Bug Mansion

Wild About Gardens Week ended today but there is still time to enter their Bug Hotel competition. This was my goal when I got up this morning.  I had been browsing the internet checking out the various abodes and reading the building plans.  There are some very ambitious builds ... very Grand Design!

 I have chosen my site ... next to the compost bin.  It is flat, gets some sun for the sun loving bugs and the back sits under a tree for those who prefer the dark side.  It's sheltered from wind and they can feed on the compost. 

I really like the look of this one from Chelsea Flower Show a few years back.  The bottom pallet is positioned to create a hedgehog house and the rest has the appropriate habitat for bees, ladybirds, beetles, frogs and even snakes.  I have three pallets at the allotment; I have old bricks and tiles, stones, logs and branches, broken flower pots, plastic bottles, cardboard and canes.  There was nothing to stop me ... except the couple of jobs I wanted to do first ... then there was the other job .... then I had to have a cup of tea .... and, of course, I had to do one more task before I went to the allotment ... and then it was evening!

Green Lacewing

So I now have a job for tomorrow.  These two are creating a housing shortage so I had better get on with it!

Common Red Soldier Beetle

There are a few bugs that would be unwelcome guests though.  I have said before that I hate to kill anything ... well I found a struggling plant the other day and discovered vine weevil bugs in the pot.  I threw the soil on top of the compost heap and left the lid up because a Robin was watching me ... sure enough the Robin enjoyed a snack ... I did feel a bit guilty!!

Lily Beetle

Today I discovered 8 Lily Beetles on one stalk so I tried the same trick again.  The birds didn't touch them so I had to take them across the lane to the field and throw them as far away as I could.  Of course, the birds weren't interested ... in nature red indicates harmful.

Bugs

 

I'm a real wimp when it comes to killing things.  Some gardeners talk with relish about squashing bugs and salting slugs but I can't do it.  I once found a spider covered in varnish on my newly painted windowsill - I realised he faced an awful death if the varnish set and he was encased inside.  The kindest thing to do was squash him.  Instead I knocked him to the ground and threw water over him in an attempt to wash him clean.  He was swept away and probably drowned!

The first time I spotted a Lily Beetle I was enthralled by its colour. I had never seen a more beautiful bug.  I had absolutely no idea how much damage it was going to cause.  I know now but I still can't kill them.  They are collected up and taken on a short walk to the field.  They don't eat corn so they probably fly straight back to my lilies once I've gone inside.

Another attractive unwelcome visitor is the Harlequin Ladybird.  Farmers in Europe imported them from Asia as natural predators of aphids.  They were VERY effective at reducing the aphid population but they ate lots of other insects too - including other ladybirds!  According to Bill Oddie they are totally out of control and come in at number 7 the Top 10 of  Alien Invaders to Britain.

A Harlequin Ladybird Survey is underway to monitor the spread of this insect across the UK.

So what else have we been up to? There is a 40 acre Wild Flower Farm near us - Naturescape - it is lovely to wander round this time of year.  Flowers and insects abound; the pond is patrolled by beautiful dragonflies; the café supplies tea and cake and, best of all, they sell plants.

Broad Bodied Chaser

Broad Bodied Chaser

Common Darter

Broad Bodied Chaser

Four Spotted Chaser