The Chateau de la Gendronnière is just outside of Candé sur Beuvron and has been the most important Buddhist retreat in France for decades. I'm part of a small team doing a biodiversity survey for them on the 80 hectare estate, which of course is run on sustainable, organic principles so that the estate is as far as possible self-sufficient. Here are some pictures I took on Tuesday 17 May.
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Prairie/bocage habitat on the estate. There is almost certainly a fawn hidden in the grass, as when we approached, a Roe deer bounded away.
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Vane trap hanging in a large oak tree. This will capture flying insects, mostly beetles and flies, that we might not see lower down.
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Broomrape Orobanche sp (Fr. Orobanche), a plant that latches on to a host plant's roots and parasitises it.
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The fairy longhorn moth Adela reaumurella, a female. There were several species of Adelidae (fairy longhorn moths) in abundance, everywhere on the low hanging leaves of trees and on brambles.
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Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula (Fr. Orchis mâle).
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Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis (Fr. Valériane officinale). This is the medicinal plant used to aid relaxation and sleep.
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Carpenter bee Xylocopa sp (Fr. abeille charpentière) resting on Phacelia in the potager. It was quite cold and although there were many bumble bees buzzing around, quite a few were resting.
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Cuckoo spit, a foam produced by the larva of the Red and Black Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata to protect itself. There was cuckoo spit everywhere on low growing plants, and the adult bugs too.
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A pepperpot tower in a corner of the garden.
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My colleagues Valentine, the intern, and Christian, the beetle expert, head out with a beating net and a sweep net respectively.
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The ablutions block.
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UPDATE -- RESPONSES TO COMMENTS
Colin & Elizabeth -- I don't think I've ever seen so much cuckoo spit, or so many of the adult bugs as at this site.
1 comment:
Interestingly I don't remember seeing much cuckoo spit over recent years, used to be all over the place a few years ago... Will pay more attention to see if it is around or if it has diminished...
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