Warm Days

Monday, September 21st 2020

As autumn progresses the number of warm days decrease, so when there is one the invertebrates make the most of it. Ladybird sightings have been low, not just at Foxglove but in gardens too. It was a treat to see this Seven-spot Ladybird. Both the adults and larvae feed on greenfly, making them friends of gardeners. The adult hibernates over winter in cracks and crevices. Sometimes they can be found in Gorse and Teasel heads. The red colouring is a warning to predators that the ladybird does not taste very nice!

Cucumber Spiders are usually found in the centre of the reserve on leaves of trees, where it is well camouflaged, so it was unusual to see this one on a grass stem on the far moor. She had bent grasses and spun her web, but she was also guarding an egg sac, which you can just see under her front legs. Before this area is cut, the stem will be carefully removed and placed in the hedgerow. The spiderlings will hatch in the spring.

Warm days with sunshine bring out the bees making the most of the last summer flowers.

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