So...?

[Imaginos]

Who's doing what for National Insect Week next week?

http://www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk/.

[StuartDH]

I'm working on a new product review section of the site, so next week I'll make a big push for listing lots of insect books

[Alan]

Maybe we can do something on WAB! I don't know...a photo comp or bug race or something like that! It was just a thought

......I'll get my coat again....Mark

Alan

[Beryl]

Tue ugliest bug competition woul d be good idea

[Wild-Woman]

We're going insect hunting at school-my idea. Raise their profile and get knowledge inside youngsters before they are told that these little creatures are just worth stamping on.
ps- I put kids into detention for that before!! ww

[Alan]

Ok I've borrowed a macro lens specially for next week so hopefully I'll be able to get some half descent insect thingy shots

[Imaginos]

Is there no-one doing any of the official activities? I'd recommend them as there will be a fair few friendly experts around on them, there's something going on in most parts of the country.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Imaginos

Is there no-one doing any of the official activities? I'd recommend them as there will be a fair few friendly experts around on them, there's something going on in most parts of the country.

I'll check out one of the local wildlife trusts to see if they are doing anything.

[Imaginos]

Alan:
Event Interesting Insects
Date Sunday 25 June 2006
Time 2pm-4pm
Venue Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve, Saltfleetby St Clement Lincolnshire - event starts from the Rimac car park which is accessed from the A1031 between Saltfleet and Mablethorpe
Details Join Dr David Sheppard for a wonder wander to investigate the insects of sand-dune, saltmarsh and beach using sight, sound and smell. We will then use sweep nets and beating trays to discover what we missed, discuss how we managed to find our specimens, what we missed, and how animals that eat insects get their dinner! Children must be accompanied by an adult
Price Free
Contact Roger Briggs Interpretation Officer - 01507 338611/ roger.briggs@english-nature.org.uk

Event Mini Beast Magic
Date Saturday 24 June 2006
Time 11am - 1pm
Venue Champion's Allotment Site, Noddle Hill Way, Hull
Details Come and explore the habitat of the allotments and the Community Woodland next door with Hull Biodiversity Partnership. Don't worry about the weather - if it rains work will carry on indoors with a microscope. Refreshments will be provided.
Price Free
Contact Shona Turnbull 01482 612378/ email shona.turnbull@hullcc.gov.uk

[Imaginos]

Everyone else: Go to the website given above and click on the "what's going on link"

[Alan]

Thanks for that Imaginos, I looked on the Wildlife Trust site, but there's nothing going on which is disapointing!

I'll try to get to the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe event......30min drive. I'm going to a local country fair on the same day, but maybe able to get to both

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Alan

Ok I've borrowed a macro lens specially for next week so hopefully I'll be able to get some half descent insect thingy shots

No such luck! It's been wind and rain here for the last couple of days!

Has anyone had better luck with the creepy crawlies?

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Alan

No such luck! It's been wind and rain here for the last couple of days!

Has anyone had better luck with the creepy crawlies?

Not yet, but I'm off up to Essex again today so will try for some more pics - though I'm still waiting on my macro snap on.....
My contribution is to try to learn more about hoverflies - these naturalists handbooks seem quite good! (raiding work's library!!!)

[nightshade]

I have adopted a jumping spider,which I am feeding aphids to,it is running about on my garden seat and comes to me as soon as I sit down!

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Not yet, but I'm off up to Essex again today so will try for some more pics - though I'm still waiting on my macro snap on.....
My contribution is to try to learn more about hoverflies - these naturalists handbooks seem quite good! (raiding work's library!!!)

I've just dug out an old pull-out hoverfly guide that came with a BBC Wildlife mag a few years ago. It's quite handy and shows about 100 species, but goes on to say there are at least 260 British species!

No wonder they're hard sometimes!

Did you read the article in April's British Wildlife Mag about large hoverflies?

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Alan

I've just dug out an old pull-out hoverfly guide that came with a BBC Wildlife mag a few years ago. It's quite handy and shows about 100 species, but goes on to say there are at least 260 British species!

No wonder they're hard sometimes!

Did you read the article in April's British Wildlife Mag about large hoverflies?

Really wow that's more than this little book has!! Although this does go into their ecology a bit too which is interesting. I think I had that pull out too!!! Flippin' clear outs..... I might see if I can get a back copy of it or something, I remember reading that you could buy them.
I had the butterfly one and cut out all the fritts and stuck them to my monitor in the hope I'd be a little more prepared for id when I stumble acros one (this has yet to happen!!).
No My Boss half inched the April copy off me and I've not had it back yet as he's on holiday!!

[Alan]

Originally Posted by nightshade

I have adopted a jumping spider,which I am feeding aphids to,it is running about on my garden seat and comes to me as soon as I sit down!

Fantastic little creatures. I love the way they follow your finger around with their gaze! Can you imagine if they were a few inches in size rather than a few millimetres!

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Really wow that's more than this little book has!! Although this does go into their ecology a bit too which is interesting. I think I had that pull out too!!! Flippin' clear outs..... I might see if I can get a back copy of it or something, I remember reading that you could buy them.
I had the butterfly one and cut out all the fritts and stuck them to my monitor in the hope I'd be a little more prepared for id when I stumble acros one (this has yet to happen!!).
No My Boss half inched the April copy off me and I've not had it back yet as he's on holiday!!

I was rumaging through the bookshelves last night when I stumbled on 9 of them with an elastic band round them

They include: No.10 Hoverflies, No. 4 Spiders, No. 12 British Orchids!, No. 11 Bumblebees!, No. 1 Garden Creatures, No. 8 Pebbles, No. 6 Winter Coastal Waders, No. 7 Winter Wildfowl.

I didn't really know much about the lifecycle of the hoverfly until I read the article. Interesting how the grubs feed on bee larvae!

[UB4 gardener]

hoverflies are certainly interesting creatures, they all all have their own little niches. it was a good spring for larvae. if i knew how to upload pics i would i've had at least 4 different species of aphid eaters in the garden.

Chris

[Alan]

Originally Posted by UB4 gardener

hoverflies are certainly interesting creatures, they all all have their own little niches. it was a good spring for larvae. if i knew how to upload pics i would i've had at least 4 different species of aphid eaters in the garden.

Chris

If you want to upload to the gallery read this first:

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...s-gallery.html

If you want to post a pic within a thread - after you type in your text, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on where it says: manage attachments. Click on this and you can browse to the file, then click the add button to add it to the post and you're away! Just submit the post and it will appear as a clickable thumbnail. Just remember to keep the image size down, and make sure it is a jpeg. It tells you in the above link about this.

Hope this helps

[UB4 gardener]

first attempt at attatching, hopefully showing some hoverfly larvae

[Alan]

You got it Chris, good pics

[Gill Catton]

hmmmmmm, I need some of them on my chilli plants!!!

[Wild-Woman]

Well today we at least did our bit in our school environment area for national insect week. 20 kids and myself made a start on our 'Minibeast area' by making a suitable habitat for stag beetles, using sunken buckets full of bark chippings and tree logs.
We sited it carefully, making sure that we didn't destroy insect habitat while we created it.
Before that however,I asked how many children had actually seen a stag beetle and sadly it was a big fat zero. So after studying them a while through IT and pictures we got to work.

We have already put up ladybird houses and will be making more of them. We also have an area of sward that is gradually regenerating itself with chalkland flowers that is encouraging back associated insects and therefore different birds. Saw our first whitethroat there last week. We are also leaving the plants from the parsley family to dry out for the earwigs etc that like the hollow stalks.

None of this is costing anything and the children are really enjoying doing it all and having fun while learning.Give it a few years and I think we'll get some new members on WAB.

By the way I'd like to thank Imaginos for giving me valuable advice.


Julie ww