What's Buzzing or Flying near you today... 2015

Walking along the borders the other day I noticed that one of the many Teasels was suffering from an attack of Black Fly. It's not often that I've seen Teasels covered in Black Fly so I investigated, and got a surprise. Most of the Black Fly were dead due, I think to drowning in the hollow between stalks and leaves that had filled up with water from the recent heavy rain. But the surprise was the number of Wasps, Flies, having a feast.....along with a large number of Lady Birds of different varieties all in the same spot. I hadn't seen a Lady Bird in weeks and yet here was several varieties

 

Hi Sheal, well where they all came from, or were hiding, I've no idea, but it was great to see so many in number and varieties.

I believe the Black one with the unusual markings is a Harlequin

There's a 10 Spot as well


A 14 Spot one

A 22 Spot one



A 2 Spot one


But what the Red and Black one is in the 9th pic.......I've no idea as it had around 20 Spots!!

i've never seen so many varieties in one place before.

 

Yep, very strange, Apple Blossom. They were obviously making the most of the opportunity to feast on the Black Fly........and that's another strange thing because I rarely see any Black Fly and never in such numbers.

 

Comma

 

Or, I could send you some Ladybirds!!!

 

I don't believe every bit of ecological predator info out there,Sheal. You could see how many different types of Lady Birds there were in just the one spot, and the Harlequin was taking advantage of the swarm of Black Fly just as the other Lady Birds were.