Bugs, bugs!

 Tuesday 22/07/25

We arrived at this field after a long walk and sat for a while.
It was amazing to see the masses of insects buzzing around the plants.

We're having a break from the really hot weather with a spell of slightly less hot weather and it's a blessing.  

We're managing to get some nice long walks in, something that has been difficult with the very high temperatures of the past month.

What an impressive moustache

Lesser-spotted bookworm

The area we are in is blessed with a rich diversity of insect life; a combination of the forested mountain area and the warm, sunny climate.  It has been very noticeable for us, having lived in the UK for so long, we had become used to minimal insect interaction.  

The butterfly population here is amazing, luckily we don't have a fancy
garden so don't have to fight with the caterpillars too much.

The rather scary looking Olios argelasius

Quite well camouflaged, this Palpares was almost as big as my hand

The Provencal Cicada or Cigale, huge and noisy
And a face only a mother could love...

Here they are an integral part of life outside and we find them endlessly fascinating.  

We're doing quite well in keeping most of them out of the house, particularly the many scorpions in the area. 

Bonus video - a bush full of butterflies