Ground Beetle (Pterostichus madidus)
Length 14mm
Very common ground beetle, usually found under stones or logs in daytime; often in gardens. Shiny black in appearance, elytra with fine grooves; legs typically reddish. Predatory, but also feeds on plant material including fruit. This beetle is flightless.
Bumble Bee (Megabombus sp.)
Length 24mm
Common and widespread, except in the north. After hibernation, the female appears in April and visits flowers on sunny days. Nests are built in burrows. Recognised by broad, buffish yellow band at front of thorax and on abdomen; tip of abdomen buff.
Codling moth (Cydia pomonella)
The larva of this moth is a very destructive pest, which was introduced from Europe by settlers. Female moths lay the scale-like eggs singly on developing fruit, adjacent leaves or stems just after sundown each night. Upon hatching the larvae enter into the calyx end or side of the fruit then tunnel to the center where they feed and develop. Brown frass is often noticed near the calyx end of the developing fruit. The larva is pinkish to white in color with a brown head. Larval development is completed in 3 to 5 weeks when they exit the fruit to pupate in a thick silken cocoon on the bark or other protected areas.
Common Wasp (Vespula
vulgaris)
Length 17mm
Similar to the German wasp but, seen head on, face has black anchor mark. Common and widespread, active mainly June-September. Grey, almost spherical papery nest built underground or in buildings. Like other wasps, attracted to rotting fruit.
Crane Fly (Tipula paludosa)
The adult crane fly can usually be seen hopping around on the lawn during August and September. The adults look menacing, resembling overgrown mosquitoes, but are completely harmless and do not bite or sting. The real villians are the larval stage, "leatherjackets", which are wormlike with tough brownish skin and stay protected in the soil of lawns. The larval stage attacks both the roots and blades of grass in the spring.
Daddy longlegs (Phalangium opilio)
Most people think these creatures are spiders, but they aren't. If you look closely, you will see that spiders have two body parts, while daddy-long-legs have only one. When they walk, daddy-long-legs use their second pair of legs to feel their way, just like some insects use their antennae. There are numerous species of daddy-long-legs. These animals cannot bite. Daddy Longlegs, common name for any of a group of spiderlike arachnids, also called harvestmen or harvest spiders. They feed on small insects, dead animals, or plant juices. They have very small mouthparts and do not bite humans. Daddy longlegs often congregate in large numbers in caves or other sheltered places.
Devil's Coach-horse (Staphylinus
olens)
Length 24mm
An all-black, long-bodied beetle the abdominal segments of which are not covered by the elytra. If threatened, curls up abdomen and opens jaws. Shelters during daytime under stones and logs. Emerges after dark to feed on invertebrates. In autumn, may venture indoors. Common and widespread in hedgerows and gardens.
Very common ground beetle, usually found under stones or logs in daytime; often in gardens. Shiny black in appearance, elytra with fine grooves; legs typically reddish. Predatory, but also feeds on plant material including fruit. This beetle is flightless.
Bumble Bee (Megabombus sp.)
Length 24mm
Common and widespread, except in the north. After hibernation, the female appears in April and visits flowers on sunny days. Nests are built in burrows. Recognised by broad, buffish yellow band at front of thorax and on abdomen; tip of abdomen buff.
Codling moth (Cydia pomonella)
The larva of this moth is a very destructive pest, which was introduced from Europe by settlers. Female moths lay the scale-like eggs singly on developing fruit, adjacent leaves or stems just after sundown each night. Upon hatching the larvae enter into the calyx end or side of the fruit then tunnel to the center where they feed and develop. Brown frass is often noticed near the calyx end of the developing fruit. The larva is pinkish to white in color with a brown head. Larval development is completed in 3 to 5 weeks when they exit the fruit to pupate in a thick silken cocoon on the bark or other protected areas.
Common Wasp (Vespula
vulgaris) Length 17mm
Similar to the German wasp but, seen head on, face has black anchor mark. Common and widespread, active mainly June-September. Grey, almost spherical papery nest built underground or in buildings. Like other wasps, attracted to rotting fruit.
Crane Fly (Tipula paludosa)The adult crane fly can usually be seen hopping around on the lawn during August and September. The adults look menacing, resembling overgrown mosquitoes, but are completely harmless and do not bite or sting. The real villians are the larval stage, "leatherjackets", which are wormlike with tough brownish skin and stay protected in the soil of lawns. The larval stage attacks both the roots and blades of grass in the spring.
Daddy longlegs (Phalangium opilio)Most people think these creatures are spiders, but they aren't. If you look closely, you will see that spiders have two body parts, while daddy-long-legs have only one. When they walk, daddy-long-legs use their second pair of legs to feel their way, just like some insects use their antennae. There are numerous species of daddy-long-legs. These animals cannot bite. Daddy Longlegs, common name for any of a group of spiderlike arachnids, also called harvestmen or harvest spiders. They feed on small insects, dead animals, or plant juices. They have very small mouthparts and do not bite humans. Daddy longlegs often congregate in large numbers in caves or other sheltered places.
Devil's Coach-horse (Staphylinus
olens) Length 24mm
An all-black, long-bodied beetle the abdominal segments of which are not covered by the elytra. If threatened, curls up abdomen and opens jaws. Shelters during daytime under stones and logs. Emerges after dark to feed on invertebrates. In autumn, may venture indoors. Common and widespread in hedgerows and gardens.
Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus
brunneus) Body length 18-24mm
Common and widespread except for north Scotland
and Northern Ireland. Found in all kinds of dry, grassy places. Shows
bulge at base of forewing. Pronotum inflected and angular; black wedge markings
do not reach hind edge. The female is larger than male.
Common Froghopper (Philaenus
spumarius) Length 6mm
Adult is oval in outline; colour variable but
usually marbled brown. Jumps well. Nymph is green and, like adult, feeds
on plant sap; creates frothy mass known as 'cuckoo-spit' in which it lives.
Common and widespread from June to August.
German Wasp (Vespula germanica)
Length 18mm
Has typical wasp colours and markings but,
seen head on, face has three black dots. This wasp is common and widespread.
Grey, papery nests are built underground or sometimes in loft space.
Beneficial since it collects large numbers of insects to feed its larvae.
Green Shield Bug (Palomena
prasina) Length 13mm
Rather oval in outline. Mainly green
but stippled with tiny black dots; tip of wing dark. Overwintering
adults usually dull but bright green when newly emerged from hibernation
in May. Larvae seen during summer months and new generation of adults
appear in September. Widespread and often common in England, Wales and S
Ireland; rather scarce further north.
Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela
campestris) Length 14mm
An active, ground-dwelling beetle of sandy
places including heaths and dunes. Upperparts are usually green with
pale spots on elytra; legs and thorax margins are shiny bronze. Widespread
and locally common. Seen May-July, this beetle is an active and ferocious
predator.
Honey Bee
(Apis mellifera)
Length 12mm
Length 12mm
Widely kept in hives for honey. In wooded
areas, wild colonies nest in holes in trees. Network of wax cells form
comb in which honey is stored and young are raised. Female workers
comprise bulk of the colony which is ruled by a single queen.
Hornet (Vespa crabro) Length 30mm
An impressive insect and our largest wasp.
Local and common only in parts of southern England. It can be
recognised by its size and tawny brown and dull yellow colours. It
favours wooded areas and usually nests in dead trees. Colonies are
most active June-September.
Hummingbird Moth (Macroglossum
stellatarum)Hummingbird hawk-moths are day fliers, preferring bright sunlight, but may also be seen at dawn and dusk and rarely at night. They are strongly attracted to flowers with a plentiful supply of nectar such as petunias, honeysuckle and buddleia. They cannot survive the winter months and so migrate to southern parts of Europe. Every year many people are taken back as they see in their garden what appears at first sight to be a hummingbird hovering at the flowers. A careful check on the size and a closer look unmasks this imposter as a hummingbird moth.
Leafhopper (Graphocephala fennahi)
Introduced from North America but now firmly
established in southern England. Leafhoppers are widespread
and fairly common where foodplant flourishes. Green or greenish yellow
these pests can be seen hopping from plant to plant in the summer months
Leaf-cutter Bee (Megachile centuncularis)
Length 13mm
Well-known for the neat, semi-circular holes
which are cut from the leaf margins of fuchsia's, garden roses and many other
plants by female bees; these are used to create nest walls. No permanent
damage is caused to the plants that are visited, just an unsightly ragged
appearance. These bees are common and widespread during June and July.
Lily Beetle (Lilioceris
lilii) The lily beetle makes irregular holes in the
leaves and flowers of lilies. It also attacks other lily relatives, including
Solomon's seal (Polygonatum), crown imperials and other fritillaries. Adults
are about 6 millimetres, or a quarter of an inch long, and are easy to spot
as they are a bright, pillar-box red. During late April or May they move
from their overwintering sites, in plant debris and coarse vegetation, onto
the lily or other host. The females then lay eggs which hatch within seven
to ten days. Larvae are a distinctive orange - red colour, but they
have the unpleasant habit of coating themselves in their own slimy black
excreta.
Midge (Chironomus plumosus)
Body length 10mm
A common, non-biting midge seen from spring
to autumn. Males have wings shorter than abdomen and plumed antennae.
Large swarms may be formed formed, often seen above trees. Females
have relatively longer wings and simple antennae. The larvae are aquatic
and because of their colouration are often known as 'bloodworms'.
Mosquito (Culex spp) The adult mosquito needs no introduction; females
sucks blood whilst the male feeds on nectar. Larval and pupal stages
can be found in all kinds of standing water, whether that be a rain butt
or an old car tyre which contains water. Although not a serious pest
here at the moment, there have been reports of mosquitoes being found in
the UK which have been found to be carrying the Nile River Fever virus. As
global temperatures rise these pests, and the diseases they carry, could
spread to many areas.
Springtails (Order Collembola)
One of several common species, all of which are tiny, primitive insects that lack wings. They are characterised by their ability to leap using a sprung projection on the underside of the abdomen. Members of the Order are found in damp areas such as leaf litter and compost heaps where they feed on detritus. Springtails are small, 1/8 - 1/4 inch long, wingless insects. Damage: Occasionally large numbers of springtails occur in greenhouse crops where they can damage plants .
Stag Beetle (Lucanus
cervus) Large and impressive beetle with reddish brown elytra, black head and thorax. The male has enlarged, antler-like jaws, used for battling with rivals for right to mate with antler-less female. Depends on a large and undisturbed supply of rotting wood, especially oak, in which larvae live and feed. Consequently it is now rather scarce and found locally only in southern and central England. Adults seen May-July.