Author Archives: Michael Griffiths

Harlequin ladybirds use pheromones to communicate with each other, resulting in the formation of large gatherings often seen in the autumn. However, many cues are visual, both long (picking out light-coloured structures that are distinct from their surroundings) and short (picking out pre-existing … Continue reading →

The green dock beetle’s breeding season is from March to October. There are 2 to 4 broods per year, with the last brood hibernating as an adult. The female lays over 1,000 eggs, laying them in clusters of 20 to … Continue reading →

A spider on its web is wrapping something up for later.

At around 2pm today, I stood in the scorching heat of the South Riverside Pasture reviewing the herd’s grazing progress. Fifty feet away on the riverbank, a cock pheasant stood watching my every move. The cattle have greatly reduced the thistle, … Continue reading →