'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

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Sunday 16 September 2018

Insects of Central Sweden - the first day

Here are some images of the little critters and other things I found in just the first full day (!) that I spent in the beautiful midsummer countryside and forest near Säffle in Sweden.  I have captioned some of them. Most were only known to me from books.  Some I recognised as having relations in New Zealand.  During the following week I felt as if I was in a magic European fairy-story and really would have stayed out all day every day, but for the fact that it was very hot and I needed to remind myself to drink and take breaks. My son took the few of me in typical crouching or searching pose.

Many insects were damaged.  There was a lot of activity and competition.
It reminded me of the tropics, but I attribute it to the long, warm, sunlit days. 



















Hard to know which is the working end ... 

Ah!  There it is!



The lupins were almost over by midsummer this year,
which was unusually hot.








Chanterelle mushrooms

The lake in front of the wee house at 11.30pm





8 comments:

  1. Lovely. I like to see the little critters too.

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    1. I was almost overwhelmed by the numbers and variety Emma.

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  2. Wonderful! You and our Scottish friend Adrian Ward both seem to enjoy all things entomological. Me, I’m not so inquisitive but I appreciate those who are.


    I am wondering how you did that search for things Swedish on my blog, though. It couldn’ have been merely by perusing labels, which is the only method I know about.

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    Replies
    1. I know insets are not everyone's passion Bob. But of course, terribly important in the general environmental health of the world. Insect species diversity and numbers are going down down down, sadly. I like to photograph everything I can, to kind of say 'these WERE here'.

      Regarding searching people's blogs: At very top of everyone's 'Blogger' blog there is a bar, and at the far left, a space for you to type a word(s) with a teeny tiny magnifying glass.

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  3. One of the (many) enjoyable things about walking with you is that, like my brother, you point out all sorts of interesting things (like beetles with mites) which I would never see for myself.

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    1. It was all that time in the Pacific Islands and Costa Rica etc that trained me I think Geeb. I got good with all the practice.

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  4. The star here is the Puss Mothh larvae. They look really clownish.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the identification Adrian. Hmmm... Cerura Vinula. Be careful or you might become my go-to man...
      Now I know what it is, I really wish I'd seen the adult. But I am very grateful I didn't get sprayed.

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