When the Sun Comes Out

Saturday, June 4th 2016

There has not been too much sun on the east of the country over the last few days, nor has it been very warm.  When the sun does come out the temperature rises and the invertebrates make the most of it.

Gorse is bright yellow all over the reserve and the flowers are providing food for snails and slugs.  They deserve it after clambering over the spikes!  The flowers are also suitable places for carnivores to lie in wait.  You can see the jaws on this Soldier Beetle.

Soldier Beetle

Spiders can hide in the flower petals and build their webs across the stems.  This is a crab spider.  Once disturbed it scuttled away, moving just like a crab would.

Crab spider species

Another spider hiding in waiting, with its web needing repair, was a Cucumber Spider.

Cucumber spider

Gorse Seed Weevils are busy and possibly, over a large number of years may reduce the amount of Gorse that grows.  I don't think that the volunteers will be out of work cutting it back in certain areas any time soon though!

Gorse Seed Weevil

Tree Bumble Bees are being seen in increasing numbers, in the area and on the reserve, and this one was caught visiting a vetch flower.

Tree Bumble Bee

Once the sun disappears so too do the invertebrates.  Cercopis vulnerata are just starting to hatch and can be found sheltering on leaves.  The black and red colouration is a warning to predators.

Cercopis vulnerata

Hidden amongst the vegetation on a Bogbean flower was a female Orange Tip butterfly.  Sometimes you can remove a piece of grass or a leaf, but trying to remove the stigma of the flower, close to water, was not an option!

Butterfly on Bogbean


(0) Comments:

There are no comments for this blog post yet. Why not start the discussion? - use the form below:


Leave a Comment:

Please complete this field, it's required. Your email address will not be displayed but it's required.

Your email address will not be displayed but it's required.

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?


Back to Top

Help Support Foxglove

Friends of Foxglove

The Friends of Foxglove Covert is for those individuals, families and organisations who would like to support the reserve through an annual membership subscription. Friends receive a regular newsletter and invitations to attend our various activities and social events.

More Details

Upcoming Events


Reserve Access: Open, Field Centre Closure Tues 17th June

Wednesday 4th June 2025 |

Access is currently as normal and the reserve and field centre are open as usual.

 

The Field Centre will be closed on Tuesday 17th June for one day. The reserve is still open.

The Field Centre will resume normal opening hours on Wednesday 18th June.

Apologies for any inconvenience.



Dragonfly Walk

Sunday 20th July 2025 | 1pm-3pm

Spot dragonflies and damselflies on this guided walk led by dragonfly county recorder Keith Gittens. Enjoy a leisurley walk around the reserve’s ponds and pools, and learn all about the Odonata species found at Foxglove Covert.

Donate what you can.

Bookings close Friday 18th July.

Foxglove Covert is now taking bookings via Eventbrite.

Click Here to Book

Or visit foxglovecovertlnr.eventbrite.com



VIEW ALL EVENTS

Recent Blog Posts

Blog Archive