Amazing to find a Mediterranean Spotted Chafer (Oxythyrea furnesta) in the garden again. We last saw them in 2020 which was the 1st record for the county but none since. Wonder if they have been breeding nearby - this one was very small compared with the 2020 ones.

Our 1st ever Beewolf (Philanthus triangulum) and in the garden since 25th July. No females seen so far but at least 2 different males photographed so may be breeding nearby. Only a few (4?) records in Northants.

"Fairy Thimbles" Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) and a weevil seen at Barnack Hills & Holes NNR, Cambs last week. #woldflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

A striking Knapweed Broomrape (Orobanche elatior) found at Barnack Hills & Holes NNR, Cambs last week. #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

The Hummingbird Hawk-moths are having a good year here with multiple visits every day to the garden with Phlox their favourite. 2 seen together yesterday and 3 together the day before. Love their olde folk name "merrylee-dance-a-pole"😊

1st seen last year, it's good to see the European Paper wasps (Polistes dominula) have returned to our Northants garden. With 2 seen yesterday feeding together on the same eryngium it appears they may be breeding locally.

Another welcome return with a Rose Chafer in the garden yesterday and today. 1st seen in 2024, they have a 2 year lifecycle so hopefully these are their offspring. Very few records this far up in the UK. This one enjoying the frothy Meadowsweet!🪲

They're back! So pleased to see the Wool Carder Bees again after their 1st appearance last year in the garden. Yesterday: 2 males fighting over a female, today: 2 females and a male on the same Betony plant.🐝@brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social

Doing some repotting yesterday when we were joined by a Purple Hairstreak! It spent the next 2 hours on the old compost taking up the minerals & salts then settled down for the night, still on the compost. Moved to safer spot. @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

The beautiful Red Longhorn beetles (Stictoleptura rubra) have emerged from their breeding spot below the greenhouse with this male seen on the 1st July.🪲

A lovely male Small Skipper on Knautia macedonica a couple of days ago in the garden. The Knautia is a great plant for wildlife especially bees and butterflies and it flowers over a long period. @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social

Another favourite wildflower in the garden and a beautiful native - Musk Mallow (Malva moschata). Love the way it pops up and looks lovely anywhere. #wildflowerhour

Fox-and-Cubs/Orange hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca) growing in our wildlife garden along with many other wild flowers. #wildflowerhour

A small longhorn beetle we see each year in the garden usually on Ox-eye daisy - the Fairy-ring Longhorn (Pseudovadonia livida). Unlike most longhorns which feed on dead wood, its larvae develop in the soil, feeding on roots, humus & the mycelium of fairy-ring fungi.

Oure 1st Bronze Shieldbug (Troilus luridus) of 2026. Found in our Northants garden on Knapweed and a nicely marked one too. @britishbugs.bsky.social @rockwolf74.bsky.social @willgeorge.bsky.social

A Speckled Bush Cricket nymph (Leptophyes punctatissima) and a Meadow Cranesbill Weevil (Zacladus geranii) sharing a geranium leaf in the garden. The Bush Cricket was the 1st to back off when the weevil came too close!🦗🐘

A cute instar Green Shieldbug photographed in the garden over the weekend.🪲 @rockwolf74.bsky.social

Found on the frame of our back door yesterday - a hopper, Issus coleoptratus. New to us and not many records in Northants. Apparently, Issus nymphs have toothed mechanical gears to synchronise jumping - only known use of functional gears found in nature! @britishbugs.bsky.social

Having seen only one in 2025 it is lovely to have a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterfly year again. This one photographed a week or so ago in the garden.

The 3mm long Meadow Cranesbill Weevil - Zacladus geranii. A number of these present every year on our hardy geraniums in the garden. Great characters! 🐘

One of the varied forms of native Iris foetidissima growing in our Northants garden. The bees love them and the birds enjoy the fruits in the winter. #WildflowerHour

Found yesterday loitering with intent, this assassin bug, Reduvius personatus, also known as the Masked Hunter. @rockwolf74.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social

Pleased to see the jewel beetles, Agrilus cyanescens, back in their usual spot in the garden - on and around the winter honeysuckle Lonicera fragrantissima with 2 seen on the 4th.

The handsome wasp mimicking Figwort Sawflies (Tenthredo scrophulariae) are, not surprisingly, around the Figwort plants again. Also 2 species of Figwort Weevils on the photo'd plant. A must have native for the wildlife friendly garden.🐝🐘🌿

One of 2 or 3 male Sharp-tail bees (Coelioxys species - probably C. inermis or C. elongata) taking a break from feeding and searching for females (which don't appear to have appeared yet). Yesterday in the garden. @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social

Managed to photo an immature Scarce Chaser (Libellula fulva) in the garden yesterday and don't recall seeing one with such heavily blotched wingtips. Rather smart. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

The Fork-tailed Flower Bees (Anthophora furcata)are back and as manic as ever! They are even harder to photo than Hairy-footed! The males don't like a rival and 2 had a dispute with a Dock Weevil having to keep its head down! @caroline-byrne.bsky.social @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social

Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) have visited daily lately in the garden but the one yesterday was the first one we have managed to photograph. It could fly with great agility despite missing half a wing! @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

A good day for migrants in the garden yesterday with 2 Painted Lady's, 5 Silver Y's and multiple visits from one or more Humming-bird Hawkmoths. Also, the number of migratory hoverflies are on the up!

Sanicle (Sanicula europaea) growing in our garden for #WildflowerHour