these little chaps are know as gendarme beetles (Pyrrhocoris apterus, or fire bugs), either because of their colour, or more likely in my view because they all hang around together idling in the sun. They were everywhere, and it was not at all clear what they were doing but the reference on Wiki (link) suggests that they eat lime seeds, and these colonies were close to two enormous lime trees. They are obviously very sociable.
Wednesday 23 June 2010
even more things we haven't seen locally 6
these little chaps are know as gendarme beetles (Pyrrhocoris apterus, or fire bugs), either because of their colour, or more likely in my view because they all hang around together idling in the sun. They were everywhere, and it was not at all clear what they were doing but the reference on Wiki (link) suggests that they eat lime seeds, and these colonies were close to two enormous lime trees. They are obviously very sociable.
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They found a lovely spot to repose!
ReplyDeleteWe also saw new things on our holiday - dippers, skylarks and puffins, that was because we stayed in the Tamar Valley. A short notice holiday inspired by your blog :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad that the blog is helping to attract people to the area. When the weather is good it is a fantastic place to visit and close to a host of other interesting places. But puffins?
ReplyDeleteThe puffins? We went to Padstow and had a trip round puffin island, I've got some photos but they're rather rubbish.
ReplyDeleteIndeed the weather was fantastic - just right for the cornish ice cream.