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and 1950s, there was a series of sightings of this spectacular insect, which, as time went on, became more frequent.Most black and yellow wasp-like hoverflies bear aphid-eating larvae so beloved of gardeners. Volucella larvae have a much more exotic life

, and perhaps the exotic, invasive harlequins have met their match with our harsh winter weather. I wonder how the citrus longhorn beetle has fared this winter. Luckily we don’t have those in the window frames, or I would be worried!I'd love to know if your

The snow was great fun, but it made wildlife watching in my garden a bit pointless. I am rather biased on this, because as far as I'm concerned, wildlife really means insects. OK, there are a few birds and the odd squirrel out there

, and they must be a pretty curious bunch. Perhaps not as curious as entomologists though. I don't want to upset people, but at least six exotic relatives of vine weevils have turned up in Britain in the last 10 years, several in Chelsea Harbour, brought in from

of mere academic interest, except that Liz's final question gripped my attention: "Does anyone want it?"My daughters had nagged me some years ago to get a pet snake. We'd even visited various exotic pet stores, but nothing ever came of it. Tentatively, I

if it ventures out again.There's something really special about seeing a lizard in the garden. It's almost as if they shouldn't be able to survive in cold, rainy Britain, and that they only belong in a more exotic world, somewhere hot and dry. But despite

hoof-prints all over the small area of lawn, right down to the picnic tables outside the back door.Gazing out through the windows, at any time of day, we were met with what I'd usually consider equally exotic garden guests: pheasants, green finches