We’ve
spent a lot of time with insects, and their close relatives, over the
last couple of weeks, so this week, I thought we’d go and have a
look at some flowers. We’re still on lockdown, so we’ll stay
close to the house, and this one is growing right next to the wall.
It’s called ‘Everlasting’, and is quite a favourite with
florists. If we cut and dry some, then they will retain their colour
and shape for quite a long time. How long? I don’t know; let’s
cut and dry some, and find out. Of course, we wouldn’t have so many
flowers without insects, (this blog wouldn’t be the same without
them), as 80% of flowers
are pollinated by them. The other 20% being either self-pollinated,
or wind, or water pollinated. Who have we got doing the job here? A
Variegated Ladybird, a Malachite Beetle and a Fairy Long Horn Moth.
The scientific name for this moth is Adela, meaning graceful
and noble. If you are an Adela, or Adele, then this one is for you.
Half-way
down the gully, we’re still only about ten metres from the house,
and we have an endemic flower, Cretan Viper’s-grass. Possibly so-called, because it was meant to be an antidote to snake bites. As we
have no vipers here on Crete, we cannot test the theory, (so you’re
excused guinea pig duties for today).
These are also insect pollinated, and we have a Flower Chafer and a
False Blister Beetle representing the Coleoptera, as well as a
Western Honey Bee, from the R&D department, who is obviously
working on anti snake-bite honey. Very useful.
Down
at the bottom of the gully, and a full twenty metres from the house,
is another endemic, The Cretan Rock-rose. The leaves contain a resin,
called labdanum, which has been used medicinally since biblical
times. It used to be collected by combing goats that had been
wandering about the bushes. Nowadays, the leaves are distilled for use
by the perfume industry. For some reason, this bush is absolutely
full of Flower Chafers. Six of them, all with their noses in the same
trough, on this one. Not much room for that little Mason Bee over
there, but she seems to have found an unoccupied spot.
That’s
about as far as we dare go, without a passport, but I did notice some
Scarlet Pimpernel, spreading along the ground back there. This one
doesn’t seem to be attracting any pollinators, and there’s a
reason for this: the flowers produce an oil that specifically
attracts only bees of the genus Macropis. Whereas, most
flowers are pretty promiscuous when it comes to pollination, the
Scarlet Pimpernel is ‘demned fussy’.
Not
all insects that visit flowers do so in order to sip nectar, others
go for the sap. Take a look at this fellow going for the stem of a
Garland Daisy. Can you see that hypodermic-like appendage, poised,
ready to pierce? This is called the rostrum, and it is specific to
members of the Hemiptera, or True Bugs. It is also, in my opinion,
the easiest way to tell the difference between a bug and a beetle –
the beetle has a mouth full of cutlery in comparison.
Which
gives me the chance to remind you that The
Quick Guide to Creepy-Crawlies
is still on offer until the end of this month, and it is full of
little tips & tricks, to help you to identify what you see, as
well as tidbits of information (such as whether you can eat them!).
Order yours today – as they say in marketing.
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See sample pages of all my books and blogs,
and keep abreast of latest publications here:
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All
you need to know to identify any type of insect, spider, worm or
snail, very simply, and find out more about it.
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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).
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A
light-hearted look at life through the eyes of the fairer sex, in
a series of short stories with a twist in the tail.
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Crete
Nature Catch-up
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LINKS:
Share
your nature thoughts, photos and comments on Naturalists
(the
facebook page that accompanies this blog)
Explore
the region with the #CreteNature interactive Hiking
and Nature Map
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