Dances With Bees
Blogs
Communication within a bee colony is a fascinating subject. Through the use of different pheromones and dances a range of information can be passed between the members of a hive. …
Icicles and insects
Blogs
Winter is a hard time for many animal species including insects. However, some insects have developed different strategies for coping with the cold months. Some insects avoid being frozen by …
Save Our Bees – A Scottish Wildlife Trust Campaign
Blogs
Einstein once said, ‘If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years to live.’ Or did he? This quote was first …
What long horns you have
Blogs
This beautiful beetle was snapped by Reserves Manager Steve a few weeks ago. Although it has no common name it is in the beetle family known as ‘longhorns’, due to …
Birthday present number 2
Blogs
Join us in celebrating the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve’s 5th Birthday! The second free event of five, to commemorate the five years of being a National Nature Reserve, …
The return of the forest bug
Blogs
I previously blogged about shield bugs and specifically a forest bug (Pentatoma rufipes) found on the reserve. The one I found wasn’t quite in its adult form, but recently I …
Buzzing about
Blogs
Probably the least favourite of our buzzing insects is the wasp. Their distinctive yellow and black banded body and the buzz that accompanies them provoke fear in most people. An …
It’s not a spider!
Blogs
I’ll be the first to admit that I am a bit squeamish when it comes to spiders. The fact that harvestmen aren’t spiders, but closely related to them makes me …
Warning – dragons!
Blogs
On warm, sunny days (if anyone can remember what those are), there is a good chance of spotting fearsome pond dragons around the reserve. Pond dragons, or dragonflies, are truly …
An armoured bug
Blogs
Shieldbugs can often be found around the reserve. There are several species, with some very colourful and beautifully patterned examples. The tell tale sign that a bug is a shieldbug …