Behold, the tree lobster. (Spoiler: not a lobster)
We like to bring you the occasional large invertebrate on this blog. And even a huge vertebrate now and then. But here’s a big insect with a story to tell. And it’s a story
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Protected species
Malta – massacre on Migration. A message from Chris Packham
“For many years I have lobbied the UK’s bird charities to campaign to raise awareness about the slaughter of migrant birds on Malta. I have equally tried to stimulate television
Read moreIs Eresus the cutest spider on earth? Send me to find out.
The worlds’s cutest spider. It’s a hard-fought contest, with the jumping spiders invariably on the podium. But I’ve got a soft spot for another family altogether, the eresids or Velvet
Read moreShould we pay £375,000 to poke buzzards out of their nests?
Something’s gone badly wrong at the Greenest Government Ever. To say I’ve been profoundly disappointed at the environmental performance of the Coalition – in comparison to its glowing promises – is only the
Read moreFalmouth maerl – the canary in George Osborne’s coal mine
Maerl. What’s that then? Chances are, you don’t know what maerl is, or why anyone else might care. Unless you live in Falmouth – in which case you have probably
Read moreBeewolf buzzing Ryde once more
In 2007 The Ranger wrote about his local colony of Philanthus triangulum, the European beewolf. Sadly, in 2008 the fearsome little things were nowhere to be found – perhaps they
Read moreBluebells on the beach
Bluebells eh? They’re everywhere at this time of year… but even so it was a surprise for The Ranger when some popped up yesterday on Sandown Beach! These are growing
Read moreBuglife case heard, but not decided
The invertebrate charity Buglife is moving to new offices in Peterborough, whilst in the midst of a legal tussle that could see the little charity faced with a bill of
Read moreAren’t all orchids protected?
Round about now kettle-cases start popping up on the Isle of Wight. That’s the local name for early-purple orchids, which, as the name suggests, start flowering relatively early, in spring.
Read moreI’ll see your numbered pebble and raise you a numbered butterfly!
Ranger regular Dave Larkin noticed the article on the numbered pebble, and typically, manages to knock that into a cocked hat.
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