Snails
There are more than 30 freshwater snails (molluscs) in the UK, ranging in size from around 3 mm (nautilus ramshorn – Gyraulus crista) to 7 mm (dwarf pond – Galba truncatula) up to about 35 mm (great ramshorn – … Continued
Hunting for Bibionidae
One of my goals for this year was to search for specific insects that I have blogged about or would like to write about and take my own photos for the articles. One of the early season target species was … Continued
Grasshoppers and Crickets
There are 27 species of Orthoptera in the UK (not counting invasive species arriving in the UK), these include grasshoppers, groundhoppers, bush crickets and true crickets. They tend to have large hind legs which they use to jump long distances. … Continued
Water Beetles
Water beetles are insects belonging to the Order Coleoptera. There are around 250 species of water beetles in Britain which spend part or all of their life cycle in water. They prefer shallower margins of a wide range of aquatic … Continued
Dragonflies and Damselflies
There are 36 dragonflies (Anisoptera) and 21 damselflies (Zygoptera) in the UK. They both tend to have long thin bodies, a pair of wings and while many are brightly coloured they are not all. Damselflies tend to be more delicate, … Continued
Stoneflies
There are 34 species of stoneflies (Plecoptera) in Britain. Stoneflies prefer well oxygenated water associated with rocky rivers and streams and occasionally the rocky shores of lakes. I encountered a sporadic hatch of stoneflies in early spring at Lynnau Gamallt … Continued
Lake and Pond Olive
The lake olive (Cloeon simile) and pond olive (Cloeon dipterum) are the two Cloeon species within the 51 species of mayflies in the UK. They are both quite common, especially in lowland settings, and well distributed throughout the British Isles. … Continued
Llynnau Gamallt Lakes Fishing Calendar
My fishing year and #Fish52 plan for 2019 has not worked out as planned, largely owing to family commitments helping my parents through long patches of ill health and downsizing into a care home to meet their needs. However, the … Continued
Bees Wasps and Ants
Bees, wasps and ants make up a small but familiar portion (Aculeata) of the order Hymenoptera. They are familiar as they are often feared because of their stings. Bees – There are many more bees in the super family Apoidea … Continued