Bright start

This morning started bright and with a frost, so there was not much in the trap that Rosie had put out last night.  But the not much included one of Britain's cuddliest moths, Oak Beauty.  The appeal of this species is probably greater because it appears at a time of year when there is little else flying, but it is a soft toy of an insect whatever the season.

The sun stayed out and by lunch time it felt like summer had come.  This was a good time to look for insects on trunks and fence posts that had become warm in the sun.  Ladybirds are such good things: strikingly patterned, and common enough to bring a bit of colour to every day.  The Pine Ladybirds Exochomus quadripustulatus seemed particularly bright and shiny today, and I liked the ripples from the rings in the fence post  behind this Seven-spot Coccinella septempunctata.

There were many Kleidocerys resedae, another common but attractive insect, and one that can be found throughout much of the year.  Next week we shall probably be back in winter again, but today was a good reminder that summer will come.  I hope it is not like last year's.