insects – Page 2 – Bee in the Moment

False Autumn

Posted on 11/09/202211/09/2022 by BITM

It might be the start of meteorological autumn but it’s still too early for leaves to start falling from trees; yet over the past few weeks this has been occurring. Referred to as false autumn, this leaf (and acorn) drop is occurring as a result of the extreme temperatures and drought we’ve experienced this year. It is a sign of stress as trees attempt to conserve water and energy. Current lower morning temperatures have also lead to an autumnal feeling. Thankfully we are now experiencing rainfall so perhaps this will prevent trees from showing further signs of stress even though it doesn’t stop us being in drought. Hopefully autumnal colour won’t be affected too much and we will still witness the spectacular seasonal colours this year.

A couple of weeks ago my partner and I went for a walk to spot Saturn ascending in the sky at dusk; we visited the local woodland park. At nine o’clock, on one of the hottest days of the year, the temperature was quite pleasant. As we walked through the woodland to an open area, where we could view the planet, we got to experience bats flying close by (the following videos is of some footage I managed to obtain).

Without a Bat detector, I have no way of correctly identifying the species out of the 18 that roost in the UK. According to the information I found on the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Bat Group website, the ones we most likely encountered in the area are either the Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) or Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus). Regardless of the species, just experiencing the creatures flying nearby to capture insects was amazing. I haven’t witnessed bats in fight since I was a child.

It’s still possible to see some butterflies and bees at this time of year so late year flowering plants are essential.

A Common carder bee visiting a group of Aster flowers.

White tailed bumblebees (Bombus lucorum), Buff tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris), Red tailed bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius), Common carder bees (Bombus pascuorum) and even some Honey bees (Apis mellifera) still forage in September. The Butterfly Conservation charity produced a photo (see below) of common butterflies and moths to see at this time of year.

During the previous week I was still noticing several Hummingbird hawk moths (Macroglossum stellatarum) too. These moths have been quite prevalent this year.

On one occasion I managed to get a video of a Hummingbird hawk moth visiting a Buddleia.

Allotment, nature

Very Very Hot Summer Days

Posted on 11/08/202211/08/2022 by BITM

Within the past month the temperature has reached the highest on record in the UK at 40.2 Celsius. Here in the south, rain still evades us leading to hosepipe bans in some counties. Plus as I write this blog another heatwave begins. While the parched grass will recover once rain eventually falls, and some insects may benefit from these conditions, this drought is not good for nature in general (including humans due to amber and red heat warnings for health issues and fires). We need to use resources more thoughtfully and manage the land better so that nature (to me humans are part of nature not separate from it) isn’t placed under unnecessary pressure due to extreme weather conditions anymore.

Most wildlife isn’t adapted to this current weather and certainly has no chance against wild fires, especially Badgers (Meles meles) and Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus– whose numbers have been in decline for many years for other reasons too). Even birds with second broods will be finding these times difficult; that is why it’s so important to place water sources at both ground level and higher up for birds and Hedgehogs at this time. Plus insects like Butterflies and Bees suffer when flowers start to whither early due to water shortage. Nature can recover from the odd hot dry year but unfortunately this is a trend, year on year, due to climate change so we need to be concerned and act now. Stephen Moss has written a wonderful article regarding this issue recently, it can be read here.

Given the information from the article mentioned above, it will be interesting to see how this prolonged drought will affect the results of the Big Butterfly Count this year (which took place from the 15th July to the 7th August) and consequently next years results too.

I have undertaken a few counts this year. The first time I looked out for Butterflies was on a warm afternoon, in a garden containing a Buddleia along with some Lavender (Lavandula) and Mint (Mentha) that was flowering. During that time, I identified;
5 Red admirals (Vanessa atalanta)
5 Commas (Polygonia c-album)
2 Peacock (Aglais io)
5 Gate keepers (Pyronia tithonus)
1 Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina)
2 Small tortoishell (Aglais urticae)
together with 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth (Macroglossum stellatarum). The Hummingbird Hawkmoth is fascinating. I have observed two individuals visiting Buddleia this year in different gardens that I work at. It is so amazing to watch it collect nectar as it hovers next to flowers.

On separate occasions (at the previously mentioned garden) I also noticed a Large skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) and a Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) too. That garden also has an allotment attached to it where I got to observe the full lifecycle of a ladybird on one bean plant (thanks to the Blackfly being present). On this occasion it was the Harlequin (Harmonia axyridis) ladybird.

Larvae (on the right, looking for Blackfly to munch on) and on the left a pupae (from which the adult emerges).

My second Butterfly Count was during a morning as I picked Blackberries (Rubus) at the local woodland park, where I saw
5 Gatekeepers, 1 Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) and 1 Small copper (Lycaena phlaeas).

The Small copper is one I had never seen before. It is a small butterfly with a wingspan of 32-35mm. The caterpillars feed on Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), Sheep’s Sorrel (R. acetosella) and sometimes the Broad-leaved Dock (R. obtusifolius). They can be found in heath, moor and grassland together with woodland clearings or on waste ground.

At my allotment I have seen lots of Cabbage whites, along with the odd Peacock and Small tortoishell as well as a small blue Butterfly (that never settled so I was unable to identify it properly but was most likely a Holly blue- Celastrina argiolus). Thankfully I have also noticed plenty of bees during my butterfly observations, including honey, bumblebees and solitary bees.

Lughnasadh (also known as Lammas) a time when harvests begin to be ready for picking, occurred at the beginning of August. During this time I love to wander through natural environments, spending time observing the changes of the seasons. On my walk the previous weekend I observed Sloes (from Blackthorn- Prunus spinosa) and Elderberries (from Elder- Sambucus) already ripening alongside the Blackberries.

I must confess that I often struggle to enjoy the hottest days of summer. To me extremely hot temperatures are often overwhelming and I would love nothing better than to hibernate underground during the hottest times. I find the days exhausting and uncomfortable (due to the constant itchiness and sore skin). At these moments I rely on my mental strength to keep in mind that ‘this too shall pass’. I also try to remind myself that I love the changing seasons, including summer, and all they bring with them. Gratitude helps as each day I look for the little things that bring me joy such as the shining sun, the amazingly beautiful wildlife around me and the cooler night time temperatures. So until the heat reduces significantly I will keep taking things slowly, keep hydrated, take plenty of rest and be kind to myself. I am under no pressure to get things done at this time which is why this post took so long to complete.

nature

Deer in Bluebell Woods

Posted on 29/05/202229/05/2022 by BITM

It was lovely to have a week off a few weeks ago. On one day I spent time walking around a Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) wood with my partner. The sun shone through the deciduous trees giving a beautiful dappled light; perfect conditions for both Bluebells and Wild garlic (Allium ursinum) which bloom at the same time (sometimes together) in deciduous woods during May. However on our walk we only saw bluebells. I have come across Wild garlic before though. It is important not to confuse Wild garlic with Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) before these plants bloom, as they have similar foliage and while Wild garlic is edible, Lily-of-the-valley is poisonous.

Blooms of Wild garlic are like all from the Alium family; completely different to the tiny bell shaped flowers of Lily-of-the-valley.

Once in bloom, Wild garlic is clearly identifiable (as shown above), plus it has a clear garlicky aroma when it is disturbed. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked (blanched and eaten on their own like spinach or used as an ingredient). The flowers (wonderful for pollinators) are also edible and can be used in salads. An example of a recipe found on the Woodland trust website can be found here (together with information on responsible foraging). Wild garlic is one plant used to identify ancient woodland, with damp chalky soil, as it takes a long time to establish itself in great quantity.

Also along the walk, a male Tawny (Strix aluco) owl could be heard in the distance. Plus, on one Oak (Quercus) tree a Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) was seen moments before it hid on the far side of the trunk. As we watched closely, we noticed a couple of Tree creepers (Certhia familiaris) too. These birds were climbing as well as flying to and from a hole left from where a branch had snapped away from the trunk. Presumably they had a nest there and were finding spiders and insects to feed their young. I was engrossed as I watched them for some time. Unfortunately the Woodpecker never returned into view but I thanked it for showing us the Tree creepers.

Around the edges of the woodland (near some fields) lots of ferns were unfurling. It was lovely to notice a Click beetle (Athous haemorrhoidalis) resting on a frond.

About 15mm in length, these beetles can be found in May through to August, amongst headgerows and in meadows. Their young larvae eat roots which means this insect can become a pest on root crops in this country. They received their common name due to the noise they make as they flick themselves into the air to upright themselves if they ever land on their backs (unfortunately we didn’t witness this).

As we were leaving, we eventually saw two Fallow deer (Dama dama). Even though deer are difficult to spot due to their cautious nature, I was hoping to see some on our walk (they are common in the area we visited). It was so amazing to have witnessed them eating, completely unaware of our presence. Fallow deer eat trees, grass, flowers, shrubs and brambles.

Another deer I have seen, in woodlands attached to gardens where I work, are Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi). Both Fallows and Muntjacs were introduced into the UK from Asia and thrive in the UK. Deer can be seen as a nuisance if they enter gardens, however information on wildlife friendly ways to keep them away, the height of fencing required as well as deer resistant plants can be found on the RHS website, along with the British Deer Society .

Allotment, nature

Slugs and Snails

Posted on 17/04/202217/04/2022 by BITM

What a mixed bag of weather we’ve had in the UK recently. It seems strange experiencing the current dry, warm weather given the snow, frost and april showers we had during the previous weeks.

Deciduous trees are turning green, as leaves unfurl and wildflowers continue to bloom. Snake’s-head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris), Speedwells (Veronica), White Dead-nettle (Lamium album), Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum), Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon), Forget-me-nots (Myosotis) and Cowslips (Primula veris) are all flowering at the moment, with English Blubells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) beginning to open up too.

Last week I caught a glimpse of a blue butterfly, my first sighting of the year, most likely a Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus). I also found another Red kite (Milvus milvus) feather as I worked last Tuesday (see below).

Even Tadpoles have begun to emerge, including in the pond we have near our plot on the allotment; hopefully they will help keep the slug and snail numbers down this year.

Slugs and snails have been in the news a lot this month because the Metaldehyde slug pellets ban has finally come into force in the UK. Perhaps we could view these creatures in a different way, after all they do good in nature; we can’t blame them going for an easy meal of soft tender leaves which just happen to be our prized plants. Interestingly only a small number of the 44 species in the UK are responsible for the damage we experience in gardens while the others feed on dead organic matter. I read an interesting article by Dr Andrew Salisbury, from the RHS, in The Guardian on this subject.

On my allotment I find wool pellets, copper barriers and cloches are helpful; along with growing seedlings on in pots before planting them out. Transplanting larger, stronger plants is better as they are able to withstand any damage, I also spend time collecting slugs and snails from hidden damp dark places and moving them to an area far away where they will cause less damage to crops. Encouraging predators (frogs, toads, hedgehogs, birds, slow worms (Anguis fragilis) and ground beetles) is always a great idea too, along with not having areas for them to hide near vulnerable plants.

A biological control that can be used, for slugs only, are Nematodes (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita). Watered into the ground these eventually kill the slugs as they infect them with bacteria once they’ve entered the slugs body. I have never gone for this option as I find the other measures suffice.

The other option is to grow plants which slugs and snails do not eat. Ones I’ve noticed they avoid include Ajuga, Aquilegia, Digitalis, Fuchsia, Geum Penstemon and Pulmonaria (further examples can be found on the internet).

nature

Worm Moon Shining

Posted on 28/03/202228/03/2022 by BITM

The full moon in March, is commonly named the Worm moon in the UK as it coincides with the appearance of worm casts. Worm casts begin to appear as the soil warms up enabling worm activity on the top layers of soil. They are often the bain of those who love prestine lawns but easily dealt with by raking, to break them up before mowing (thus preventing small bare soil patches that encourages wild flower and moss growth). However, apart from this slight inconvenience for some, obviously worms are hugely beneficial creatures in nature. They help create a healthy soil ecosystem, aid the decomposition of organic matter, improve soil structure and increase available nutrients for plants.

In the UK there are 27 species of earthworm, which can be categorised into three types, Anecic, Endogeic and Epigeic. The latter are surface dwellers which breakdown vegetation lying on the ground. These small, usually red worms (or stripey in the case of Tiger worms- Eisenia fetida) are often seen in composts. The other two types of worm burrow. The most commonly seen in gardens are the Anecic worms (which pull leaves down into the soil). These large reddish brown worms are responsible for worm casts in lawns and burrow vertically while the paler coloured Endogeic worms burrow horizontally and live further down in the soil. More information on earthworms can be discovered here on the Earthworm Society website.

Another notable date that occurred last week on the astronomical calender (in the northern hemisphere) was the Spring equinox. The moment in March when day and night length are equal and officially the first day of spring. (Meteorologically this already occurred on the first of the month). Whichever date you prefer to observe as it’s start, Spring has definitely arrived here in the UK.

Nature seemed to celebrate the arrival of Spring with several days of unseasonably warm weather, together with the appearance of more butterflies, with Peacocks (Aglais io), Commas (Polygonia c-album) and yet more Brimstones (Gonepteryx rhamni) fluttering about, together with lots more bumblebees. So far I have seen lots of Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and a few Red-tailed bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius). Even Seven-spot ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) came out of hiding last week.

More trees are blossomimg too. Magnolias, Camellias, Forsythia, Gorse (Ulex) and Willows (Salix) are flowering now, joining the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Plus yellow and green carpets of Lesser Celendine (Ficaria verna) have been popping up everywhere.

Bookworm review, nature

February Arrives

Posted on 07/02/202219/02/2022 by BITM

As another month rolls on, an initial glance may suggest that nothing is changing. Bare trees and quiet gardens with cold weather still nipping at fingertips and noses still persist, while sunny days bring glorious colourful skies.

However, upon closer inspection small changes can be seen. The striking yellow of Winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) as well as delicate Early crocuses (Crocus tommasinianus) are beginning to bloom alongside the snowdrops (Galanthus).

The tiny red female flowers of Hazels (Corylus) have opened joining the male catkins. Plus, Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) buds are ready to burst open (in fact on one walk, I saw a single flower already blooming).

I even witnessed a Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) visit a flowering Mahonia on one sunny day; clearly making use of the milder weather before sheltering once again.

However the main focus of my attention, over the past few weeks, have been birds.

In one garden, I discovered a lovely little nest, from the previous year, in a shrub. Upon investigation I discovered it was either a Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) or Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) nest (most likely the former); it can be seen below.

I also saw a Lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) perched on a tall tree in the distance. I was able to follow the sound of the drumming to watch it move around the trunk before flying off. Given the length of drumming and location of the red on it’s crown I was able to identify it as a male Lesser spotted woodpecker.

Then later in the week, while pruning roses, I watched a Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) forage around the base of a hedge; I managed to film it briefly before it disappeared fully into the undergrowth.

I am currently reading ‘The Wren: A biography’ by Stephen Moss.

This charity shop find is a fascinating read. Chapters are set out month by month, each concentating on an aspect of a Wrens life. Included alongside facts about the Wren, are their involvement in human history, culture, literature, art and folklore together with beautiful illustrations. The chapter entitled February, for example, focuses on courtship and population. As with other books written by this author, such as ‘The Robin’, this book is definitely worth emmersing yourself in.

Lastly, once again I partook in the Big Garden Birdwatch. My results this year were-
7 Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris),
4 Magpies (Pica pica),
2 Bluetits (Cyanistes caeruleus),
2 Blackbirds (Turdus merula)- a male and female,
2 Wood pigeons (Columba palumbus),
1 Dunnock (Prunella modularis) as well as a Carrion crow (Corvus corone).

Although there weren’t any major surprises in what I saw, it was lovely that the Dunnock made an appearance (usually I only get to hear them). However the Red Kite (Milvus milvus), Ring-necked parakeets (Psittacula krameri), Great tit (Parus major) and Robin (Erithacus rubecula), that I regularly observe, all decided to have a lie in the previous weekend, most only making an appearance once my chosen hour had ended.

nature

October Treats (Tricks not Included) 🎃

Posted on 31/10/202131/10/2021 by BITM

It is Halloween, British Summer Time ended last night and initially today was a stereotypically autumnal day; windy and very wet. However now it’s less blustery and the sun is shining. Throughout the day, I’ve kept hearing Carrion crows (Corvus corone) call too; I love their haunting sound. Autumn has definitely taken hold over the past few weeks and there have been lots of treats to see.

Fungi continued to appear, showing biodiversity in untreated lawns. I managed to spot one of my favourites again this year, the Shaggy mane (Coprinus comatus) in various stages of development.

Also called Shaggy inkcaps or Lawyers mane.

Here the gills have turned black and have begun to ‘drip’ onto the lawn, resembling ink.

I also saw Yellow club fungus (Clavulinopsis helvola).

The photo was taken after the grass had been mown so the very tip of the fungi had been cut off.

As with other fungi, Yellow club fungus has no negative affect on lawns. It likes acidic mossy lawns appearing between September and November.

There was one more fungi that I noticed (see below), possibly a Honey waxcap (Hygrocybe reidii) although I am not entirely sure my identification of this one is correct.

The tree that has already shown it’s autumn colours is the Claret ash or ash ‘Raywood’
(Fraxinus angustifolia ‘Raywood‘). There are a couple in the car park, one of which is now completely bare.

The deep claret coloured leaves glow bright red in the sunlight.

I have noticed the occasional pollinator still flying around during the last fortnight. One observation was some Common wasps (Vespula vulgaris) visiting Common ivy (Hedera helix) flowers. Evidence that Ivy is a wonderful source of pollen and nectar late in the year along with that fact that wasps have a purpose.

Along with pollination, there are many wasps that are useful predators of spiders and insects which are fed to their young. Unfortunately the adult wasps need for sugar means they are often disliked by humans, but can we really blame them for having a sweet tooth just like us or trying to get to something that is easily accessible? A fascinating article about wasps and their usefulness in the world, published by the Natural History Museum, can be viewed here.

nature

Garden Gems

Posted on 13/10/202113/10/2021 by BITM

For the last couple of weeks conkers and sweet chestnuts have begun to fall, there isn’t a big harvest, neither are there lots of acorns or beech masts. However 2020 was a mast year (where trees produce bumper crops) so reduced harvests this time isn’t too surprising; Mast years only happen every five to ten years. However the low numbers could also be due to this years cold damp spring impacting bud development and fertilization, especially with wind pollinated trees. This issue is discussed further in an article by the Woodland Trust see Nature’s Calendar.

It has been lovely to notice Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), along with Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) develop their bright red autumnal colour. They are so vibrant in the low autumn sunshine. I’ve also noticed the small beginnings of autumn leaf colour in many trees too.

Boston ivy growing up a wall of an old building.

Virginia creeper winding its way through some shrubs.

Now that October has arrived, Cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium) and Crocuses (Crocus speciosus) have sprung up alongside Fungi in a few lawns. I noticed a waxcap commonly called the Witches hat (Hygrocybe conica) as well as Lilac fibrecaps (Inocybe geophylla var. lilacina); both resembling Gemstones standing out amongst the grass.

Witches hat waxcaps are so called because they look like witches hats when they blacken with age.

I also saw another fungi in one lawn, possibly a Blusher (Amanita rubescens), although the identification was difficult so I’m not entirely sure.

Plantlife run Waxcap watch from the 13th September. The charity want to discover previously unknown waxcap grassland sites, uncover habitat conditions and give better protection for them in the future. More information about this survey can be found here.

Something else I observed while weeding a gravel path at work was a Lunar underwing moth (Omphaloscelis lunosa).

This night flying noth had been hiding under some dandelion leaves.

Lunar underwing moths fly between August and October and their pupae overwinter in long grass which they will feed on when they become caterpillars. I managed to re-home this one under a nearby shrub.

Allotment, nature

A Couple of Welcome Visitors

Posted on 19/09/202119/09/2021 by BITM

During the previous week there were the few days of unusually high temperatures for the time of year; a final flourish for late summer?

The heat encouraged lots of bees, especially Honey bees (Apis mellifera) to visit Hylotelephium (once called Sedums) which began to bloom. The sound was amazing and it was so relaxing to work near them; you could almost feel the buzz it was so intense.

Things have been ticking over nicely on the allotment for the past month. Corn and Squash are developing nicely while the supply of Sweetpeas and Beetroot keep coming. Plus the Potatoes have been dug up and Apples are ready to pick too.

Time spent planning next years harvest is in full swing, while changes to the allotment occur. I began to create a space for a wild flower area next to a patch of long grass, where a resident frog is no doubt loving the huge supply of slugs this year. Plus work has begun on transforming the veg patches into raised beds.

Away from the allotment, on Friday 10th September, I noticed a rather large moth in the hallway. It was an Old lady/ black underwing (Mormo maura) moth. The wingspan of the Mormo maura is between 55 and 65mm.

The common name of Old Lady is due to the colouration and pattern on the forewings, which resemble the shawls of old Victorian ladies. There is only one generation per year and adults fly between July and August; as I noticed this one in September it must be near the end of its lifespan. A nocturnal moth it is attracted to light (and sugar if you place feeding stations for moths). Clearly the open window had encouraged it into the building. The main habitat for this moth are gardens and waste ground, particularly in damp locations. In spring, after overwintering, the caterpillars will feed on various trees and shrubs, such as Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa).

Then last Friday, another moth found its way to the hall. Also a nocturnal moth attracted by light, the Snout moth (Hypena proboscidalis), so called for obvious reasons.

There are two generations per year of the Hypena proboscidalis, adults initially fly between June and August and again later in autumn. The wingspan of the Snout moth is approximately 30 to 38mm. Like the Old lady moth it also frequents gardens and wasteland, along with woodlands; essentially it can be found anywhere nettles (Urtica dioica) are found, which the caterpillars feed on.

nature

Relaxing Holiday Adventures

Posted on 18/08/202118/08/2021 by BITM

Over the last few weeks Buddleja have been in flower, encouraging butterflies to visit and making them more visible. I have begun to notice Red admirals (Vanessa atalanta) and Peacocks (Aglais io) alongside Large (Pieris brassicae) and Small white (Pieris rapae) butterflies.

Having some time off work enabled me to take more walks. In my local woodland park I started to see a lot more Commas (Polygonia c-album) and Small heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) butterflies too. On a few occasions they flitted around me as I stopped to watch them; an absolutely joyful experience, almost like they were interacting with me in their own way.

Thankfully in the two weeks, I managed to venture further afield. On one occasion, I saw a Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) butterfly while visiting an Arboretum in Herefordshire.

Woodlands are their habitat and they can be seen during July and August. The Caterpillars of this butterfly feed on various grasses, such as Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Common Couch (Elytrigia repens), and other meadow grasses (Poa spp.).

Spending some time away on holiday gave me the chance to explore other environments, including those next to water, thus enabling me to notice different wildflowers.

One walk took me past a canal. Water mint (Mentha aquatica) and Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) were growing all down the canal edge.

Both plants grow in shallow water and boggy conditions so are often found in fens and marshes as well as along the margins of ponds, streams, rivers and of course canals, as I discovered. They require habitats with full sun or dapled shade to bloom and are great for pollinators. Water mint flowers from the beginning of July up to November while Purple loosestrife only blooms between June and August. Purple Loosestrife can be visited by insects with long tongues and particularly enjoyed by butterflies and Red-tailed Bumblebees (Bombus lapidarius). It is also eaten by caterpillars of the Small Elephant Hawk-moths (Deilephila porcellus).

A Large white butterfly visiting some Purple Loosestrife.

As well as butterflies there were several dragonflies and damselflies, including this Blue-tailed damselfly (Ischnura elegans) dancing over the water.

This Blue-tailed damselfly was seen resting on a nettle leaf.

However, most of the bees I saw on that walk were interested in the plant I encountered at the first lock, Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera).

While the lock was completely swamped by this plant, it was only section I saw it in. It’s the first time I had come across Himalayan balsam, although I know of its reputation.

The pretty flower of the Himalayan balsam is popular with pollinators, especially bees. Here a bee is seen climbing into the flower to obtain nectar and pollen.

First introduced into the UK in 1839, from the Himalayas, this plant soon escaped formal gardens and naturalized in the wild becoming a nuisance in waterways. It grows fast and can become invasive very quickly as, up to 800 seeds from each pod, explode as far as 7 meters from the parent plant and even travel downstream. It isn’t long before a thicket is created where the plant out-competes other species to reduce biodiversity, cause erotion of riverbanks and affect water quality. All this means it is considered a weed in waterways and often removed by work-parties whenever possible. In fact it had been previously cleared from a lot of this canal. Control methods include pulling and cutting before they get a chance to set seed. It can take a few growing seasons before control over this plant is established. Management of this plant is mentioned under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Interestingly, in Hertfordshire, control of this plant involves collection of the flowers to produce pink Gin (further information can be found at Herts Wildlife Trust).

The following week I visited a beach in Kent, it was so relaxing to hear the sounds of the seaside. One plant I noticed growing amongst the rocky area near the shingle was Alfalfa (Medicago sativa).

I know this plant as a green manure on allotments and gardens, adding nitrogen to soil for crops the following season. It’s also used as silage for livestock in agriculture plus alfalfa sprouts are used in some cuisines. I have never seen it in the wild or even flowering. There wasn’t a great swathe of it so clearly the plants were due to the odd escapee into the wild; perhaps a few seeds having blown there or been disposed by a bird. It was certainly good for local pollinators.