Tag: insect

July 29th – Oak Apples, or galls, are an interesting thing. Very visible right now, they are the gall of a type of wasp that lays it’s egg inside new oak leaf buds. A chemical reaction caused by a secreted fluid causes the gall to grow, and inside, the wasp larva feeds on it, eventually burrowing it’s way to the surface and flying away.

Isn’t nature amazing?

March 22nd – Any entomologists in the house? On a fence-post near Stonnall. Three different genus of the same species (if that’s the right way to put it). I know they’re all ladybirds, but which is which? Is any one of them the nasty, invasive ones I’ve been hearing about? Help gratefully recieved.