April

Red Mason Bee - Osmia bicornis

These distinctive little bees are extremely common at The Lodge in spring, visiting a wide range of flowers, and making their nests in any hole they can find, often in gaps in masonry.

Hairy Shield Bug - Dolycoris baccarum

As the plants in the garden borders start to grow, you can often find these attractively patterned shield bugs resting on their leaves. Also known as Sloe bugs for reasons that aren't entirely clear.

Gymnocheta viridis

There are a lot of green shiny flies, but the shape, and above all the hairiness of this species sets it apart. Commonly found resting on sunlit tree trunks, sometimes in large numbers.

Early Mining Bee - Andrena haemorrhoa

There are a lot of Andrena species, and telling them apart in the field can be extremely difficult. In this case though, the lovely females are easily distinguished by their fox red thorax and red tip to the tail.

Black-banded Spider Wasp - Anoplius viaticus

Being a spider on the heath gets a whole lot more dangerous in April, as these wasps are out on the prowl, looking for unwary spiders with which to stock their burrows.

Cramp-ball Fungus Weevil - Platyrhinus resinosus

These curious looking weevils are sometimes found resting on the log-pile near the old heath, or occasionally elsewhere on the reserve. The larvae develop in king alfred's cakes.