tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.comments2023-02-18T10:49:23.261+00:00The Fifth Beetlemartinfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01227520265943485961noreply@blogger.comBlogger187125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-4721633519632444962022-12-07T05:09:25.054+00:002022-12-07T05:09:25.054+00:00backwards <3 much gracious<a href="https://www.lorexsecureappforwindows.com/2022/04/backwards-3-how-to-type-it.html" rel="nofollow">backwards <3</a> much graciousGadgetssaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16726966630647700476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-73538643934865855202022-05-05T10:26:48.995+00:002022-05-05T10:26:48.995+00:00Thanks for these I've added the page to my lin...Thanks for these I've added the page to my links list. I ought to check my Bembidion mannerheimi against that note. I can't recall why I was certain that the ones I've seen are not B.guttala, pretty sure I've still got a specimen somewhere in my fridge.Alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-64214327539705643742022-05-05T10:20:10.297+00:002022-05-05T10:20:10.297+00:00Oh, no social graces, me! I should have said, as w...Oh, no social graces, me! I should have said, as well, good to hear you're better!Alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-44706434242117090072022-05-02T21:44:51.411+00:002022-05-02T21:44:51.411+00:00That's a very smart weevil. Like Kae Tempest&#...That's a very smart weevil. Like Kae Tempest's stuff a lot. I must listen to the new album but I've heard a few things recently that have been excellent. I liked the poetry reading for the online Glasto very much.Alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-55732098631617238482022-03-28T04:28:23.760+00:002022-03-28T04:28:23.760+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.eleanorjabierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04254386224455769764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-45815120762402146332022-03-18T12:11:54.362+00:002022-03-18T12:11:54.362+00:00I might try a light trap tomorrow evening. A bit o...I might try a light trap tomorrow evening. A bit of warmth, low wind, looks possible. It has been too cold here to this point. So cold that I'm seeing very few beetles, turning over a few rocks yesterday revealed zero. Your beetle collection is so impressive and such a valuable resource. I can't manage to do that, even my Flickr collection is well behind. The beetle specimens I take go to the CR. I've added an ethics link to my blog referencing that Chris Raper blog post and something Roger Morris wrote on his blog back in 2015. This questions keep being raised, driving the car a short distance on a warm evening kills far more insects than most amateur collecting ever will I would estimate. Alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-16341524428217179442022-02-12T10:54:14.426+00:002022-02-12T10:54:14.426+00:00I spend so much time tussocking, sometimes I forge...I spend so much time tussocking, sometimes I forget to check the many other possibilities. Thanks for the reminder!Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12543586983692447920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-17347441750883163752022-01-08T12:15:57.385+00:002022-01-08T12:15:57.385+00:00Nothing wrong with a photo montage (though Weevils...Nothing wrong with a photo montage (though Weevils are clearly the best). Look forward to the next 50Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12543586983692447920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-18310991156131507142022-01-08T11:36:23.623+00:002022-01-08T11:36:23.623+00:00Going through the Dartford Tunnel heading north, I...Going through the Dartford Tunnel heading north, I used to think of it as gangster country, not sure why, watched too many episodes of The Sweeney I suspect. You probably know about it but the Tanyptera Trust have an online seminar on Staphs coming up in February, might be of interest... https://www.northwestinvertebrates.org.uk/Alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-90402986041522999492022-01-01T09:25:38.886+00:002022-01-01T09:25:38.886+00:00Well, should you want to learn a bit more about pl...Well, should you want to learn a bit more about plants with me, there's my shiny new blog for you to look at - https://a-zbotany.blogspot.com/ Can't promise there will be much in the way of inverts, other than some leafmines, mites, gallers and maybe scales etc. I could include stuff like Cionus on the figworts so you can get your fix of weevil porn if you like? ;) Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-56711439846169080522021-12-31T22:10:48.834+00:002021-12-31T22:10:48.834+00:00Hey Seth, nice to see you are still out there. Mis...Hey Seth, nice to see you are still out there. Miss your blog a lot though. Hope you are well and have a great 2022!martinfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01227520265943485961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-81139769829245713902021-12-31T22:06:39.149+00:002021-12-31T22:06:39.149+00:00I shall have to revisit my Bledius after reading t...I shall have to revisit my Bledius after reading that, they're amazing beasties though! As one of the number of tiny readers of this blog (or did I deliberately read that wrong, lol) I'd like to wish you a very Happy New Year too, buddy. I really enjoy your blog Martin and I hope you're back into full-on action mode soon. Keep 'em coming! Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-38764563123059027142021-12-20T20:23:30.735+00:002021-12-20T20:23:30.735+00:00Sigh. I have Atlas of Leaf and Seed Beetles, and t...Sigh. I have Atlas of Leaf and Seed Beetles, and that too is inherited from a local legend! All we can do in their hour is to keep the faith alive and pass it on.Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12543586983692447920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-50670499468762346942021-12-09T17:03:08.488+00:002021-12-09T17:03:08.488+00:00I was recommended an old book for identifying biva...I was recommended an old book for identifying bivalve molluscs, out of print of course, but the recommender kindly sent an eBay link. I think the author was a bit of a mollusc legend as his illustrations from the 60s have apparently not been bettered. Looking forward to it arriving and if it has history. I like the idea of passing, or selling, books and equipment on to other interested folk, I sold two microscopes this week, they were snapped up via the local insect FB group. And when new editions of ID books are purchased the same group or our Field Club have been very good for finding homes for the earlier editions. Hopefully these things will enable and nurture others' interests rather than just sitting in a shelf or a cupboard. Louise would suggest there's more that could go tho...<br /> Alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-43176264831687890362021-10-09T20:26:31.523+00:002021-10-09T20:26:31.523+00:00Could do with a Gem here.
Yes, blogging on the bac...Could do with a Gem here.<br />Yes, blogging on the back burner just lately for me - nowt to say!Skevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05601888498478097564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-10231145888577053772021-09-11T06:48:38.223+00:002021-09-11T06:48:38.223+00:00Glad to hear it’s not just me that suffers from ne...Glad to hear it’s not just me that suffers from new note book syndrome! I have many unfinished volumes that I’ve begun and then abandoned over the years. Still I keep trying, hoping I can one day recover the focus I had as a 11-15 year old birder who made notes in the field then painstakingly transferred them into a log book along with drawings and photos. They’re great to look back on 40 years later. I’ve also just moved onto beetles and find myself on a very, very steep learning curve and adamant that I’ll keep a detailed hand written log. I live in hope…. Love the blog by the way.Mr Opportunityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12084366555793640096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-50765099210541899442021-08-20T16:11:46.794+00:002021-08-20T16:11:46.794+00:00Good hit with the albatross, mate!
I totally get...Good hit with the albatross, mate! <br /><br />I totally get where you're coming from regards using your blog as a record for yourself, something to look back on in years to come. Certainly that's why I blog, I just choose to make it public which means adding a bit of humour to keep it (hopefully) entertaining and/or educational. It's quite enjoyable looking back and seeing how crap I was at something that I'm now better with, conversely it's sobering to look back and realise I used to be pretty good at some things which I'm now totally incompetent with. Interests come and go and a blog is a good way of documenting that. <br /><br />But mostly I'm in shock that you're not a Maiden fan. I may have to strike you from my reading list ;) Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-33987238897637787622021-07-30T17:36:51.415+00:002021-07-30T17:36:51.415+00:00Cheers for the plug, Martin (I'll bung you tha...Cheers for the plug, Martin (I'll bung you that fiver later...) and I'm happy you've successfully found and IDed your own rust off the back of my blog. But did you really have to start with such a cripplingly good one? One that I've never seen for myself?? Haha, way to go buddy. Maybe I'll find it up here on Skye one day :) <br /><br />PS - I really liked the track and the video is awesome. I didn't see the ending coming at all, I almost choked up! Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-29006421306872145952021-07-18T23:23:55.290+00:002021-07-18T23:23:55.290+00:00That second pic of the wasp is incredible, it look...That second pic of the wasp is incredible, it looks like a wizened old alien! Great to see you talking us through the keys, I like that. Pssst, don't tell everyone, but I do also quite like that Britney track. Shhhhh! Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-56874351596508730352021-07-18T08:06:25.656+00:002021-07-18T08:06:25.656+00:00Awesome. Thank you. I knew you'd know ;)Awesome. Thank you. I knew you'd know ;)martinfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01227520265943485961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-14105573656588882172021-07-17T21:13:34.674+00:002021-07-17T21:13:34.674+00:00Strapwort! Holy cow, I was wondering why your pic ...Strapwort! Holy cow, I was wondering why your pic of an Equal-leaved Knotgrass looked so weird! :D Amazing, not one I've ever been near (yet). I reckon you have Beroe cucumis, one of my all time fave beasts, and a Cyanea lamarckii. But I have to go and sulk in a corner now, consider me well and truly botanically gripped ;) Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-80471472215950665082021-07-15T07:28:34.461+00:002021-07-15T07:28:34.461+00:0045 mins from Cambridge would be Hamilton-esque! Th...45 mins from Cambridge would be Hamilton-esque! This was just a side benefit of the annual family holiday :)martinfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01227520265943485961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-20877256006586267382021-07-15T00:00:11.001+00:002021-07-15T00:00:11.001+00:00Song aside, what a great post, am very happy for y...Song aside, what a great post, am very happy for you buddy! Targeted beetling is not the norm, but you definitely put the effort in and have reaped the rewards. Job done, excellent. Also, I initially thought that you were still in Cambs. 45 mins to Dartmoor would be pretty good going even by my 'twitching days' standards! Cracking beetle, glad you skored! Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-3274586426156944582021-06-25T19:09:48.421+00:002021-06-25T19:09:48.421+00:00Oh gosh, you're proprly on the slippery slope ...Oh gosh, you're proprly on the slippery slope now buddy!Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2124024800354432723.post-21619919771681224602021-06-20T23:12:15.372+00:002021-06-20T23:12:15.372+00:00Hmmm. I (vaguely) recall the days when I'd see...Hmmm. I (vaguely) recall the days when I'd seen more species of beetle than you had. And then it was a race to 500. Then you overtook me at about twice the legal speed limit, are now you are upwards of 800 species whereas I....well I'm still sub 600 species. <br /><br />I've really enjoyed reading your beetling odyssey, from grass clippings and a newly-built pond, through blossom bashing and flood debris sievings, from seeing your early carding 'mash ups' (almost as bad as my early carding monstrosities!) through to neatly done gen dets on minute specimens. Basically, you've impressed the 'f' out of me and I can only wonder how long until you hit the Big 1K? It can't be long now, buddy? Gibsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699055561230102061noreply@blogger.com