The Latin name for the Hedgehog is Erinaceus europaeus.
Hedgehog is a common name for any of the several spiny mammals that are similar in appearance to the porcupine, but it is more closely related to the mole and shrew.
The hedgehog can be found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
It has a coat of long, stiff, pointed spines on it's back. These spines are brown tipped with white and the fur below is rather paler and soft. Hedgehogs average 25cm in length and range in colour from light tan to black. They have a pointed nose, small eyes, short legs and a vestigial tail.
When threatened, the hedgehog rolls itself into a ball by the action of powerful muscles that arise from the head and neck on each side which then loop around the rump. In this position its spines project in all directions.
Hedgehogs conceal themselves in hedgerows and suburban woodland during the daytime and emerge at night to hunt. They eat insects, worms, frogs, snakes, mice, and birds' eggs. They will often visit gardens and drink milk if it is left out for them.
They make nests of leaves and grass in wood piles, compost heaps etc, in which 2-9 young are born in summer; occasionally they have a second litter later in the year. During the winter hedgehogs hibernate i.e. go into a very deep sleep. They are suprisingly agile, climb well and swim.
$A2BADGER
The Latin name for the badger is Meles meles.
Badgers are big, weasel-like animals that are commonly found in Europe, North America and Asia.
Badgers are mammals with thickset bodies, long blunt claws used for digging, sharp teeth and powerful jaws. They are heavily furred and distinctly marked, with a robust grey body, short tail and black-and-white face pattern. The shaggy hair of the badger provides protection against stings. They have perineal glands, which emit a foetid odour.
The European badger is up to 90cm long. It lives in underground burrows in woods and forests, known as 'setts', which may become very large with several entrances; these are rarely located in gardens, but the animal frequently visits to pass through or find food. It is almost entirely nocturnal, returning to the sett during the day.
The badger spends the winter in the sett and in spring the female bears two to six furless and blind young. The young come above ground at about 8 weeks and are weaned at 12 weeks.
The badger eats fruit, roots, beechnuts, eggs, young birds, frogs, snails, worms and insects. It also feeds on honey and on the larvae of wasps and wild bees.
Their pelts used to have considerable value as furs, and the hairs were used in the manufacture of brushes, but they are now a protected species in Britain.
$A3RED FOX
The Latin name for the Red fox is Vulpes vulpes.
The Red fox is the smallest member of the dog family, which also includes wolves, coyotes and jackals.
The Red fox is by far the most common species of fox. It is 90 to 105 cm long, not including the tail, and weighs about 7 kg (15 lb). It is distinguished by it's black ears and feet, and the white tip on the end of it's tail. The coat is usually a shade of rusty-red or reddish-brown, sprinkled with light-tipped hairs. They also have short legs, an elongated narrow muzzle, erect triangular ears, thick fur and a long bushy tail.
The range of calls, from wailing to barking, often indicates a fox's presence before it is seen. The red fox is mainly solitary outside the breeding season. It gives birth to a single litter of 3-8 cubs, born in an underground earth, usually between March and April. The young appear above ground after 24 days, and are weaned at 8-10 weeks.
The Red fox mainly feeds on small birds, animals, insects, carrion, rodents and occasionally poultry or lambs. Sometimes they catch rabbits and other prey by chasing their own tails very fast. This fascinates the rabbit who watches without realising that the fox is gradually getting nearer and nearer. When the fox gets close enough it suddenly straightens out and grabs it's prey.
Although the Red fox is mainly nocturnal, it will quite often move around in daylight or sunbathe. It is known as a scavenger, and will readily visit gardens in search of scraps.
Foxes live in holes called 'earths' which they either dig themselves or take over from rabbits or badgers.
$A4BATS
Bats are the only mammal capable of sustained flight. Their wings do not have feathers, but are made of a thin sheet of skin stretched between the long 'finger' bones. In most bats, the wings are also joined to the legs and tail.
Scientists have shown in experiments that bats do not need good eyesight for flying. They find their way in the dark by using a 'sonar' system. As the bat flies, it utters a series of squeaks that are so high-pitched that a person cannot hear them. The sound waves from these cries bounce off objects and echo back to the bat's ears. From these echoes, the bat can tell where the objects are.
PIPISTRELLE BAT:
The Latin name for this bat is Pipistrellus pipistrellus.
The Pipistrelle bat is a very small bat with a body length of only 3.5 - 4.5cm. Males and females are similar, with variable dark brownish fur, sometimes tinged orange with lighter underparts. The ears are short, rounded and brown.
This bat is nocturnal, usually emerging shortly after sunset. It frequently roosts, and sometimes breeds, in loft spaces and other sheltered situations around houses.
It forms large nursery colonies (up to 1000). It gives birth to single young, or occasionally twins, which are usually born around late June through to July.
This species is common and widespread virtually throughout Europe, and is the most frequently seen bat in most areas.
COMMON LONG-EARED BAT:
The Latin name for this bat is Plecotus auritus.
This is a small bat, with a body length of 3.7-4.8cm, and conspicuous ears that are 3-4cm long. It's wings are thin and translucent with a wingspan of up to 28.5cm. The fur is light brown above, paler below.
It is a nocturnal animal, usually emerging after sunset. It hibernates in trees, buildings and occasionally caves.
Other types of bats include the:
Whiskered Bat
Natterer's Bat
Bechstein's Bat
Barbastelle Bat
Noctule Bat
Serotine Bat
Greater Horseshoe Bat
Lesser Horseshoe Bat
$A5SQUIRRELS
Squirrel is the common name for many rodents which belong to the same family as the woodchuck, chipmunk and prairie dog. Squirrels range in size from the pygmy squirrels of Africa, which are about 13 cm long, to the giant squirrels of Asia, which are about 90 cm long. Squirrels are found in all parts of the world except Australia.
Squirrels have sharp claws for climbing and a long bushy tail that helps them steer and keep their balance. Tree squirrels can leap up to 3 metres to reach one tree from another. Ground squirrels live in burrows under the ground.
RED SQUIRREL:
The Latin name for this squirrel is Sciurus vulgaris.
The head and body of this squirrel totals about 20-25cm in length, with the tail adding a further 15-20cm. The coat is a rich reddish-brown, with a white underside; reddish eartufts are especially prominent in winter.
This squirrel is very active by day, becoming inactive during bad weather. It builds domed nests, known as 'dreys', usually in conifers, and feeds mainly on pine cones. It frequently visits gardens for scraps, sometimes becoming quite tame.
GREY SQUIRREL:
The Latin name for this squirrel is Sciurus carolinensis.
This squirrel is slightly larger than the red squirrel. It is normally grey, but can have a rusty, reddish tinge. It's head and body length can be up to 30cm, the tail being up to 25cm.
It feeds on nuts, berries, roots, fungi and other vegetable matter; also insects, eggs, etc.
The grey squirrel was introduced into Britain from North America from 1876 to 1929, at about 30 separate sites. In most parts of Britain it is now more common than the indigenous red squirrel.
$A6MICE
The mouse is a commonly known rodent. Mice are numerous throughout most of the world, but for convenience they are often grouped as the Eurasian mouse and the American mouse. Fields and human habitations serve as homes for these animals. Mice, like rats, consume and damage large quantities of food and spread diseases. One mouse can have 40 babies a year, and when the young are 12 weeks old they can breed themselves.
HOUSE MOUSE:
The Latin name for this mouse is Mus musculus.
This is a small mammal with a body length of 7-9cm and a long tail. It's colour is variable, but it is generally grey or grey-brown above, paler grey below. Those living in agricultural areas are usually smaller and browner.
Breeding is continuous, with up to approximately 10 litters a year of 4-8 young which are weaned at 18 days.
This mouse feeds on seeds, cheese and scraps and has a preference for cereals.
WOOD MOUSE:
The Latin name for this mouse is Apodemus sylvaticus.
This mouse is also known as the Long-tailed Field Mouse. This small mammal is distinctly larger than the house mouse, with a body length of 8-13cm and a long, thin tail. It has large eyes and ears and is yellow-brown above, white below.
It is mainly a nocturnal animal and is most commonly found in rough woodland and grassy places, but regularly occurs in larger gardens. It breeds from March to December, usually producing several litters of up to 9 young which are independent at about 3 weeks.
Other types of mice include the
Harvest Mouse and Dormouse
$A7RATS
The rat is a member of the rodent family. They are generally dull-coloured with coarse fur, long tails, large ears and a pointed snout.
Rats have extremely powerful teeth, with which they often gnaw through wooden planks to reach stores of food, and they have even been known to bite holes in lead pipes.
They are usually nocturnal and live in human habitations, forests, deserts, and on seagoing ships. They are extremely prolific, breeding 1 to 13 times a year and producing 1 to 22 young in a litter.
Most species of rats are herbivorous, but some are omnivorous. Some rats carry a type of flea which can cause bubonic plague in human beings.
BROWN RAT:
The Latin name for this rat is Rattus norvegicus.
This is a medium to small mammal, with a body length of up to 28cm with a long thick scaly tail. The fur is shaggy and greyish-brown, often paler below, but variable in colour.
It is usually nocturnal and frequently occurs around houses and gardens, where it soon finds scraps or bird-food. It breeds all year round with 3-5 litters of up to 12 young, which leave the nest at 3 weeks, maturing at about 3 months.
Brown rats are important prey for many other species, including barn owls, stoats and foxes.
BLACK RAT:
The Latin name for this rat is Rattus rattus.
The black rat can grow up to 45cm long, with the tail being just over half that length. It is generally black, but rather variable as it often appears brownish in colour, which means it can often be mistaken for the brown rat.
It breeds throughout the year, with 3-5 litters of up to 10 young which mature at about 4 months.
It eats almost anything with any nutritional value, particularly cereal grains.
$A8RABBITS
The Latin name for the rabbit is Oryctolagus cuniculus.
Rabbits originally came from mainland Europe, but today they are found all over the world. They are small mammals, up to 45cm in length, with a short tail and long pointed ears, which grow up to 7cm long. They live colonially in burrows in the ground, each of which usually consists of a single family. Sometimes burrows appear in a group which is known as a warren.
They breed mainly from January to June and usually have 4 to 6 young per litter, which mature at about 3 months.
They feed on a wide range of grasses and herbage.
$A9SHREW
The shrew is a common name applied to certain small mouse-like mammals, related to the mole, with a long, pointed snout and soft, grey-brown, velvety fur.
Some species are the smallest of all mammals. Most live on the ground, although a few species are semi aquatic.
Shrews are active, nocturnal animals that feed primarily on insects and worms, but also eat mice equal to their own size, as well as plants and occasionally fish. Many species have glands from which a fluid with a disagreeable odour is secreted, and some species have poisonous saliva.
COMMON SHREW:
The Latin name for this shrew is Sorex araneus.
This shrew is very small with a body length of 6-8cm and a tail about half as long again. The coat is usually dark brown above and paler below, though it can be variable according to age and season.
It breeds from March-October, and may have 2 litters of up to 8 young, which leave the nest after about 24 days.
It feeds mainly on insects, worms and other invertebrates.
PYGMY SHREW
The Latin name for this shrew is Sorex minutus.
This shrew can grow up to 6cm in length, plus a tail of up to 6.8cm. It is rather mouse-like, but with a pointed snout and velvety fur.
It lives in the runs and burrows of other mammals, and is usually hidden by vegetation. It can be an aggressive creature which is frequently heard squeaking.
It has litters of 2-8 young, which are born in an underground nest. It usually has 2 litters a year between April and August.
$A10MOLE
The Latin name for the mole is Talpa europaea.
A mole is a small mammal characterised by a pointed snout, tiny eyes, soft, black, thick, velvety fur, short legs, broad flat feet and long powerful claws which are situated on the front pair of legs. It can grow up to 16cm long.
Moles are indigenous to Europe, Asia and North America. This voracious animal digs below the surface of the ground for it's food, which consists of earthworms and insect larvae. They are capable of digging rapidly, using their powerful forefeet and claws to push the earth back behind them. Close to the surface of the ground, moles construct their elaborate burrows with many chambers. Their burrowing often produces ridges on the surface called molehills.
Their breeding season is short, commencing in late February, with a gestation period of 4 weeks.
Moles spend most of their lives underground. Their eyes are almost useless but they have good hearing and very sensitive noses for finding food.
$B1WOODPIGEON
The Latin name for the woodpigeon is Columba palumbus.
The woodpigeon is a familiar, plump bird which is very common across the whole of Europe, appearing in woodlands, gardens and parkland, whether in an urban or a rural situation.
It is about 33cm long, bluish-grey above, with black markings on the wings and a whitish rump; below, it is purplish on the breast and bluish on the abdomen. They have a small head, broad wings and a long tail. The wings have distinctive white bars when in flight. The bill has a dull reddish base and a yellow tip. The eye is pale yellow and the feet and legs are pink.
Woodpigeons are very prolific birds, producing youngsters from March through to late November if the weather is suitable. The call is a monotonous and familiar 'coo-coo-coo, cu-coo", repeated endlessly during the breeding season.
$B2SWIFT
The Latin name for the swift is Apus apus.
The swift is a familiar, dark torpedo of a bird, common in the summer months across the whole of Europe. It arrives in Europe in late April from African wintering quarters, and will stay in Europe until late August or early September, before undertaking its massive journey back southwards.
The swift superficially resembles the swallow. It is a smallish bird with a body length of 16-17cm. It has a short bill, a wide, gaping mouth for feeding on insects, small, weak feet, long, crescent-shaped wings and a dark brown plumage. It has a harsh screaming call uttered by parties of birds in chasing flight.
Swifts nest along vertical surfaces, building their nests of various materials glued together with a cement-like substance secreted by their salivary glands.
They lay 2 or 3 eggs, which are dull white, between March and June.
$B3BLACKBIRD
The Latin name for the blackbird is Turdus merula.
The blackbird is a common name for a wide variety of birds with mainly black plumage. The common blackbird is a member of the thrush family.
It is a familiar medium-sized bird with a body length of 24-26cm. The male is all black apart from the yellow bill and eye-ring, whilst the female is browner, with a speckled breast and duller yellow bill.
The blackbird eats berries of all sorts from hedgerows or bushes, but it is basically a ground feeder, turning over dead leaves and other litter to get to spiders and insects. It also eats worms and small molluscs etc.
The male has a strong, melodious song ('tchook-tchook') and when startled has a characteristic rattle.
The female lays 3 to 5 eggs which are greenish-blue with underlying grey marks freckled with reddish-brown.
It's nest is rather bulky with a foundation of moss and grasses with a mud cup further lined with finer grasses. The nest is usually found in hedges and shrubs.
$B4STARLING
The starling is a common name applied to most species of a large and diverse family of passerine birds; some are called mynas. Starlings are widespread breeders throughout the continent, from northern Scandinavia to many Mediterranean countries and, of course, Britain and Ireland.
The adult male and female common starling attain a length of about 21.5cm. Juvenile birds are a uniform mousy brown in colour. In late summer and autumn, they moult into an essentially adult plumage, glossy green and purple almost concealed by large buff-white spots at the tips of all the body feathers. During the winter these pale tips wear away, revealing the iridescent plumage below. Males and females are similar in plumage colour, but adult males have long hackle feathers on the breast; these are shorter in females and even shorter in yearling starlings. The bill is dark brown in winter, but turns yellow as spring approaches. A spot at the base of the bill provides the only colour difference between the sexes, bluish in males, reddish in females.
It is an abundant and conspicuous species, often nesting around houses, and regularly visiting lawns and bird-tables for food.
It's call is a grating 'tcheer', which is a mixture of whistles, clicks and chuckles.
$B5ROBIN
The Latin name for the robin is Erithacus rubecula.
The robin is technically a chat thrush, not a true thrush. It is a familiar, smallish, dumpy bird with no neck and a body length of 13-15cm. Male and females are identical with a general colour of olive-brown, and a characteristic red-orange breast. The wings are slightly darker brown and the tail often appears darker towards the tip. The underparts, from below the breast, are off-white. The bill is short, relatively fine and black.
The robin has a ticking call and a thin warbling song.
It feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrate animals, and is often seen feeding from bird-tables in the garden.
Robins are aggressively territorial, and males attack any intruders. The species ranges from Siberia to North Africa and, depending on it's location, may migrate short distances during the year.
The robin's habitat is in gardens, hedgerows and woodlands with plenty of undergrowth. Their nests are built of moss, rootlets and dry grass, lined with hair.
They lay 5 to 7 eggs between March and April which are whitish in colour with light red freckles.
$B6MAGPIE
The Latin name for the magpie is Pica pica.
The magpie is a common name for any of several passerine birds of the crow family.
Magpies are strikingly marked in black and white, with long, graduated, black tails. The body length is 42-50cm. Male and females are identical. Like most members of the crow family, when on the ground it usually walks, but when attracted by some object it hops quickly to investigate. It does this with a sideways motion with the wings slightly open and the tail elevated.
These are birds of open, partly wooded or farm country. Their bulky nests are composed mostly of sticks and are built in trees.
They lay six to nine eggs, which are variable in colour, usually greenish-blue with darker markings.
They are scavengers and minor predators, eating carrion, eggs, young birds and almost anything else.
They have a harsh, chattering 'aah-aah-aah-aah' call.
$B7CHAFFINCH
The Latin name for the chaffinch is Fringilla coelebs.
The chaffinch is the European songbird and is the most common finch in western Europe.
They are a small to medium bird with a body length of 14-16cm. The male has a slate-blue crown and nape, chestnut back, greenish rump and pink to rust face and breast. It's shoulders have white wing bars and in flight the white outer tail feathers show. The female is light olive-brown above, paler below.
Chaffinches nest in woods, hedges or gardens. They lay 4 to 5 eggs between April and May, these are light brown with a few smudgy spots and streaks of dark brown.
Chaffinches do a lot of damage to fruit trees in the spring by eating the flower buds. Many migrate to southern or western Europe during the winter.
Young male chaffinches learn the song of adults near them. They have an attractive descending song and a distinctive 'pink-pink' call note.
$B8SONG THRUSH
The Latin name for this bird is Turdus philomelos.
The song thrush is a medium-sized bird with a body length of 22-24cm. Male and female are similar, brown above, with a pale breast strongly spotted with black, and a yellowish patch on the throat.
This bird is a familiar garden bird which is widespread and common throughout the whole of Europe. It is a regular visitor to gardens of almost any size, parks, hedges and woodland. It is often seen on lawns with it's head cocked on one side as if listening - it is in fact looking for signs of food.
This bird lays 4 to 5 eggs in March or April, which are blue, sparsely speckled and blotched with black.
Their nests are built of grass and roots and at times moss, leaves and twigs, with a smooth earth cup reinforced with small pieces of rotten wood.
$B9BLUE TIT
The Latin name for the blue tit is Parus caeruleus. The blue tit is sometimes referred to as the tom tit.
This is a tiny bird with a body length of 11-12cm. The adult blue tit has a sky-blue crown, contrasting strongly with the white and black of the rest of the head. A neat black line runs from the bill base, through the eye onto the rear crown, where it widens and dips down, before extending forwards to meet a neat black bib on the chin. The mantle and rump are lime-green and the tail is dull blue-grey. The wings are sky-blue with a thin white wing bar. The breast is lemon-yellow, with a black central streak on the belly. The legs and feet are bluish lead-grey.
This bird nests in holes in trees and walls, or finds suitable nest-boxes put up by humans.
It has a considerable variety of call notes, but most frequent is a 'tsee, tsee, tsee' often followed by a scolding 'churr'.
$B10GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
The Latin name for this bird is Dendrocopos major.
The great spotted woodpecker ranges over most of Europe and northern Asia except for Ireland and Iceland.
It is a handsome black-and-white bird with a red rump. The male also has a red patch at the back of the head. It's average body length is 22-24cm. This bird has a thick, pointed bill, graduated tail, 'reverse' toes and undulating flight.
Great spotted woodpeckers have an explosive, excited 'chick' call, mainly given in flight, and in spring have a very loud 'drum'-tapping on a tree at a rapid rate.
They lay 4 to 7 eggs in mid-May, which are white and glossy. They live in a hole bored into a tree trunk, usually 10-12ft above ground but often higher.
$C1BUTTERFLIES
PEACOCK:
The Latin name for the peacock butterfly is Inachis io.
The peacock is one of the most popular of all butterflies because of it's striking colouration and the conspicuous coloured 'eyes' on the wings resembling those on a peacock's tail feathers.
It has a wingspan of 50-60mm. Males and females are very similar. The wings are a deep reddish-brown, edged with a greyish border, and all four are marked with a 'peacock eye'. The wings are almost black on the underside.
This butterfly lives around farmsteads and in valleys and breeds on nettles. The peacock butterfly regularly visits flowering goat willows, where it sunbathes and sucks the nectar
from the blossoms.
The caterpillars of the peacock butterfly are a striking black with white spots, with branched spines over the whole body.
$C2BUTTERFLIES
COMMA:
The Latin name for this butterfly is Polygonia c-album.
This medium-sized butterfly has a deep jagged wing edge and a wingspan of 5-6cm. The male and female are similar, with tawny-orange wings above, marked with black and brown. The undersides are duller, usually a mottled brownish-orange colour. The white mark on the underside of the hindwing is the feature after which this species is named. There are seasonal variations, the first generation being lighter than the second generation.
The eggs of this butterfly are laid singly on stinging nettles and develop into brown and white caterpillars.
$C3BUTTERFLIES
LARGE (CABBAGE) WHITE
The Latin name for this butterfly is Pieris brassicae.
This butterfly is one of the most abundant butterflies in Europe. It thrives wherever vegetables are grown. The female is usually a little larger than the male, with more spots on the forewing. This butterfly flies throughout the summer.
The large white has a wingspan of 4.5-5cm. It has white wings, edged with black and the underwings are a pale unmarked yellow-grey.
The eggs of the large white are yellow and are laid in large batches on cabbages and related plants. They hatch out into a mass of mottled greyish-green caterpillars.
$C4BUTTERFLIES
BRIMSTONE
The Latin name for the brimstone is Gonepteryx rhamni.
This is a medium to large butterfly with a wingspan of about 6cm. The male is lemon-yellow without markings other than a reddish spot in the centre of the wings. The female is greenish white and can often be mistaken for a cabbage white butterfly. The wings are strongly curved, which helps to disguise the insect amongst the ivy leaves where it probably hibernates. It also hibernates in tree cavities, rock crevices and under stones.
On warm spring days, after hibernation, the adults emerge, flying widely in search of mates or food plants.
This butterfly lays it's eggs singly on leaves of buckthorn, which hatch into long, thin, greenish caterpillars with a white stripe.
$C5BUTTERFLIES
ORANGE-TIP:
The Latin name for this butterfly is Anthocharis cardamines.
This is a small to medium-sized butterfly which has a wingspan of 4-5cm. The male differs from the female by having an orange patch on the upperside of each forewing. The female lacks the orange, but both sexes have attractive marbled green and white underwings.
The eggs of the orange-tip are laid singly close to the flowers of lady's smock and garlic mustard. When the eggs are hatched they produce long, thin, smooth caterpillars that eventually turn green. The caterpillars feed from May till August on cruciferous plants.
This butterfly is a wanderer, rather than a migrant, and can colonise areas away from where it emerged.
$C6BUTTERFLIES
SMALL TORTOISESHELL
The Latin name for this butterfly is Aglais urticae.
The small tortoiseshell is a good flier, it ventures far afield in search of food. When the alpine meadows are in bloom it visits them in groups of up to 20 butterflies at a time. The adult butterflies hibernate during the winter and may be found in cellars, corridors and attics.
This is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of 5-6cm. Both sexes are similar, with three black bars on the leading edge of the forewing, and a series of variable blue marks inside the margins of the orangey red wings. The outer edges of the wings are sculpted to a point and the underside of the wings are dark, especially towards the base.
The eggs from this butterfly are laid on stinging nettles in sunny places. These then hatch to produce clusters of yellow-black spiny caterpillars.
$C7BUTTERFLIES
RED ADMIRAL
The Latin name for the red admiral is Vanessa atalanta.
The red admiral is native to northern Africa and southern Europe, with it's range extending eastwards to central Asia.
This is a large and easily recognisable butterfly with a wingspan of up to 7.5cm.
The male and female are very similar. The wings are velvety-black, marked with a diagonal band of red or orange, plus patches of white. The undersides are similar but slightly duller.
The eggs of this butterfly are laid singly on nettles and produce solitary spiny caterpillars.
$C8BUTTERFLIES
HOLLY BLUE
The Latin name for the holly blue is Celastrina argiolus.
This is a small attractive butterfly with a wingspan of about 3.5cm. The wings have pale lilac-blue uppers and paler undersides. Females have more black on the apex and margins, and in the second generation are thickly marked in black.
These butterflies are often seen around shrubs in spring and late summer.
Eggs are laid on holly in spring, then the females from that generation lay on ivy, or occasionally other shrubs. The caterpillars are green and rather slug-like.
$C9BUTTERFLIES
PAINTED LADY
The Latin name for this butterfly is Cynthia cardui.
The painted lady is a large butterfly with a wingspan of 6-7cm. The forewing has dark tips and bold white marks. The rest of the wings are orange with grey and black marks and blue spots near the margin of the hindwing. The undersides are mottled. The male is slightly smaller than the female.
Eggs from the painted lady are laid singly, most commonly on thistles, where the spiny black and yellow caterpillar eventually makes itself a web tent.
$C10BUTTERFLIES
GREEN-VEINED WHITE
The Latin name for this butterfly is Pieris napi.
This butterfly is one of the first spring butterflies. It is generally distributed in the wild from northern Africa, through Europe and Asia, to Japan.
The green-veined white is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 5cm. The undersides of this butterfly have broad greyish-green stripes along most of the veins, especially in the spring generation. The female has more spots on the forewing than the male.
It flies from April to September. It lays it's eggs singly on wild species of the cabbage family, such as lady's smock or garlic mustard.
This butterfly prefers damp habitats such as meadows, fields and waysides, where it's caterpillar plant food exists.
$D1MOTHS
POPLAR HAWKMOTH
The Latin name for this moth is Laothoe populi.
Hawkmoths are amongst the largest moths in the world. They include some 1000 species, most of them native to the tropics. Only about 20 species live in Europe. The Poplar Hawkmoth is distributed throughout all of Europe and Asia. It is found chiefly in lowland districts, but may also be present in mountains.
The Poplar Hawkmoth is a large, well-camouflaged moth with a wingspan of 7-9cm. The male and female are very similar, with marbled brownish-grey wings, occasionally pinkish, with orange-red patches at the base of the hindwings.
The caterpillars are large and impressive, with a length of up to 6cm. They are green with diagonal stripes and a spike on the 8th segment. The caterpillar lives on poplar and willow trees.
$D2MOTHS
EYED HAWKMOTH
The Latin name for this moth is Smerinthus ocellata.
The Eyed Hawkmoth is distributed in Europe and western Asia, where it inhabits riparian forests and shoreline vegetation. It may also be found in city parks, orchards and vinyards.
This is a large moth with a wingspan of 7-9cm. The uppersides of the forewings are marbled brown The underwings are orange-pink with striking blue and grey 'eyes'.
The caterpillar is large and green with diagonal stripes. One feature that distinguishes it from caterpillars of other species is the blue 'horn' on the hind end. It feeds on the leaves of the apple and the sallow tree, usually upside down.
$D3MOTHS
WINTER MOTH
The Latin name for this moth is Operophtera brumata.
The winter moth is found in forests throughout Eurasia and is considered to be a pest in forests and fruit orchards because the caterpillar often strips the tree of it's bark.
These moths are on the wing in late autumn during the period of frost, snow and sleet.
This is a small moth, with a marked difference between the sexes. The male has a wingspan of 3-4cm and is lightly marked with brown and yellow. The female is virtually wingless, and incapable of flight. It moves around by crawling up the trunks of fruit trees to lay eggs in the buds. In the daytime it hides in the grass at the foot of a tree.
$D4MOTHS
MAGPIE MOTH
The Latin name for the Magpie moth is Abraxas grossulariata.
The Magpie moth is a small to medium moth with a wingspan of 3.5-4.5cm. The wings are white, blotched and spotted with black and yellow in a variable pattern. Both adults and caterpillars are highly unpalatable to potential predators, and their bright colours serve as a warning.
The caterpillar is striped in a similar colour and feeds on currant, gooseberry, plum, apple and other shrubs. It develops between August and the autumn, then hibernates and completes its development the following spring. It pupates in a spun-up leaf.
$D5MOTHS
LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING
The Latin name for this moth is Noctua pronuba.
The Large Yellow Underwing is a nocturnal moth, foraging for food in the evening and then flying about the countryside. It is attracted to bright lights in the period from shortly before midnight until morning.
This is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan of 5 to 5.5cm. The male has dark forewings, the female's being paler. The forewings are a dull mottled brown or yellow. The hindwings are bright yellow-orange with a brown border.
The caterpillars are brown or green, with rows of tapering short dark stripes. They feed on many different herbaceous plants throughout the winter. They hibernate when fully grown.
$D6MOTHS
SYCAMORE MOTH
The Latin name for this butterfly is Acronicta aceris.
The Sycamore and Poplar moth are much alike.
This is a medium to small moth with a wingspan of 4 to 4.5cm. The forewings are greyish or sometimes brown, which are marbled with white. The underwings are white veined with grey-brown. The female has a stouter body than the male.
This moth flies at night from June to September.
The caterpillars have long yellow and orange hairs, and a line of black-edged white dots along the back. They feed on sycamore, maple, horse chestnut and other trees throughout August and September.
$D7MOTHS
GARDEN TIGER
The Latin name for the Garden Tiger moth is Arctia caja.
This moth is brightly coloured, and is sometimes associated with butterflies. These colours, combined with a distinctive smell, warn predators such as birds that the moth is distasteful. Garden Tigers are generally common in open country, especially gardens, throughout the British Isles.
This moth has a wingspan of 5 to 7cm. Male and female are similar, though the male is slightly smaller, with a stout abdomen. Both have forewings that are boldly marked with brown and white, with the underwings being orange and black.
The distinctive caterpillars are reddish-brown and black with numerous long hairs. They feed on docks, stinging nettles and a wide range of herbaceous plants.
$D8MOTHS
PUSS MOTH
The Latin name for the Puss moth is Cerura vinula.
This moth is common and widespread, and can be found in parks and gardens with suitable trees.
This is a large moth with a wingspan of 6 to 7cm. The male differs from the female in size and also by having pectinate antennae. It has silvery-grey wings with darker marks and stripes. They also have a silver-grey, fluffy, hairy body.
The caterpillars are large and green, up to 7cm long, with a reddish face and darker camouflage markings and 2 long striped tails. They feed from June until September on willow and poplar trees.
$D9MOTHS
PALE TUSSOCK
The Latin name for this moth is Calliteara pudibunda.
This is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan of about 4 to 5cm. The male and female are greyish-white, hairy and banded with pale brown.
The Pale Tussock flies at night throughout May and June.
The caterpillars are very distinctive, being yellow or green, with numerous long hairs which include four brushes of yellow hair and one tuft of orange hair. They feed on most deciduous trees, for example oak and birch.
$D10MOTHS
RED UNDERWING
The Latin name for this moth is Catocala nupta.
This moth is found mostly in forests beside streams, as well as calm waters, but also in rather damp mixed forests at altitudes of up to 1000m. This is one of the largest British moths which rests by day high up on tree trunks, or on posts and old walls.
The Red Underwing is a large moth with a wingspan of 7 to 8cm. The forewings are marbled and marked in browns and greys, sometimes with a pink tinge. The underwings are bright red and banded with black. These are flashed when the moth is disturbed and to warn predators away.
The caterpillars are long and thin, varying from yellow to grey, with a fringe of hair. This allows them to blend with twigs when they are stretched out. They feed in spring on poplar and willow trees.
Eggs are laid singly or in small clusters in cracks in the bark of tree trunks.
$E1COMMON FROG
The Latin name for the Common frog is Rana temporaria.
The frog is a common name for an amphibian. Frogs are native to all parts of the world, except Antarctica, but the greatest variety are found in tropical areas.
Frogs are small animals with a body length of up to 13cm. They are highly variable in colour, but are mostly greenish-yellow to brown, blotched darker with a whitish belly. They have smooth, moist skin and bulging eyes that can see in almost any direction. They also have external eardrums behind the eyes. Most species have long hind legs that enable them to make great leaps. They also have webbed feet which makes them excellent swimmers.
Their eggs are laid very early in the year, from January onwards, in jelly-covered masses. They then turn into tadpoles. The tadpoles gradually develop legs and their tails shrink. They develop lungs instead of gills and become adult frogs in about 3 years.
Common frogs feed on insects, grubs and slugs. They catch their food with a long sticky tongue, which is attached to the front of the mouth.
$E2COMMON TOAD
The Latin name for the Common toad is Bufo bufo.
The toad is a frog-like amphibian that is usually distinguished from frogs by the roughness of the skin and by shorter hind legs.
Toads are shy, usually nocturnal animals, hiding during the day in dark, damp places and hopping about at night in search of insects, grubs, slugs, worms and other invertebrates.
The females may reach about 14cm and the male 9cm. Toads are often brownish or greyish in colour and have warty skin, a flat head, swollen parotid glands on the side of the neck behind the eyes, bright, jewel-like eyes with a transverse pupil, and slightly webbed toes. They are often stouter than frogs and cannot leap as far. The tongue of the toad is attached to the front of it's mouth.
When the toad catches its prey the tongue is flicked forward from the mouth and the sticky tip grasps the prey and carries it back to the mouth. The tongue produces quantities of mucus to help in swallowing the prey.
$E3COMMON LIZARD
The Latin name for the Common lizard is Lacerta vivipara.
Lizard is a common name for a particular type of reptile. Lizards constitute the largest living group of reptiles, with more than 3,000 species in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.
This lizard is a typical smallish lizard with a total length of up to 17cm, though usually less. It is very variable in colour, most commonly brown or grey with numerous dark markings and stripes down the back, with a paler underside. They have dry, scaly skin and long tails.
The young are usually born live, although sometimes eggs are laid, depending on the area.
Lizards are common and widespread throughout much of the world, in a variety of habitats. They may enter gardens from nearby habitats, or may live in larger, suitable gardens.
$E4SMOOTH NEWT
The Latin name for the Smooth Newt is Triturus vulgaris.
This is also known as the Common newt. It is a medium-sized amphibian with a body length of 6 to 9cm, occasionally more. For most of the year the male and female have smooth, velvety skin. During the breeding season in spring, the male becomes crested and more strongly marked with black blotches and a yellow belly. The female is duller, and does not become crested.
Eggs are laid singly on aquatic plants, which eventually hatch into tadpoles.
The Smooth newt often appears in garden ponds, being most visible in the breeding season, especially at night.
$E5WALL LIZARD
The Latin name for this lizard is Podarcis muralis.
This is a medium sized lizard with a total body length of up to 20cm, though usually less. It is usually some shade of brownish-grey, mottled and striped with darker and lighter markings. This lizard tends to have a larger head and legs compared to the Common lizard.
It lays eggs rather than bearing live young and most commonly lives in holes in walls and banks.
$E6GRASS SNAKE
The Latin name for the Grass snake is Natrix natrix.
The Grass snake is the most common snake in Europe (though it is absent in Ireland and Scotland). This snake is quite harmless.
It grows as long as 120cm, or sometimes even to 2m, and has rough, ridged, or keeled scales for climbing. It is variable in colour, usually greenish-grey or greenish-brown above, with rows of dots or short stripes down the back. The throat is white or pale yellow, with a conspicuous yellowish collar behind the head.
Grass snakes differ from most snakes in that they lay eggs instead of giving birth to living young. The eggs are often laid on compost heaps, because they are warm and sheltered. When the snakes hatch they can often be seen in the garden.
An American Green snake and a striped variety of Garter snake are also sometimes called Grass snakes.
$E7ADDER
The Latin name for the adder is Vipera berus.
One of the best-known adders is the Common adder, also known as the Common European viper. Like all vipers, the Common adder is venomous, but it is less aggressive than most venomous snakes and it's bite is rarely fatal to humans. This reptile is the only venomous snake found in Great Britain and is the only snake found in Scotland.
The Common adder usually grows to a length of 65cm and occasionally reaches 90cm. Adult males are usually pale grey with a contrasting black pattern of zig-zag stripes. Females may be brown or reddish-brown with a dark-brown pattern of zigzag stripes. Individuals from some populations may be entirely black.
The Common adder preys heavily on small rodents, but it also eats lizards.
Adders live in a variety of habitats including moors, bogs, open woods, moist meadows and hedgerows. The Common adder is found in lowlands and in mountainous regions up to about 3,000 m.
$E8SLOW WORM
The Latin name for the Slow worm is Anguis fragilis.
The Slow worm is a common name for a limbless, snake-like lizard. The Slow worm is also called the Blindworm.
It has scaly eyelids that are movable and it's eyes are small but useful. It varies in colour from grey-brown to a reddish colour, usually appearing shiny due to the scales covering the body. The female has a black stripe down her back. When frightened, this harmless reptile with a feeble bite becomes rigid, and it's tail becomes so brittle that it will snap off if seized, enabling the lizard to escape. It rarely exceeds 30.5cm in length. The female bears between 8 and 25 live young around midsummer.
This reptile feeds on slugs, flies and other invertebrates. It enters gardens, often living in compost heaps, under corrugated iron or in stony banks.
The Slow worm is found throughout most of Europe and is also known in North Africa and western Asia.
$E9MIDWIFE TOAD
The Latin name for the Midwife toad is Alytes obstetricans.
It is a member of the primitive frog family. This species occurs only in Europe, from Belgium into Spain, and has been introduced into England. It is found from sea level up to 2,000m.
Midwife toads are the most terrestrial members of the toad family. In contrast to most frogs, midwife toads breed on land, not water, and the males carry and care for the eggs.
During the breeding season from April to August, the male attracts a female by calling from his refuge under a rock or from a burrow in the ground. When a female appears, the male clasps her with his front legs and strokes her with his hind legs, inducing her to lay 20 to 60 eggs in a string. The male then fertilizes the eggs as they are extruded by pushing his hindlegs through the egg mass until the strings become entangled around his thighs.
He emerges from his hiding place at night to moisten them by entering the water or allowing dew to condense on them. In about a month the male enters the water, where the tadpoles hatch and complete their development.
$E10CHAMELEON
Chameleons are lizards that dwell in trees. They are noted for their ability to change colour in response to light and heat. The range of colours is limited to shades of green, yellow or brown.
The males often have horns, crests or flaps on their heads. The lizards range in length from less than 7.5 cm to 60cm, depending on the species. They have a long, flattened body and a prehensile tail that serves as an extra limb. The hind foot has two toes on the inside and three on the outside. The forefoot has the opposite arrangement. The chameleon's protruding eyes are almost completely covered by eyelids, leaving only a narrow opening. The eyes can rotate independently in a complete hemisphere. It has a remarkably long, sticky tongue, which darts out to catch insects.
Most species feed on insects, but a few large species eat birds and small rodents. Chameleons develop and hatch their eggs outside the body, but a few species produce living young within the body.
$F1CRANE-FLY
The Latin name for the Crane fly is Tipula paludosa.
The Crane Fly is also known as the Daddy Long-legs. It is a common name for several families of large, slender-legged, mosquito-like flies, including the Crane fly. There are over 290 species of Crane fly in Britain.
In the larger species, the body is about 2.5cm long and the legs about 3.8 cm long. The wings of Crane flies are generally clear, but are sometimes beautifully marked. The body is greyish-brown.
These flies appear, often in swarms, in late summer. They can be seen in meadows and pastureland. The adults normally fly after dark in summer and autumn.
The female deposits hundreds of small, black eggs, from which larvae hatch about two weeks later. The larvae of most species (also known as leather jackets) live in the earth, but some live in water, in decomposed wood or upon leaves of plants. They eat the roots of plants.
$F2COMMON HOVERFLY
The latin name for this fly is Syrphus Ribesii.
There are over 230 species of hoverfly in Britain. They are given their name because they have a habit of hovering while awaiting the females. Some species make a humming or droning sound while they are hovering. Most adults visit flowers for nectar or pollen, and are sometimes called Flower-flies.
This species of fly is relatively large, with a body length of 1-1.5cm. It's thorax is black with brown hair, and the abdomen is strongly marked with yellow stripes on black; this means it can easily be mistaken for a wasp at a glance.
The larvae are rather like small slugs, which when hatched immediately attack aphides such as greenfly, eating up to fifty a day. The larvae are so transparent that their digestive tubes can be seen.
$F3BLUEBOTTLE
The Latin name for the Bluebottle is Calliphora vomitoria.
Also known as the Blow fly, this fly is a very abundant house pest. They are found throughout the year, and are frequently seen flying around indoors.
It is a medium sized fly, about 1cm long. The abdomen is metallic blue and hairy.
The females lay large numbers of eggs and are often searching urgently for suitable places to lay them. The eggs are usually laid on some kind of meat or any available food. Both eggs and larvae need damp conditions, and so the larvae often travel a long distance to find drier conditions for pupating. The larvae are more commonly known as maggots.
$F4GREENBOTTLE
The Latin name for the Greenbottle is Lucilia caesar.
This is a very common fly which can be found throughout the country in gardens and woodland, from April to October.
This fly has a striking metallic green body, with little hair. The green colour may gradually change to reddish-copper as the insect ages. The male spends most of his time feeding at flowers, or basking in the sun.
The Greenbottles mainly lay their eggs in rotting carcasses, seeking the soft parts that are shaded from the sun.
$F5FLESH FLY
The Latin name for the Flesh fly is Sarcophaga carnaria.
Flesh Flies are found in dung and carrion and in the living tissues of humans and other animals. Flesh flies, sometimes called Meat flies, resemble large houseflies.
This is a large fly with a body length of about 1.5cm. It is grey to black, and is marked with longitudinal stripes on the thorax and abdomen, both segments being very bristly. The feet are noticeably large.
Most lay eggs, but in a few species the eggs are retained in the abdomen of the female until they hatch. The larvae develop for about a day, then burrow in meat for a week to ten days before entering the two-week pupal stage. The larvae (maggot) emits a liquid in which they live,and they are protected from drowning in the food by specially adapted breathing holes.
$F6MOSQUITO
The Latin name for the mosquito is Culiseta annulata.
There are fifty British species of this family, many of them called gnats. They are found from the tropics to the Arctic Circle and from lowlands to the peaks of high mountains.
Mosquitoes have long, slender wings and are unusual among flies in having small scales over most of the wing veins. The body is narrow, with a body length of 6-7mm. Both the body and legs are white-banded, while the wings are distinctively spotted. The long antennae (feelers) have numerous whorls of hair which are short in the female and long and bushy in the male.
The mouthparts of the female are long and are adapted for piercing and for sucking blood. They feed mostly on the blood of warm-blooded animals. The male has rudimentary mouthparts. When they bite, they inject some of their salivary fluid into the wound, causing swelling and irritation. This may contain infectious micro-organisms which transmit such diseases as malaria, yellow fever, dengue and filariasis.
This species passes the winter as an adult, often in outbuildings, from which it may emerge to feed on warmer winter days.
$F7NARCISSUS FLY
The Latin name for this fly is Merodon equestris.
These flies appear in a variety of forms which resemble various bumble bees.
They are a medium to large hoverfly, with a body length up to 1.4cm. They are brown, hairy and variable in colour.
In spring the males fly low and hover over short tufted grass and woodland tracks, awaiting the females. After mating the female lays her eggs at the base of a bulbous plant, such as bluebell and daffodil. The larvae then burrow into the bulbous base of the plant and feed on it. They pupate in the soil either late in the autumn or the following spring.
Adults are to be seen in greenhouses as early as February and fly out-of-doors from April to late August.
$F8DRONE-FLY
The Latin name for this fly is Eristalis tenax.
This fly, which is found in most parts of the world, resembles the honey-bee, although it has 2 wings instead of 4.
This is a medium-sized hoverfly with a body length of 1.2-1.4cm.
The adults hover frequently, and can often be seen in sunny sheltered areas, especially where flowers are abundant.
The white eggs are laid near manure heaps or on the edge of stagnant water; this is where the larvae migrate. The larvae swim freely, breathing through their tails, which can be extended to 6 inches to reach the water surface. They move to drier earth to pupate. The larvae are also known as 'Rat-tailed maggots'.
Drone flies can be seen throughout the year, for some over-winter in places such as caves and hollow trees.
$F9COMMON HOUSE-FLY
The Latin name for this fly is Musca domestica.
Houseflies are major pests. Each fly may carry as many as 6 million bacteria on its feet. If it has recently walked in excrement, it may transmit pathogens causing typhoid, cholera, dysentery, leprosy, poliomyelitis and infectious hepatitis, as well as the eggs of parasitic worms.
The housefly is a small fly, up to 9mm long, greyish, with orange-buff on the abdomen. It is often found in and around human habitations.
Each adult female fly lays several hundred eggs in decaying vegetable matter, including manure, compost, and household waste. The larvae, or maggots, may complete their growth in as little as one week, with five more days spent in the pupal stage. Six or more generations may hatch in a single summer, resulting in a vast number of flies.
This fly may be seen in any month in warmer parts of Europe, but is most common from June-October.
$F10NOON-FLY
The Latin name for this fly is Mesembrina meridiana.
This is a medium to large fly with a body length of 1.3 to 1.5cm. The body is black and hairy, the base of the wings are orange-yellow and are readily visible.
The adults visit flowers for nectar, especially umbellifers such as angelica. They are often seen sunbathing in clusters on walls or tree trunks.
The larvae feed on decaying matter.
$G1COMMON WASP
The Latin name for the Common wasp is Vespula vulgaris.
This is a social wasp, making nests in the ground or in attics and outhouses. It visits houses and gardens for fruit and other sweet foods. Wasps are colonial, with a single overwintered queen building up a papery nest, which may eventually enlarge to contain several thousand individuals. The nest is otherwise known as a comb. In this comb are single layers of cells, in each of which an egg is laid. When these hatch, the queen works hard feeding them with chewed up flies.
This wasp has a black 'anchor', three black dots on the front of the head and a black triangle on the abdomen.
$G2HORNET
The Latin name for the hornet is Vespa crabro.
This wasp is perhaps the most docile as well as being the rarest of British social wasps. It is found only in well timbered districts.
This is a wasp-like insect with a body length of about 3cm. The body is mainly banded yellow and red, with some black.
Hornet is a name commonly applied to members of a group of social wasps that make nests of papery material composed of chewed plant foliage and wood. The nest is often surrounded by an egg-shaped paper envelope. Annual colonies are constructed in buildings or hollow trees. The same site may be used several years running.
$G3HONEYBEE
The Latin name for the honey-bee is Apis mellifera.
The honey-bee is a social, honey-producing bee. It is recognised as the most economically valuable of all insects. This reputation commonly rests on it's production of honey and beeswax. The honey-bee's greatest usefulness, however, is actually in the pollination of crops, including fruits, nuts, vegetables and forage crops.
There are three types of honey-bee:
The Queen
The queen is the only sexually productive female in the community, so is the mother of all drones, workers and future queens. Her capacity for laying eggs is outstanding, producing up to 1,500 eggs per day, the weight of which is equal to that of her own body.
The Worker Bee
The worker bees outnumber the drones at all times. During the spring, the number of worker bees ranges from 8,000 to 15,000 and by early summer the number may total more than 80,000. Although lacking the ability to mate and reproduce, the workers secrete wax, build the honeycomb, gather nectar, pollen and water, convert the nectar into honey, clean the hive and, when necessary, defend it.
The Drone Bee
The drone honeybee is stingless and defenceless; it has no pollen baskets or wax glands, and cannot secrete royal jelly. It's one function is to mate with new queens. After mating, which always takes place on the wing in the open air, the drone dies immediately.
$G4BUMBLE BEE
The Latin name for the bumble-bee is Bombus pascuorum.
The bumble-bee is a large insect with a body length of 1.5 to 2.5cm. It is broad and very hairy, marked with a combination of black, brown, white and yellow. Some species are conspicuously orange-tailed.
They appear in annual colonies. No store of honey is laid up for the winter. Only the young fertilised queens survive the winter, and each starts up her own colony the following year. They live in holes in the ground, or under garden sheds, with numbers building up according to food supply and the weather.
$G5FLOWER BEE
The Latin name for this bee is Anthophora retusa.
This is a largish bee with a body length of 1.5cm or more. It is broad and hairy, black and brown. The female has conspicuous orange-haired pollen baskets on her hind legs. The males have long, hairy legs.
These bees are among the earliest to be seen in the spring, and can easily be mistaken for bumble bees.
They nest in the ground and will also burrow into walls.
$G6VIOLET CARPENTER BEE
The Latin name for this bee is Xylocopa violacea.
This is a large bee, with a body length of about 2cm. It is hairy and blackish-purple in colour. The wings have an attractive blue-violet tint.
It flies by day, constantly visiting flowers for nectar, and is on the wing most of the summer.
Although it can sting, the species is generally harmless. The nest is a burrow excavated in wood.
$G7LEAF-CUTTER BEE
The Latin name for this bee is Megachile centuncularis.
This insect resembles the honey-bee, though it is rather hairier, and the female has orange hairs under the abdomen.
The female cuts semi-circular notches in leaves, especially rose leaves, and carries them back to her nest. There she rolls them up into a hollow cylinder. She then seals the bottom with a piece of leaf, puts in a supply of honey and pollen, lays an egg, and then seals off the cell on top. This continues until the cylinder is full. She then leaves the burrow and dies. The nest itself is usually in rotting wood.
$G8YELLOW OPHION
The Latin name for this wasp is Ophion luteus.
This is a large parasitic wasp with a body length of 1.5 to 2cm and a wingspan of 3cm. The body is yellowish-brown, with the characteristic 'waisted' shape of the wasp relatives.
The adults appear in late summer, lasting through the autumn. They fly during the night, often flying into houses as they are attracted to the light.
The female lays her eggs in the caterpillars of various moths, for example, Sycamore moth and Puss moth. The larvae then eats the caterpillar.
$G9PARASITIC WASP
The Latin name for this wasp is Apanteles glomeratus.
This is a little black insect which can be seen in summer among cabbage patches, seeking out caterpillars of the large white butterfly in which it lays it's eggs. It can lay up to 150 eggs at a time in the caterpillar, these then hatch into tiny larvae that gradually eat their hosts. Eventually, the larvae emerge and pupate in yellow cocoons around the remains of the caterpillar. These cocoons can be seen in masses on adjacent walls and fences.
$G10TAWNY MINING BEE
The Latin name for this bee is Andrena fulva.
Mining bees look rather like honey bees, though most are smaller than the honey bee. They have shorter tongues than most bees. Most prepare cells for their eggs by mining in sand or earth, hence the name.
This attractive little bee has a yellowish-brown hairy body, about 1cm long. The male is rather smaller and darker.
The female digs a burrow to lay her eggs, sometimes up to 60cm deep. She does this by pulling the earth backwards with her fore feet then brushing it out with her hind feet. She makes a cell at the end of the tunnel, filling it with a ball of honey and pollen. She does this by making several trips, carrying half her own weight in pollen. She then lays an egg on the ball and closes the cell. She makes three to six cells in all, and then comes to the surface and dies.
This species is harmless, and does not sting. It spends most of it's time foraging for nectar on the flowers of garden plants.
$H1VIOLET GROUND BEETLE
The Latin name for this beetle is Carabus violaceus.
This is a large, flightless and very active beetle with a body length of about 2.5cm. It is a rather slender insect, with dark blue-black wing-cases and a violet-edged thorax.
It is found almost everywhere, especially from June to August.
By night it attacks and devours animals such as earth-worms, and in the daytime it lurks under moss, bark, stones and logs.
The species passes the winter as a carnivorous larva.
$H2COMMON GROUND BEETLE
The Latin name for the Ground beetle is Nebria brevicollis.
This is a small beetle with a body length of about 1cm, sometimes slightly more. The body and wing-cases are shiny black and the legs are reddish-brown.
This is a nocturnal predator, which hides under stones or wood during the day. It may appear at any time, but is most likely to be seen during April-June and August-October. The beetle has powerful legs which are adapted for running down their prey. They have five joints to all their feet. The sexes are usually very similar. The larvae are actively carnivorous.
$H3SEXTON BEETLE
The Latin name for the Sexton is Nicrophorus vespillo.
This beetle is found throughout Britain, except the far north, though it is rarely very common.
This is a distinctive, medium-sized beetle with a body length of about 2cm. The wing-cases are shiny black, marked with orange-red transverse bands. They also have a fringe of yellow hair on the front margin of the thorax.
The adults gather at corpses of small creatures, which they bury. They do this by scraping away the soil beneath it, or, if the ground is too hard, they move it to a more suitable place by getting underneath it, turning on their backs, grasping it with their jaws, and pushing. The eggs are then laid into chambers, stocked with carrion, and the larvae eventually move to the corpse as they grow.
$H4DEVIL'S COACH-HORSE
The Latin name for this beetle is Staphylinus olens.
This beetle can be found in all parts of Britain but most frequently in open country, including cultivated land. It is mainly nocturnal, spending nearly all day hiding under stones, loose bark and among the roots of plants. On fine days it may be seen running on paths.
This is a long, thin beetle with a body length of 2 to 3cm. It has a narrow, black, hairy body, with short wing-cases. When alarmed, the beetle opens its jaws wide and raises its tail over its back in a defensive attitude.
$H5STAG BEETLE
The Latin name for the Stag beetle is Lucanus cervus.
This species is only found in the southern half of England.
This is a very large beetle, with the male reaching up to 6-7cm in length, the female being slightly smaller. They both have black bodies with reddish-brown wing-cases. The male has large distinctive antlers, which are used for grappling with other males.
The big larvae live for several years in the roots of rotting stumps.
The adults emerge in May or June and can be seen until July. They fly from dusk onwards on humid nights and may be attracted to artificial light.
$H6LESSER STAG BEETLE
The Latin name for this beetle is Dorcus parallelipipedus.
This is a medium to large, slender beetle, with a body length of 3 to 4cm. The male's fore-parts are broad and dull, whereas the female's are narrow and shiny. They are both black in colour.
It lives with it's larvae in rotten wood, mainly beech, elm and ash.
It is most commonly seen from April to October.
$H7DOR BEETLE
The Latin name for this beetle is Geotrupes stercorarius.
The word 'dor' comes from an old word meaning 'drone', for in the evening this beetle has a humming flight. This species is often badly infested with mites, giving it the alternative common name of Lousy Watchman. It is a regular visitor to gardens.
It is a medium to large beetle with a body length of about 2cm. The body is shiny black above, with ridged wing-cases. It's hairy underside is a bright metallic blue, green, violet or copper.
Both sexes burrow under dung, usually cow dung, and accumulate a store of it at the end of the burrow, in which the eggs are laid. The larvae then feed on the dung.
$H8COCKCHAFER BEETLE
The Latin name for this beetle is Melolontha melolontha.
This is also known as the 'May bug'.
The Cockchafer is a medium to large beetle with a body length of 2 to 3cm. The adult is a distinctive chestnut colour with a hairy abdomen. When newly born, the wing-cases are thickly powdered with white. The male has long fan-like clubs on the antennae.
Adults emerge in May. They rest in trees in the day and fly in the evening. At night they visit flowers and often enter lighted rooms.
The larvae live in the soil and feed on plant roots, occasionally becoming a pest.
$H9ROSE CHAFER BEETLE
The Latin name for this beetle is Cetonia aurata.
This is a medium sized beetle with a body length of 2 to 3cm. The adult is bright metallic green, sometimes tinged with copper.
It appears in early summer in the midlands and south of England on various flowers, especially roses (hence the name).
The larvae live in dead wood, especially willows and poplars, or other rotting material.
$H10BEETLES
LADYBIRDS:
Ladybird is a common name for any of the numerous related species of brightly coloured beetles.
The maximum length of the ladybird is less than 1.2cm. It has a nearly hemispherical body, rounded above and flat below, with a small head and short legs. Ladybirds are often red or orange above, spotted with black, white or yellow. Some species are black, with or without spots. The larvae are also brilliantly coloured, often blue, with stripes of orange or black.
7-SPOT LADYBIRD:
The Latin name for this ladybird is Coccinella 7-punctata.
This ladybird is common over the whole of Britain and is also one of the most characteristic of ladybirds.
It has a body length of 5 to 8mm, with bright red wing-cases with 7 black dots.
Some other types of ladybird include:
The Red marsh ladybird
The Two-spot ladybird
The Ten-spot ladybird
The Twenty-spot ladybird
The Eyed ladybird
The Streaked ladybird
$I1COMMON FIELD GRASSHOPPER
The Latin name for this grasshopper is Chorthippus brunneus.
Grasshopper is a common name for any of the winged orthopteran insects that have their hind legs adapted for jumping. They subsist on vegetation and are distributed throughout the world wherever vegetation grows.
The Common Field grasshopper is one of the largest and most common British grasshoppers. It has a wide range of habitats, for example, fields, dunes, open woodlands and city waste ground, but it mostly prefers dry situations. It is very active and a strong flier in hot sunshine.
It is a medium to large grasshopper, reaching about 3cm when mature. It is very variable in colour, though most often brown, green or grey, with wings that are longer than the body. Distinctive features are the sharply indented side keels on the thorax and a very hairy underside.
The call of this species is a brief burst of sound, repeated irregularly, which is heard from late June to mid-November, sometimes later.
$I2SPECKLED BUSH-CRICKET
The Latin name for this cricket is Leptophyes punctatissima.
Cricket is a common name for many species of insect characterized by the chirping call of the male. This is produced by rubbing a grooved ridge on the underside of one of the front wings against the sharp edge of the other.
Crickets have long antennae and hind legs adapted for jumping. Their hearing organs are located on the front legs. During the day, this solitary animal remains in crevices or shallow burrows dug in the soil. It emerges at night to feed on vegetation, aphids and other insects.
During the breeding season the male attracts a female with it's call, sometimes driving off other males that intrude on its territory. The female uses it's long, spear-like ovipositor to insert eggs into the soil or plant stems. The young, called nymphs, resemble the adults and reach full size after 6 to 12 months.
The Speckled Bush cricket is a medium sized, plump bush cricket with a body length of up to 2cm and antennae that are up to 2 to 3 times this length. The body is green and dotted all over with red or white. Both sexes have very short wings and are flightless.
It is common in wood borders, hedgerows, bramble thickets and nettle-beds, often appearing in gardens.
$I3HOUSE CRICKET
The Latin name for the House cricket is Acheta domesticus.
Cricket is a common name for many species of insect characterised by the chirping call of the male. This is produced by rubbing a grooved ridge on the underside of one of the front wings against the sharp edge of the other.
Crickets have long antennae and hind legs adapted for jumping. Their hearing organs are located on the front legs. During the day, the solitary animals remain in crevices or shallow burrows dug in the soil. They emerge at night to feed on vegetation, aphids and other insects.
During the breeding season the male attracts a female with it's call, sometimes driving off other males that intrude on its territory. The female uses her long, spear-like ovipositor to insert eggs into the soil or plant stems. The young, called nymphs, resemble the adults and reach full size after 6 to 12 months.
The House cricket is small with a body length of 1.5 to 2cm. It is brown with well developed wings and anntennae that are rather longer than the body. The call is a bird-like chirp which can often be mistaken for a bird. The call is mainly heard in the evening or through the night.
This species can be found in gardens, houses and rubbish-tips throughout much of Europe.
$I4OAK BUSH-CRICKET
The Latin name for this cricket is Meconema thalassinum.
This is the only British Bush-cricket to live in trees, especially oak. The adults hide among foliage by day, becoming active after dark, normally from August to November.
This is a small, slender Bush-cricket with a body length of about 1.5cm. Both sexes are green, with body-length wings that allow them to fly. The antennae are very long.
The only call is caused by the male drumming on leaves with his hind legs, but this is very faint.
The females usually lay their eggs in bark crevices and they hatch the following June.
$I5MEADOW GRASSHOPPER
The Latin name for this grasshopper is Chorthippus parallelus.
This is a small to medium grasshopper, with the female being noticeably larger than the male, reaching about 3cm. The colour varies from green to brown or occasionally purplish. They have short wings and are unable to fly.
Adults are found from the end of June to late October. The males produce a very short, chattering song on warm days and occasionally at night. This sound can be compared to an old-fashioned sewing machine, and lasts about 3 seconds.
They are frequently found in gardens where there is longer grass, especially if it is slightly damp.
$I6GARDEN SPIDER
The Latin name for the Garden spider is Araneus diadematus.
Spider is a common name for a species of arthropod animal having eight walking legs, head appendages bearing fangs and poison glands, and specialised reproductive organs on the second appendages of the male.
They commonly make extensive use of silk that they spin. Like other arachnid species, spiders are terrestrial, although a few have adapted to freshwater life by trapping air bubbles underwater and carrying the bubbles with them.
The Garden spider is one of the largest and most distinctive of spiders. It has a body length of over 1cm, with the female being slightly larger. They have a large round body which is marked with a white-dotted cross.
The numerous large, near-circular, orb webs hang from vegetation and sheds.
$I7DADDY LONG-LEGS SPIDER
The Latin name for this spider is Pholcus phalangioides.
This spider has an oval body, which can be up to 19mm long, with extremely long thin legs. It is greyish-brown, with yellow marks.
Its web is very untidy and is spun in the corners of sheds and rooms, where the spider sits upside-down waiting for prey.
This species is also known as the Cellar spider, which indicates one of its preferred habitats.
$I8COMMON HOUSE SPIDER
The Latin name for this spider is Tegenaria gigantea.
This is a large and conspicuous spider with a body length of up to 1.5cm, and long hairy legs. They have brown bodies, marked with a black herring-bone pattern.
They can move very fast, which often causes alarm when in a confined room.
Their webs are untidy and can be seen in the corners of rooms or sheds. The webs also have a funnel to which the spider can retreat.
$I9WOLF SPIDER
The Latin name for this spider is Pisaura mirabilis.
This is one of several species of Wolf spider with a body length of up to 1.5cm, and long stout legs. Their bodies are greyish-white which are marked with darker longitudinal stripes and patterns.
When the female lays her eggs she transports them in the form of a large white ball, which she does with her fangs. When the eggs start to hatch, she attaches the ball to a plant and covers the area with a silken cocoon, after which she stands guard.
They are mainly seen from May-August. They can be seen in gardens where there is rough herbage present.
$I10ZEBRA SPIDER
The Latin name for this spider is Salticus scenicus.
This is a small spider with a body length of about 5 to 7mm. Its body is oval with black and white stripes (hence the name). It has short legs which are also banded with black and white.
This species is a jumping spider, which builds no nests but stalks its prey and leaps onto it, which can be from a considerable distance. It can be found on sunny walls of sheds and houses. This is where the spider moves rapidly around in search of prey.
It is seen from May to September.
$J1LARGE RED DAMSELFLY
The Latin name for this damselfly is Pyrrhosoma nymphula.
Damselflies are slender, often brilliantly coloured insects and are fluttery in flight. They rest with their four wings held together above the back. The thorax of adults is rectangular and tilted 70 degrees to 80 degrees out of the body line. Adults feed on insects captured in flight. The nymphs are aquatic and have three leaf-like gills at the end of the abdomen.
The Large Red damselfly is common almost everywhere in the British Isles.
It is medium-sized, about 3cm long, and mainly red in colour, with some greenish to black markings and black legs. The male and female are similar, though the female has a black line and patterns along the abdomen and the male has red eyes.
They usually fly from early May to August, and can be found near still or flowing water, such as lakes and rivers.
The dark brown nymphs live and feed among water weeds, and usually take two years to complete their development.
$J2COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY
The Latin name for this damselfly is Enallagma cyathigerum.
Damselflies are slender, often brilliantly coloured insects and are fluttery in flight. They rest with their four wings held together above the back. The thorax of adults is rectangular and tilted 70 degrees to 80 degrees out of the body line. Adults feed on insects captured in flight. The nymphs are aquatic and have three leaf-like gills at the end of the abdomen.
The Common Blue damselfly is found throughout the British Isles, often far from water.
This is a medium sized damselfly with a body length of about 3cm. The male is pale blue with black markings along the abdomen, including a distinctive 'stalked ball' on the second segment from the thorax. The female tends to be duller and more greenish in colour.
Adults can be seen in flight from mid May through the summer.
Mating usually takes place near a bank, then the pair separate and the female lays her eggs. They often insert their eggs into plant stems below the surface of the water.
The nymphs are slim and hide among aquatic plants. They vary in colour, which adapts to match their surroundings. They take about a year to reach maturity.
$J3WOODLOUSE
The Latin name for the woodlouse is Oniscus asellus.
Woodlouse is a common name for a number of species of various terrestrial crustaceans. They are nocturnal animals and are found frequently in gardens, under stones or in any damp place. They feed on decaying animal or vegetable matter.
The woodlouse has a flattened body, reaching a body length of 1.5 to 2cm. It is greyish-brown in colour, usually with a paler 'fringe' surrounding the body, and sometimes marked with lighter spots. It has seven pairs of legs, with the respiratory organs being completely enfolded by perforated plates.
The female carries her young in a pouch below the body at first.
Some varieties, often known as Pill bugs, are capable of rolling themselves up into a ball when they are disturbed.
$J4MILLIPEDE
The Latin name for the millipede is Polydesmus angustus.
A millipede is a many-legged arthropod, which is found throughout the world.
Millipedes have segmented bodies with two pairs of legs on each of the 9 to 100 or more abdominal segments, and one pair on three of the four thoracic segments. Because of it's numerous legs, the millipede walks slowly, with a wave-like motion of the legs down the body. In length they range from about 0.2 to 23 cm. The largest North American species may reach a length of 10 cm.
Millipedes have a hard protective layer of calcium-containing chitin, two simple eyes, one pair of mandibles, two short antennae, and stink glands with secretions that repel or kill insect predators. Another protective strategy is to curl into a spiral or a ball when threatened.
These animals live in dark, damp places and feed on decaying plant life, sometimes damaging crops but also enriching the soil. They moult when they grow and may live for one to seven years.
$J5CENTIPEDE
The Latin name for the centipede is Lithobius forficatus.
The centipede is a common name for the member of a class of the arthropod phylum.
The centipede is a long, segmented animal with jointed appendages and a poisonous "bite" that in some species is dangerous to human beings.
The centipede's body is divided into well-marked segments, the number of which varies from 12 to more than 100. The body is shiny brown in colour. The head, which is covered by a flat shield above, bears a pair of antennae, usually of considerable length of from 12 to more than 100 joints, a pair of small, strong, toothed and bristly mandibles, and a pair of underjaws, usually with palps.
The next appendages are limb-like, and are followed by a pair of legs with strong joints, terminating in a sharp claw into which a poison gland opens. These appendages are used for seizing and killing prey. The two legs on each of the other segments are usually seven-jointed, sometimes bearing spurs and glands, and are generally clawed.
It is a voracious and active predator, hiding under stones and logs by day, and emerging at night.
$J6BLACK SLUG
The Latin name for the Black slug is Arion ater.
This slug is a mollusc, related to the snail, but with the shell represented by an internal horny plate. It may reach up to 15cm in length. It is commonly black, but may be brown, grey or pale creamy-orange, with an orange skirt around the base of the body.
Slugs eat vegetation and often climb trees in search of food, then let themselves down by means of a mucous thread spun from a gland opening on the front edge of the single foot. They may do extensive damage to cultivated plants and are particularly damaging in greenhouses and market gardens.
$J7GARDEN SLUG
The Latin name for the Garden slug is Arion hortensis.
This is a small slug, with a body length of 2-4cm. It is slender and streaked grey or brown above, with a dark band running around the body. The underside is a dull orange.
It lays it's white spherical eggs under stones and logs, and breeds continuously throughout the year.
It feeds on large amounts of plant material, with a particular fondness for soft vegetation such as seedlings.
$J8GARDEN SNAIL
The latin name for the Garden snail is Helix aspersa.
This is probably the commonest snail to be found in gardens and towns. By day it hides under stones or logs, emerging at night to feed.
Snails have prominent tentacles on which the eyes are often located. Many snails are as small as 1 mm long. The spiral shell into which the snail withdraws serves mainly as protection against predators. The shell is variable in colour, but is generally yellow banded with brown.
Snails are monopods and move by means of a series of wave-like muscular contractions along the bottom of the foot. This motion is often aided by cilia and, in land snails, by a track of laid-down slime. They browse by means of a ribbon-like tongue which contains many thousands of teeth, which is projected from the mouth opening and drawn along rocks or leaves.
Snails feed mainly on algae and decaying matter, and are important members of the food web, being a source of food to fish and waterfowl.
$J9EARTHWORM
The Latin name for the earthworm is Lumbricus terrestris.
Earthworm is a name given to more than 1,000 species of worms in a class of the annelid phylum.
The earthworm has a cylindrically shaped, segmented body that tapers off at both ends. Minute bristles called setae project from the body. Although a difference in shading exists between the upper and lower surfaces and between different parts of the body, earthworms in general are uniform in colour, usually pale red, but varying from dull pink to brown. They have a collar-like area about halfway along which is orange-red in colour. This area is called the clitellum. Many species grow to a length of only a few centimetres.
The role of earthworms in the garden is to help aerate and fertilise garden soils.
$J10COMMON POND SKATER
The Latin name for the Common Pond skater is Gerris lacustris.
Pond-Skater is a common name applied to a slender water bug which is a predator on other insects.
The pond skater is a medium sized bug, with a body length of about 1cm. It is brownish in colour.
Most live on the surface of quiet waters, but some species are adapted for life on faster-moving streams. The pond-skater darts about with great rapidity, using the middle pair of legs as paddles and the hind pair for steering. The front pair of legs is adapted for grasping prey. Fine, dense hairs on the feet keep the insect from breaking the water's surface film.
In winter the adults move away from the water to hibernate, and return in the spring to lay their eggs. The eggs then hatch into nymphs, which turn into adults by July.
