Even the smallest wildflowers meadow will attract a host of different insects.
Many of these invertebrates rely on wildflowers for a source of food. In turn, the flowers rely on the insects to pollinate them and ensure that they can produce seeds. This relationship guarantees sightings of lots of colourful bugs. So, what might you find in the wildflower meadows around Flintshire? Below are some common examples of what you might find, but keep your eyes peeled! There are lots more you might discover creeping between the blades of grass and flower heads.
Butterflies and moths can often be very colourful with broad patterned wings. They are an important species to indicate the health of our environments, and make a colourful addition to our urban spaces.
Butterflies
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
A large lemon yellow butterfly with wings that mimic leaves. Females can be cream in colour often confused with the large white butterfly.
Comma (Polygonia c-album)
This orange brown butterfly has deeply scalloped wings, making it look quite ragged. When its wings are closed, you can spot a silvery ‘comma’ shapes mark which gives it it’s name.
Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Black wings with red fringes to the hind wing, and red stripes across the forewings makes this a very distinctive butterfly. Red Admirals are very common in the UK as they migrate from central europein the summer.
Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
With dark blue specked fringes, this butterfly has predominantly orange wings, with swuare patched of yellow, black and white along the front edges.
Find out more about butterflies on the Butterfly Conservation websiteexternal link
Moths
Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae)
The cinnabar moth has striking bright red hind wings with black forewings, with red stripes and dots. You will not be able to miss this one even in flight.
Mother Shipton moth (Callistege mi)
Brown and white markings pepper this moths wings, supposedly outlining a witches face. Its hind wings are also brown with cream spots.
Six-spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae)
Unsurprisingly, this moth displays 6 bright red spots on each forewing against a glossy black background. It’s hind wings are also red with black fringes. Its body and antennae are very furry.
Forester moth (Adscita statices)
A moth with iridescent green-blue forewings and thick long black antennae. It’s hindwings are paler.
Find out more about moths on the Woodland Trust websiteexternal link
Bees are charismatic insects which gain a lot of press as they are decreasing in number very rapidly, impacting. Bees can be split into 3 main groups; bumble bees, honey bees and solitary bees.
Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
As the name suggests these bumble bees have red-orange tails while the rest of their body is jet black. Males will have a yellow haired head and collar.
Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)
These bees are small and entirely brown, which is unique for Uk species. Their colour can range from ginger to sandy brown.
Tawny mining bee (Andrena fulva)
With a thick ginger coat and a black face this is a very recognisable species.
Patchwork leafcutter bee (Megachile centuncularis)
A less hairy variety of solitary bee, leafcutter bees has a pollen brush which runs along the underside of their abdomen.
Find out more about bees on the Woodland Trust websiteexternal link
7-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)
This is the most recognisable species of ladybird in the UK. It has 7 distinctive black spots on its red wingcases.
Swollen-thighed beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
So named for the males noticeable bulging thighs on its rear legs. These 6-11mm beetles are iridescent green with long slender wing covers which don’t quite meet in the middle.
Devil's coach horse (Staphylinus olens)
This medium sized beetle is jet back with prominent jaws. It holds its tail cocked much like a scorpion.
Common sexton beetle (Nicrophorus vespilloides)
With a square flattened wing case, this beetle has bright orange and black markings on its back. It looks very similar to many other burrowing beetles. It can reach 3cm in length.
Common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)
Soldier beetles are named as such due to their red and black patterning resembling soldier uniform. They have long thin rectangular bodies and reach up to 1cm in length.
Find out more about beetles on the Wildlife Trusts websiteexternal link
Garden spider (Araneus diadematus)
This is the most common orb web spide in the UK. They have a grey-brown body with a white cross on their back.
Nursery Web Spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
Commonly found in grasslands, this spider is large and slender bodied. It is pale grey-brown with dark brown patterns running along its body.
Common Harvestman (Phalangium opilio)
These insects are easily identified by their long spindly legs and small round bodies which lacks a waist. The common harvestman is red-brown on top and white underneath.
Find out more about spiders on the Wildlife Trusts websiteexternal link