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    Garden blogs

    Pollinator of the day #6 – Common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)

    by Abigail Lowe

    These small striking red beetles are a very common sight within meadows during the summer. Adults of this beetle feed on nectar and pollen, making them excellent pollinators and they can often be found on flowers in mating pairs (or sometimes more!). Plants with open flowers such as hogweed and cow parsley are particularly favoured […]

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    Pollinator of the day #5 – Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina)

    by Abigail Lowe

    One of our commonest butterflies, this species is often seen flying around Cae Trawscoed in high numbers on sunny days. The eyespot and orange patches on the forewing only are the distinctive features of this species, separating it from other brown butterflies. A range of grasses are eaten by this butterfly during its caterpillar stage, […]

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    Pollinator of the day #4 – Bumblebee hoverfly (Cheilosia illustrata)

    by Abigail Lowe

    This small hoverfly looks a bit different to the rest, mimicking a very worn bumblebee. The larvae usually develop within stems of hogweed and the adults can often be found foraging on the flowers. This is a common hoverfly often seen in umbellifer-rich grasslands, woodlands and hedgerows. Keep an eye out for it next time […]

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    Pollinator of the day #3 – Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)

    by Abigail Lowe

    The common carder bee is one of our most common bumblebees, with its distinctive ginger hair making it different to the other common species. Two other carder bees are found in the UK which can be difficult to separate from the common carder bee, the moss carder bee and the brown-banded carder bee, although these […]

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    Pollinator of the day #2 – Orange-legged furrow bee (Halictus rubicundus)

    by Abigail Lowe

    This small solitary bee has stripes of white hairs across its abdomen and orange legs. It is a frequent flower visitor, preferring plants in the daisy family such as thistles and knapweeds. The orange-legged furrow bee can be found in a range of habitats including gardens and grasslands. It is one of the few solitary […]

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  6. Garden blogs

    Pollinator of the day #1 – Five-spot burnet moth (Zygaena trifolii)

    by Abigail Lowe

    Easily mistaken for a butterfly, this distinctive red and black moth flies during the day throughout July and August and can be seen in great numbers within our meadows this year. The striking colouration warns predators of the fact that they are poisonous, releasing hydrogen cyanide when attacked. The larvae feed on plants within the […]

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