It's been a slow old spring round here so far, after what was apparently the dullest opening two months of the year on record. You can understand why we used to worship the sun! Bumblebees have been elusive, the only species positively identified so far being Bombus terrestris in a garden at Boreham on February 24th, B.pratorum at Blue House Farm on March 9th and B.lapidarius at The Backwarden on 11th. Butterflies are even more reluctant to venture forth but a male Brimstone did turn up in my garden at Ingatestone on 12th, even though we are a long way from any Buckthorn bushes and it's the best part of a mile to the nearest Alder Buckthorn. Milder nights have also led to an increase in moths in the trap, species so far being similar to what Ben has caught, including this beautiful Oak Beauty. Best micro has been the plume moth, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla which unfortunately nosedived into my pond! Perhaps spring has been quicker to get under way close to London. I imagine the slightly higher night time temperatures might make a difference. Mary would know! Perhaps now the Cherry Plum is finally in bloom insect numbers will now increase.
Can anyone tell me what has created the large number of holes that have sprung up on bare soil at The Backwarden recently, each with a near pile of earth encircling the rim. Is it something burrowing in or burrowing out? I thought perhaps Tawny Mining Bee but I could see no sign of any adults and, anyway, I am sure there are around forty-three almost identical species! Each hole is around 5-8mm across.