Life and Death in the Garden Pond

Larvae of the water beetle (Agabus bipustulatus) eating a tadpole (Rana temporaria)

Following the demise of my pond goldfish during the cold winter the garden pond has become a hive of activity. The fish would normally eat anything that moved including tadpoles and beetles. In their absence the pond has reverted to a more natural habitat and is full of tadpoles, dragonfly and damselfly larvae, and water beetles and their larvae. The water beetle larvae are vicious predators and can easily overpower the tadpoles which are often bigger than them. The tadpoles feed mainly on algae but they will eat any dead animals including their own siblings. They also quite like ham!

In these pictures the larvae of a water beetle (Agabus bipustulatus) is feeding on a tadpole (Rana temporaria). The larvae basically sucks the juices out of its prey.

Large Red Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)


A few Large Red Damselflies have emerged from my pond and are tentatively exploring my garden. From a distance they don't look too impressive but up close they are very delicately marked and are surprisingly colourful.

Aliens in my garden

Looking like an alien from outer space as it emerges from its nest burrow, this solitary bee takes in the view from its new home in my garden. I am not sure of the species or even the genus, bees are difficult animals to identify. Its a solitary mining bee in flight in May so possibly the early mining bee Andrena scotica or is it a leafcutter bee of the genus Megachile? Whatever it is, it did seem to be enjoying itself excavating its new nest.

Spring Blooms

The bees and hoverflies are busy feeding on my garden blooms these days, particularly the beautiful apple blossom. The pace of life is increasing rapidly now.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Albert Einstein

Creepy Crawlies in the Garden

Window Lace Weever (Amaurobius fenestralis)

Gardens are full of thousands, if not millions, of creepy crawlies. As children we were all (well boys were anyway) fascinated by these tiny secretive bugs. My childish side comes out when I am in the garden - I just can't resist turning over stones to see whats there. Maybe they are not pretty but to me they are absolutely fascinating. What forces sculptured these amazingly complex and highly technical designs, and why?

White Legged Millipede (Tachypodoiulus niger)

White Legged Millipede (Tachypodoiulus niger)

Springtail

Lace Weever (Amaurobius similis)

Earwig (Forficula auricularia)

Earwig (Forficula auricularia)

Earwig (Forficula auricularia)

Common Rough Woodlice (Porcellio scaber)

Common Rough Woodlice (Porcellio scaber)

Centipede (Lithobius forficatus)

Bristletail (Petrobius maritimus)

Ecology of the Lough Carra Limestone Region

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

The Lough Carra limestone region is one of those special places to take a walk, where you are likely to encounter many plants and animals which once filled the countryside but, sadly, in many areas, have long since disappeared. There are masses of flowers, many rare, of all colours and fragrances. Accompanying these is an abundance of butterflies and all sorts of interesting insects. The ecology and biodiversity of the area has been studied in great detail by Chris and Lynda Huxley and more information can be found on their website www.loughcarra.org

Lough Carra, Co. Mayo, situated 5km north of the town of Ballinrobe, is one of Ireland’s best examples of a hard water marl lake. The lake is a Special Protection Area and is part of the Lough Carra/Mask Complex Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The underlying rock is Carboniferous limestone and the surrounding land contains quite large areas of open limestone paving. This limestone pavement represents the northern limit of the limestone of County Clare and Galway. Limestone pavement is classed as a priority Annex I habitat under the EU Habitats Directive.

Flowers of note are dense-flowered orchid (Neotinea maculata) and birds nest orchid (Neottia nidus-avis). 17 species of orchid have been recorded. 23 species of butterfly have been identified, notably the dingy skipper (Erynnis tages), holly blue (Celastrina argiolus), marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) and grayling (Hipparchia semele). 14 species of Odonata have been recorded and of particular interest is a large population of black tailed skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum).


Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamnii)


Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)


Rustyback Fern (Ceterach officinarum)


Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)


Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa)


Puff Ball Fungus


Peacock (Inachis io)


Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)


Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)


Dog Violet (Viola riviniana)


Devils Bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis)


Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris)


Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris)


Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)


Fossil Ammonite

The Beauty and Biodiversity of The Burren

The Burren, in north County Clare, is a magical place. The region is dotted with Neolithic tombs, vast underground cave networks and a unique assemblage of plants and animals. This limestone Karst region was formed at the bottom of a warm, shallow sea at the end of the Lower Carboniferous period around 340 million years ago, the many marine fossils scattered throughout the rocks bearing witness to this. From a distance the Burren looks barren and lifeless, almost lunar in appearance. However, this could not be further from the truth as the region has an incredibly species rich flora, of international importance. But the real draw of the region is the shear abundance of flowering plants and the vast feast of colour. The Burren is renowned for its unique assemblages of rare plants – Arctic/Alpine plants (spring gentians, mountain avens), growing alongside plants normally found in the Mediterranean (maidenhair fern). In association with these rare plants are equally rare insects such as the transparent burnet, a day flying moth, hundreds of which can be seen in a single field.


Transparent Burnet (Zygaena purpuralis)


Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna)


Wood White (Leptidea sinapsis)


Small Blue (Cupido minimus)


Mountain Avens (Dryas octopetala)


Hoary Rockrose (Helianthemum canum)


Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera)


Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)


Cowslip (Primula veris)


Common Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris)


Bloody Crane's Bill (Geranium sanguineum)