Close up of part of swarm of bees that we discovered on our evening walk yesterday - quite an amazing sight - and not one we expected to see in the South Woodham Ferrers urban jungle!

Tags:   Swarm Bees Apis mellifera Honey Bee Bzzzzzzz!

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I spotted these at the Eden Project in the Mediterranean Biome. I think they are amazing! I just love the spirals!

Tags:   Eden Project Geranium Seeds Seeds Geranium Cornwall Mediterranean Biome

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Harvestmen are very distinctive with a round, compact body and extremely long legs. They are usually seen in the autumn.

Although the Harvestman looks like a long-legged spider, it isn’t one. It is one of the Opilones, a group of arachnids closely related to spiders. Unlike the spiders, it has no silk glands so is not able to spin a web. It does not have fangs and does not produce venom.
It catches its insect prey by using hooks on the ends of its legs. It eats small insects, snails and worms.

Harvestmen defend themselves by secreting a foul-smelling fluid. If they are caught, they are able to shed a leg to escape.

Tags:   RHS Hyde Hall Harvestman Essex Flower Echinacea Opiliones Garden

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Thanks to Timz501 for the ID help with both the hoverfly and the fungus that attacks it.

Entomophthora muscae is a fungus that uses flies as a tool for its spore dispersal. The fungal spores are ingested by the fly and the fungus rapidly grows inside the fly's abdomen. Eventually, the pink fungus breaks through the structure of the abdomen and becomes visible for a couple of days before it breaks down and the spores are released.

Before the fungus kills the fly, it causes it to move to the highest available point and then open its wings to the fullest extent. Both of these features allow maximum airflow over the fungal mass and, more importantly, both are caused by the fungus. The legs have also been fully straightened: yet another part of the configuration that maximises spore dispersal.

The fungal mass breaks down and releases spores over a couple of days after the hoverfly's death, leaving just a skeletal husk of the hoverfly on the plant.

This ability of the fungus to control the fly's movement and configuration for its own benefit is astonishing enough, but it works with different flies from different families, so the fungus has found a way to control the movement of a whole range of different fly species.

(Thanks to Stuart Dunlop writing in his "Donegal Wildlife" Blog for providing such clear information about how the fungus affects the hoverfly).

Tags:   Flies Grass Stripy South Woodham Ferrers Essex Seeds Bzzzzzzz! Hoverfly Fungus Entomophthora muscae Melanostoma scalare Chequered Hoverfly Elite Bug

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There were lots of Tortoiseshells enjoying the Dry Garden at RHS Hyde Hall today. Resting on the cobbles with wings outstretched seemed to be a favourite pastime! Perfect for a photograph!!!!!

The Small Tortoiseshell is among the most well known butterflies in Britain and Ireland. The striking and attractive patterning, and its appearance at almost any time of the year in urban areas have made it a familiar species. It is one of the first butterflies to be seen in spring and in the autumn it often visits garden flowers in large numbers.

The Small Tortoiseshell is one of our most widespread species and has shown little overall change in range.

The adult butterflies can be seen in any habitat, from mountain summits above 1000m to city centres. The foodplants prosper in nutrient-enriched soils and breeding habitats are often associated with human activity, even areas of intensive agriculture. Breeding has been recorded at altitudes of over 300m.

Tags:   RHS Hyde Hall Aglais urticae Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly Insect Essex Stones Dry Garden Cobbles

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