Tuesday, 7 May 2024

Out and About in the Claise Valley in mid-April

To check on the progress of the orchids around Chaumussay I invited my friend Carolyn to come out with me one Sunday morning in mid-April. Here is a selection of what we saw, which was not restricted to orchids.

 

The entry holes to the nest tunnels of a species of sweat bees, maybe Lasioglossum marginatum. You can see a trail of pollen into the hole at the bottom. 

lasioglossum cf marginatum nest holes, Indre et loire, France. Photo by loire Valley Time Travel.


Carolyn entranced by these little bees' activities.

Watching ground nesting bees, Indre et loire, France. Photo by loire Valley Time Travel.


A male Green Fairy Longhorn moth Adela reaumurella (Fr. Adele verdoyante) hanging around on a Wayfaring Tree Viburnum lantana (Fr. Viorne lantane) waiting for a female to turn up.

Green Fairy longhorn moth Adela reaumurella, Indre et loire, France. Photo by loire Valley Time Travel.


Female Great Banded Furrow Bee Halictus scabiosae (Fr. Halicte de la scabieuse), a good 'gateway' bee, since it is easy to identify and abundant.

Great Banded Furrow Bee Halictus scabiosae, Indre et loire, France. Photo by loire Valley Time Travel.


This Apple Blossom Beetle Tropinota hirta (Fr. Cétoine hérissée) appeared to be fighting a rival on a Monkey Orchid Orchis simia (Fr. Orchis singe).

Apple Blossom Beetle Tropinota hirta on Monkey Orchid Orchis simia, Indre et loire, France. Photo by loire Valley Time Travel.


Great Banded Furrow Bee, showing her distinctive 'furrowed' abdomen tip.

Great Banded Furrow Bee Halictus scabiosae, Indre et loire, France. Photo by loire Valley Time Travel.


Look out for Great Banded Furrow Bees, which are on the wing from April to September, when they are busy making nests in hard compacted soil, often in the middle of paths.

Great Banded Furrow Bee Halictus scabiosae, Indre et loire, France. Photo by loire Valley Time Travel.


Bush Vetch Vicia sepium (Fr. Vesce des haies), growing on the far side of a roadside ditch.

Bush Vetch Vicia sepium, Indre et loire, France. Photo by loire Valley Time Travel.


Common Carder Bumble Bee Bombus pascuorum (Fr. Bourdons des champs) feeding on Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea (Fr. lierre terrestre) along the roadside.

Common Carder Bumble Bee Bombus pascuorum, Indre et loire, France. Photo by loire Valley Time Travel.


Small-leaved Helleborine Epipactis microphylla (Fr. épipactis à petites feuilles), an uncommon and under-recorded small orchid.

Small-leaved Helleborine Epipactis microphylla, Indre et loire, France. Photo by loire Valley Time Travel.


Wild Madder Rubia peregrina (Fr. Garance voyageuse), not to be confused with its relative R. tinctorum, which is a source of red dye.

Wild Madder Rubia peregrina, Indre et loire, France. Photo by loire Valley Time Travel.

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