Signs of Spring ?

[Action_Man]

Not really, but i did find this 7-Spot wandering about today ...

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Gordon,

Nice shot, it shows the punctate surface well. As for spring, it's supposed to be about 7'c today but nothing much is about. Most of the Bramble leaves have gone too (last year there were more left over, albeit dry and rusted). I imagine that's down to the prolonged snow we've had, so I haven't had the opportunity to leaf-turn for Leafhoppers either.

Take care,

Jason

[Acutipuerilis]

Up on the hills here the snow has been lying since mid-December and has finally gone in Huddersfield itself. Had a quick look on conifers and heath, and it's positively hopping with stuff - psyllids, leafhoppers and springtails appear to have been completely unaffected by the snow.

Most interesting one was Zyginella pulchra - a leafhopper that's been expanding rapidly through the UK over the past decade. We were assuming that it hasn't gained a foothold before because it couldn't cope with the northern winters. That appears not to be the case...