves.

Very Interesting and we'll have another Bedtime Story for you tomorrow!
More Insect activity on the banks of the River Stour

 another emergence of

 BANDED DEMOISELLE
this a male

 and the rest females.

Look out for them along any river near to you!

 COMMON BLUE BUTTERFLY

 HEDGE BEDSTRAW

NEW RESIDENTS in the Parley Paddocks,
these tiny Horses come just up to my knee in height.

 This female

 GOLDCREST

 has been singing her heart out for a full 10 days now

 in an effort to attract a male.
I'm the nearest she has been thus far.

 MOORHEN
have been conspicuous by their absence during the past
2 weeks. It's usual to see young birds here by this time of year,
there were only c4 adults to be seen today.

 DORSET POLICE HELICOPTER

 PINK WATER SPEEDWELL

possible WOOD AVENS

and the invasive
PARROTS FEATHERS
is now covering much of the
Parley Pond.

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