Science
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Seed collecting on Kenfig National Nature Reserve
Seed collecting season is upon us, and so far it’s been a fruitful year! The National Seed Bank of Wales was launched at the end of 2018, and since then we have been busy gathering valuable collections of plant material from our own Waun Las National Nature Reserve. This past month saw our first seed […]
Read morePollinator of the day #7 – Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae)
The cinnabar is a widespread species of day-flying moth. It is readily disturbed by day although it also flies at night. The species is named after the bright red, mercury sulphide minerals cinnabar and cinnabarite. The caterpillars are also distinctive and easily identified by their alternating orange and black stripes; these colours are a form […]
Read morePollinator of the day #6 – Red-Tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
The red-tailed bumblebee is one of our most common bumblebees, often seen in gardens. Queens and workers are black with a strongly red tail however males look very different. They instead have a yellow collar and face, along with a more orangey tail. The queens emerge in early spring, followed by the workers and then […]
Read morePollinator of the day #5 – Thick-Legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
Previously restricted to a few sites in the UK it is now a common and very abundant species. Adults feed on a wide range of plant families and especially like oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) and umbellifers (Apiaceae) which they can often be seen on at the garden. Males have large swollen back legs, which gives […]
Read morePollinator of the day #4 – The Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
One of our most common and widespread hoverflies, this is a very distinctive species that is unlikely to be confused with any other once you are familiar with it. The colouration of the bands on the abdomen can vary greatly, however the unique pattern is not seen in any other species. This colour is influenced […]
Read morePollinator of the day #3 – The Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera)
The Western honeybee, Apis mellifera, is the only species of honeybee we have in the UK. They are kept in hives and managed by beekeepers for the production of honey and wax, which are harvested for commercial purposes. The colony is made up of workers (females) and drones (males) which are controlled by one queen, […]
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