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the dog from The Magic Roundabout) tucking into a blackfly colony on my runner beans. Most recently I met a very special species indeed: an orange ladybird. It was hibernating in a pine tree in my local park. What a find.The orange ladybird is only special

, three came along at once.A green-veined white, Pieris napi, was the first to appear, fluttering down to examine the mock orange flowers. This is probably the most widespread of the ‘cabbage’ whites, since it occurs commonly throughout the British Isles

In the bright heat of this week's baking sunlight, a buzz of black and orange fur announces the arrival of what I think is one our cuddliest hoverflies. Merodon equestis is a large (12 - 15mm long), stout, bumblebee mimic, and although not quite

Five oriental poppy varietiesFor a short but glorious time in June oriental poppies enliven borders with a flamboyant floral display. Discover which are the best performers, in Carol Klein's guide to her favourite varieties.The foliage of oriental poppies appears early in the yea...

On holiday in northern France last week I was struck by the similarities in the landscape, but very subtle differences in the wildlife.With its gently rolling hills, hedges, grazing meadows, small woods, narrow lanes and winding streams, I could

'm not sure if I have any pictures of the momentous day itself, but I have plenty of images of insects taken near the house during the build-up.In the early 1990s land was cheap in central Florida, after severe frosts killed thousands of acres of orange groves

, Hampshire and Sussex when it first appeared in London around 2005.I've now given up noting when I see it, since this is inevitably many times a day. A flash of orange - no it's not a painted lady, it's the tiger. It's not a true day-flying moth, since

As usual, during the Easter holiday break, we find ourselves watching garden wildlife in sunnier climes -- in the Isle of Wight. At St Lawrence, on the southern tip of the Island, not only are we significantly nearer the equator than East Dulwich

.The galls on the ground appear to have been broken open. Normally they fall with the leaves in autumn and by that time they are hard and dry and brown. But these were still greenish orange and the cavity inside each, where the pale grub should have been

nestling in the overlapping planks.These are the puparia of hoverflies, probably Epistrophe elegans, a distinctive little pale orange and brown wasp mimic, often the first species to appear on the wing in March and April. Resembling smooth translucent