All about Insects 2019

I have seen two large bumble bees flying around the heather, early I thought especially as it is still so cold on this island of ours.

Having been kindly pointed in the right direction ... here is my first Ladybird of this year sunning itself on Buddleia stem a couple of days ago ...

Very nice. I'm looking forward to when more insects show up - still only seen a few big (queen) bees and 2 butterflies so far.

Well done Wendy, lovely photo although it took almost a minute to come up on the screen! However we are out in the sticks here! LOL

Wendy it was only yesterday I picked one up off the path outside and put it on a leaf, just before I pulled up the wheelie bins, it seemed very small but I suppose it is early in the season and has time to grow!!

I spotted this rushing across a pond. Didn't really have the right lens on to photograph it but under the circumstances it's not a bad photo of a little Raft Spider (Dolomedes sp.), less than 1cm across. I tried to get it actually running across the surface but it was just too quick and it came out slightly out-of-focus

Nice one Nigel, the name caught my attention, we used to eat Dolamathes in Greece when I was there years ago. Stuffed vine leaves if I remember correctly:-)

Had horrid vision of stuffed spiders then Gaynor! Lol

Staged a dramatic rescue today when I noticed this little critter swimming in a very large bucket of water ... scooped him/her out on my Marigold!!

Background of this pic is highly enlarged pattern on my rubber glove

Sooo tiny, had to take a pic against ruler for perspective ... must have been newly emerged as you can see spots developing

Popped onto Buddleia leaf to recover .... unfortunately I then found an adult in another bucket of water but quite unrevivable!

Well spotted and rescued - wonder why they were all so intent on taking a dangerous dip.
The only one I've seen so far this year was in a public loo! I dare it had hibernated in there and was waiting for someone to open the door and let it back out :)