Megan le Fey Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 I am enjoying my really cheap, special offer digital camera so much because it makes me really look at ordinary, boring little thingies that I have always ignored until now. How about these which I found on a little patch of what I used to call 'dog daisies'?Spiders are my worst horrors but this one is so pretty. There are hundreds of them in the field where we walk Utopie.[IMG]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h15/miggimeggi/IMGP0878.jpg[/IMG]I had thought this was one of those wasps which prey on spiders, it is very small and slim, but now I think it is a bee.[IMG]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h15/miggimeggi/IMGP0892.jpg[/IMG]and a furry beetle?[IMG]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h15/miggimeggi/IMGP0899.jpg[/IMG]and finally, a pretty ordinary polka dotted beetle.[IMG]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h15/miggimeggi/IMGP0900.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 Puts a new perspective on the world, doesn't it Anne? I'm sure it is a bee, really tricky to know which when they have their wings closed over their backs.This may help with your beetles, left to right.Oxythyrea funesta (Poda), Tropinota hirta (Poda), Tropinota squalida (Scopoli) [IMG]http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q73/unautremonde/Oddments/pollen-beetles.jpg[/IMG]Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megan le Fey Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share Posted May 8, 2007 Thank you very much Chris. I am pretty certain that Oxythyrea funesta (Poda), is my "polka dot" beetle, I found a pic of one, also on a dog daisy, almost identical to my pic (only bigger and much better and clearer). I am still looking for the "hairy beetle", I think it could be Tropinota hirta (Poda), although mine seems to be a bit hairyer (is there such a word?) than the examples I have found. Both seem to be pests in orchards etc. I am not even trying with the bee, it could be any one of thousands. My favourite is still the spider, I think it is a disc spider because I have seen some in their webs and they have a flattish disc in the centre about the size of a one euro piece. I am still looking for the exact one, none of those I found are as prettily marked as mine. Hell, I am retired, what else do I need I to do[:P]. I am not sure why I am finding the little beasties more fun, probably because they are not running away whilst I am still fumbling to find the camera like the sanglier we saw a couple of weeks ago or the couple of roe deer we startled in the woods last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Anglia Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Oy.............I am not ordinary, and I'm better looking than that hairy fellow.!Signed, a Polka-Dot beetle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Perspective is an interesting thing, don't you think?[IMG]http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q73/unautremonde/Oddments/lesser-stag-beetle.jpg[/IMG]Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Framboise Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 Funny, but I was sure this was the receptionist at the doctor's surgery, you know, the one you have to get past to see the doctor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megan le Fey Posted May 16, 2007 Author Share Posted May 16, 2007 [quote user="moya"]Funny, but I was sure this was the receptionist at the doctor's surgery, you know, the one you have to get past to see the doctor![/quote]Wait until you get to France Moya, you will see that the doctors don't waste money on receptionists but do (or try to do) it all themselves. It is why a consultation takes so long - it is all the 'phone calls he has to take and appointments he has to make in the middle of it.[:D][:D][:D].That's a very neat beastie Chris, is it a stag beetle and did you take the pic yourself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 It's a Lesser stag beetle, Anne, and as I had it in my hand I just couldn't resist the head view, it doesn't look real but it is.[:D]Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deauville Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 On the subject of creepy crawlies I've got what looks like a VERY big wasp living in the top of a 2m tall rotten tree. I'm not sure whether or not it is a hornet but it is about 25mm long with, as far as I can see, a reddish tinge to its apparently furry body. It flies off (no sound) and a few minutes later returns to the tree, almost as would a bird feeding its young. Before I photograph it and struggle with photobucket (which I haven't quite mastered yet) has anyone any suggestions where I start looking to identify it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Frelon? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 On the subject of - well not really creepy crawlies I suppose, as they fly. Take a look at this moth. The second pic' is to show you just how big it is![IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/cooperlola/moth2.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/cooperlola/moth.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Oh - how sad are we ? I have just spent a good part of the evening watching a dragon fly lavae break free of its 'case'.( hope pics are ok!) Once we had seen one, our eye was 'in' and we found five, all around our little pond.We knew we had newts but now we know we have frogs too, so far one hedgehog has been seen and there is evidence of a fox........all in suburbia..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 When we moved here and inherited our little pond, it had 9 goldfish (well, rather more exotic than your average fairground job, but that sort of thing.) I was convinced that they would be dead within a year as I know nothing about caring for them. 2 years later, we now have 50 plus fish, half a dozen frogs, and hordes of fascinating insects including dragon fly. Much more fun to watch than the telly and free! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deauville Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Thanks Chris - frelon it is. The question now is "what do I do with it?" It is living in the top of a dead tree with a wild plum sprouting out of the top and it has to be removed and I'm not sure how to proceed - kill it? (I don't like killing things unless they are a threat), leave it alone and hope it goes away? or somehow remove and rehouse it? Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted May 27, 2007 Share Posted May 27, 2007 I've already spoken to Deauville by telephone, but just to say that I've now put a page on my site for "Frelons" which I hope both supplies the basic details about them and allows people to relax a bit.http://www.planetepassion.eu/WILDLIFE-IN-FRANCE/Hornet-or-Frelon-in-France.htmlChris03/08/09 - Link edited by a mod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted May 27, 2007 Share Posted May 27, 2007 We had some of these "monster" wasps around our house in UK for the first time ever a couple of years ago. They seemed quite aggressive and in the evening would buzz about at the kitchen window, presumably attracted by the light.Haven't seen any since though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire Lass Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Hi Chris and all!there must be a plague of frelons in South West France! I have a nest in the wall with angry frelons in it! The local bee-keeper said to but a spray to kill them and keep the dogs indoors! However no-one appears to have any sprays in stock! Any more suggestions on how to make them move on or die - I do not feel kindly disposed towards them now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 You need the special spray for nests that come out as a jet, not a mist spray, you do it at dusk with plenty of protection against stings.Equally, don't confuse buzzing and activity with aggressive, if they were actually aggressive you would be full of stings........and the numbers are normal AFAIK this year, no plague.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 Not quite creepie, but what the hell[IMG]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f180/Jonzjob/Johns/Swallotailsmating.jpg[/IMG]This one was taken through my microscope at 50X magnification. Sorry it isn't too clear.[IMG]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f180/Jonzjob/Johns/DSC02533.jpg[/IMG]It has to be the smallest spider and web I have ever seen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderhorse Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 [quote user="chris pp"]I've already spoken to Deauville by telephone, but just to say that I've now put a page on my site for "Frelons" which I hope both supplies the basic details about them and allows people to relax a bit.http://planetepassion.com/hornet-frelon-vespa.crabo.htmChris[/quote]Just spotted that the thread has been necroed after more than two years. Although the above link is dead, are the contents available elsewhere, Chris?Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 I have edited the link to the new Planet Passion website.Try http://www.planetepassion.eu/WILDLIFE-IN-FRANCE/Hornet-or-Frelon-in-France.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderhorse Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Thanks, Clair. [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted August 3, 2009 Share Posted August 3, 2009 Thanks Clair.[:D]It's a nuisance, but that's life.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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