Hold
your hand out in front of you, at arm's length, fingers pointing
upwards. Gradually move it towards you. At a certain point, it will
become fuzzy and out of focus, thus proving that you really cannot
see what is right in front of you. The same is true of the
hinterland, the area beyond what is visible, or known. A description,
which for most people, describes a semicircle, of 500
yards or so, around their front gate. The area that we pass through
every day and seldom give a second glance. So, this is the project
for the week and it's the perfect time to do it. You don't have to
use the car and nobody is going to look over your shoulder and ask
what you are doing. They may think you a little eccentric but, at the
moment, eccentricity is the new normal. Think of it as a public
service: you're something to watch on a dull day, while
staring out of the window, at nothing in particular.
 |
| White Mustard, Sinapis alba |
I
am lucky with my hinterland, as it contains olive groves and a small,
seasonal stream. Even so, it is an area which I've tended to neglect
over recent years, for the simple reason that it has become too
familiar. As I needed some White Mustard, Sinapis
alba, yesterday,
for a little project involving snails, I revisited the banks of the
little stream. Here,
I knew that white
mustard
grew, in some profusion. I took my camera with me, to see how many
different types [orders] of creepy-crawlies I could find.
 |
| HEMIPTERA Calocoris nemoralis |
The
HEMIPTERA, or True Bugs [as opposed to the general term 'bugs' which
covers all creepy-crawlies, especially in American English], were
represented by two or three different species of Mirid Bug, such as
this Calocoris nemoralis of the Miridae family.
 |
| COLEOPTERA Oxythyrea cinctella |
The
COLEOPTERA, or Beetles, came in the form of this Middle Eastern
Flower Scarab, Oxythyrea cinctella of the Scarabaeidae family,
as well as a good number of 7-spot ladybirds, Coccinella
semipunctata of the Coccinellidae family.
 |
| LEPIDOPTERA Acontia lucida |
The
LEPIDOPTERA, or Butterflies and Moths were much in evidence with
Small White, Pieris rapae, Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus,
and Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria, butterflies, all flitting
about in the sunshine. The only one to sit still and be photographed
was this Pale Shoulder Moth, Acontia lucida, of the Noctuidae
family.
 |
| HYMENOPTERA Apis melifera |
The
HYMENOPTERA, or Bees, Ants and Wasps, provided a nice, buzzy, Spring
soundtrack as the Western Honey Bees, Apis melifera, of the
Apidae family, went about their business of collecting pollen with
which to make honey. In the process of which, they inevitably
transfer pollen from flower to flower and ensure a good harvest for
next year.
 |
| ORTHOPTERA Acrididae family |
The
ORTHOPTERA, or Grasshoppers and Crickets, were busy jumping about and
these two landed on the same rock at the same time. One, I think, is
a Chorthippus species and the other, a Band-winged
Grasshopper, both of the Acrididae family.
All
the above are insects [having six legs], but there was one arachnid
[having eight legs], bustling about in the undergrowth: this lovely
Harvestman. Most people think that this is a type of spider but it
isn't. Harvestmen form the order OPILIONES and, despite their size,
are totally harmless. Their body shape is different to a spider and
they only have one pair of eyes, whereas spiders have three or four
pairs. This one, investigating my arm, is a member of the
Phalangiidae family.
 |
| OPILIONES Phalangiidae family |
I
nearly forgot the White Mustard, which I came out to pick in the
first place. I haven't been able to photograph any birds today as my
bird camera is en route to Cumbria with about a third of my
furniture. I, of course, am locked down, the same as everybody else.
However, I can tell you that there are Chaffinches, Great Tits,
Sardinian Warblers, Greenfinches, Blackbirds and Hooded Crows all
heralding the arrival of Spring. Oh, and I also saw a little mouse in
the garden the other day, so the small, furry mammals are about too.
Until
next time, stay safe, avoid people and enjoy nature. I wish you all
well, wherever you may be.
The
Quick Guide To Creepy-Crawlies
not
only gives pictures and easy descriptions of twentytwo insect orders
(in both their adult and juvenile states), but also pages of
molluscs, myriapods, isopods, arachnids and all the other
creepy-crawlies that you are likely to find in your hinterland.
Suitable for adults and children alike, I am putting it on special
offer (a third off, except in the USA where a minimum price applies)
until the end of April. So, order a copy, take your camera or phone
with you, photograph what you find, and identify them when the book
arrives. Congratulations!
You've
just got yourself a new hobby!
Was
£14.99 $17.31 €16.14
Now
£10.00 $16.48 €11.52
|
Crete
Nature Catch-up
|
||
|
The
Eggs of Saramova
A
science fiction novella for those who don't like science fiction.
A fast-paced thriller that is, literally, out of this world (and
it starts right here in Crete).
All
you need to know to identify any type of insect, spider, worm or
snail very simply and find out more about it.
A light-hearted look at
life through the eyes of the fairer sex.
|
See sample pages of all my books and latest
blogs and keep abreast of latest publications here:
|
*********************************************************************
LINKS:
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your nature thoughts, photos and comments on Naturalists
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Explore
the region with the #CreteNature interactive Hiking
and Nature Map
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