Ladybird Larvae Like Lime Lice

Following my chance encounter with Harlequin Ladybirds hatching, the subject of my last post, I have quickly found a new tunnel of learning to run down. I returned to the Lime tree where I had previously discovered both adult Ladybirds and pupae, determined to expand my survey. This time I found that every single one of the Lime trees on Tyntesfield's lower drive was hosting many hundreds, probably thousands of Ladybirds. With a minimal amount of extra scrutiny I was able to find not only adults and pupae, but also lots of larvae still active. 

As I was taking pictures of a larva on a leaf I became aware of a host of smaller residents - lots of fast moving tiny termite like creatures. These I now know to be Barkflies, a relatively recent (2003) renaming from Barklice in an attempt to improve their image. It certainly worked for me, I found watching them compelling as they whizzed around and interacted with one another in their micro-colony. They are the outdoor version of Booklice, not regarded as pests and, I assume, a tasty snack for a voracious Ladybird larva.

On today's gloriously sunny morning I went out to photograph the scenery, but found myself drawn back to the Ladybird Limes. The last couple of pictures show several stages of the transition from larva to adult. Next for me is to find out how long the process takes. I bought a leafed twig home with me several days ago with a couple of larvae on, but they have yet to start the transition. Camera shy perhaps.

Part of the joy of writing this blog is researching the things I observe and the glorious fact every creature has a fanbase. Here is a link for the Biological Records Centre: Barkfly subsection. It is a fine, fine thing and I give my respect and gratitude.

https://www.brc.ac.uk/schemes/barkfly/introduction.htm

Harlequin Ladybird Larva  (note tiny bug at bottom)

Harlequin Ladybird Larva

Barkfly (formerly Barklice). 

A whole colony of Barkflies were living on this single leaf

A winged Barkfly, either an adult of those above or possibly a different species.

Strangely inquisitive for 3mm long insects, this was possibly the first time they'd encountered a human. Note the filaments of webbing made by the Barkfly to create a protective net over their colony.

Harlequin Ladybird larva on Lime leaf

Larva on leaf

Harlequin Ladybird adult on leaf. Not responsible for holes.

Ladybird larva and empty pupa.

All four stages. Larva (left), pupa (bottom), empty pupal case (right) and adult (top).

Closer of above. Note how larva (far left)  has lost his bristles (except the anchors at the back) as the pupa forms.

Killer Harlequin Craze

I took a gaggle of five and six year olds on a Tyntesfield nature ramble this weekend. I was supposed to be the knowledgable one, but as ever it was new discoveries that struck me most. On the leaves at the base of a single Lime tree on the lower drive, we discovered hundreds and hundreds of Ladybird larvae in their pupal cases. Some had hatched and left empty cases, but many remained sealed. One adult ladybird was yellow and looked a lot like a pine nut. This was one that had just hatched, the spots coming through some time later.

I'd been wanting to find some pupae to film and photograph. Without finding one in the summer, I've now discovered legion. I will check the other trees along the drive to see if they are carrying the same burden. These are Harlequin ladybirds, non-native and apparently flourishing. My reference sources tell me Ladybirds emerge as adults in August before hibernating from autumn through the winter. The fact the Harlequins are hatching now in mid October in large numbers, would appear to mean they have a longer feeding and breeding season. I can't compare this to our native species without the facts at my disposal, but if their prey species (aphids and other bugs including ladybirds) are living longer due to milder autumns, then the Harlequins would appear to be making the most of it.

I took a couple of leaves home with pupae on and took the photographs below. The adult ladybird was the one seen earlier when yellow. You can see a translucence to its wing cases which I imagine disappears as it hardens and matures.

Before the ladybird pictures are some floral entries and a Cranefly unhappily stuck in a spider web. I find the Ivy flowers spectacular, modest from a distance, but highly impressive close up and a valuable source of food for many insects. This bush was a-buzz with bees, hornets and a very few wasps. To my personal vexation, someone from the National Trust had hung wasp traps from the bush. I would argue that putting traps on a natural food source is not a particularly smart way of keeping wasps away from your nearby cafe.

Ivy flower. An important source of late nectar for bees and others

Parsley very close up

Lavender looking woolly

A Cranefly. In trouble.

Cranefly in web. Wishing for shorter legs. Probably.

Ladybird pupae on Lime leaf (right hand one hatched)

Empty pupal case of Ladybird (Harlequin).

Unhatched Ladybird pupa

Ladybird pupae. Empty shell in foreground.

Rear end of Ladybird pupa.

Recently hatched Harlequin Ladybird. Yellow at first, the spots are now developing.

Recently hatched Ladybird, soon off to hibernate.

Dropping the Hawker kids off at the pool

October is here and dragonflies are still in the air. The Southern Hawkers below were seen at the Home Farm pond. The bottom picture is a female who came to the pond on an egg laying mission. This particular dragonfly species lay eggs in vegetation above the water surface, or on my shoe as happened with this particular individual. When I get on with digging my own pond I shall plant said shoe in the margins in the hope the eggs hatch next spring.

Male Southern Hawker Dragonfly

Female Southern Hawker Dragonfly - laying eggs in vegetation