Fewer slugs and snails this summer. Vine weevils have reappeared in the last week or so (egg laying time). Lots of flies (standard housefly type) this year and loads of caterpillars. More bees this summer and I've got leaf cutters back after a two year absence. They've cut their way through about 20% of my wisteria. 🐝 Seen ONE ladybird! Also spotted more moths on an evening feeding from dead nettles etc.
It is strange isn't it? I wasn't surprised to find fewer slugs and snails early spring as we had that very hot spell so I just assumed they had gone underground ready to appear and cause trouble when the rain came. It seems they migrated north to @Biglad because I hardly found any even after a very wet couple of weeks
I usually leave a couple of clumps of groundsel for the cinnabars and there were plenty, also let the toadflax brocade caterpillars eat their fill but not the caterpillars eating the basil nor the tomato moth caterpillars which I suspect were eating my peppers. Came across a couple of others I could not identify, way more than I usually find.
Another year of surprises.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Sir Terry Pratchett
the leafcutter bees have been having a field day in the cacti pots in the greenhouse
Leafcutter bees like cacti?
It does seem to be a common complaint among cacti growers. I think they nest in the pots and in gaps between plants rather than cut up the plant material from the cacti though.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
the leafcutter bees have been having a field day in the cacti pots in the greenhouse
Leafcutter bees like cacti?
It does seem to be a common complaint among cacti growers. I think they nest in the pots and in gaps between plants rather than cut up the plant material from the cacti though.
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Correct, they have excavated the compost in the pots and collect the green material from next doors rose trees, which leave the leaves shredded.
They do not bother with the other pot plants in the GH, only the cacti!
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I usually leave a couple of clumps of groundsel for the cinnabars and there were plenty, also let the toadflax brocade caterpillars eat their fill but not the caterpillars eating the basil nor the tomato moth caterpillars which I suspect were eating my peppers. Came across a couple of others I could not identify, way more than I usually find.
Another year of surprises.