Header Images

Click this header for information about the species illustrated in the header above (Garden Spider, Grey Dagger moth, Sputnik gall).

 Garden spider Araneus diadematus. Sometimes referred to as the Garden Cross because of the white cross markings on its abdomen. The colour varies a lot from tomato as in the picture to beige or dark brown.  The female guards her egg sac until she dies in the autumn. The egg sac looks like a small fluffy ball. The eggs will develop the following spring and clusters of spiderlings are a common sight.  On any disturbance the spiderlings explode outwards.  Very common in gardens and hedgerows.

Grey dagger moth Acronicta psi. The caterpillar of this moth feeds on birch, oak, rowan,  lime, hawthorn,  blackthorn and other trees. The caterpillar will pupate in  a white silk cocoon in a crevice in bark or rotten wood and the moth will emerge in the following June.

Sputnik gall on dog rose is caused by a gall wasp Diplolepis nervosa.  Can be a single or group of galls usually on the underside of a leaf. The colour can vary from green through yellow to pink to red to brown when mature. Each gall contains one wasp.  The mature galls fall off and new adults emerge in the following spring.  Galls are abnormal growths on plants (herbaceous and woody) caused by an insect or fungus living in or on the host. This causes the host’s cells to grow larger to provide food and shelter. They can be anywhere on the plant and can be all sorts of shapes and sizes.