BEETLE-MANIA

A big crop of rosemary beetles has recently been eating one of the rosemary bushes in Michael and Sarah Thorley's East Mersea garden

At least seventy of the destructive rosemary beetles have been eradicated in recent days, pictured by Michael.

Rosemary beetles are not native to the UK but have quickly colonised the whole country over the last sixty years following the importation of many rosemary plants from the Mediterranean during that period.

A female broad-bodied chaser was photographed in Michael's garden near Meeting Lane on Wednesday 7th.

Lots of azure damselflies were by the pond in Michael's garden.

The hoverfly Merodon equestris - Narcissus bulb fly was pictured in Michael's garden.

The distinctive zebra spider with the white and black banding, photographed by Michael in his garden.

Birds seen in Michael and Sarah's garden included a great spotted woodpecker on the bird seed feeder, as well as the usual goldfinches, greenfinch, robin, and great tits feeding their young.