Anne Riley

Mad about insects (and other invertebrates!) - 'the little things that run the world'

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@Marthakearney @BBCSounds It was brilliant - I especially enjoyed the bumble bee!

[Zero Hour @zero-hour.bsky.social @zerohour_uk]

@CentralComment 📣 Dr @GeorgecMcGavin: “The Labour Government has inherited two ambitious commitments from the Conservatives—with no legislative or policy framework to achieve them.” The solution? The Climate and Nature Bill. 🐝 #CANBill https://t.co/piwYFeZdBS @CentralComment

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

Before the clock strikes midnight on 31 December, make this your #NewYear’s resolution, @Keir_Starmer: commit to backing, not blocking, the #CANBill at its Second Reading on 24 January. As resolutions go, it’ll be much more historic than going to the gym. https://t.co/2Xm5LhyAEs

[Comment Central @CentralComment]

"As New Year’s resolutions go, it’ll be much more historic than going to the gym."

Dr George McGavin argues that the Prime Minister to make a New Year’s resolution to back the landmark Climate and Nature Bill next month.

https://t.co/uajIvx2XRD

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@eggboxenvy And I thought we were doing well with nine!

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@georgecmcgavin @Cameron_201_ I'd say you're right! We've had one or two flying round the garden the last couple of days (you can recognise them by the size, bright orange-brown colour and fast flight). They never stop for a photo though, so that's a lucky find!

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@RigdenDebbie @georgecmcgavin Well it's a nice photo of a pretty moth caterpillar, but I don't know the species I'm afraid. @rlewington2 will know.

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@xylota @BroadGavin Thank you Ian - I took a lot!

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

This wasp appears to be ovipositing into a Red Campion seed capsule containing a caterpillar (probably Campion or Lychnis moth). However, I can't see an ovipositor and the caterpillar is grasping the wasp (?)! What's going on/what species please @BroadGavin @xylota

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@BroadGavin @xylota Ooh thank you - that’s exciting! I have kept the caterpillar..

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@georgecmcgavin @TruthHere79 @TimBlackburn66 Looks right to me!

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

Been waiting for these - my first Dark-edged Bee-fly of the year and a welcome sign of Spring (I hope!).

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@georgecmcgavin Large Yellow Underwing with the dark marks near the wing tips. Lots about just now!

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@georgecmcgavin The flowers are also very good for insects!

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@georgecmcgavin @eventsBL @britishlibrary Just booked and looking forward to it!

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@georgecmcgavin @AnnabelMRoss @Buzz_dont_tweet @_JoelAshton The mown paths are starting to feel a bit crispy under bare feet, but the wildflower 'islands' (most of the garden!) are surviving so far. Not as many insects as there should be though!

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@georgecmcgavin @LynneThomson7 @TimBlackburn66 and here's what happened to a tree bumblebee nest in a bird box - destroyed by bee moth larvae

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@georgecmcgavin @LynneThomson7 @TimBlackburn66 It's a bee moth - Aphomia sociella. They lay their eggs in bumblebee nests and the larvae feed on the bees foodstore and its larvae - bad news for the bees!

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@counsellor_Jo Hello Jo! I'm by no means a beetle expert, but it does look like Pyrrhidium sanguineum, Welsh Oak Longhorn Beetle. Glad you enjoyed my Lockdown talks!

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

Please support @georgecmcgavin in his fundraiser for the Fountain Centre, who do such incredible work for people newly diagnosed with cancer. https://t.co/OR5jxOOEOO #JustGiving

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

@xylota @flygirlNHM Thank you Ian!

[Anne Riley @anneriley34]

Fly eats fly on a fence - even on a miserable day there's always something interesting going on in the insect world if you look hard enough! Could the predator be Scathophaga inquinata? Any ideas on the prey? @xylota @flygirlNHM