Insects Archives - James Common

Comparing Insect ID Apps for Budding Entomologists

With several apps out there to choose from, just where do you turn when trying to identify a troublesome insect?

My previous post focusing on the best plant identification apps has quickly turned into one of my highest preforming blogs ever with some 15,500 views to date. It seems that has technology improves, and mobile apps become a permanent part of the naturalist’s arsenal, there is a growing desire to find the best digital assistant for wildlife recording on the go. Cue a new post!

Photo-based apps are growing in popularity across all wildlife groups and despite some turning their noses up at the idea, they are here to stay and have the possibility to engage and encourage an incredibly diverse audience. From teachers and students to citizen scientists and even, dare I say it, established naturalists, many are turning to apps to identify puzzling finds, confirm their identifications and corroborate identifications made using field guides. Moreover, technology is developing all of the time meaning apps previous dismissed as inaccurate are growing ever more reliable.

Apps associated with plants and birds are fairly commonplace and many people use them, but less discussed is the possibility of using apps to identify insects – perhaps the most diverse and tricky group of all. Despite the challenges of insect identification, there are several apps out there designed to demystify the process. In this post, I thought I would run a little experiment comparing some of the most popular…

First, some ground rules

One image only – some apps allow for multiple images but we’ll not be doing that here
Decent(ish) images – Poor quality images, lacking key features, pose problems for even the best apps (and naturalists!)
Verified species – apps will be tested only on species with a confirmed ID courtesy of an expert verifier
Native species only – I wanted to test this on insects likely to be encountered in the UK.

Meet the Insect App Test subjects

Oak Bush-cricket (Meconema thalassinum)
Brown China-mark (Elophila nymphaeata)
Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile centuncularis)
Platycheirus rosarum – a hoverfly
Riponnensia splendens – a hoverfly
Larch Ladybird (Aphidecta obliterata)
Capsus ater – a true bug

While some of these are easier than others, I have resisted the urge to include extremely common and familiar species which most apps will surely get right. Instead, the range of insect groups included should hopefully put our candidate apps to the test.

Oak Bush-cricket
(*Meconema thalassinum*)

Comparing Insect Apps

Apps that identify the insect as their first choice will receive 1 point. If the correct insect is identified but shown as an outlying choice, we’ll deduct points for each subsequent tier. For example, Larch Ladybird coming in as the 4th most likely option would early 0.6 points. I may give extra points in some places if the apps manage to impress me…

	Oak Bush-cricket	Brown China-mark	Patchwork Leafcutter Bee	Platycheirus rosarum	Riponnensia splendens	Larch Ladybird	Capsus ater	Score (0-6)
ObsIdentify	✔ 1	✔1	✔ 0.9	✔ 1	✔ 1	✔ 1	✔ 1	6.9/7
Seek	✖	✔1	✖ 0.2 (It did get the family!)	✖	✖	✖	✖	0.2/7
Picture Insect	✔ 1	✔ 1	✔ 1	✔1	✖	✔ 1	✔ 1	6/7
Google Lens	✔ 1	✔ 1	✖ 0.2 (again, it got the family)	✖ 0.2	✖	✖ 0.2 (points for ‘ladybird’)	✖	2.6/7

ObsIdentify vs Picture Insect

And so we have our winner, or at least winners. Both ObsIdentify and Picture Insect performed extremely well during the first test and truth be told, there isn’t much between them. Let’s try them on a few more insects…

For this, we’ll trial the apps on the lovely Green Long-horn (Adela reaumurella), another true bug, Calocoris roseomaculatus, and the tiny Meadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura). A reasonably testing bunch!

	Green Long-horn	Calocoris roseomaculatus	Meadow Ladybird	Score (0-6)
ObsIdentify	✔1	✔ 0.9	✔ 0.9	2.8/3
Picture Insect	✔1	✖ 0.2 (it brought up a very similar species)	✖ 0.2 (again, a similar species but failed to mention this one)	1.4/3

ObsIdentify (9.7/10)

Hands down the best app for insect identification

ObsIdentify performed extremely well across all insect groups and must be considered the ‘go to’ app for identifying insects. Based on the positive reviews shared elsewhere, it is perhaps unsurprising that it identified the easier Oak Bush-cricket and Brown China-mark correctly, but it surprised by accurately ID’ing the two hoverflies. Hoverfly identification can often be an arduous affair so extra brownie points here.

Of the points 0.3 points deducted in total, on all occasions this was due to a separate but similar species being put forward as its primary identification. However, in all three cases, the true species was listed in second place which at least allows users to quickly compare species and reach a judgment for themselves.

On a more practical note, ObsIdentify is very user-friendly and provides no end of handy information that some users might find interesting. It also works on more than just insects and overall, is a well-rounded and very helpful app. Top marks!

Impressive 100% confirmation of *Platycheirus rosarum* but do excuse the difference in names

Picture Insect (7.4/10)

Another good choice for insect enthusiasts but jut falling short

Picture Insect is a perfectly sound app and performs better than most. In the first round of testing, it excelled with the more familiar species and resulted in correct identifications when presented with more challenging species, particularly Capsus ater and Platycheirus rosarum. Both of these proved too much for apps further down the list.

A solid choice for second place, the app only fell short at the last hurdle, failing to identify Calocoris roseomaculatus and Meadow Ladybird very nearly nailed by ObsIdentify. Indeed, neither species were shown in the four available suggestions shown by Picture Insect, but it did at least put us in the right ball park.

While a good choice for use on common and familiar species, I did find the app somewhat annoying on account of the frequent pop-ups prompting paid subscription. The interface is also a little more complex that our winning option.

Correct identification of Brown China-mark

Google Lens (2.6/7)

This one ought to do better…

Google Lens is perhaps the most widely used app on this list, with a great many people using it for everything from foodstuffs to wildlife. Given the infrastructure behind it, it ought to have outperformed some of the less well-resourced apps but alas, failed at almost every hurdle.

Points were awarded for its success in identifying Oak Bush-cricket and Brown China-mark but beyond these, it succeeded only in correctly identifying several species to family level. If, like me, you like to know specifics, it probably isn’t for you.

Seek (1.1/7)

Not again iNaturalist…

When it comes to purpose-built wildlife identification apps, Seek by iNaturalist is perhaps the most widely known (and used) of all. Indeed, I frequently encounter students using the app at the recommendation of their lecturers and have chanced upon a fair number of naturalists using it the field. They shouldn’t bother.

Oh iNaturalist, what went wrong yet again? If you read my previous post on plant ID apps, you’ll know that Seek came almost last. It performed almost as negatively this time, succeeding only with the Brown China-mark. This is somewhat troubling given its widespread use and ties with what is fast becoming the most widespread biological recording app in the UK. Yikes.

I would avoid Seek save for its use in positive environmental engagement. Like iNaturalist who developed it, it makes wildlife recording fun and would be a great choice for weekend walks with the kids if little else.

Poplar Ladybird (Oenopia conglobata) in Newcastle

For those interested in ladybirds, it isn’t every day you have the chance to admire a major rarity. Surprises don’t turn up all that often but when they do, they can be truly spectacular. Today was one of those days.

Following a post online from a local recorder who had discovered a most unusual pink ladybird in a local cemetery, today I was lucky to see it for myself. Meeting with fellow recorders to take a look, there was little doubt that this could be Poplar Ladybird (Oenopia conglobata). A truly spectacular discovery for reasons I’ll share below.

Oenopia conglobata is found in continental Europe, North Africa and temperate regions of Asia, but is conspicuously absent from the British Isles. Indeed, explore the NBN Atlas and you’ll see there are only two records of this species in the UK: one at Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, and another not far from Glasgow. It is by all accounts, a majorly rare species in the UK turning up either as an accidental import from the continent or as a genuine visitor. I don’t have the answer to that, however.

In their Field Guide to British ladybirds, Helen Roy and Peter Brown list this species as a potential colonist in future so the fact it has popped up in an unassuming part of my home city is fascinating, to say the least. That said, regardless of rarity and dubious origins, this ladybird is a real beauty. With light pink wing cases and a striking black seam, it has square spots somewhat reminiscent of the 14-spot Ladybird. You can take a closer look at its various forms here.

The ladybird will need to be scrutinised by the experts before Newcastle appears on the map alongside Flamborough and Glasgow. Until then, a huge well done to the recorder. British ladybirds don’t come much better than that!

Recording Ladybirds in 2022: a Few Highlights

For me, ladybirds have been a real theme of 2022. Fresh from twelve months of ladybird recording, here’s a quick round-up of this year’s highlights.

Heather Ladybird

This is the one that really made me stop and think, and the ladybird which helped launch a year’s worth of frantic recording. Chatting with local recorder, Chris Barlow, back in early 2022, we noticed that records of Heather Ladybird were few and far between in Northumberland. Rather bizarre really given the wealth of heather-clad sites in our area. Indeed, the last accepted record of Heather Ladybird was one near Rothbury back in the 1980s.

Feeling somewhat inspired, back in March, I set out to Rothbury to explore an area of suitable habitat on the slopes above the town. Checking overwintering sites among more mature, rank Heather plants, it wasn’t long before several ladybirds were discovered. Success!

Future visits to Rothbury have yielded Heather Ladybirds in several squares while others have found it at several other local sites. Definitely a case of under-recorded, as opposed to genuinely rare.

Heaher Ladybird (*Chilocorus bipustulatus*) near Rothbury, Norhumberland

Water Ladybird

Water Ladybird is a species that thanks to NHSN’s North East Ladybird Spot, started appearing at more and more local sites during 2021. Not because it was colonising these sites, but because more people began looking for it. I certainly found it at a surprising number of locations towards the back end of the year.

Continuing the search in 2022, I’ve encountered this species at several new sites locally, including a rather bizarre record on salt marsh at Holywell Dene. Small ponds, riversides, and ditches, they don’t seem all that picky and with a bit of practice, are quite easy to find among the stems of Bulrush and Common Reed.

The map for Water Ladybird has changed remarkably in Northumberland this year thanks to the hard work of citizen scientists. I’d call that a success story…

Water Ladybird (*Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata*) have been a real flavour of 2022

Cream-streaked Ladybird

Another local success story now, and back in early 2022, I was delighted to find what appeared to be the first Cream-streaked Ladybird for Tyneside and wider South Northumberland. A relatively new UK ladybird, this species is spreading and had already been recorded further North in Scotland. Really, a sighting here was somewhat overdue.

Found on a gravestone is Jesmond Old Cemetery – that place again – it was actually quite tricky to pick this ladybird out from the similarly sized and far more numerous Harlequins in the area. One spot in line one as opposed to two, I must remember that.

Since this encounter, local naturalists have found Cream-streaked Ladybird at several more sites within Newcastle. It is yet to be spotted further afield but must be there somewhere.

Cream-streaked Ladybird (*Harmonia quadripuncta*ta) in Jesmond, Newcastle

Hieroglyphic Ladybird

Probably the biggest surprise of 2022 came in the form of my first-ever encounter with a Hieroglyphic Ladybird. Having looked for this species unsuccessfully several times in the uplands, it came as quite a shock to find the melanistic individual below during a guided walk on the coast at Newbiggin. Definitely a “what are the chances of that” sort of moment and one made all the more entertaining by the colour form in question. Surely the black sort must be far scarcer? At least you’d think…

Striped Ladybird

Until last year, Striped Ladybird was perhaps my most sought-after British insect. When I finally encountered it at Havannah Nature Reserve in late 2021, after months of trying and plenty of tree bashing, I was chuffed. Elated even.

Fast forward to the end of 2022 and this species seems to be cropping up everywhere. Not just in larger areas of coniferous woodland but within isolated pines in car parks, cemeteries, and even those growing by the side of the busy A1. Heck, I even found one sitting on a fence post behind my local Sainsbury’s here in Heaton. All of this leads me to suspect that they are a little more widespread than the maps suggest…

Striped Ladybird (*Myzia oblongoguttata*) on a fence post behind my local Sainsbury’s

Coccidula scutellata

A rather pleasant surprise now and while leading a walk for a group of visitors at NHSN’s Gosforth Nature Reserve this autumn, a brief pitstop to look for Water Ladybird turned up a whopping great surprise in the form of Coccidula scutellata. Recorded only once before in Northumberland and never in VC67, this was one species I thought had to turn up eventually but still, it was a surprise to find it at what is just about the most ‘ladybirded’ site in the North East.

As far as inconspicuous ladybirds go, this one is also quite the beauty…

*Coccidula scutellata* at Gosforth Nature Reserve, Newcastle

Rhyzobius chrysomeloides

Perhaps the ladybird discovery of the year now and looking at the maps for Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, you would be forgiven for thinking they are found exclusively in more Southerly counties. Indeed, until this year, the most Northerly record of this species came from the Lancaster area. You can imagine my surprise then when several of these lovely little ladybirds fell out of a planted Dwarf Mountain Pine at Silverlink Biodiversity Park back in April. A very nice record indeed but as I shared more on this at the time, I’ll stop there.

All the lovely people

Whether heading out with my partner, friends or attendees at several events, courses, and trips, ladybird hunting this year has been a wonderfully collective affair. As someone who spends most of their time recording alone (such is the way of the naturalist) it has been lovely to share some of the discoveries above with others and to share knowledge and a few laughs in a host of lovely locations. The below photos are just a few of those taken this year – a big thank you to everyone who came along in 2022.

Ladybird recording with collegues from NHSN

Exciting things to come

Despite my main interest lying in plants, it seems my love of ladybirds isn’t going away any time soon. I’m not entirely sure what it is about them I like so much but finding, recording, and above all else, enjoying them has become more than a favourite pastime. For this reason, over the next year, you’ll see me offering lots more ladybird-themed events, walks, and courses with NHSN. I hope some of you may consider coming along.

I am delighted (and a little terrified) to now also volunteer my time as a County Recorder for the fabulous UK Ladybird Survey – the national scheme monitoring our ladybirds. If you share sightings via iRecord, you’ll find me there verifying finds from Durham and Northumberland and getting very excited at all of your spotty discoveries.

Ladybirds along the Tyne – Elswick, Heaton, Havannah & Prudhoe

From the city car parks and urban cemeteries to chalk mounds at Prudhoe, it has been a fantastic fortnight for ladybird recording.

With little time for trips further afield, walks during the closing days of September have seen me sticking closer to home than usual. That said, it has still been a busy few weeks on the ladybird front. With trips to the glorious Prudhoe Spetchells, local cemeteries and a handful of urban areas, there’s been an awful lot to see.

Starting with 24-Spot Ladybird and once again, this usually scarce ladybird has proven itself exceptionally abundant along the Tyne. Visiting Prudhoe, Matt and I found no fewer than 30 while exploring a small patch of grassland by the sewage works. More interesting still, several were also found high up in a pine tree – an odd location for a primarily terrestrial insect. Elsewhere, 24-Spot Ladybirds have also cropped up of late at Wylam and in the city at Elswick.

24-Spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata), Prudhoe, Northumberland

Seldom numerous, Pine Ladybird is not a species I encounter frequently here outside of the winter months. With this in mind, it was good to find decent numbers while exploring the Spetchells – the majority being swept from immature Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). Away from Prudhoe, last week, a single Pine Ladybird was also found in the car-park of the Mercedes garage at Scotswood – who says ladybird recorders don’t visit some glamourous locations?

Pine Ladybird (*Exochomus quadripustulatus*)

Whereas Pine Ladybird is a species I see infrequently, a couple of other ladybirds are far more reliable. I won’t spend much time on 7-Spot Ladybird and 2-Spot Ladybird – both are somewhat omnipresent here – but both were encountered at Prudhoe too, predominately on pine.

7-Spot Ladybird (*Coccinella septempunctata*)

Slightly more exciting now and the short walk between Wylam and Prudhoe provided a nice opportunity to explore Moo Pond, a small but productive wetland en route to the Spetchells. With plenty of Bulrush (Typha latifolia) it is usually reliable for Water Ladybird and sure enough, with only a few minutes of searching, the individual below was found tucked away in a leaf-sheath.

Water Ladybird (*Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata*), Prudhoe, Northumberland

Something a little different now and on the same visit to Prudhoe, it was nice to encounter 18-Spot Ladybird while scrutinising the pines growing on Spetchell three. A scarce conifer specialist, this is one of the species I come by least often. This record looks to be the first for the site but seems somewhat overdue given the wealth of conifers present.

A few days later, it was nice to also three of these ladybirds at the ever-reliable Jesmond Old Cemetery, while this weekend, two more were found at Havannah Nature Reserve.

18-Spot Ladybird (*Myrrha octodecimguttata*), Jesmond, Newcastle

18-Spot Ladybird (*Myrrha octodecimguttata*), Havannah Nature Reserve, Newcastle

Taking a quick detour into the world of inconspicuous ladybirds now and as ever, Pine Scymnus remains relatively easy to find locally. The one pictured below was beaten from Scots Pine atop the Prudhoe Spetchells though others were found recently at Gosforth Nature Reserve and Havannah.

Pine Scymnus (Scymnus suturalis), Prudhoe, Northumberland

One of the easier ladybirds to find locally, 22-Spot Ladybirds have been encountered recently at Prudhoe, as well as at Gosforth. Most interesting was a sighting of six ladybirds feeding on a mildew-ridden Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) at Elswick, while a few more were found secreted away in some ornamental Euonymus. I must remember to check planted shrubs too!

22-Spot Ladybird (*Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata*), Elswick, Newcastle

Having driven past it many times, our visit to the Western side of Newcastle provided the perfect opportunity to explore some of the roadside grasslands that fringes the busy main road at Scotswood. Planted by the council with an interesting chalky mix, it has always looked fairly promising. After ten minutes of searching, I’d all but given up hope when the beautiful Adonis’ Ladybird below appeared in the net. A real treat.

Searching for ladybirds along Scotswood Road, Newcastle

Adonis’ Ladybird (*Hippodamia variegata*), Scotswood, Newcastle

Now for the undisputed highlight of the last fortnight’s ladybird searching. Cream-streaked Ladybird remains a scarce species in the North East, though one which is evidently spreading northward. I’ve recorded this species at a few sites locally of late but each time the encounter comes as a surprise. It has been great to catch up with this species twice recently: firstly at Jesmond Old Cemetery, a known haunt, and secondly, in an isolated pine at Scotswood. Surely this is one of the best-looking British ladybirds?

Cream-streaked Ladybird (*Harmonia quadripunctata*), Scotswood, Newcastle

Cream-streaked Ladybird (*Harmonia quadripunctata*), Jesmond, Newcastle

Last but not least, something a little closer to home. Continuing a good run of Striped Ladybird encounters and having noticed a few as yet unladybirded pine trees behind my local Sainsbury’s in Heaton, I opted for a quick look a fortnight past. After a little searching, it was exciting to find this handsome individual below at rest on a nearby fence post. A full-fat tick for my little urban patch…

Rearing ladybird larvae – an experiment

To help identify a few of the trickier species out there, recently, I’ve been experimenting by rearing ladybird larvae at home.

Identifying ladybirds can be tricky at the best of times. Sure, there are the obvious ones, Water Ladybird for example, but also a fleet of more difficult species. I’m looking at you, inconspicuous ladybirds…

Identifying ladybirds gets much trickier during summer when many species (but not all) are between generations. In practice, this means that adults are scarce and instead, ladybird recorders must look at larvae. Gulp!

I’m dreadful at identifying ladybird larvae, I admit it. I recently purchased a fantastic FSC guide to UK’s ladybird species but still seem to be struggling. Keen not to lose those all-important records, however, I have come up with somewhat of a plan. This summer, I’m going to rear a few of the tricker larvae and see what they turn into!

Ladybird larvae

Keeping things manageable, over the last week or so I have gathered around a dozen larvae from several places. These were located initially on a mix of conifers and within grassland, hopefully suggesting a good range of species.

A selection of those currently in my care can be seen below…

Rearing ladybird larvae

Now, I confess, I have little experience caring for ladybird larvae. Thanks to a little educated guesswork, however, things do seem to be going well. Fed on a range of aphid species, from Rose Aphid to Black Cherry Aphid, all larvae appear to be growing. An interesting observation when it comes to some of the pine specialists. A hearty diet has already led to one larva (shown below) pupating. It shouldn’t be long until we learn this one’s identity…

Gathering aphids can, surprisingly, be quite hard work and collecting the numbers needed can be time-consuming. While our garden is lacking in the little sap-suckers this year, nearby cherry trees, thankfully, are not.

I’m working on the assumption that this could be 11-Spot Ladybird

Besides food, the only other I needed to consider was how to house the ladybirds. They don’t need too much space, but shouldn’t be placed together for fear of eating one another. To avoid taking up too much space, I’ve opted for old fast food containers.

After selecting a suitable abode, rearing ladybird larvae is simply a case of adding some damp tissue to increase humidity. You could also add a few sticks or bits of plant matter for effect.

I feel like a child again as a result of this little experiment. Not only is it fun, ladybird larvae being amazing to watch, but it should provide some interesting records too. With grid references noted, once the larvae reach adulthood, all ladybirds will be photographed and submitted to iRecord. I’ll then return the critters to areas of suitable habitat.

Rhyzobius chrysomeloides in Tyneside

Recently, I was delighted to discover a population of the inconspicuous ladybird, Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, in Tyneside.

Looking for ladybirds in the early part of this year has been great fun and already, it feels like I’m making some headway in tracking down a few of the ‘scarcer’ and more inconspicuous species to be found locally. Beating conifers for Cream-streaked Ladybird, sweeping grasses for Rhyzobius litura and perusing tussocks for 24-Spot Ladybird; it has all been fairly straightforward when following the notes contained within Helen Roy and Peter Brown’s fab book.

That said, there is clearly something to be said for looking in seemingly unusually places too – a row of ornamental Dwarf Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo) adorning a roadside in Silverlink Industrial Estate seemingly not the most obvious place to hunt for ladybirds. Opting to check the trees anyway, I was delighted last week to encounter not one but several Epaulet Ladybird (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides), a species I have read much about but hadn’t given much thought to given that it isn’t meant to occur in the North East.

A predominately Southern species found as far North as Lancaster, this little ladybird is particularly fond of evergreen trees and shrubs. I confess it does look very similar to the common Meadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura) but thankfully, a few of the individuals seen were very strongly marked and showed the distinct ‘shoulder-pads’ associated with this species. It has since been confirmed by inconspicuous ladybird recorder, Andrew Jewels.

There’s quite a distance between Lancaster and Tyneside so this sighting looks to mark quite an exciting range expansion for this tiny but rather interesting ladybird. Further visits to the site by other local naturalists have since revealed them in new squares and it seems they could be fairly widespread across Silverlink. Looking at the maps, who’d have thought?

Exploring the scarcer ladybirds of Newcastle

A quick summary of a productive month spent exploring the scarcer ladybirds of Newcastle.

While out and about in search of ladybirds this last few weeks, I have been lucky enough to stumble across a number of scarce and unusual species in addition to the plentiful 7-Spots and Orange Ladybirds so many of us know and love. Several of which have been completely new for this incredibly amateur ladybird spotter. Here, I thought I’d share a few highlights from what has been a glorious few weeks spent finding and recording these colourful insects.

Starting, you guessed it, in local cemeteries and perhaps the highlight of the past few weeks, and it was exciting to find singles of Cream-streaked Ladybird (Harmonia quadripunctata) in both Jesmond Old Cemetery and Benton Cemetery. A fairly large, robust ladybird similar in appearance to the non-native Harlequin, a quick search of NBN would suggest this conifer specialist is yet to be recorded in South Northumberland (VC67), until now.

The first of these was beaten from Black Pine (Pinus nigra), while the second was found on a gravestone. There are surely many more of these large and impressive ladybirds out there to be discovered.

Cream-streaked Ladybird (*Harmonia quadripunctata*)

While searching for ladybirds as part of the North East Ladybird Spot, one species I had desperately wanted to find was the 18-Spot Ladybird (Myrrha octodecimguttata). Another conifer specialist sporting a distinctive mix of cream spots atop maroon wing cases, this is likely another under-recorded ladybird owing to its tendency to hide out within the dense foliage of conifers.

Visiting Jesmond Old Cemetery a fortnight back, it was therefore quite exciting to find not one but five of these insects nestled on a gravestone beneath the only pine in the cemetery. The same one, in fact, that also held the Cream-streaked above. These isolated trees really can come up trumps when it comes to specialist ladybirds!

18-Spot Ladybird (*Myrrha octodecimguttata*)

One species I seem to be encountering with increasing frequency in the North East is the Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata). A ladybird associated with sandy, open soils, this is a very small species that superficially resembles the common 7-Spot. Small size aside, it can be told apart by its more elongated body shape and the concentration of black spots towards the rear of the wing cases.

The first of the ladybirds shown below was beaten from Black Pine in Jesmond Old Cemetery, while the duo in the pot were found within Gorse at Havannah Nature Reserve.

After encountering Striped Ladybird (Myzia oblongoguttata) for the first time a few weeks back, it has been fantastic catch up with further individuals over recent weeks. During a trip to Havannah Nature Reserve with members of the natural history society, three of these beautiful insects were seen, while a visit to Gosforth Nature Reserve produced a surprise when the potted individual below was beaten from Gorse. Albeit near to its favoured Scots Pine.

Striped Ladybird featured in a recent video I produced for the North East Ladybird Spot. Please do take a look below, if you can look past my nervous, flailing hands…

Despite (apparently) being reasonable common, Larch Ladybird (Aphidecta obliterata) is a species I have struggled to catch up with this winter. To date, checking the trunks and branches of larch has drawn a blank, as have gravestones in conifer rich cemeteries. You can imagine my delight then when the ladybird shown below was beaten from the tip of a wind-blown Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) as Gosforth Nature Reserve.

Despite appearing somewhat drab, this small, brown ladybird with its distinctive black central line is actually rather pretty when viewed up close.

Back to Benton Cemetery now and while searching the ranks of Harlequin and Orange Ladybirds, it was a delight to encounter my first Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata) of the year. Britain’s largest species, this ladybird sports distinctive white rings around its many black spots. A feature which, as its name suggests, gives the appearance of having eyes atop its wing cases. A conifer specialist, I can count on one hand the number of times I have encountered this species to date.

Finally, we come to a North East ladybird that I am beginning to think is not all too scarce at all, rather tricky to see and highly under-recorded. Hiding out in the stems of Bulrush (Typha latifolia) and other marginal plants in winter, the Water Ladybird (Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata) seems to be cropping up at more and more local sites as naturalists begin purposefully looking for it.

The individuals spotted below were seen at Gosforth Nature Reserve, but others were also encountered at Havannah Nature Reserve and Rising Sun Country Park.

Water Ladybird (*Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata*)

And there we have it, a quick tour of some ladybird highlights from the last few weeks. I will be continuing the Ladybird Yearlist throughout 2022 which thanks to the additions of Larch and Eyed Ladybirds now stands at a reasonable 17 species. Truthfully, I am not sure how many more are out there to be discovered but I at least stand a chance of encountering 11-Spot and 24-Spot Ladybird before year’s end, while 14-Spot is all but guaranteed if I find the time to poke about some grassland.

Setting my sights a little higher, I will also be visiting suitable sites in search of the slightly more elusive 5-Spot Ladybird; while the predominately Southern 16-Spot Ladybird cannot be out of the question while walking in grassland come summer…

Winter ladybirds on conifers

Continuing this year’s Ladybird Year List and capturing records for the North East Ladybird Spot, the last few weekends have been spent admiring winter ladybirds conifers. Scots Pine, Larch, exotic Lodgepole and Black Pines, even the odd spruce.

Havannah Nature Reserve near Dinnington first and few visits to explore the site’s conifers turned up a good number of Pine Ladybirds (Exochomus qadripustulatus), with eight spotted on our first visit and six on our second. While the majority were found, rather fittingly, on pine, we also found a few overwintering on Gorse for the first time.

It was nice too to encounter the guttatopunctata form of 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata) hiding out in a branch tip.

Pine Ladybird (*Exochomus qadripustulatus*)

Confessing an ulterior motive for our trip to Havannah, a spot of tree-tapping focused on more mature conifers produced not one but two Striped Ladybirds (Myzia oblongoguttata), an entirely new species for me!

Somewhat of a goldilocks ladybird, this species has a close association with Scots Pine but is seldom found on younger trees. Supposedly, these striking little insects overwinter at ground level so what they were doing on exposed branches in February, I don’t know.

Fast forward a week and on our second visit to Havannah, we managed to find a total of three Striped Ladybirds, with one in particular (shown in the video below) clearly energised by the sunny conditions.

Whilst at Havannah, it would have been rude not to survey some of the Gorse on-site for ladybirds too and, after fifteen minutes, we were rewarded with the beauty below, an Adonis’ Ladybird (Hippodamia variegata).

I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen this fairly elusive species, finding them previously only at Newcastle Great Park and Silverlink. With a distinctive pattern of white and black on the pronotum and spots concentrated towards the rear of the wing cases, they are rather lovely.

A few more highlights from the last couple of weeks and a quick visit to Iris Brickfield Park in Heaton turned up another new species for me in the form of this Red Marsh Ladybird (Coccidula rufa). One of the tiny, inconspicuous ladybirds, this species has a close association with wetland habitats where is commonly encountered on reeds, rushes and similar plants. You can imagine my surprise then to knock this one out of a pine tree while searching for its larger cousins!

Also in Iris Brickfield Park, a few stands of Stinking Iris provided a nice opportunity to look for some overwintering grassland ladybirds. Shaking the plants over a net, I was pleased to find four 22-Spot Ladybirds (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata), a species I have only ever encountered in summer, usually on the mildewy leaves of Hogweed or Knapweed. I do love these vibrant little ladybirds.

22-spot Ladybird (*Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata*)

Slightly further back in time now and a flying visit to Rising Sun Country Park in North Tyneside turned up my first Kidney-Spot Ladybird (Chilocorus renipustulatus) of the year sheltering in the upper branches of a wind-blown pine. Again, not a species I encounter very often at all!

Kidney-spot Ladybird (*Chilocorus renipustulatus*)

Finally, at all of the sites listed above, by far the most numerous ladybird species was (as ever) the 7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata). Little needs said about this one…

Finds over the past few weeks have taken the ladybird year list to a total of thirteen species. Not bad for late February in North East England! Whilst there are certainly a few more ‘easy’ species to be found as we move into spring – 14-Spot, 24-Spot and the inconspicuous Rhyzobius litura – I am very much hoping to catch up with a few more elusive species too. Larch Ladybird should be found, with a little luck, as should Eyed and 11-Spot Ladybirds, at the very least…

The North East Ladybird ‘Year List’ begins

With the Natural History Society of Northumbria’s fantastic North East Ladybird Spot launching this week, most of this weekend has been spent searching for these colourful insects at various sites across Tyneside. A January pastime I would never have considered a few short years ago that now, knowing where to look, is becoming somewhat of an obsession.

Orange Ladybirds (Halyzia sedecimguttata) have proven incredibly numerous this winter and, while visiting Preston Cemetery in Tynemouth, I was surprised to stumble quite literally hundreds of these insects dotted across the site’s many aged gravestones. The majority being found in wooded areas where headstones are located in the shade of broadleaf trees.

While I can count on one hand the number of times I have spotted this species in Summer, Winter really does seem like the prime time to look for these striking critters before they return to the treetops come Spring.

While Orange Ladybirds were numerous this weekend, Harlequin Ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis) were even more so, with huge numbers found in the city at Jesmond, Wallsend and Heaton. Few were to be seen at Tynemouth, oddly enough, but a handful were observed secreted amid the ranks of the plentiful Orange Ladybirds in what can only be described as a complete reversal of my observations in Newcastle. Here, these large invaders outnumber everything else ten to one.

Never present in great numbers and always somewhat of a pain to find, it was pleasantly surprising to find Cream-Spot Ladybirds (Calvia quatuordecimguttata) at a few local sites this weekend. Singles were found at Tynemouth and Wallsend, though the greatest numbers by far were seen in Jesmond Old Cemetery. A trusty site for a great range of ladybirds!

I do find it slightly odd how the numbers of each species of ladybird vary between sites with no obvious difference in habitat…

Cream-spot Ladybird (*Calvia quatuordecimguttata*)

2-Spot Ladybirds (Adalia bipunctata) seem to vary in number daily, though where they are vanishing to in the depths of winter I am not too sure. Whereas last week ten or so could be found in Jesmond Old Cemetery, this week, only a single ladybird could be seen. Similarly, none were located at all at any of the other sites visited. This species is suffering a notable decline in the UK thanks in a large part to the arrival of the Harlequin and it seems that here too, they are growing scarcer.

Ever reliable, Jesmond also yielded a number of lovely Pine Ladybirds (Exochomus quadripustulatus), mostly sound asleep on gravestones. Small, black and fairly inconspicuous, I suspect I walked past a great many of these before spotting the one pictured below.

Another species that has proven to be anything but reliable this winter is the 10-Spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata), with only a single individual spotted during this weekend’s meanderings, once again in Jesmond.

A dreadful photo of a 10-Spot Ladybird (*Adalia decempunctata*)

Believe it or not, it took until the end of March 2021 to encounter my first 7-Spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) of the year. Thankfully, this year, a glance at some immature Sitka Spruce and tatty Gorse at Gosforth Nature Reserve helped spare me the embarrassment this time around, with six found tucked up at the end of branches.

Finally, we come to the undisputed highlight of the weekend and a chance encounter with a Water Ladybird (Anistosticta novemdecimpunctata) at the same site, this one found nestled within the decaying stem of a Bulrush. A real favourite of mine, I expected to wait until at least May before happening across this species which remains scarce, or at least under-recorded, in my corner of the country.

Inspired by those sharing their finds under #LadybirdYearList on Twitter, this year I’ll be attempting to see as many of these fabulous insects as possible across the North East. While we are not exactly spoiled for choice up here, lacking many of the inconspicuous ladybirds found in the South and a good few of the larger species too, I suspect 12-15 might be possible with a little effort.

Last year provided my first encounter with Eyed, Kidney-Spot and 24-Spot Ladybirds and this year, hopefully, I may catch up with Striped, Larch or Hieroglyphic – species I am yet to see anywhere in the UK.

Ladybirds in Newcastle

Keen to further explore Newcastle’s ladybirds as part of the North East Ladybird Spot, last weekend I set off for two local sites that I seldom visit. The first, Newcastle’s Great Park, a new suburb of the city located four miles from the city centre, and the second, the well-known Havannah Nature Reserve near Dinnington.

Arriving at the Great Park, I soon set off for the series of small, well-vegetated pools situated close to the sprawling housing estate. With the margins here chock-full of Bulrush, Common Reed and an assortment of sedges, it looked like a great spot to finally catch up with one of the North East’s scarcer conspicuous ladybirds: the Water Ladybird. Sweeping the margins here, it wasn’t long before I encountered my first – the insect in question now beige in colour, as opposed to red, as is the norm later in the year.

During an hour-long search of the pools, a further six Water Ladybirds were found, though each was difficult to find and spotting them absent aid of a net would have been a challenge, to say the least.

Opting for a poke about some nearby grassy areas, it was nice to find a variety of other ladybirds tucked away in various hidden corners. 7-spot Ladybirds were of course the most numerous, followed closely by the smaller 14-spot Ladybird. Several non-native Harlequin Ladybirds were also encountered disguised within the fading blooms of Wild Parsnip. On route home, a duo of 22-Spot Ladybirds were also good to see.

Whereas Water Ladybirds had been an ‘expected’ find at the Great Park, on this occasion, they found themselves eclipsed somewhat by another interesting discovery. Exploring the grassland close to the aforementioned pools, the rather small ladybird below was also noticed. Resembling at first a miniature 7-Spot Ladybird, it took a short while to identify this as Adonis’ Ladybird, a scarce species up North that seems especially fond of wasteland sites. A new species for me, no less!

Fast forward a day and on Sunday, Matt and I set off for Havannah Nature Reserve keen to build on the previous day’s bumper haul of ladybirds. We were not disappointed…

Starting out with a search of some of the lusher areas on site, it didn’t take long to find both of the small yellow ladybirds commonly associated with grassland. A single 22-Spot Ladybird was soon found, followed by a number of 14-Spots. 7-Spot Ladybird was encountered here too, this time sheltering among the browning seedheads of Common Knapweed.

It was only upon reaching the heathland area of the reserve when things picked up drastically. Here, the small conifers colonising the heath were crawling with ladybirds. Indeed, we counted over seventy individuals during an hour-long search and the diversity on show here was wonderful.

It didn’t take Matt long to find our first 2-Spot Ladybird of the day, while both 7-Spot and Harlequin Ladybirds were numerous. All noticeably tucked away among cones and buds in an effort to escape the weather. More interesting still was the presence of a good number of Pine Ladybirds, a species I haven’t recorded locally since April this year. Small, black and boasting a characteristic flange around the base of each elytron, it was great to see these in any sort of quantity.

A single 10-Spot Ladybird was also encountered here, though this was quickly forgotten as we caught sight of a rather chunky ladybird moving speedily up the trunk of a mature pine. Potting this for closer inspection, it was revealed to be Eyed Ladybird, our largest species of ladybird and a real beauty if that. A species strongly associated with pine and known to specialise in pine aphids, it was little surprise we encountered this striking species here.

Whilst the wetland habitats at Havannah are far more limited than those of the previous site, the good-sized pond here and the riparian vegetation surrounding it looked good for Water Ladybird. Perhaps slightly emboldened by our previous encounter, we soon set about searching and though it took far longer, were rewarded with a single Water Ladybird scooped on this occasion from Gypsywort.

This has been a year of firsts on the ladybird front. Perhaps I am simply paying closer attention, though whatever the reason, the species listed above join Kidney-Spot and 11-Spot Ladybirds, as well as the tiny Rhyzobius litura, to make 2021 a fantastic year thus far.

Time looks to be running out this year but I’ll definitely be setting my sights on other species likely to be encountered in the nearby area. Foremost among these, the eye-catching Striped Ladybird, though Larch and Hieroglyphic wouldn’t go amiss either.

Exploring the North East’s solitary bees (part 1)

The last few weeks have seen countless bee species emerging across the North East. The annual appearance of these colourful invertebrates providing the ideal opportunity to reacquaint myself with the common and abundant species found close to home but also, as restrictions ease, to set out in search of a few new and exciting species. Spurred on by the Natural History Society of Northumbria’s North East Bee Hunt, I am pleased to have caught up with my fair share of these winged treasures of late. A sample of which can be seen below.

One of the most numerous solitary bees spotted over recent weeks, Tawny Mining Bees are everywhere at the minute. The lovely females shown above were spotted in Iris Brickfield, my local park, where a small colony can be found amid the close-cropped grass on the margins of the playing field. Always a delight, it is far easier to photograph them on dull days – they are just too quick when the sun is shining.

Buffish Mining Bee, *Andrena nigroaenea*

Another abundant bee, Buffish Mining Bees have emerged en masse over the last week or two. A visit to the famed colony at the Prudhoe Spetchells rewarded Matt and I with the sight of what must have been a few thousand bees engaged in what appeared to be a breeding frenzy. The sheer volume of bees made for quite the sight even if I found it difficult not to feel for the females engulfed by frenzied swarms of males.

While it is possible to visit the Spetchells safe in the knowledge that you will see Buffish Mining Bees, I had not expected to encounter a fresh female in our yard a few weeks back. The latest in what is turning out to be a long line of bee species to visit our patch since we started planting intentionally for them last year.

Superficially similar looking to the above species but sporting a white/blonde pollen brush as opposed to a buffish one, I seldom find Chocolate Mining Bees to be numerous. Indeed, over the last few weeks, I have noticed ones and twos at various sites locally, but alas, no great aggregations. Last year, I was lucky enough to discover a small colony of these chunky bees in my local park and sure enough, this year they emerged on cue. Once again favouring a particular stand of Cherry Laurel – the shrubs broad, glossy leaves apparently provide the ideal spot to bask and warm up.

A nice resource highlighting the difference between Chocolate and Buffish Mining Bees can be found here, courtesy of Charlotte Rankin.

Sandpit Mining Bee, *Andrena barbilabris*

A slightly more unexpected find, this time on the sandy banks of the Tyne near Close House Riverside, was a colony of Sandpit Mining Bees. Small and looking somewhat ‘silver’ in the field, a good number of these delicate little bees were observed around burrows positioned where a landslip has removed a good chunk of the bankside vegetation. Further bees still were observed foraging on Dandelion nearby.

Each year we eagerly await the emergence of Red Mason Bees in our little corner of urban Newcastle. Sure enough, right on cue, the first mason bees began emerging here roughly a fortnight back. A few pioneering males followed, in turn, by the larger females. Despite a wealth of potential nest sites in our yard, these bees appear to show no interest. The male pictured above (right) was however quite taken by the scabious we’ve planted to attract our local pollinators.

Hairy-footed Flower Bee, *Anthophora plumipes*

Now, this is an exciting one. Previously only known from the Alnwick area, the Hairy-footed Flower Bee now appears to be rapidly colonising much of Northumberland. Or perhaps they were there all along and are only now being noticed? No matter.

A few weeks passed, I was delighted with the opportunity to visit a known site for this species at Warkworth and sure enough, within minutes, was enjoying the sight of three of these energetic bees feeding on Flowering Currant. Fast forward a short while I have now also encountered these species in multiple squares around Felton and possibly also at Ulgham. They really are a joy to behold and I look forward to a day when they can be encountered closer to home in Newcastle.

While visiting Felton in search of the aforementioned flower bees, we also bumped in striking Early Nomad Bee shown above. A new species for me! A nest parasite of Clarke’s Mining Bee (Andrena clarkella) it was intriguing to watch the fearsome-looking cuckoo bee marauding about what I suspect was a colony of the former.

Bees really are a tricky group and, over the last month, I’ve made many mistakes while trying to identify the various species encountered on my ventures across the North East. Still, they are a fascinating group and I am very much enjoying the opportunity to get to grips with some of the more abundant species to be encountered in my area. As I (hopefully) encounter more over the weeks ahead, I’ll update this blog with any findings.

Eye-catching Invertebrates at Gosforth Nature Reserve

Owing to a diverse mosaic of habitats, including plentiful dead wood, Gosforth Nature Reserve is a fantastic place at which to indulge a fascination for the North East’s smaller wildlife.

This Rhinocerous Beetle (Sinodendron cylindricum) was, without doubt, the star of the show last week. A first for me, this glossy, cylindrical beetle (a male) definitely lived up to its name – sporting a distinct, rhinoceros-like projection on its head. A species known to rely on the presence of dead and decaying wood, it was not usual to encounter this beetle here, but nevertheless, it was a pleasure to finally see one up close.

Recent visits have yielded no less than three eye-catching Longhorn Beetles – each known only by an obscure, hard to pronounce scientific name. The vivid, orange and black individual I believe to be the Four-banded Longhorn Beetle (Leptura quadrifasciata); while the second species observed feeding on Hogweed blooms may be the Speckled Longhorn (Pachytodes cerambyciformis). The tiny longhorn, also observed on hogweed tops, may be Grammoptera ruficornis.

This year, I have been making a concerted effort to learn more about Britain’s hoverflies, with limited success – they are a tricky bunch! Anyways, five minutes by the entrance to Gosforth Nature Reserve provided an opportunity to scrutinise a dozen are so species. It was nice to be able to compare and contrast two of the eye-catching Helophilus species, the common and abundant Footballer (Helophilus pendulous) and Helophilus hybridus. Pellucid Fly (Volucella pellucens) and Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) were both conspicuous, as were the eerily red-eyed Dark-winged Chrysogaster (Chrysogaster solstitialis).

Almost as exciting as the encounter with the aforementioned beetle was a chance meeting with two ‘busy’ moths in the interior of the reserve. Immediately recognisable from moth guides and excitable tweets alike, these turned out to be Red-necked Footman (Atolmis rubricollis). This would appear to be a scarce species in the North East, with records this far North often attributed to migration from the continent. To see the pair mating gives hope that a colony of these pretty moths might just appear here in the near future…

On the ponds at the nature reserve, it was lovely to watch both Four-spotted and Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies on the wing; while the warm weather had brought out a fantastic variety of butterflies including Large Skipper, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and my first Ringlet of the year.

In terms of bees, the usual array of bumblebees were all present – including a handsome male Vestal Cuckoo Bee (Bombus vestalis). More interesting was a fresh-looking Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) by the reserve entrance. It was also fantastic to catch up with not one but two Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata) – these little woodland specialists really are quite splendid!

Bringing the wilds home: a backyard experiment

The problem with living in any city, whether that be London, Manchester or, like me, Newcastle, is that space is often at a premium. Large expansive gardens and idyllic personal grottos are few and far between and, more often than not, residents are forced to make do with small, confined and often uninspiring spaces.

Living in Heaton, a large urban district of Newcastle, our terraced flat comes with very little land. A small back garden, walled on all sides and entirely covered in concrete the sum of the area we have to work with. Our mundane little plot lacked even a small patch of soil in which to grow something, anything green. Far from ideal for someone who yearns to engross himself in nature whenever possible.

Tired of staring uninspired at bricks, steel and concrete, back in the Spring, and my partner set ourselves a small challenge: to attempt to ‘green up’ our little corner of urban Tyneside. In doing so, aiming to make our space as appealing as possible to as many different species as possible. The sum of our garden wildlife sightings, until this point, consisted of little other than a handful of moths and the odd wandering Magpie.

Starting out…

The cornerstone of any garden the first thing we needed to add in order to make our space wildlife-friendly was, of course, soil. And so we set about buying planters of all shapes and sizes – long and shallow, round and deep, hanging, you name it – collected with the aim of growing as many plant species as possible. Including, we had hoped, at least a few edibles, alongside pollinator-friendly blooms and a few ornamentals. Within a few weeks, these initial pots and troughs had been filled: Honeysuckle, Lavander, Thyme, petunias and Bay Laurel representing the first living organisms to grace our plot.

A few weeks later, and lacking space for any substantial body of water, we opted to add a container pond, planting the admittedly rather unattractive plastic tub with a handful of native water plants – Marsh Marigold, Hemlock Waterdropwort and Flag iris. A mini-project closely followed by another with the addition of two mini-meadows – pots planted with Seedball wildflower mixes – and next, a raised bed suitable for our edible produce. The latter soon filled to bursting with chillis, lettuce, Bok Choi and later, a few more varieties of cabbage. Following this, more plants were added. Taller wildlife-friendly options – Raspberry and Blackcurrant – and a range of low-lying species.

Getting there (I promise Matt did not do ALL of the work)

Fast-forward to the end of Summer and, at the time of writing this, the garden – I finally feel comfortable using this word – looks altogether more pleasant. Looking out of the window this morning, I see pleasant green, not grey. And all in all, our space feels altogether different: uplifting as opposed to depressing. The results of our exploits can be seen below for those interested.

The current state of play…

But what of the all-important wildlife? Did it descent on our humble space en masse, as we had intended? Well, yes. To date, we have recorded no less than 66 new species for the garden. The pollinators arrived first, Tree, White-tailed, Red-tailed and Garden Bumblebees, Honeybee, Common Wasp, Common Carder, Marmalade Hoverfly and Large White butterflies representing a few of the more obvious visitors. Among the more common denizens, a few surprises were to be had too – the unlikely discovery of a small, metallic bee deceased in our new bug hotel heralding the arrival of a species which, before its occurrence here, I had never even heard of: the Bronze Furrow Bee. A species with a patchy national distribution; poorly recorded and not overly abundant.

Next came the Red Mason Bees – now in residence within a crack in our neighbour’s wall – while moth numbers to have increased also. Silver Y, Angle Shades, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Heart and Dart, Light Brown Apple Moth and Large Yellow Underwing respecting just a few of our nocturnal records. A more surprising record coming from a Six-spot Burnet found during the day on our Runner Beans in July – not a species I would often associate with the less than wild streets of Newcastle.

Heart and Dart, Angle Shades, Slug-fest, and a bumble rescue.

Of course, with a range of tasty edible crops planted, it was inevitable that ‘pest’ species would follow at some point. And sure enough, they did: our cabbages were besieged by the larvae of Small White and Diamond-backed Moth; our Honeysuckle fell victim to aphids; we lost an entire crop of Swiss Chard to Cabbage Fly and Yellow Cellar Slugs and Garden Snails were quick to find any seedlings. Interesting species in their own right which, in turn, have sparked an increase in other, much more welcome creatures: 7 and 14 Spot Ladybirds, colourful members of the Ichneumonoidea family, Harvestman, centipedes, beautiful Garden Spiders and fearsome-looking House Spiders. Now, equilibrium has been reached and plants remain relatively damage-free.

For the last few weeks, new additions to our growing ‘garden list’ have followed thick and fast. A fortnight back, we were delighted to discover no less than 9 Painted Lady at roost beneath one of our hanging baskets. This morning, they’re still there; although numbers have dwindled somewhat. Elsewhere, Matt discovered a Buff Ermine caterpillar ravenously consuming our small Buddleia plant and today, a glance in our container pond revealed a few new colonists: water fleas and hoverfly larvae.

Now, I will not go so far as to claim that our little urban garden looks all that nice. Nor does it compare to the micro-rewilding efforts often shared on social media – those wonderful tales of gardens transformed into makeshift nature reserves, gorgeous and incredibly biodiverse. We are definitely proud, however, to have created something beneficial to local wildlife and enjoyable (and useful, taking into account all our veggies) to ourselves. We stand content to watch and enjoy for the remainder of this year and already find ourselves looking forward to amending our space further in the future, so to make more of a difference. Perhaps we will invest in a creeper to cover some of the remaining walls, or just maybe, we’ll expand on our mini-meadows with another of our bargain grow beds. We will see!

On a final note, I must apologise for the quality of the photos used in this article – it seems there has been a problem uploading photos from my phone to the computer. Not that this presents too much of an issue, they still get the point across.

First, some ground rules

Meet the Insect App Test subjects

Comparing Insect Apps

ObsIdentify vs Picture Insect

ObsIdentify (9.7/10)

Picture Insect (7.4/10)

Google Lens (2.6/7)

Seek (1.1/7)

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Heather Ladybird

Water Ladybird

Cream-streaked Ladybird

Hieroglyphic Ladybird

Striped Ladybird

Coccidula scutellata

Rhyzobius chrysomeloides

All the lovely people

Exciting things to come

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Ladybird larvae

Rearing ladybird larvae

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Recently, I was delighted to discover a population of the inconspicuous ladybird, Rhyzobius chrysomeloides, in Tyneside.

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