spiderwebs

Insect collection

I started this insect collection with my Gran. I catch an insect in little tubs and put them in the freezer. When I take them out I put a pin through their thorax. The insects that are too small like ants and little beetles, I glue down.

Caterpillars

Here are some Cinnibar caterpillars

These are the Cinnibar caterpillar pupas. We are waiting for them to emerge.

This is the Elephant Hawk caterpillar.
We thought that we lost it until we saw this...

Ruby-tailed Wasp

The ruby-tailed wasp is a parasitic wasp. They wait for the Potter or Mason wasp to fly from their nest. Then they enter the nest and lay their eggs beside the other wasp eggs. Their larvae then eat the larvae of the other wasps. You are most likely to find them on walls and trees.

British Common Wasp

The common wasp can build it's nest in empty mammal holes. Their nests are all papery. They also steal honey from bee hives. I was stung by one of these on my elbow. I accidentally stepped on their nest and disturbed them. It was very very sore!

Firefly

The babies eat snails but the adults do not eat. All of them have wings but only the males fly. They fly once it gets dark and flash a light every second. The females sitting in the grass will flash back if they see a male's light.

Nicrophorus humator

If they find a small dead animal they dig the soil from underneath it, burying it. the female then lays her eggs on or beside the dead animal and the babies will eat it.

Bombardier Beetle

When its frightened this beetle fires hot liquid from its bottom you can hear a pop when it fires.

Green shield bug

Turns green in spring and goes bronze in autumn before hibernating. I have found some of these in England and in Spain.

Silverfish

This insect doesn't fly as it doesn't have wings. It is a fast runner and is covered in silvery scales. This one likes to live in dark cupboards and eat books and mould. It causes lots of damage.

Bloody nosed beetle

I think it should be called bloody mouth beetle because the blood doesn't come out of its nose it comes out of its mouth when it is frightened. This beetle doesn't fly and has very large feet.

Stick Insects

A stick insect eats its own skin after molting to recycle proteins and to keep their location a secret from predators.