Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi) .. another garden record

Whilst packing away the moth trap on the 21st of October, I found a dead female Wasp Spider behind the moth trap backing sheet.

This afternoon, whilst wandering about the recently cut wildflower lawn, I noticed an egg sac hanging within its silken web.

This is only the second time I have seen an adult of this species in the garden the first being a male “moth trap intruder” in July 2022, after which I also found three egg sacs in the October.

Wasp Spider. A new garden record

Adventures in Orchidaceae pt 11 (Reprise)

I took A back to the site to see the Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum), this time I relaxed and started to use the camera rather than rely on the iPhone.

Lizard Orchid

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)

Lizard Orchids

Bee Orchid

Pyramidal Orchid
(Anacamptis pyramidalis)