Swallows, wrens, ladybirds and beetles

spring on our gardens and countryside.

Late April and early May saw the lengthening days accompanied by gradually increasing temperatures, and birds, animals and plants reacted accordingly.

Our swallows arrived on warm southerly winds at the beginning of April, and, after a few days of hectic feeding, set about repairing an old nest in the barn. Their choice was limited on this occasion, as a pair of wrens, utilising large quantities of moss, had already taken over the swallows’ previous year’s accommodation.

By the first days of May, virtually all our garden birds were raising young, and we even had well fledged blackbird chicks trailing their parents around as they waited to be fed. Blackthorn flowers faded, but hedgerows became illuminated by banks of hawthorn, the swirling breeze carrying wafts of essence of May blossom.

Appropriate weather also brings with it an increasing workload, and the combination of humidity and warmth encourages grass to grow at such a rate that there is often little point in putting away the mower before it is once more required for action.

The long days and fine weather also induce the annual madness which I call intensive gardening, when, with little or no physical preparation, we increase our pace from gentle pottering to full days of digging, kneeling, bending, lifting and carrying.

The malady also results in us becoming oblivious to the passage of time and it is not unusual to stop for a lunch break, only to find it is already 4pm or later.

As an antidote, particularly for gardeners who enjoy nature, I make the rather obvious recommendation for a short but slightly different break every so often to allow the return of both circulation and sanity.

I find that a few minutes’ rest, accompanied by a little refreshment, makes a world of difference, but have added value to these moments of respite by devising what I call the square yard test.

Simply, while relaxing for a few minutes, I take note of what’s going on in the square yard in front of me, observing the activities of its inhabitants. In flower border, lawn, rockery, pond, paving or field, it becomes apparent that beetles, spiders, flies and all manner of crawlies are going about their daily business.

Though aware of the fact that we have more than 4,000 species of beetle and more than 5,000 species of fly in Britain, I am often surprised to see so many of both in some areas. As flies tend to buzz off at the slightest movement, I find it more rewarding to pay attention to the various beetles, and am beginning to identify one or two with the help of my trusty books.

Ladybirds can be common on warmer days, though with 24 species, some expertise is required to differentiate between them. Ground beetles include many of the black, brown and metallic coloured “blackbeetles” of childhood and folklore, and while it probably won’t rain if they are accidentally killed, their demise will be a loss to the gardener, for most are voracious hunters of our common garden pests.

For those nervous of large flying things, late spring evenings might be disturbed by the whirring intrusion of a cockchafer, or May Bug, as they are known. Though harmless in terms of personal injury, they are not at all welcome as they and their grubs feed on, and damage, a wide range of plants.

Among the most interesting are those species whose colours imitate other insects which are either unpalatable, poisonous or carry a sting.

This form of defence is not, of course, confined to beetles, but the way in which elaborate designs have evolved demonstrates the effectiveness of the strategy.

Warning colourations are usually combinations of red, yellow, black and white, and predators quickly learn to give such species a miss, whether they carry a threat, or simply appear to do so.

Genuine “keep off” markings, and their imitation, are a valuable means to survival in the insect world, and it might well be worth returning to this fascinating and wide ranging subject at some time in the future.

JOHN WESLEY