Author: David

The young of a harlequin ladybird.

These insects are the fastest spreading non-native species in Europe and the most invasive ladybird in the world. It is reckoned to threaten the survival of 1,000 native insect species.

This tiny ladybird resting on a wild rose bush lives up to its name with just one spot one each wing.

The insect resting on the nettle leaf (above) may be a blue-tailed damsel fly.

The one on the dock leaf and the one flying through reeds were both at the same pool. They are common blue damsel flies.

All three were pictured on the same mid-June day in the Buckpool LNR, Wordsley.

Cow parsley and related umbellifers are characteristic plants which colonise uncultivated land.

Another species which is supposed to be relatively common, but which I don’t remember ever having noticed before.

The name birdsfoot refers to the appearance of the small pods which will contain the seeds.