Whats the best advice you've ever been given?

[Dave66]

Hi Guy's

I was out for a walk today and had a good search of a wooden fence by the canal. I was advised by a member of this website to check wooden fences as they can be a very good place to find insects, especially early on in the season. I was wondering, what is the best advice you have ever been given regarding insects, eg location, best times to look, photography tips etc. I thought this could be a good thread as it would be interesting and I'm sure it will throw up some ideas we haven't tried ourselves and help novices like my self.
I will start with the wooden fence for me.

Cheers

Dave.

[earthdragon64]

Once the ragwort starts to flower check it, both after dark and during the day. It often has loads of insects, including moths and butterflies, especially towards the end of summer, into autumn when most other flowers have died back.

[nightshade]

I put garden stakes out in the garden with painted metal discs on, just watch the insects as they pick their favourite colour in the sunshine. Sods law is that the discs are ignored and they favour the clean washing.
Building sites that have been left to nature, sand, heat storing chunks of brick and stone.
Long grasses, with the shorter neat fescues beneath, on well drained soil.
Look at both sides of leaves

[Dogghound]

For butterflies, Dragonflies and normal flies strong sunlight between 10am and 2pm is the best times to look for them basking and offers the best photo opportunities. Walls and fence posts also attract basking insects. Nettles under trees are a great place to look too.

[bigdave60dog]

Yellows are best at attracting insects next come blues.
Always look on the bright side. Insects lie in the sun.
Do your homework and go for one species at a time.
Britain was originally covered in woodland so most of our wildlife is associated with woodland in some way. I like the edges of woods, rides and clearings. Put all of this together and you will be successful

[Jason Claxton]

Umbellifers(such as Hemlock Water-dropwort,Hogweed ) ,Blackthorn and Willow blossom now and Hawthorn when it comes out are all V.good in general.


Jason.

[Jason Green]

Morning Dave/all,

Good thread.

Always check both sides of leaves, use a specimen jar to get better opportunities to photograph fast movers and keep turning logs - very productive!

More later I should think.

Take care,

Jason

[darrenm]

this is a superb thread

Have found a few Longhorn beetles in the last few years on south facing rotting wood piles and old wooden fences on bright sunny days and that seems to be good advice you were given.

Planted Yarrow in my flower bed close to my south facing my living room window and it really brings the Hover Flies in and a lot of other species and have also planted Teasel which brings insects and later in the year Goldfinches.

South facing grassy slopes and banks are also very good for butterflies on a few of my local patches and i always check these on a regular basis throughout the summer months for Blues and Skippers, Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers.

A patch of Nettles is also worth searching anywhere for a whole range of insects during the warmer months.

[darrenm]

Check out any Buddleia in your area when in full bloom and this plant does not just hold attraction for a whole host of Butterfly species but also a lot of Moth species and other airbourne insects are attracted to it through its strongly smelling nectar. You can get pictures of butterflies and othe insects on this that seem to be intoxicated by the nectar and allow you to get very close to take macro shots.

[Gill Catton]

Best advice I've been given?...

To walk slowly scanning the way ahead before I get to it.

And yes umbellifers (wild parsnip a goodun). Hops in the late Summer and Ivy in the early autumn