In my trek towards Knockdrum Fort near Castletownsend in western Cork, I chanced upon small creatures, one of which I examined closer, finding it roughly 4cm in length. Though it appeared lifeless, its underbelly was damp in contrast to its dry back. After investigation, it’s now clear that it was a large black slug, Arion ater, which can also be found in an orange variant. The black version frequently exhibits an orange border on its underside. This slug was looking under the weather, suggesting it might have ingested harmful chemicals such as slug pellets. They are often found in large groups on newly-trimmed roadside grasses following rain.
Meanwhile, I found a spider resting in a cool corner of my windowsill. A search online misled me into believing it was an Australian redback spider. But thankfully, a reliable source clarified the mistake. It is in actuality a common house spider of the Eratigena species, hosting two red mites of the Leptus genus, which typically prey on arachnids and several other invertebrate species.
Encountered a bug on my house wall here in Bray that looked suspiciously like a western conifer pine bug. A precise examination of its size – 16mm x 20mm confirmed it. This unmistakable large shield bug is a native of western North America and was initially sighted in Wexford in 2009. It has since gradually spread along the east and southern coasts. It typically resides on conifer trees in plantations, parks, and gardens and nourishes on the sap from the buds and seeds.
Furthermore, a beautiful female sparrowhawk graced Sonah Chundee’s garden in Walshestown, Mullingar. From behind the kitchen glass, we had the privilege to watch her, only a few metres away, as she darted her gaze between us and the assorted poultry that were taking refuge under the bush she was perched on.
Evidently, the bird wasn’t particularly famished, otherwise the shrubbery wouldn’t have offered adequate cover. The sparrowhawk employs two primary mechanisms of predation: soaring at high altitudes to spot avian prey or tactically manoeuvring along hedgerows and within gardens, where it surprises its prey by abruptly swooping in from over the hedge. In this instance, it was devoid of the element of surprise.
The photograph shows a tiny bug that mirrors a vintage World War I aeroplane, which seems to have taken a liking to the kitchen cupboard. Spanning approximately 3cm, it raises the question of its identification and lifespan. Michael Hannon, from Dublin, is curious.
The insect is identified as Emmelina monodactyla, or the common plume moth. It is labelled as a micro moth due to its petite size. At ease, it folds its wings into a T formation. Caterpillars of this species are identifiable feeding on bindweed in dual overlapping generations between May and September. The fully mature moth is frequently spotted on fencing, walls, and even within households, attracted by the light. It humbly siphons nectar from ivy blossoms, blackberries and, come spring, willow catkins. The moth is known to take flight at twilight from September to May in a single generation, however, it can be observed all year round. Hence, their life span can stretch to a complete year from egg to full maturity.