Insects

[nuthatch]

Placi , didn't you come across a used wasps' nest in your garden? ... you posted a pic?

[Placido]

Yes Nuthatch, I found a broken-in-two nest. It was about the size of a large golf ball and I've no idea whence it originated. It was empty and I s'pose it was an aborted attempt.
Actually, I've still got it .

[nuthatch]

Opened the nest box just now - the one with the wasps' nest in. OH had scraped the outside bits off, probably before Christmas. I hadn't realised he hadn't cleaned the inside out until the other week.

There's still some stuck inside, which I'll clean out another day. Of course it had become a bit decayed and dusty but also mouldy in places where it's still stuck to the walls and roof of the box.

There were two wasps visible in there - one deceased, no more, the other one was dozy and flew away quite soon after the sun had been on the nest a little while.

[Jacksparrow]

It looks like some Queen Wasps had hibernated in there.

[Placido]

Fascinating pix, Nuthatch. I recall the intricate external spirals last summer. Quite a sight.

[nuthatch]

Oh do you think I should have closed it back up and left it a while?

[Jacksparrow]

The queens should be getting airborne about now so it is probably OK.

[Jacksparrow]

Craneflies a.k.a. Daddy Longlegs
It is DL season and so far to date I have only seen one
Over recent years the numbers I have seen has been steadily declining. Is it just my locality or countrywide

[Placido]

Good question - all I can say is that the wasp/dl ratio see-saws in direct ratio: one plentiful this season, the other plentiful the next season.
I think there have been more wasps than daddys this year, therefore next year we can all have unmolested outdoor picnics with lots of jam but an increase in dls.