DB

@arnoldtortoise

Amateur naturalist - parasitic wasps (and other tiny insects) specialising in UK Trichogrammatidae and Mymaridae. All posts are my own finds, and all are found in Sussex (unless otherwise stated). Born at 317.68ppm.

132 Siguiendo1091 Seguidores1053 Publicaciones

Bluesky

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DB@arnoldtortoise· 14d

Interesting behaviour. This Volucella zonaria perched in several positions around the air-brick and watched wasps flying in and out (there is a wasps' nest in there). After about ten minutes of watching, the hoverfly crawled in through one of the holes. #hoverfly #wasps #behaviour

A hornet-mimic hoverfly is perched on the air-brick of a house, and it is watching common wasps fly in and out f the air-brick.

DB@arnoldtortoise· 15d

A handsome 0.22mm long Megaphragma noyesi parasitoid wasp of the Trichogrammatidae found at Castle Water of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve this morning. First of the year, and quite a relief to find one (because I can still see it)! #wasp #Trichogrammatidae #RyeHarbour

side view of a microscopic wasp; its head and antennae are to the left of picture, and its oar-like fringed wings are held diagonally above the body.

DB@arnoldtortoise· 17d

Thought this Lithops pseudotruncatella was too small to flower as it is only 17mm across. Was surprised to see the bud emerge, and then this beautiful flower. It is only one of two plants in the collection that has a small crevice (except for seedlings). #Lithops

DB@arnoldtortoise· 18d

A beautiful Painted Lady on Hemp Agrimony in the garden today. #butterfly #PaintedLady

An orange butterfly with black markings, and black and white tips to the forewings, is seen with wings fully open on a flower head. The butterfly is facing toward the top of the picture

DB@arnoldtortoise· 23d

A very handsome Birch Shieldbug that was in the bathroom this morning. Photographed after relocation to the garden birch tree. #Shieldbug

A green and brown bug on a brown twig; the insect's head is to the top as it is walking up the twig

DB@arnoldtortoise· 24d

Eupatoria is a valuable foodplant for many species, it is thronged at the moment. There are many Painted Ladies joining all the other insects making the most of the feast. #butterfly #PaintedLady

side view of a Painted Lady butterfly on a flower head of Eupatoria. the butterfly is facing to the right, and its proboscis can be seen going from the head in to the flower.

DB@arnoldtortoise· 25d

A beautiful Tortoise Bug - Eurygaster testudinaria found in the shower room this morning and relocated to the garden. #shieldbug

side view of a mottled brown bug, it is facing to the left of picture, and it is pictured against a soil background

looking down on a mottled brown bug with cream coloured splodges on its wing cases, there is a faded black and white banding at the lower edge of the body, the bug is facing to the left and is pictured against a soil background

DB@arnoldtortoise· 26d

At last, a decent micro wasp! A beautiful female Mymaromma anomalum wasp found in Brede High Woods this morning. This wonderful wasp has fringed and netted wings on stalks, bellows at the back of its head, and a two-part petiole. Evolution went off at a tangent here! #wasp #Mymarommatidae #HighWeald

Side view of a tiny orange-brown wasp with a grey-brown abdomen. The wasp has fringed wings on stalks, and bellows at the back of its head.

DB@arnoldtortoise· 29d

Aren't they odd! The only Dryinid I've found was an Anteon sp. and those fabulous front legs warrant a microscope!

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jul 12

Welcome to the dark side! Thrips are great as long as you stick to the relatively easy ones, but if you venture into the Thrips genus then madness awaits. Here's my version of yours by way of comparison.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jul 9

A very handsome Red-legged Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes) on the garden birch tree. #Hemiptera

A bronze-brown, shield-shaped insect on a green leaf. The lower edge of the brown wing-cases have a checkerboard pattern. The insect's head and antennae are to the upper right.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jul 9

Saw this dragonfly had crash landed on the sea when swimming this morning. It was barely alive. Carefully brought it to safety, but it didn't survive, alas. Presume it to be a Southern Hawker on migration.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jul 8

Another Lithops pseudotruncatella has come into bloom. This plant is 13 years old, and a tall version of the norm. #Lithops

Side view of a grey plant that consists of a single leaf-pair. The top of the plant is split, and a yellow daisy-like flower has emerged.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jul 6

Another of the 2013 sown Lithops pseudotruncatella has come into bloom. This one is 40mm across. #Lithops

A low-growing plant comprising a pair of grey leaves with mottled patterning on their tops. The plant has a central fissure, from which is sprouting a bright yellow daisy-like flower.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jul 3

Never quite know who will be roaming around the house when I wake in the morning. This one was happy to have the window opened for a swift leap into the unknown. #FieldGrasshopper #Orthoptera

Side view of a brown grasshopper against a white background. The hopper is facing to the right, its antennae before it.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jul 2

Ooh! A rather snazzy Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria) in the garden this afternoon. #Moth

Side view of a snazzy black-and-cream banded moth on a stone wall. The moth is facing to the right of picture.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jul 2

Have got plenty in and around the compost bins, and some under bricks and stones and pieces of wood in the garden, but it has been far too dry for them generally. They shall return, we can be sure of that.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 30

After a very long and protracted moult Lithops julii ssp. Fullergreen has split and doubled. It was sown on 1.3.2024 and each is now 15mm across. #Lithops

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 26

A gorgeous little Green Shieldbug nymph on the head of a Corncockle in the garden this afternoon.

A roundish green insect nymph with black antennae and legs facing upwards on the hairy pale green seedhead of a plant

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 25

Lithops are little beauties. #Lithops

Looking from the side at a low growing greyish plant that is blending in with the gravelly medium in which it is growing. Out of the centre of the plant is a yellow daisy-like flower on a green stalk.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 21

A beautiful combination of plant and flower on this 13 year old Lithops pseudotruncatella. #Lithops

Two greyish succulent plants from which emerge two daisy-like bright yellow flowers.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 20

Speckled Bush-cricket nymph in the garden.

A green insect on a bright pink flower petal. The insect is covered in tiny dark dots, and it has very long black-and-white antennae.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 19

A very handsome Dimple-clawed Chthonid (Ephippiochthonius tetrachelatus) rampaging through the garden this afternoon. Any day with a Pseudoscorpion is a good day. #Pseudoscorpion

A tiny reddish ovoid arachnid is seen on a piece of dry wood. The animal is heading from right to left, and its large pincers are held before it.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 18

Morning in the garden.

A Bumblebee on the right of picture is flying in to approach the pink stamens in the centre of white flowers on an inflorescence of Verbascum

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 16

First flower of the year on any of the Lithops. This one is Lithops pseudotruncatella and was sown in 2013. It is now 44mm across. #Lithops

An oval greyish flat plant with a bright yellow flower.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 12

Went out hoping for Demoiselles this afternoon, but all I saw was this Damsel.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 12

First flower bud of the year has emerged now that the Lithops have finished moulting. This is Lithops pseudotruncatella ssp dendritica (probably) and it was sown in 2013 and is now 31mm across. #Lithops

A pinkish oval-ish plant is splitting in the middle to allow a flower bud to emerge between the leaf-pair.

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 11

Lithops julii 'Kikushogyoku' from the february 2025 sowings. Have finished this year's moult and are looking strong, beautifully marked, and are 10 - 14mm across. #Lithops

DB@arnoldtortoise· Jun 10

Oh yes, how could I forget? (quite easily these days)