June bugs

It's still Summer in Orkney! I know this because it is raining. Vertically.

So what better time to have a brief catch-up on wildlifey happenings in this neck of the woods since the last post nine days ago (and definitely not just because I was called out for not having blogged for over a week. Honest).

Amongst all the hoverflies, bumblebees, social wasps, butterflies and moths nectaring in the garden, we have been keeping an eye out for the occasional potter wasp. This isn't just because they're wonderful little solitary wasps, but also because they're stalked by the rarely seen (let alone photographed) Ruby-tailed wasp, a parasitoid of the potters, who lays her egg alongside the potter's egg, and her larva consumes the host egg or larva and all its stored food resources. We haven't spotted a Ruby-tail so far. On the subject of social wasps, oddly, they're the ones that folk think of as antisocial come late Summer.

Stocky Mason Wasp, Ancistrocerus oviventris

During late June, we have been garden-sitting for Megan's parents, keeping their vegetable crops hydrated, carrying watering cans hither and thither to quench the thirsts of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and the like. It wasn't all hard work, mind. During Pondwatch weekend, I did spend a bit of time staring at their pond, just in case its inaugural damselfly happened to show up. It didn't, but it was a very relaxing pastime.

Back in the garden at home...

Maritime Mason Wasp, Ancistrocerus scoticus

 

Still no Ruby-tails though.

The nectaring insects were now changing their diet, as the poppies and Cotoneaster were going over and the Honeysuckle isn't quite out yet.

We have a lot of geraniums, which pleased the many hoverflies.

Rhingia campestris

A lot of geraniums. 

And the Lady's Mantle is beginning to take over too.

At the weekend we returned to the island of Hoy to continue searching for dragons. When the ferry disgorges its passengers at Lyness, there's always a bit of Wacky Races as holidaymakers head north for the delights of Rackwick Bay. We tend to stop at the first available patch of habitat and wait for the fuss to die down, before pootling after everyone else in the certain knowledge that they will have careened by the places we want to see.

Pegal Burn

Our first dragons of the year were male Golden-ringed Dragonflies, who were patrolling the South Burn on the hunt for receptive ladies. They were altogether way too fast for me to photograph, and I will need a better plan come the next survey!

Thankfully, a couple of Common Hawkers were foraging by the burn and briefly roosted on the overhanging heather, giving me the opportunity to take some snaps.

A male Common Hawker

A female Common Hawker, but one who is mimicking the male's colours to avoid unwanted pestering of a romantic nature. Gender-bending girl power.

Stood by a bend in the burn, we spent a good hour watching the Golden-rings tussle for territorial advantage of these riffles, which are good egg-laying habitat for the females. But with rain forecast, we then headed to a cafe for a late lunch.

For the record, I have seen a few Ruby-tailed wasps in Orkney, but I have never seen a female Golden-ringed Dragonfly laying eggs. The quest continues.

(Upon reflection, that may be because I spend too much time in food emporia.)