James Lowen

Dark-eged Bee-flies are still out. I learned this month that they parasitise a social bee.

I have done sadly next-to-no botanising this month. So these are a couple of images from April instead!

And then the Maybugs (aka Cockchafers) of the blogpost title. I have had up to 54 of these per night in the moth trap. Gorgeous, sticky-footed, waggly-'eared' things.

A few dragonflies have been out and about. Hairy Dragonfly and Azure Damselfly feature below. I've also had a Norfolk Hawker at Narborough, Scarce Chaser in the Broads, Broad-bodied Skimmer near home plus many Blue-tailed & Large Red Damselflies. Not many - but then I haven't really been out looking. Given there are so many around, I suspect Red-veined Darters may be at a nearby pond... will have to go and check.

Those springtime ephemera, mayflies, are another classic of this month. I think this is Green Drake Mayfly.

So mad, so beautiful, so sad, that their life is so brief. With thanks to Marianne Taylor for this tweet.

Wildlife

As I watched a Lime Hawk-moth on my garden honeysuckle after dusk last night, it occurred to me quite how much of this month i have spent out in the field at dusk and at night. So I thought I'd end this blogpost with a few evening & night scenery images. Either indulge me or forgive me - or both, please.

BLOG

27 May 2017 Maybugs & more May

May is the month that never pauses. Every single week - every single day - is different; a step further in the race to create descendants. I've blogged already about May's birds, May mammals and May moths. After yesterday's Bedstraw Hawk-moth interlude, it's time for a ragbag of other typical, wonderful, glorious May fare. First up, Bluebells at the start of the month. This year I tried to do something different with my images. Nice, but I know what to do to improve, so roll on next year.