Holly blue Butterfly

A holly blue butterfly flew into the garden and surrounding gardens. It took a while for it to settle and to get close enough to confirm identification.

While gardening I disturbed a little frog on the rockery, probably one of last years tadpoles. Two beeflies were buzzing around the rockery performing a strange behaviour. As they hovered around the rockery thye performed a quick flick of the abdomen. This is a behaviour performed by the female as they flick their eggs on to the ground. The larvae are parasites in mining bee nests. Although the fixed probosis alarms some people, as it resembles a long hypodermic needle, the fly is harmless.